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Ancestry Detective #1
Murder Once Removed
The captivating first mystery in the Ancestry Detective series, in which Texas genealogist Lucy Lancaster deals with murders in both the past and present.
According to her friends, Lucy Lancaster, Austin, Texas genealogist, has never been drunk. Tipsy, sure, but drunk? No way. So when she arrives back at her office from a three-martini lunch a few sheets to the wind, it's a notable occasion. Even more momentous is what her client, Austin billionaire Gus Halloran, has announced on live television with a blotto Lucy standing at his side: Texas senator Caleb Applewhite might be responsible for the murder of Seth Halloran.
Of course, Lucy is a genealogist, so the murder in question took place back in 1849. And it's possible that another nineteenth-century Texas politician may, in fact, have murdered Gus's great-great-grandfather instead. Lucy is determined to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt who the guilty man is, but when her curiosity lands her at the scene of another murder—this time, in the present-day—she realizes that the branches of some family trees shouldn't be shaken, for they're more twisted and dangerous than she ever thought possible.
319 pages, Hardcover
First published March 19, 2019
228 people are currently reading
5173 people want to read
About the author
S.C. Perkins
4 books324 followersS.C. Perkins is the Agatha-nominated author of The Ancestry Detective series, featuring professional genealogist Lucy Lancaster.
Perkins also writes historical mysteries as Celeste Connally. You can find her at www.celesteconnally.com or on Instagram at @celesteconnallyauthor.
Perkins also writes historical mysteries as Celeste Connally. You can find her at www.celesteconnally.com or on Instagram at @celesteconnallyauthor.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 372 reviews
March 27, 2019
Sometimes I get so busy that I don't catch all the books flying at me for giveaways, ARCs, or blog tours. Other times, I'm lucky to have friends who know me incredibly well. Nina (@TheCozyPages) privately messaged me to ensure I saw this book was available for a blog tour. I hadn't caught it, but then I immediately signed up for a read and review. I have limited time while I'm writing my own books to allow me to take on anything more than a regular read / review, but this was one blog tour I didn't want to miss. My post isn't for another 7 days, but I'm writing the review now while it's fresh in my mind! Then I'll add in all the graphics and other content to lure the readers in! What a funtastic read... I'm glad and grateful for the opportunity. Where to start?
A genealogical mystery? Hmm... three of my favorite things include genealogy, mysteries, and book series. It's a setup, I was bound to love it. S.C. Perkins' debut in the 'Ancestry Detective' cozy series, Murder Once Removed, is a strong lead in for the future. I wasn't sure what to expect when I began reading it. For instance, would the murder occur in history or in something more current? Would it potentially contain murders in both as well as flip between time periods so we know what happened years ago? Possibly... I can't give away all the secrets, now can I? Ultimately, I was quite happy with the structure, story, and approach.
Lucy Lancaster, a ~30ish genealogist in Texas, is hired to trace the family tree for a wealthy family whose son is running for office. It seems the opponent is someone who has it in for the family, too. When the patriarch also asks the protagonist to prove someone murdered a relative in the mid/late 19th century, Lucy digs up photographic evidence that it wasn't just an accident. But when she traces a long-lost journal that identifies the initials and a few facial features of the killer, it can only be referring to a handful of people from that period. And one of them is related to the opponent. How deadly will this secret be to keep? Quite deadly if you don't watch you back. Someone wants Lucy to stop her research, but she's passionate about solving her cases.
What a different way to tell the story! From reading land records to tracing family trees, the various suspects are revealed along with the usual motive, opportunity, and means thrown in by the pesky police. Yes, if you're not a fan of genealogy, you might not love the frequent references to "third cousin once removed" versus "great great great this or that..." but for me, it was a thrilling ride. I love this type of stuff and truly connected with the characters and the investigation. A few folks might notice some minor liberties with what documentation or artifacts were available specific to that region or time period, but ultimately, this is fiction... and it will always have some level of exaggeration to fit the plot. I read a book for the story and the beauty in how it comes together, not to find an exact perfect replica of reality. I already have that am trying to escape it! :)
I will definitely continue with this series and can't wait for the next one!
A genealogical mystery? Hmm... three of my favorite things include genealogy, mysteries, and book series. It's a setup, I was bound to love it. S.C. Perkins' debut in the 'Ancestry Detective' cozy series, Murder Once Removed, is a strong lead in for the future. I wasn't sure what to expect when I began reading it. For instance, would the murder occur in history or in something more current? Would it potentially contain murders in both as well as flip between time periods so we know what happened years ago? Possibly... I can't give away all the secrets, now can I? Ultimately, I was quite happy with the structure, story, and approach.
Lucy Lancaster, a ~30ish genealogist in Texas, is hired to trace the family tree for a wealthy family whose son is running for office. It seems the opponent is someone who has it in for the family, too. When the patriarch also asks the protagonist to prove someone murdered a relative in the mid/late 19th century, Lucy digs up photographic evidence that it wasn't just an accident. But when she traces a long-lost journal that identifies the initials and a few facial features of the killer, it can only be referring to a handful of people from that period. And one of them is related to the opponent. How deadly will this secret be to keep? Quite deadly if you don't watch you back. Someone wants Lucy to stop her research, but she's passionate about solving her cases.
What a different way to tell the story! From reading land records to tracing family trees, the various suspects are revealed along with the usual motive, opportunity, and means thrown in by the pesky police. Yes, if you're not a fan of genealogy, you might not love the frequent references to "third cousin once removed" versus "great great great this or that..." but for me, it was a thrilling ride. I love this type of stuff and truly connected with the characters and the investigation. A few folks might notice some minor liberties with what documentation or artifacts were available specific to that region or time period, but ultimately, this is fiction... and it will always have some level of exaggeration to fit the plot. I read a book for the story and the beauty in how it comes together, not to find an exact perfect replica of reality. I already have that am trying to escape it! :)
I will definitely continue with this series and can't wait for the next one!
February 13, 2019
While explanations of once removed, twice removed and all that genealogy jazz aren't really my thing, this book sure is! I had a great time reading this first book in the new Ancestry Detective cozy mystery series. Genealogist Lucy Lancaster is hired to look into the family tree of Angus "Gus" Halloran. She discovers that his great-great-grandfather was murdered in 1849 with an old daguerreotype photograph and journals from a witness to prove it. Only problem is....the guilty party could be one of two culprits with the initials C.A. After Gus points a finger at a descendant of one of the C.A.-suspects, Lucy finds herself in trouble. The FBI shows up at her door. There's a robbery...someone tries to hack her office computer...and the woman restoring the photographic proof is murdered. Someone really wants information on this 160-year old murder to go away!
I really enjoyed this book. I like the mix of genealogy, humor and murder mystery. The characters are all fun and likable. My hands-down favorite is Neil Patrick Housecat, of course. What a name! I like Lucy as a main character. She's quirky, feisty when required, intelligent and very talented at research. The side characters help the investigation along as well as making the story fun to read.
The mystery moved along at a nice pace, with plenty of sleuthing and possible suspects. The story kept my attention from beginning to end. The ending wasn't overly predictable or old hat. Nicely done!
This is the first cozy I've read with a genealogy background theme. I found it creative and different! The front cover is colorful and fun....Neil Patrick Housecat is perched right in the middle with great cattitude. :) Cozies always have the best covers!
All in all, a fun read! I will definitely be reading more of this series.
**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
I really enjoyed this book. I like the mix of genealogy, humor and murder mystery. The characters are all fun and likable. My hands-down favorite is Neil Patrick Housecat, of course. What a name! I like Lucy as a main character. She's quirky, feisty when required, intelligent and very talented at research. The side characters help the investigation along as well as making the story fun to read.
The mystery moved along at a nice pace, with plenty of sleuthing and possible suspects. The story kept my attention from beginning to end. The ending wasn't overly predictable or old hat. Nicely done!
This is the first cozy I've read with a genealogy background theme. I found it creative and different! The front cover is colorful and fun....Neil Patrick Housecat is perched right in the middle with great cattitude. :) Cozies always have the best covers!
All in all, a fun read! I will definitely be reading more of this series.
**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
January 6, 2019
Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane books for providing an advanced digital read copy of MURDER ONCE REMOVED by S. C. Perkins in exchange for an unbiased review. This is the first book in the proposed new Ancestor Detective series featuring Lucy Lancaster, a genealogist living in Austin, Texas.
Lucy, the protagonist is a barely thirty year old genealogist who has her own business researching people’s ancestry. In this first book, she has been researching for a prominent Texas family and uncovered documented proof that a over one hundred years ago, a family member was murdered. A news conference held by the Texas billionaire who commissioned Lucy to do the research results in his public accusation of a state rival as being a descendant of the murderer. In truth, there are two primary individuals who might be descendants of the murderer, and Lucy’s research is inconclusive in determining which of the two has the guilty forebear.
Genealogy research and historical research are both featured in this book along with an historical murder and how that has affected descendants in the present. There are more situations that occur for Lucy to evade than there are clues and red herrings for the reader to solve. Lucy is a thirty-something single woman who comes across as a bit immature in spite of her advanced academic credits.
Rounding out the likely on-going characters are two friends, both single and beautiful, a handsome FBI agent who provides a love-hate relationship for Lucy and a father figure taco restaurant owner, Big Flaco. Big Flaco is the most interesting of these characters with his oversized presence topped by his active moustache. Of all the characters in the book I found Big to have the most depth and unique personality.
As the first book in a proposed series, this may appeal to readers who have an interest in ancestry and genealogy research It also leans toward the romantic mystery in the budding relationship between Lucy and the FBI agent, which may appeal to a segment of the reading public. I found it difficult to develop an interest in Lucy and her friends as they seemed more two-dimensional than characters who typically appeal to me.
Lucy, the protagonist is a barely thirty year old genealogist who has her own business researching people’s ancestry. In this first book, she has been researching for a prominent Texas family and uncovered documented proof that a over one hundred years ago, a family member was murdered. A news conference held by the Texas billionaire who commissioned Lucy to do the research results in his public accusation of a state rival as being a descendant of the murderer. In truth, there are two primary individuals who might be descendants of the murderer, and Lucy’s research is inconclusive in determining which of the two has the guilty forebear.
Genealogy research and historical research are both featured in this book along with an historical murder and how that has affected descendants in the present. There are more situations that occur for Lucy to evade than there are clues and red herrings for the reader to solve. Lucy is a thirty-something single woman who comes across as a bit immature in spite of her advanced academic credits.
Rounding out the likely on-going characters are two friends, both single and beautiful, a handsome FBI agent who provides a love-hate relationship for Lucy and a father figure taco restaurant owner, Big Flaco. Big Flaco is the most interesting of these characters with his oversized presence topped by his active moustache. Of all the characters in the book I found Big to have the most depth and unique personality.
As the first book in a proposed series, this may appeal to readers who have an interest in ancestry and genealogy research It also leans toward the romantic mystery in the budding relationship between Lucy and the FBI agent, which may appeal to a segment of the reading public. I found it difficult to develop an interest in Lucy and her friends as they seemed more two-dimensional than characters who typically appeal to me.
December 21, 2018
I thought this was a very interesting book. I didn’t love it, I didn’t hate it. It had a lot of historical information about Texas, which I didn’t exactly care about but it was interesting, and it had lots of information about genealogy which I really liked. I am not sure how I feel about the way the author presented information that Lucy learned during her investigation. Sometimes it seemed that she turned up with new information but there was no segue to lead you along as she gathered facts. The connection between the Ayers and Applewhites was a little hard to follow as they began to be intermingled. Ultimately the bad guy was just not that interesting and it was a stretch to believe that he carried a grudge that went back so many generations. Overall it was well written and the ongoing interaction between Lucy and Ben was fun. Not sure I would recommend this but if someone asked me I would tell them it was a quick read that doesn’t leave a big impression.
February 15, 2019
Lucy Lancaster, a professional genealogist, researches the family of Gus Halloran, uncovering a mystery surrounding the mid-19th century death of Seth Halloran. A photographer's journal states he was murdered by C.A. and then the scene was tampered to make it look as though he were trampled by horses. Lucy finds two candidates for C.A., but since enmity runs deep between the Applewhite and Halloran families, Gus focuses on that solution when he tells his family's story in a press conference. A page, possibly revealing the identity of C.A., was missing from the journal. As Lucy investigates, she runs into an FBI agent moonlighting as a history professor and into danger. I enjoyed the historic mystery; however, several things bothered me about the book. Lucy discusses research several times in very vague terms, making me wonder how familiar the author was with genealogical research. At one point Lucy tells another character about her flat rate package for researching "first family" Texas ancestry. Very few professional genealogists offer flat rate packages these days because it is nearly impossible to predict how long it will take to make a genealogically sound connection to a qualifying individual. Those who do offer such a package generally work for a larger firm rather than for themselves. Most charge an hourly rate plus expenses with a retainer collected up front. The balance is usually due before the final report is sent. The biggest error concerned census research. Lucy found results in the 1890 census. That census was mostly destroyed by fire. For the state in question, fragments of three enumeration districts in two counties exist as well as the Union Veterans schedule, which was small in a Confederate state. In the extent schedules, six families appear in one county; in the other county, four families appear in one enumeration district fragment and ninety-two families in the other district. Nowhere did Lucy mention the county to which the family moved and nowhere did she mention luck at finding the family. In fact the two counties were unlikely places for the family to reside based on comments about the family's life in the state. While widows of Union veterans were sometimes heads of household in these schedules, the information supposedly gleaned from the census makes it impossible the veterans schedule was what she consulted. While the mystery held great potential, the author's unfamiliarity with genealogical research hampered its effectiveness. If the series continues, I hope the author gets a professional genealogist to read the book to find errors in record availability and in practice. The other irritating flaw in the book was the author's unprofessional conduct in several instances. No instance's activity served to advance the plot in a way that could not be achieved through ethical means. The author needs to read Genealogy Standards by the Board for Certification of Genealogists and the Association of Professional Genealogist's Code of Ethics before writing additional installments. This review reflects the text appearing in an advance electronic copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley with the expectation of an honest review.
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May 4, 2019I got to 25% . It's just not my kind of read
February 23, 2019
I'm always excited to find a murder mystery in which genealogists are involved, but this one was very disappointing. On the one hand, there is quite a bit about genealogy resources in Texas, as the protagonist, Lucy Lancaster, researches a prominent local family. On the other hand, the writer clearly isn't much of a genealogist since she seems to be unaware that almost the entire 1890 census (which she refers to as a source of information) was destroyed by fire (this mistake would stand out to any US genealogist); she also is apparently unaware that only the 1860 and 1870 censuses included property information, not the 1880 census. These inaccuracies wouldn't have bothered me so much (it's rare to find a genealogical mystery that doesn't goof somewhere) if the story had been better. The solution to the mystery was hard to swallow, and half the book focused on tedious banter between Lucy and her best friends and the budding romance between Lucy and a handsome FBI agent, which was painfully cliched and implausible. Since I made myself finish it, I gave it two stars instead of one.
February 28, 2019
As you may guess from looking at the cover this story is about family trees and how we are related to those that have gone before us. I am by no means a genealogist but I have developed a bit of an interest in my own family tree in the last few years.
This story is about Lucy, a genealogist, who loves solving the mysteries of someone's past family history and roots of where their family tree began. When she is tasked with finding the roots of a billionaire she finds more than she bargained for, a long unsolved murder. Not only is there a photo of the murder but there is some tempting evidence to tie the murderer to another famous family.
I haven't ever referred to or heard any of my relatives referred to as once or twice removed and so forth so that was a bit confusing but by no means did it take away from the story. I quite enjoyed this different spin on a cozy mystery involving ancestry and am looking forward to more in the series!
I was given an eARC by the publisher through NetGalley.
This story is about Lucy, a genealogist, who loves solving the mysteries of someone's past family history and roots of where their family tree began. When she is tasked with finding the roots of a billionaire she finds more than she bargained for, a long unsolved murder. Not only is there a photo of the murder but there is some tempting evidence to tie the murderer to another famous family.
I haven't ever referred to or heard any of my relatives referred to as once or twice removed and so forth so that was a bit confusing but by no means did it take away from the story. I quite enjoyed this different spin on a cozy mystery involving ancestry and am looking forward to more in the series!
I was given an eARC by the publisher through NetGalley.
February 7, 2019
Tedious. Both the genealogy and the constant gushing over clothes, food and guys.
March 2, 2019
This is the first book in a new series by S.C. Perkins and the first book I have read by this author. I was initially drawn to the book because of the profession of the protagonist and it sounded like an interesting premise. Genealogy has been a hobby of mine since I was in eighth grade so the subject matter was right up my alley so to speak.
This was a fun, easy read. It has a good pace and the mystery flows nicely through the story. For those who don't know much about genealogy, there are some parts that might be a bit more technical than they would like but I didn't think that it detracted from the story. Lucy Lancaster is a good protagonist. She is likable, independent, has spirit and uses her intelligence. She is surrounded by a cast of secondary characters that include her best friends and office mates, the owner of a restaurant that sounds like it makes amazing food, and one protective cat known as Neil Patrick House-cat (NPH) for short. These are characters that I want to read more about.
I liked that there were two mysteries that were very much intertwined. One is the murder of the ancestor of one of Lucy's clients and it connects with the current murder mystery of Lucy's friend, who played a role in helping her with the historical mystery. Lucy feels guilty about her friends murder so she tries to solve the historical murder in hopes it will lead to the identity of her friends killer. Lucy was a bit impulsive which caused her to get her self into more trouble that probably necessary. Both mysteries were well done and I liked how the genealogy research led to the identity of the murderer in the past as well as the present. There wasn't a large pool of suspects for the historical mystery but because the clues were shrouded in mystery it allowed the author to create doubt about the identity of the present day killer.
I really enjoyed this book and find that I am looking forward to reading more in this series. It was a nice change of pace for a cozy mystery in terms of the theme which I very much enjoyed.
I voluntarily read a digital ARC provided to me by the publisher, St. Martin's Press, through Netgalley.
This was a fun, easy read. It has a good pace and the mystery flows nicely through the story. For those who don't know much about genealogy, there are some parts that might be a bit more technical than they would like but I didn't think that it detracted from the story. Lucy Lancaster is a good protagonist. She is likable, independent, has spirit and uses her intelligence. She is surrounded by a cast of secondary characters that include her best friends and office mates, the owner of a restaurant that sounds like it makes amazing food, and one protective cat known as Neil Patrick House-cat (NPH) for short. These are characters that I want to read more about.
I liked that there were two mysteries that were very much intertwined. One is the murder of the ancestor of one of Lucy's clients and it connects with the current murder mystery of Lucy's friend, who played a role in helping her with the historical mystery. Lucy feels guilty about her friends murder so she tries to solve the historical murder in hopes it will lead to the identity of her friends killer. Lucy was a bit impulsive which caused her to get her self into more trouble that probably necessary. Both mysteries were well done and I liked how the genealogy research led to the identity of the murderer in the past as well as the present. There wasn't a large pool of suspects for the historical mystery but because the clues were shrouded in mystery it allowed the author to create doubt about the identity of the present day killer.
I really enjoyed this book and find that I am looking forward to reading more in this series. It was a nice change of pace for a cozy mystery in terms of the theme which I very much enjoyed.
I voluntarily read a digital ARC provided to me by the publisher, St. Martin's Press, through Netgalley.
March 14, 2019
Lucy Lancaster is a confident genealogist with her own business in Austin, Texas. When she is hired by a prominent family to trace its heritage, she finds an old mystery involving murder and family secrets. But the past can't be left in the past when it may be tied to the murder of Lucy's friend in whom she confided about the ancestry secret and when it also involves a sitting Senator running for re-election.
One of the book's characters describes Lucy the best, as her having "moxie." She is determined, tenacious, and loyal. I enjoyed learning about Texas history and the book was an interesting subject. The plot was a bit far-fetched but it was so well-written that I just went with the fiction and allowed myself to be entertained by this charming cozy. I'd like to read more of this series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an advance digital copy of this book. My review is voluntary.
One of the book's characters describes Lucy the best, as her having "moxie." She is determined, tenacious, and loyal. I enjoyed learning about Texas history and the book was an interesting subject. The plot was a bit far-fetched but it was so well-written that I just went with the fiction and allowed myself to be entertained by this charming cozy. I'd like to read more of this series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an advance digital copy of this book. My review is voluntary.
October 17, 2018
A strong start to a new series. I love it when an author can delve into something a bit different character and plot wise. This author definitely doesn't disappoint! With a strong, unique main character, a setting that makes you feel you are right in the thick of it, and a perfectly executed mystery, this is a book you will want to read again and again!
January 8, 2020
4.5-4.75 stars rounded up
Lucy Lancaster is hot on the trail of murder. While researching the family history of her client, a wealthy Texan, she discovers Gus Halloran's ancestor Seth was murdered in 1849. Gus is thrilled to confirm a long-held family belief and eager to know more. Lucy has discovered the smoking gun, so to speak, in a diary by pioneering photographer Jeb Inscore. While Jeb witnessed the murder and subsequent cover-up, he refused to name the killer even in his diary. He did leave behind a few clues and Lucy has narrowed the list down to two men, one of whom, Senator Caleb Applewhite, was the ancestor of a current Senator Applewhite who is running for reelection against Gus's son. Lucy is eager to bring Jeb's archive to light and so his her friend Dr. Winnie Dell of the Hamilton American History Center at the University of Texas. When Dr. Dell takes possession of a photograph showing Seth's murder, she never dreams it will lead to her own murder! Lucy grieves the loss of her friend and is determined to find out why she was killed. Lucy's investigation delves deep into the history of Austin, Texas. As she uncovers long-held secrets she makes a dangerous enemy and runs afoul of a sexy FBI agent. Lucy is positive she can solve both murders but can she do it before she ends up a murder victim herself?
I love, love, love the premise of this book. Lucy is my kind of heroine. Being a fellow LIS major and historical researcher, I very much identified with Lucy. I dabble in genealogy and have also volunteered in archives and therefore I am very impressed with the author's knowledge and portrayal of the research process and also conversation methods. I had a few minor quibbles but otherwise I really, really enjoyed this book. I too got caught up in the historical mystery and I know I would have researched it too. I'm also a historian so I probably would have figured things out sooner than Lucy did. Some of the clues were plainly obvious. The modern mystery was a lot harder to figure out. WHY seemed obvious. Clearly Winnie was murdered for the daguerreotype because someone didn't want evidence of the murder to get out. However, the plot is more complicated than that (and again I had a few misgivings about plausibility) and is full of exciting twists and turns. I got so caught up in the story I stayed up until past 2 am to finish!
This book may be considered a "traditional" mystery but it has a lot of hallmarks of a cozy mystery: amateur sleuth with funny, quirky friends; animal sidekick; local color; potential romance. This novel has a wee bit more violence than your average cozy.
Naturally I relate a lot to Lucy and am in awe of her genealogy skills. I did find it hard to believe that someone who majored in Information Studies doesn't know how to find out where to find the information she needs quickly. She seems unfamiliar with special libraries and historical research. At times I questioned Lucy's judgement. She's pretty rash for a genealogist, making decisions that will endanger her and others. She's quick-witted when she needs to be in order to save the day! I found her warm-hearted, caring and guileless. I liked her relationship with her friends, neighbors and potential love interest. Lucy's besties, Serena (bff since high school) and Josephine (college friend) are so funny. They're really great friends. They tease Lucy but all in good fun and feel protective of her since she has recently been dumped by her boyfriend. Her friends are a little too pushy trying to get Lucy to have a good "shag" with a new man in order to move on. Why can't Lucy be happy without a man? She seems to be fine with the break-up. I like that all three are self-employed women who love what they do and are good at it, but why are they renting a dilapidated office building when Lucy has money for a condo and her friends both have wealthy clients?
The best relationship is between Lucy and Flaco Medrano of Flaco's Tacos. Rumored to have once been a Mexican drug lord, Flaco is now a short-order Tex-Mex cook and restaurateur. Flaco is warm, caring, funny and likes to tease. He stands in place of Lucy's father who is traveling with her mother at the time of the story. Lucy and Flaco really do seem like family. He treats her that way being his best and favorite customer. I don't like Tex-Mex cuisine but I found myself wanting to go to Flaco's Tacos and check out the menu. I could at least try the homemade flour tortillas that sounded amazing! Lucy also has a familial relationship with Gus Halloran, her client. While he seems to think of her as a granddaughter, I feel she is unprofessional with him. She also plowed ahead and researched without his explicit permission but he did give a distracted OK. Lucy and Dr. Dell had an unprofessional relationship as well. Dr. Dell didn't deserve to be killed. She was witty, intelligent, temperamental and very protective of her archive. It's clear Lucy has learned a lot from Winnie and considers the older woman a close friend. Another great relationship is between Lucy and NPH. NPH is a pampered cat belonging to the condo. Lucy seems to be a sucker and will cave in to NPH's demands for attention and love. In return he knows what she needs when she needs it and provides her with it. I'm not a cat person but he's pretty cute and funny for a cat. NPH's official owner, Jackson, the condo manager, is a quirky, funny man. He adds some comic relief to the story. Lucy seems to like him a lot.
Lucy treats everyone with kindness and fairness. Betty-Anne, an 84-year-old woman, is a descendant of Jeb Inscore, the 19th-century photographer. Betty is a very active senior! She has a cell-phone and walks on her own without a walker. She's proud of this and she and her friends challenge less active seniors to a serious game of mah-jogg and is deadly serious about winning! Betty-Anne is gracious and welcoming to Lucy who in turn quickly adopts Betty-Anne as a friend. I like the slightly mischievous side to Betty-Anne. She's a fun character and tougher than her age implies. Senator Applewhite comes across as an arrogant politician at first. His mudslinging campaign against Gus's son doesn't provide the best first impression. He ended up surprising me once I got to know him. The only person Lucy doesn't treat kindly is the murderer and she's a little less feisty than I would expect one would be when being held hostage by a psychopath.
I've teased you enough and I will discuss Lucy's relationship with "BAT," FBI Special Agent Agent Ben Turner. Ben is taciturn, tough and doesn't understand Lucy. They exchange a lot of banter and clearly have good chemistry. He's kind of her Mr. Darcy! Too bad he has a girlfriend. He claims he's in the white collar division not crime. It's unclear exactly what he's doing in Austin for much of the story. His assistants, FBI agent bodyguards are complicated. Hired to protect Senator Applewhite, act thuggish towards Lucy for no reason yet don't really notice what she looks like so she's able to get past them in a light disguise. This is totally unacceptable for the FBI. There's also an incident that makes me question whether one or both is not who they say they are.
In 1849 there are two murder suspects and a victim. Seth Halloran, the murder victim, was not only cruelly murdered but his murder was covered up for 170 years! Who was the mysterious killer and why did they want him dead? The answer to the first question is C.A. C.A. could be Caleb Applewhite, a businessman in Austin, state Senator and ancestor of the current U.S. Senator. The other suspect is Cyrus Ayers, another Austin businessman of the time. He seems less well known in spite of also serving in the Texas legislature. None of these men sound like exemplary characters and the murder puts the "wild" in the "wild" west. Still, Seth didn't deserve to die. The silver lining is his widow, Jennie, who turned a dry goods business into an empire. I feel sorry for Jeb Inscoe. He witnessed a devastating event and was forced to lie about by coercion. I have a feeling if the killer knew Jeb had proof, Jeb would have been a dead man anyway. Without that proof, no one would have believed Jeb. The motive for the murder was rather confusing. I need a family tree and a chart that connects the men.
I can't wait to see what Lucy finds out in her next adventure in researching! I don't want to wait until July!
This story may not appeal to those of you who don't want to know every detail of researching a family's history and those who aren't interested in following Lucy into the state archives and participating in her research with her. Obviously this appealed to me enormously but I did find it dragged the mystery down. A sidebar into someone else's family history was unnecessary.
Fact checking in the archives
Briscoe Center for American History at UT Austin is the model for the Hamilton Center in the novel.
archival material from 1849
Daguerreotypes : the process of making this distinct type of photo was invented in 1839 and lo and behold, there really IS a photo of the Alamo taken in 1849!
Places of interest:
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Texas Capitol Legislative Reference Library
Texas Capitol Rotunda
There really is a Capitol Grille restaurant!
SoCo (South Congress Avenue) Is Torchy's Tacos inspiration for Flaco's?
Little Stacy Park
Congress Avenue Bridge bats
Lucy Lancaster is hot on the trail of murder. While researching the family history of her client, a wealthy Texan, she discovers Gus Halloran's ancestor Seth was murdered in 1849. Gus is thrilled to confirm a long-held family belief and eager to know more. Lucy has discovered the smoking gun, so to speak, in a diary by pioneering photographer Jeb Inscore. While Jeb witnessed the murder and subsequent cover-up, he refused to name the killer even in his diary. He did leave behind a few clues and Lucy has narrowed the list down to two men, one of whom, Senator Caleb Applewhite, was the ancestor of a current Senator Applewhite who is running for reelection against Gus's son. Lucy is eager to bring Jeb's archive to light and so his her friend Dr. Winnie Dell of the Hamilton American History Center at the University of Texas. When Dr. Dell takes possession of a photograph showing Seth's murder, she never dreams it will lead to her own murder! Lucy grieves the loss of her friend and is determined to find out why she was killed. Lucy's investigation delves deep into the history of Austin, Texas. As she uncovers long-held secrets she makes a dangerous enemy and runs afoul of a sexy FBI agent. Lucy is positive she can solve both murders but can she do it before she ends up a murder victim herself?
I love, love, love the premise of this book. Lucy is my kind of heroine. Being a fellow LIS major and historical researcher, I very much identified with Lucy. I dabble in genealogy and have also volunteered in archives and therefore I am very impressed with the author's knowledge and portrayal of the research process and also conversation methods. I had a few minor quibbles but otherwise I really, really enjoyed this book. I too got caught up in the historical mystery and I know I would have researched it too. I'm also a historian so I probably would have figured things out sooner than Lucy did. Some of the clues were plainly obvious. The modern mystery was a lot harder to figure out. WHY seemed obvious. Clearly Winnie was murdered for the daguerreotype because someone didn't want evidence of the murder to get out. However, the plot is more complicated than that (and again I had a few misgivings about plausibility) and is full of exciting twists and turns. I got so caught up in the story I stayed up until past 2 am to finish!
This book may be considered a "traditional" mystery but it has a lot of hallmarks of a cozy mystery: amateur sleuth with funny, quirky friends; animal sidekick; local color; potential romance. This novel has a wee bit more violence than your average cozy.
Naturally I relate a lot to Lucy and am in awe of her genealogy skills. I did find it hard to believe that someone who majored in Information Studies doesn't know how to find out where to find the information she needs quickly. She seems unfamiliar with special libraries and historical research. At times I questioned Lucy's judgement. She's pretty rash for a genealogist, making decisions that will endanger her and others. She's quick-witted when she needs to be in order to save the day! I found her warm-hearted, caring and guileless. I liked her relationship with her friends, neighbors and potential love interest. Lucy's besties, Serena (bff since high school) and Josephine (college friend) are so funny. They're really great friends. They tease Lucy but all in good fun and feel protective of her since she has recently been dumped by her boyfriend. Her friends are a little too pushy trying to get Lucy to have a good "shag" with a new man in order to move on. Why can't Lucy be happy without a man? She seems to be fine with the break-up. I like that all three are self-employed women who love what they do and are good at it, but why are they renting a dilapidated office building when Lucy has money for a condo and her friends both have wealthy clients?
The best relationship is between Lucy and Flaco Medrano of Flaco's Tacos. Rumored to have once been a Mexican drug lord, Flaco is now a short-order Tex-Mex cook and restaurateur. Flaco is warm, caring, funny and likes to tease. He stands in place of Lucy's father who is traveling with her mother at the time of the story. Lucy and Flaco really do seem like family. He treats her that way being his best and favorite customer. I don't like Tex-Mex cuisine but I found myself wanting to go to Flaco's Tacos and check out the menu. I could at least try the homemade flour tortillas that sounded amazing! Lucy also has a familial relationship with Gus Halloran, her client. While he seems to think of her as a granddaughter, I feel she is unprofessional with him. She also plowed ahead and researched without his explicit permission but he did give a distracted OK. Lucy and Dr. Dell had an unprofessional relationship as well. Dr. Dell didn't deserve to be killed. She was witty, intelligent, temperamental and very protective of her archive. It's clear Lucy has learned a lot from Winnie and considers the older woman a close friend. Another great relationship is between Lucy and NPH. NPH is a pampered cat belonging to the condo. Lucy seems to be a sucker and will cave in to NPH's demands for attention and love. In return he knows what she needs when she needs it and provides her with it. I'm not a cat person but he's pretty cute and funny for a cat. NPH's official owner, Jackson, the condo manager, is a quirky, funny man. He adds some comic relief to the story. Lucy seems to like him a lot.
Lucy treats everyone with kindness and fairness. Betty-Anne, an 84-year-old woman, is a descendant of Jeb Inscore, the 19th-century photographer. Betty is a very active senior! She has a cell-phone and walks on her own without a walker. She's proud of this and she and her friends challenge less active seniors to a serious game of mah-jogg and is deadly serious about winning! Betty-Anne is gracious and welcoming to Lucy who in turn quickly adopts Betty-Anne as a friend. I like the slightly mischievous side to Betty-Anne. She's a fun character and tougher than her age implies. Senator Applewhite comes across as an arrogant politician at first. His mudslinging campaign against Gus's son doesn't provide the best first impression. He ended up surprising me once I got to know him. The only person Lucy doesn't treat kindly is the murderer and she's a little less feisty than I would expect one would be when being held hostage by a psychopath.
I've teased you enough and I will discuss Lucy's relationship with "BAT," FBI Special Agent Agent Ben Turner. Ben is taciturn, tough and doesn't understand Lucy. They exchange a lot of banter and clearly have good chemistry. He's kind of her Mr. Darcy! Too bad he has a girlfriend. He claims he's in the white collar division not crime. It's unclear exactly what he's doing in Austin for much of the story. His assistants, FBI agent bodyguards are complicated. Hired to protect Senator Applewhite, act thuggish towards Lucy for no reason yet don't really notice what she looks like so she's able to get past them in a light disguise. This is totally unacceptable for the FBI. There's also an incident that makes me question whether one or both is not who they say they are.
In 1849 there are two murder suspects and a victim. Seth Halloran, the murder victim, was not only cruelly murdered but his murder was covered up for 170 years! Who was the mysterious killer and why did they want him dead? The answer to the first question is C.A. C.A. could be Caleb Applewhite, a businessman in Austin, state Senator and ancestor of the current U.S. Senator. The other suspect is Cyrus Ayers, another Austin businessman of the time. He seems less well known in spite of also serving in the Texas legislature. None of these men sound like exemplary characters and the murder puts the "wild" in the "wild" west. Still, Seth didn't deserve to die. The silver lining is his widow, Jennie, who turned a dry goods business into an empire. I feel sorry for Jeb Inscoe. He witnessed a devastating event and was forced to lie about by coercion. I have a feeling if the killer knew Jeb had proof, Jeb would have been a dead man anyway. Without that proof, no one would have believed Jeb. The motive for the murder was rather confusing. I need a family tree and a chart that connects the men.
I can't wait to see what Lucy finds out in her next adventure in researching! I don't want to wait until July!
This story may not appeal to those of you who don't want to know every detail of researching a family's history and those who aren't interested in following Lucy into the state archives and participating in her research with her. Obviously this appealed to me enormously but I did find it dragged the mystery down. A sidebar into someone else's family history was unnecessary.
Fact checking in the archives
Briscoe Center for American History at UT Austin is the model for the Hamilton Center in the novel.
archival material from 1849
Daguerreotypes : the process of making this distinct type of photo was invented in 1839 and lo and behold, there really IS a photo of the Alamo taken in 1849!
Places of interest:
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Texas Capitol Legislative Reference Library
Texas Capitol Rotunda
There really is a Capitol Grille restaurant!
SoCo (South Congress Avenue) Is Torchy's Tacos inspiration for Flaco's?
Little Stacy Park
Congress Avenue Bridge bats
April 26, 2019
Lucy is a genealogist and while doing research for a man running for office finds out his ancestor was murdered. Lucy finds that a man with the initials CA is he murdered but is it the ancestor of the man running against him or someone else. The mystery is good and the research Lucy did and can do is very interesting. 9
March 18, 2019
Murder Once Removed is the first in the promising Ancestry Detective cozy series set in Texas. Author S.C. Perkins used her setting to perfect advantage: not only did I want to book a flight to Austin for a visit, but she also made me crave Mexican food. (Thank heaven Big Flaco's Tacos isn't here!)
Another strong part of her setting is the old office building in which Lucy shares space with her two best friends, Serena the personal shopper and British Josephine who's a translator. Perkins has set up a good supporting cast for Lucy which also includes Juan "Big Flaco" Medrano (the food magician, yum) and NPH-- Neil Patrick Housecat-- among others. The cast might get even larger if some of the family members who were mentioned return from their travels in future books.
The mystery is a good one in Murder Once Removed, plenty of misdirection and red herrings, and I enjoyed trying to figure it out. But there were a couple of things that I didn't enjoy quite so much. Lucy is not supposed to be a fashionista-- preferring to wear jeans and t-shirts to work-- but readers are given a blow-by-blow description of everyone's physical appearance and wardrobe. All the needless detail slows down the pace of the book. There's also a rather run-of-the-mill romantic interest for Lucy-- the gorgeous law enforcement guy who rubs her fur the wrong way-- that really wasn't necessary. Just once, I wish the main character would fall for a homely guy who wasn't licensed to carry any deadly weapons, you know?
Thankfully, the mystery, Lucy and her gang, and the Austin setting rose above the wordy descriptions and ho-hum romance. I'm looking forward to seeing what family tree Lucy shakes next.
Another strong part of her setting is the old office building in which Lucy shares space with her two best friends, Serena the personal shopper and British Josephine who's a translator. Perkins has set up a good supporting cast for Lucy which also includes Juan "Big Flaco" Medrano (the food magician, yum) and NPH-- Neil Patrick Housecat-- among others. The cast might get even larger if some of the family members who were mentioned return from their travels in future books.
The mystery is a good one in Murder Once Removed, plenty of misdirection and red herrings, and I enjoyed trying to figure it out. But there were a couple of things that I didn't enjoy quite so much. Lucy is not supposed to be a fashionista-- preferring to wear jeans and t-shirts to work-- but readers are given a blow-by-blow description of everyone's physical appearance and wardrobe. All the needless detail slows down the pace of the book. There's also a rather run-of-the-mill romantic interest for Lucy-- the gorgeous law enforcement guy who rubs her fur the wrong way-- that really wasn't necessary. Just once, I wish the main character would fall for a homely guy who wasn't licensed to carry any deadly weapons, you know?
Thankfully, the mystery, Lucy and her gang, and the Austin setting rose above the wordy descriptions and ho-hum romance. I'm looking forward to seeing what family tree Lucy shakes next.
October 22, 2018
Having been a genealogist for many years; this story was great. Research leads to death, cousin connections, romance, and the past effecting the present. Family tree strategy leads answers to a murder committed in the 1840's. Lucy Lancaster races to evaluate the past and help the FBI with a present crime. "A copy of this book was provided by St Martin's Press via Netgalley with no requirements for a review. Comments here are my honest opinion."
January 12, 2019
3 stars
Texas genealogist Lucy Lancaster makes a startling and fulfilling discovery about one of her clients’ great-great grandfather’s murder. The man for whom she is working is a very rich businessman in the world of Texas finance. He is thrilled with her discovery. What he doesn’t tell her – or at least she doesn’t remember him telling her – is that he had her filmed and is having a press conference. Lucy is both horrified and embarrassed at seeing herself on television.
She is startled to find and FBI Agent named Benton “Ben” Ronten at her door one morning. He asks her several questions but never says why. He figures large in this book.
Lucy goes about her business. When showing up for a meeting with an old friend and museum curator she finds her dead with her client kneeling beside the body holding what is apparently the murder weapon. He says he just showed up and didn’t see who killed Lucy’s friend.
Lucy gets way too involved in the subsequent investigation.
This is a well written little cozy mystery. I did not like it as much as I like the Jefferson Tayte genealogical mysteries. This book didn’t have the same pizazz. I didn’t like Lucy as much as I do Jeff. She and her friends and office-mates are too into “hot guys” and partying. (Boring!) The characters seemed more than a little stereotyped. However, this book is a very good first effort. My hope is that Lucy will grow up a little although I have to hand it to her, she is very intelligent and she is very dedicated to her work. I haven’t yet decided if I’ll read another of S.C. Perkins’ books.
I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for forwarding to me a copy of this debut book for me to read, enjoy and review.
Texas genealogist Lucy Lancaster makes a startling and fulfilling discovery about one of her clients’ great-great grandfather’s murder. The man for whom she is working is a very rich businessman in the world of Texas finance. He is thrilled with her discovery. What he doesn’t tell her – or at least she doesn’t remember him telling her – is that he had her filmed and is having a press conference. Lucy is both horrified and embarrassed at seeing herself on television.
She is startled to find and FBI Agent named Benton “Ben” Ronten at her door one morning. He asks her several questions but never says why. He figures large in this book.
Lucy goes about her business. When showing up for a meeting with an old friend and museum curator she finds her dead with her client kneeling beside the body holding what is apparently the murder weapon. He says he just showed up and didn’t see who killed Lucy’s friend.
Lucy gets way too involved in the subsequent investigation.
This is a well written little cozy mystery. I did not like it as much as I like the Jefferson Tayte genealogical mysteries. This book didn’t have the same pizazz. I didn’t like Lucy as much as I do Jeff. She and her friends and office-mates are too into “hot guys” and partying. (Boring!) The characters seemed more than a little stereotyped. However, this book is a very good first effort. My hope is that Lucy will grow up a little although I have to hand it to her, she is very intelligent and she is very dedicated to her work. I haven’t yet decided if I’ll read another of S.C. Perkins’ books.
I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for forwarding to me a copy of this debut book for me to read, enjoy and review.
June 28, 2019
I feel bad giving the book three stars because I really like the people in it and it kept me reading till the very end, but the genealogy part just made my eyes glaze over and if the future books are like this I don’t think I’ll be able to read them .
August 1, 2019
Diezgan meh! Interesantākais bija ģenealoģisko pētījumu pinekļu apraksti. Pati detektīva sērija gan pavāja.
July 9, 2019
A good start to a new series. The genre tropes are recognizable, but there is enough local color flavor (Texas-flavor, in this case) to keep the book from being stereotypical. There is also plenty to learn about genealogy. The motive is a bit complex and tangled for my preference, but I like the premise and the characters and will read the next installment in the series.
April 24, 2020
First sentence: The knife had pierced Seth Halloran’s heart, exactly at the spot that would stop it cold. Poor guy would’ve dropped right where he stood. I hit speed dial and tucked the phone between my ear and shoulder. “Got a report for me yet, Lancaster?” Gus asked. “Our witness,” I said, not taking my eyes off the body. “The portrait photographer. He heard yelling and ran to investigate.” “Tell me something I don’t know,” Gus said. “I’ll do you two better,” I replied. “One, the witness finally has an ID. His name’s Jeb Inscore.” “Inscore, huh? Not a name you hear often.” I agreed. “Secondly, Jeb hid in a nearby alley, where he saw two unknown men standing over the victim. One of them was holding a knife. Jeb saw blood on it.” “That’s not what said he said the first time.” “Nope,” I said. “At least not on the official record. Gus, this wasn’t an accidental death. Seth Halloran was murdered.” Gus snorted, though I knew he was intrigued. Murder had certainly been the rumor. “How do you figure that?”
Premise/plot: Lucy Lancaster, our heroine, is a professional genealogist and an amateur detective. Solving mysteries--particularly murder mysteries--isn't part of her day to day routine. In fact, this may be her first temptation to be an amateur detective. But the crime, well, it was committed in 1849...and she discovered it while researching for a client. She was just wanting to find out MORE about Gus Halloran's ancestors...but what she discovered was a dead body and a crime that might carry over into the present.
It soon becomes clear that SOMEONE is out there and posing a very real danger to those closest to the case. Even the FBI is involved...Lucy doesn't want to follow any modern, contemporary clues...but how can she stop researching the past, the families involved?!
My thoughts: I enjoyed this one. I can't say that I loved, loved, loved it. I didn't quite. I loved the Texas setting. I really liked Lucy. I really liked Ben. There was good tension throughout the book. I enjoyed the genealogical aspects of this one. Though it really TRULY annoyed me when she referred to finding people in the 1890 census!!! (There is NO 1890 census. Leaving many mysteries behind for family researchers to this day.)
I can't say that the characterization was especially deep and amazing. But it was light and though not beyond the surface, it wasn't unpleasant.
Premise/plot: Lucy Lancaster, our heroine, is a professional genealogist and an amateur detective. Solving mysteries--particularly murder mysteries--isn't part of her day to day routine. In fact, this may be her first temptation to be an amateur detective. But the crime, well, it was committed in 1849...and she discovered it while researching for a client. She was just wanting to find out MORE about Gus Halloran's ancestors...but what she discovered was a dead body and a crime that might carry over into the present.
It soon becomes clear that SOMEONE is out there and posing a very real danger to those closest to the case. Even the FBI is involved...Lucy doesn't want to follow any modern, contemporary clues...but how can she stop researching the past, the families involved?!
My thoughts: I enjoyed this one. I can't say that I loved, loved, loved it. I didn't quite. I loved the Texas setting. I really liked Lucy. I really liked Ben. There was good tension throughout the book. I enjoyed the genealogical aspects of this one. Though it really TRULY annoyed me when she referred to finding people in the 1890 census!!! (There is NO 1890 census. Leaving many mysteries behind for family researchers to this day.)
I can't say that the characterization was especially deep and amazing. But it was light and though not beyond the surface, it wasn't unpleasant.
June 5, 2019
I’ve read a lot of cozy mysteries and I love discovering new series that might end up being a long time favorite. The trick seems always be finding something new and different.
This book is the first in a new series featuring Lucy, a genealogist. I had to pause and reread this particular part. I was very intrigued by the genealogist part and was curious to see how that played out in the mystery.
My mom is really into genealogy and I have to say that it’s not the most exciting filed of study in my opinion, but I do love history and uncovering unique characters in family lineages is always fun and exciting. In this case, Lucy discover a murder in a family tree, but I was curious to see how that was going to be relevant in the modern story.
I thought the genealogy bit was an interesting approach to not just a historical murder, but a modern day one as well. I loved trying to see how the two were linked and unravel a unique mystery. I didn’t realize a professional genealogist was actually a thing anymore with all the modern technology and DNA tests, but I thought it was a unique profession and offered an interesting perspective for Lucy’s character.
This was a super quick read for me. I don’t know that it was a huge page turner for me, but it was well written and had a quick pace. I was able to read it in about two sittings and found it enjoyable and different. There was a lot of history about Texas which I wasn’t really into and I didn’t really see the need for in this book, but it wasn’t a huge distraction over all.
While I thought Lucy showed promise as a detective and for future books, I felt that she was a little too immature at times. Her and her friends gushed about guys a little too much and were a little too into partying and for me it just felt out of place and unnecessary in this book. I will be excited to see the direction Lucy goes in future books.
Overall I went with a 3 star rating. It’s a great introduction but at times I felt like it lacked some polish and maturity in some of the characters.
See my full review here
This book is the first in a new series featuring Lucy, a genealogist. I had to pause and reread this particular part. I was very intrigued by the genealogist part and was curious to see how that played out in the mystery.
My mom is really into genealogy and I have to say that it’s not the most exciting filed of study in my opinion, but I do love history and uncovering unique characters in family lineages is always fun and exciting. In this case, Lucy discover a murder in a family tree, but I was curious to see how that was going to be relevant in the modern story.
I thought the genealogy bit was an interesting approach to not just a historical murder, but a modern day one as well. I loved trying to see how the two were linked and unravel a unique mystery. I didn’t realize a professional genealogist was actually a thing anymore with all the modern technology and DNA tests, but I thought it was a unique profession and offered an interesting perspective for Lucy’s character.
This was a super quick read for me. I don’t know that it was a huge page turner for me, but it was well written and had a quick pace. I was able to read it in about two sittings and found it enjoyable and different. There was a lot of history about Texas which I wasn’t really into and I didn’t really see the need for in this book, but it wasn’t a huge distraction over all.
While I thought Lucy showed promise as a detective and for future books, I felt that she was a little too immature at times. Her and her friends gushed about guys a little too much and were a little too into partying and for me it just felt out of place and unnecessary in this book. I will be excited to see the direction Lucy goes in future books.
Overall I went with a 3 star rating. It’s a great introduction but at times I felt like it lacked some polish and maturity in some of the characters.
See my full review here
October 31, 2018
MURDER ONCE REMOVED is the delightful debut novel by S.C. Perkins and I was fascinated by the premise of this first book in the Ancestry Mystery series! Protagonist, Lucy Lancaster, uses genealogy (combing through websites, library archives and DNA) to solve a long ago murder mystery while tracking down a current day killer. Lucy is the epitome of southern sassiness with a big ol’ side helping of creative intelligence. I adore her interaction with her best friends, Serena and Josephine along with the purported former drug lord turn restaurant owner, Flaco of Big Flaco’s Tacos (whose food descriptions will have you drooling). Their repartee gives opportunities for some humorous one-liners and laugh out loud moments which kept me highly entertained. Ms. Perkins has created great character development and descriptive voice even for minor characters. She effectively uses the flavors of food, language, and the historical sites of Austin to bring the setting to life and make the reader feel like they’re right there.
The book grabbed my attention from the very first sentence and kept me glued to the pages. The murder plots from both 1849 and current day are well entwined. I was fascinated with the amount of research the author obviously has done to understand and explain the process of genealogy, without making it complicated for the reader. Ms. Perkins also interjects some interesting history about the State of Texas without detracting from the pace. As the threads of the story are woven together and suspects are considered and then abandoned, Lucy finds herself working with the FBI, particularly a handsome agent who is also a history professor. This is a fun twist to a potential romantic attraction. The exciting reveal was fast paced, keeping me on the edge of my seat, yet never felt rushed. I can’t wait to read the next installment in this well-written debut!
I was provided an advance copy with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The book grabbed my attention from the very first sentence and kept me glued to the pages. The murder plots from both 1849 and current day are well entwined. I was fascinated with the amount of research the author obviously has done to understand and explain the process of genealogy, without making it complicated for the reader. Ms. Perkins also interjects some interesting history about the State of Texas without detracting from the pace. As the threads of the story are woven together and suspects are considered and then abandoned, Lucy finds herself working with the FBI, particularly a handsome agent who is also a history professor. This is a fun twist to a potential romantic attraction. The exciting reveal was fast paced, keeping me on the edge of my seat, yet never felt rushed. I can’t wait to read the next installment in this well-written debut!
I was provided an advance copy with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 3, 2018
I enjoy this author some years ago. I was delighted to see is starting the Ancestry Detective series. The series is set in Texas. Lucy Lancaster, a genealogist along with two friends have rent a flat in. Each has her own office. Lucy has been working with Austin billionaire, Gus Halloran
researching his ancestry. She has found a daguerreotype photograph and a journal that proves his Great-great grandfather was murder in 1849 and even tell him who was the villain. While Lucy was informing the Halloran family, the information is shown on TV and accused Senator Daniel Applewhite that his Great-great Grandfather was the killer.
Senator Applewhite is running for reelection and his opponent is a Halloran.
Lucy feels she must look into what happened in 1849 and begins to trace the ancestry of the individuals involved. A friend of Lucy is MURDER and the daguerreotype is missing. The twists and turns that occur as Lucy begins tracing the individuals involve in the killing. Will Lucy find daguerreotype? I highly recommend this book.
Disclosure: Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martens Press for a review copy. The opinions expressed are my own.
researching his ancestry. She has found a daguerreotype photograph and a journal that proves his Great-great grandfather was murder in 1849 and even tell him who was the villain. While Lucy was informing the Halloran family, the information is shown on TV and accused Senator Daniel Applewhite that his Great-great Grandfather was the killer.
Senator Applewhite is running for reelection and his opponent is a Halloran.
Lucy feels she must look into what happened in 1849 and begins to trace the ancestry of the individuals involved. A friend of Lucy is MURDER and the daguerreotype is missing. The twists and turns that occur as Lucy begins tracing the individuals involve in the killing. Will Lucy find daguerreotype? I highly recommend this book.
Disclosure: Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martens Press for a review copy. The opinions expressed are my own.
March 30, 2019
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Great Escapes Book Tours. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Solving a mystery almost two centuries later? All in the name of genealogy research.
Murder Once Removed by S.C. Perkins is an excellent book for anyone that loves history and food. Okay, so the last one not really but the sleuth surely eats a lot. I do have to say that I loved everything especially the genealogy aspect of it.
Sleuth
Are sleuth is named Lucy Lancaster, and she's the narrator for the book. Having Lucy as the narrator helps a lot in my opinion since we get to see things through her eyes and how she is thinking about this mystery. Not just for the mystery of her friend being murdered but about one of her client's ancestors being murdered.
What I like about her is that she is a fan of food and that she seems to love her work. I also love the little bits of television shows she watches since it reminds me of me. Lucy is a fan of BBC Sherlock and talks about Harrison Ford playing Indiana Jones in Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Love Interest
For this, I am thinking its the FBI Agent Benton Turner. He just like Lucy loves history and even has a degree in it. At the FBI he works as a white-collar agent but lives in Texas. What I like about him is that he keeps Lucy on her toes around him especially about certain things involving the case.
Mystery
All of this started because her client, Gus Halloran, wanted to get his genealogy done for his family. During the research, she finds out that his great-great-grandfather was murdered and not killed like everyone was led to believe back then. Let's just say that this turned a way that I wasn't excepting at all.
Five Stars
Murder Once Removed by S.C. Perkins was a great novel that kept me entertained until the last page. I can't wait to dive back into the next book with these thrilling characters. Out of all the characters my two favorites are Serena and Lucy. Okay, Lucy than Serena. Lucy being the main character and our sleuth was really fun, and I loved Serena being there to bounce ideas off of her while keeping her stylish. I am giving five stars to this book and recommending it to all of my cozy readers!
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Murder Once Removed by S.C. Perkins is an excellent book for anyone that loves history and food. Okay, so the last one not really but the sleuth surely eats a lot. I do have to say that I loved everything especially the genealogy aspect of it.
Sleuth
Are sleuth is named Lucy Lancaster, and she's the narrator for the book. Having Lucy as the narrator helps a lot in my opinion since we get to see things through her eyes and how she is thinking about this mystery. Not just for the mystery of her friend being murdered but about one of her client's ancestors being murdered.
What I like about her is that she is a fan of food and that she seems to love her work. I also love the little bits of television shows she watches since it reminds me of me. Lucy is a fan of BBC Sherlock and talks about Harrison Ford playing Indiana Jones in Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Love Interest
For this, I am thinking its the FBI Agent Benton Turner. He just like Lucy loves history and even has a degree in it. At the FBI he works as a white-collar agent but lives in Texas. What I like about him is that he keeps Lucy on her toes around him especially about certain things involving the case.
Mystery
All of this started because her client, Gus Halloran, wanted to get his genealogy done for his family. During the research, she finds out that his great-great-grandfather was murdered and not killed like everyone was led to believe back then. Let's just say that this turned a way that I wasn't excepting at all.
Five Stars
Murder Once Removed by S.C. Perkins was a great novel that kept me entertained until the last page. I can't wait to dive back into the next book with these thrilling characters. Out of all the characters my two favorites are Serena and Lucy. Okay, Lucy than Serena. Lucy being the main character and our sleuth was really fun, and I loved Serena being there to bounce ideas off of her while keeping her stylish. I am giving five stars to this book and recommending it to all of my cozy readers!
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This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
November 8, 2018
This was a smart, interesting read! I'm no genealogy fiend, and there were a couple of times where the narrator lost me with explanations. But in general, the plot was easy to follow, and narrator Lucy was a genial and clear guide through the mysteries--both present-day and in the past! I'll be looking for the next in the Ancestry Detective series.
Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 28, 2019
Sigh. It started off promising for me, but then I found I did not like the main character and the overall motive ridiculous and oh so damn convoluted. Also, not a huge fan of when the killer practically explains everything, rather than the protagonist figuring much of it out. Some exposition is OK, this was ALOT.
April 9, 2019
I thought this was a very promising debut cozy novel and can’t wait to read another one in this series!
I have always wanted to do my genealogy so I find it very interesting and having a cozy that revolves around it was a lot of fun!
Lucy is a genealogist and she has been working on Gus Halloran’s family tree and when curiosity got the best of her and a mystery sort of unravels itself she couldn’t help but run with it. It seems that Gus’s several greats grandfather was murdered even though the records say that is was an accident. Lucy found evidence to the contrary and shows it to Gus and this little thing spirals out of control fast! It seems that there are only two people who could have killed him and one is related to a Senator!
When one of Lucy’s friends is killed trying to protect some information Lucy can’t help but try and figure it out. Even when the FBI agent Ben tells her to stay out of things. She can’t help but keep digging into the mystery of the past while also trying to solve the mystery of the present and if she doesn’t figure it out soon she could be the next victim.
I really had a lot of fun with this one and thought the characters where a lot of fun as well. I really liked Lucy and Ben the FBI agent but I think it was The Big Flaco, the guy who owns Lucy’s favorite taco place, was the most fun. Even though the I am not a huge cat fan I also liked NPH (Neal Patrick Housecat!) he was a fiesty one and good to have around…lol.
I thought the mystery was really good too as I was having a hard time figuring it all out and would recommend it to anyone who likes cozies.
I have always wanted to do my genealogy so I find it very interesting and having a cozy that revolves around it was a lot of fun!
Lucy is a genealogist and she has been working on Gus Halloran’s family tree and when curiosity got the best of her and a mystery sort of unravels itself she couldn’t help but run with it. It seems that Gus’s several greats grandfather was murdered even though the records say that is was an accident. Lucy found evidence to the contrary and shows it to Gus and this little thing spirals out of control fast! It seems that there are only two people who could have killed him and one is related to a Senator!
When one of Lucy’s friends is killed trying to protect some information Lucy can’t help but try and figure it out. Even when the FBI agent Ben tells her to stay out of things. She can’t help but keep digging into the mystery of the past while also trying to solve the mystery of the present and if she doesn’t figure it out soon she could be the next victim.
I really had a lot of fun with this one and thought the characters where a lot of fun as well. I really liked Lucy and Ben the FBI agent but I think it was The Big Flaco, the guy who owns Lucy’s favorite taco place, was the most fun. Even though the I am not a huge cat fan I also liked NPH (Neal Patrick Housecat!) he was a fiesty one and good to have around…lol.
I thought the mystery was really good too as I was having a hard time figuring it all out and would recommend it to anyone who likes cozies.
April 15, 2019
This was an exciting beginning for the Ancestry Detective series. While I don't do genealogy myself, I can appreciate when someone looks up family trees and ancestors. I definitely had no idea just how much work was entailed. It was interesting to see how Lucy went about her research and when she got interested in the death of a man in 1849, I definitely wanted to know how that connected to the current day conflicts between two families, one of which was a senator's family. The other was her wealthy client. I could see how her loyalty could be torn between the two as she worked to find out the truth behind the 1849 man Seth's murder. The two battling families reminded me a little bit of the Ewings and the Barnes families in the old Dallas show. Gus definitely made me think of J.R. and the senator could easily have been good ole Cliff Barnes.
The showdown with the killer was kind of a nail biter, because I didn't really see how Lucy could get herself out of this mess. Her condo manager's cat NPH (Neil Patrick Housecat who became dubbed Herocat) had something cool to do with it as well as Lucy's own quick thinking. I liked how her annoyance with FBI Agent Ben Turner turned to a sort of friendship and maybe even more than that in coming books. He did seem to tolerate her fairly well, even though just like every amateur sleuth she had her too-daring moments that made him worry. I'm anxious to keep reading in this series!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.
The showdown with the killer was kind of a nail biter, because I didn't really see how Lucy could get herself out of this mess. Her condo manager's cat NPH (Neil Patrick Housecat who became dubbed Herocat) had something cool to do with it as well as Lucy's own quick thinking. I liked how her annoyance with FBI Agent Ben Turner turned to a sort of friendship and maybe even more than that in coming books. He did seem to tolerate her fairly well, even though just like every amateur sleuth she had her too-daring moments that made him worry. I'm anxious to keep reading in this series!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.
June 7, 2019
Murder Once Removed by S.C. Perkins is the first in a fun genealogical mystery series featuring Lucy Lancaster - genealogist turned amateur sleuth. Lucy traces family histories, but bites off more than she can chew when she discovers a murder over 100 years in the past...that is still having ramifications today.
Lucy was an awesome character! I instantly related to her and found myself wishing I could have a conversation with her. She's smart and funny. This book had wonderful characters and I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to San Antonio. It's somewhere I've never been, but it felt real in this story.
The mystery was awesome because it took place in the past and the present. Mysteries from the past intertwined with mysteries from the present to create a unique whodunit that had me guessing until the end.
There is very mild cursing ~ a few words sprinkled throughout the book and always in context.
I checked this book out of the library to read and I am voluntarily sharing my honest review. My opinion is not influenced in any way.
Lucy was an awesome character! I instantly related to her and found myself wishing I could have a conversation with her. She's smart and funny. This book had wonderful characters and I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to San Antonio. It's somewhere I've never been, but it felt real in this story.
The mystery was awesome because it took place in the past and the present. Mysteries from the past intertwined with mysteries from the present to create a unique whodunit that had me guessing until the end.
There is very mild cursing ~ a few words sprinkled throughout the book and always in context.
I checked this book out of the library to read and I am voluntarily sharing my honest review. My opinion is not influenced in any way.
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