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Trace: Genealogy Fiction
Highly recommended! From the moment I picked it up, I could not put it down. You get to know each character and their journey to discover where they come from. - Sherry Lampkins, March 7, 2023I highly recommend this book to those who love genealogy as well as those who don’t get it. – Dora A Lipps, December 30, 2021Trace blends together genealogy, history, and mystery together to keep you flipping thru the pages! The story is written and woven together with care. I love genealogy fiction and this did not disappoint. – Mary Meyers, April 7, 2019This is a very good story if you are interested in Genealogy. It links the purposes of doing the research of records with the DNA testing now available through a story of several individuals throughout the world. - Stephanie Schickinger, July 21, 2020Mr.Ahrens never fails to keep the reader intrigued. I found myself having to resist skipping ahead to see how it all turned out! I definitely recommend this read, its not only smartly written, its fresh, witty and you may find yourself wanting to find out how you, too, connect to your past. - poetryroad, March 3, 2019Set in the present day, with flashes back to the 17th Century, Trace is a story of seemingly unrelated people from around the world who take part in DNA testing for a variety of reasons with unexpected results. Finding family where it isn’t expected and demonstrating just how small of a world we live in, this fictional tale demonstrates the power of genetic genealogy in bringing people together, while also guiding aspiring genealogists to make the most of their ethnicity testing results.
223 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 14, 2019
100 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 12, 2019
Astounding
This is an astounding miracle that 50 years ago would be considered a work of fiction. But through the miracle of DNA, this miracle reunites families from the world over. This book made me cry and shake my head at the good luck of the draw. I am getting ready to get my DNA done!
This is an astounding miracle that 50 years ago would be considered a work of fiction. But through the miracle of DNA, this miracle reunites families from the world over. This book made me cry and shake my head at the good luck of the draw. I am getting ready to get my DNA done!
January 26, 2020
Informative and confusing
I learned a lot and now have more questions than before. I suppose that is Mr. Ahrens intention!
First, I was intrigued by the cover, and then by the description. My background story is one of someone lucky enough to be related to a US President, and as a result, I have a proven family tree that dates back to the 11th century. My adopted daughter and I who are not related, share a rare inheritable disease caused by a mutated chromosome. I'm still trying to unnderstand the difference between inheritable and inherited. So you can see why the book leaves me confused.
There is a lot of information on all the aspects of genealogy and genetic research. Using a story as a method to explain it all is similar to making history come alive through the genre of historical romance vs a scbool textbook.
With such a long family tree, I feel like I could write a book myself. My ancestors were staunch abolitionists, and yet going back further, at least one or two generations were slave owners if that connection is accurate. Several generations were engineers and inventors, and several held public offices. Many were successful. One man married his diseased wife's teenaged daughter. Creepy.
His conclusion is the same as mine. We are all one big family, with some family members to be proud of, and others we find a tad embarrassing. It's important to realize that we should judge each others as individuals and not as groups.
The author touched on the caste system in India, which as an American with the freedom to choose a career and social oath, I find greatly lacking in value. The medical aspect of genetics is even more fraught with conflict. For instance, my husband's life was saved while he was in ICU because he was encouraged to have his genetic DNA testing done prior to surgery to remove a cancerous kidney. To save his life the needed to give him medication. They would have given him one that would have killed him if they hadn't discovered that he had hispanic blood at a high percentage, something he had never suspected. On the flip side, having genetic testing done would prove more than one of my medical conditions , something I fear, because insurance coverage of pre-existing medical conditions are or not required depending on which presidents are in office at any given time. Then there is the idea of what experiments in human breeding and selection could be in our future. We're already eliminating the unborn fully formed lives of our children and hastening the deaths.of parents who still have stories to tell.
Back to questions. Lots and lots of questions and ramifications in the fields of genetics and geneology.
I believe the author has done a service to bring attention to an area where the future of mankind as a whole is already being affected, and will be more so exponentially.
I learned a lot and now have more questions than before. I suppose that is Mr. Ahrens intention!
First, I was intrigued by the cover, and then by the description. My background story is one of someone lucky enough to be related to a US President, and as a result, I have a proven family tree that dates back to the 11th century. My adopted daughter and I who are not related, share a rare inheritable disease caused by a mutated chromosome. I'm still trying to unnderstand the difference between inheritable and inherited. So you can see why the book leaves me confused.
There is a lot of information on all the aspects of genealogy and genetic research. Using a story as a method to explain it all is similar to making history come alive through the genre of historical romance vs a scbool textbook.
With such a long family tree, I feel like I could write a book myself. My ancestors were staunch abolitionists, and yet going back further, at least one or two generations were slave owners if that connection is accurate. Several generations were engineers and inventors, and several held public offices. Many were successful. One man married his diseased wife's teenaged daughter. Creepy.
His conclusion is the same as mine. We are all one big family, with some family members to be proud of, and others we find a tad embarrassing. It's important to realize that we should judge each others as individuals and not as groups.
The author touched on the caste system in India, which as an American with the freedom to choose a career and social oath, I find greatly lacking in value. The medical aspect of genetics is even more fraught with conflict. For instance, my husband's life was saved while he was in ICU because he was encouraged to have his genetic DNA testing done prior to surgery to remove a cancerous kidney. To save his life the needed to give him medication. They would have given him one that would have killed him if they hadn't discovered that he had hispanic blood at a high percentage, something he had never suspected. On the flip side, having genetic testing done would prove more than one of my medical conditions , something I fear, because insurance coverage of pre-existing medical conditions are or not required depending on which presidents are in office at any given time. Then there is the idea of what experiments in human breeding and selection could be in our future. We're already eliminating the unborn fully formed lives of our children and hastening the deaths.of parents who still have stories to tell.
Back to questions. Lots and lots of questions and ramifications in the fields of genetics and geneology.
I believe the author has done a service to bring attention to an area where the future of mankind as a whole is already being affected, and will be more so exponentially.
September 20, 2022
Where did we really come from?
Outstanding book that every family historian should read. When an individual does a DNA test, there is always one or two things that pop up indicating a far away link to a distant relative generations ago. You ponder the link and question whether you should pursue it and how much energy you should put into it. Though fiction, the author describes links, the pursuit, and possible results. In addition, in this book you get a peek at 17th century
world history and a glimpse into the slave market.
Outstanding book that every family historian should read. When an individual does a DNA test, there is always one or two things that pop up indicating a far away link to a distant relative generations ago. You ponder the link and question whether you should pursue it and how much energy you should put into it. Though fiction, the author describes links, the pursuit, and possible results. In addition, in this book you get a peek at 17th century
world history and a glimpse into the slave market.
June 21, 2025
The story begins when Heather, a twin, takes a DNA test, mainly interested in the ethnicity estimates. But she and her sister Henna quickly become more interested as they discover surprising matches. Unfortunately, I felt there were too many characters, and too many different stories to try to keep track of. The occasional historical recollections at first seem unconnected and interrupt the flow (such as it is) of the story. At times this book reads more like a textbook than a novel.
May 31, 2024
trace
This was an interesting book, needless to say. As a genealogist myself I found the story a bit far-fetched, interesting. I can’t imagine finding connections that far back. There were too many characters for good character development.
One good thing for me is it re-stimulated my interest in DNA. I am going to my computer right now.
This was an interesting book, needless to say. As a genealogist myself I found the story a bit far-fetched, interesting. I can’t imagine finding connections that far back. There were too many characters for good character development.
One good thing for me is it re-stimulated my interest in DNA. I am going to my computer right now.
August 19, 2021
Excellent book on DNA and how we are related as a world. Brought me to tears. Excellent work and story.
October 18, 2022
Unusual yet riveting book. A lot of technical terms that lost me at times but quite enjoyable.
February 17, 2023
Very interesting way to demonstrate how these long ago connections come into play.
September 20, 2023
Interesting Information
I really liked all of the information on genealogy that was presented in a storyline way. That made it more interesting too.
I really liked all of the information on genealogy that was presented in a storyline way. That made it more interesting too.
April 16, 2025
I loved how the characters came together and thought it interesting how it only took one DNA test to open up so many new discoveries for these individuals.
June 18, 2023
Whilst I can understand why so many people have given it 4* or 5*, it wasn't at all what I had expected; if I had wanted a DNA manual, I would have bought one!
This is a case-study requiring considerable concentration, not a relaxing or straightforward read for a train or plane journey or a beach read.
This is a case-study requiring considerable concentration, not a relaxing or straightforward read for a train or plane journey or a beach read.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews