I really enjoy amateur sleuth series, especially featuring researchers/reporters/librarians, etc, researching and solving cold-cases which have repercussions into the present day. It's a wonderful setup premise with potential for all sorts of skulduggery and scandal. If that sounds oddly specific, it's because it's almost a sub-genre itself. Because of the historical aspects of the original crimes, the author has an automatic boost in the suspension of disbelief from readers because it's almost certainly not an ongoing investigation from law enforcement who get testy when amateurs horn in on their business.
Main character researcher and genealogist Beth is thrust into a world and family she didn't know existed almost literally overnight. She's the niece and last heir of a sizeable family fortune. From the start, she's fascinated and determined to find out more about the other family she never knew she had. Her birth mother died tragically young more than 40 years ago, her father was accused and convicted of culpability in the murder. When she starts actively seeking the truth surrounding the circumstances of her mother's death, she finds out that there are still people who are most anxious that the past stay firmly buried.
Possibly triggering themes of anxiety and abandonment, adoption, etc. The language is quite clean with only a scattered few 'damns' and nothing worse. There's a slowly developing relationship with the local handsome detective, but it's chaste.
The writing and plotting are very well done and the author has a natural and readable voice in her narration. The dialogue is well done and believable. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author. This would make an excellent book club read. I would also recommend it to fans of the genre. Well written and enjoyable.
Four stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
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