I love a good cozy mystery! One that incorporates all of my favorite topics (i.e. genealogy, bookstores, libraries, cooking, painting, inn keeping, animals, etc.), throwing in some action-suspense, a who-done-it, interesting characters, and a plot that keeps me guessing, then you’ve got me hooked. I will say, I am one of those people who like to read a series from the beginning, but I often find you don’t have to… either way I highly recommend reading Lineage Most Lethal by S.C. Perkins.

*I received a complimentary copy of this novel from NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.*

Such an awesome series. I love the merging of cozy mystery + genealogy. The uniqueness really drives this series.

This is the 2nd book in the Ancestry Detective series. I really enjoyed it. Lucy is a genealogist who traces ancestries for a living. She inadvertently gets involved in a mystery that stretches back to WWII and ends up putting her life in danger. The book was well wrapped and plotted, and I’m looking forward to reading more books in the series. 4 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Lineage Most Lethal

by S.C. Perkins

Having read a very positive review of the debut novel in S.C. Perkins’ Ancestry Detective Mystery Series, I decided, when the opportunity arose, to give Lineage Most Lethal, the second book in the series, a try. I am fairly neutral on the interest continuum when it comes to genealogies, but this cozy mystery afforded a different perspective for me on family trees. I also learned a little about the intricacies of researching lineages.

Lucy Lancaster is an outgoing young woman who shares office space with two friends in downtown Austin, Texas. Currently she is spending a week at the high-end Sutton hotel working for Pippa Sutton to investigate her family’s history and compile the information into a video to be presented at a family gathering. As the plot progresses, we learn about Lucy’s own beloved grandfather’s involvement in World War II and a little about her former boyfriend, Ben, an FBI agent who has ghosted her.

Lucy’s research turns dark when a stranger dies before her eyes, Pippa’s mother Roselyn begins acting strangely, and Chef Rocky is found dead. Lucy’s grandfather shares secrets from the past, and suddenly it seems many in the present are in a dangerous state. As Lucy tries to juggle all the balls, she is pushing against a murderer’s timetable as well as her professional and personal commitments.

Although I suspected the identity of the murderer, I did not grasp the intricate connections of the victims, potential victims, a nutcase who appeared sane, and their descendants. The tale includes a few red herrings dealing with cipher codes and given names as well. The solution is definitely complicated. Well played, S. C. Perkins!

I would like to extend my thanks to NetGalley and to St. Martin’s Press for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: #2 in the Ancestry Detective Mystery Series, but worked well for me as a standalone.

Publication: July 21, 2020—St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur

Memorable Lines:

“The point is, do yourself a favor and halve your problem by sharing it with someone.”

I would do my part to protect these people, even if I would never meet them and got branded by the APD as a genealogist who was a taco short of a combination plate.

Ben took my hand and led me out the French doors into the winter wonderland, the white fairy lights making the falling snow glitter like diamonds.

This book was so good! 

This book was exciting, suspenseful, and kept me guessing! I had a hunch about who the killer might be, because obviously there was one haha, but I thought, "no way, _______ could be the killer", but they were! 

This book was full of spies, history, genealogy (of course), and a little bit of love thrown in. I cannot wait for the next book in this series! 

5 stars. 

I voluntarily reviewed this book on Netgalley.

This is a great an unique series. The main character in this series is a genealogist. I have never read a book with this type of theme before and I love it. Lucy delves into the family histories of her clients for a living and somehow murder surrounds her. With a little help from her grandfather and two fabulous best friends she uncovers clues. My favorite side story is about her “second” father Flaco of Flaco’s Tacos. He brings a lot of flavor to each story and I wish I could eat at that restaurant. I highly recommend this series.

Ah!! I love love love this series so much! I read it in a day and could do it it down! Lucy is a fantastic character who is a genealogist. Working on her newest job she stumbles upon some information that may change everything but for her own family! I loved how the author crafted this book and I look forward to reading the next book in this series!

This book was so well-written, I just couldn’t put it down. Lucy almost jumps off the page. She is a delight. So excited for the next book in this series. Perkins is a genius!

I haven’t read book one but I really enjoyed reading this book and it can be read as a standalone. I love that the author uses genealogy as the backdrop for the mysteries, my aunt is really into this and researched our family back to the 1700’s. I have since bought her both books.

The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I loved the characters which are well developed. This is a fast and entertaining read.

I recommend this book to anyone who likes genealogy and mysteries.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from St. Martins Press and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I found the mystery really interesting and the settle was great but I had a hard time connecting to the characters themselves

This second book in the Ancestry Detective series was even better than the first. I loved how the athor weaved together a cozy mystery that not only contained an interesting profession but also a well-planned mystery. Looking forward to the next book in this series.

On the heels of the first book, Murder Once Removed, I dove into this one with high expectations. They were mostly met with the same cast of characters, with Lucy's delightful 92-year-old grandfather as a wonderful addition.

This mystery revolves around WWII and spies, secrets, lies, and mix-ups. Lucy's grandfather is smack dab in the middle of it, so of course, there is added concern for Lucy to ensure nothing befalls him during the course, and subsequent resolution, of the investigation.

It was a bit more complex and convoluted than the previous book, and there was more reliance on coincidence, which is disappointing. Nonetheless, the story remained strong and the arc is moving along well with some relationships becoming more established (Lucy & Ben, and her friend, the dazzling Josephine and Akbar, although we don't hear much from/about him - hopefully in the next book!). It was another enjoyable romp through history, in this case, WWII Europe, and I'm looking forward to the next addition to the series.

I loved everything about this book, even though I did not read book 1 prior to starting this. Lucy was such a fantastic protagonist, the setting and supporting characters really helped the story and the plot was a wonderful mix of thriller, mystery and espionage. This will definitely be one of my 2020 favorites.

As with the first book in this series, I really enjoyed reading this one. I love that the author uses genealogy as the backdrop for the mysteries. She does an excellent job of developing the characters including Lucy’s grandfather. This is fast, fun read.

Lineage Most Lethal by S. C. Perkins

In this story, Lucy Lancaster is mixing work and play at the Sutton Hotel in Austin, Texas........... As a genealogist, she is preparing a presentation for the hotel owner, Pippa Sutton.

I enjoyed this book. I don’t usually read historical novels, but this book was interesting. Great characters, especially Lucy and her grandpa. I recommend this book.

Thank you Net Galley for sending me an advanced reader’s copy for my review.

Genealogy, a curious woman and a grandpa with a past much more exciting than he lets on? Sounds like a perfect setting for a cozy mystery. I thought that the plot moved a long fairly well and that the plot was not predictable. The historical connections were interesting and its focus on not only our past but also how our ancestors actions affect us is timely.

S. C. Perkins once again brings murder into genealogical research in Lineage Most Lethal. Lucy Lancaster has been finishing family research for a wealthy client, Pippa, hotel heiress. Bodies start dropping. Lucy finds out that her grandfather was a World War II spy and the descendants of his network are being targeted for death. Lucy has to trace the genealogical and historical spy connections to save those still alive and find out who is killing them and why. Great genealogical cozy.

Lineage Most Lethal is another winning entry in S.C. Perkins’s Ancestry Detective Series. In this second book, genealogist Lucy Lancaster delves into the past to solve a present-day murder and encounters secrets dating back to World War II. Fast-paced and full of twists and turns, spies and counter-spies, this book will keep you guessing until the end.

Lucy is visiting one of her client’s hotels when a man hands her a Mont Blanc pen and admonishes her to keep it safe. Moments later, he is dead at her feet. Startling as this is, Lucy becomes more enveloped in the mystery when shows the pen to her grandfather, George, who has his own Mont Blanc collection. From that point the mystery takes off. Lucy must not only dig into the ancestral files of her client, Pippa Sutton, but must also explore the depths of her grandfather’s past to expose a killer.

This series just keeps getting better and better. Lucy is intriguing and endearing. She is bold, smart, and logical. Her profession is fascinating and lends itself well to solving mysteries. Her grandfather, George, is adorable. I hope he will become a recurring character. And, although he had less of a role in this story, FBI agent Ben Turner is back in a most opportune way. And of course, my favorite cat, NPH (Neil Patrick Housecat) adds to the charm of the story.

Part cozy, part thriller, Lineage Most Lethal hits all the right notes. It is a compelling book that will keep you turning pages well into the night.

Note: I received an ARC of Lineage Most Lethal from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books. The above is my honest review.

This plot of this series is fascinating. We all would like to know more about ourselves and where we come from. I found the main character to be quite likeable and the story was very interesting.

I enjoyed the first book in this series. This one started off well but quickly went awry. It was a bit too "out there" for me knowing how great the first book was. I am hoping the author returns to her story roots for book three.