Lucy Lancaster is working on another fascinating genealogy for a local Austin heiress, Pippa Sutton. Their hotel will be the site of a large family gathering and festivities for the holidays, where Lucy will polish up her findings and treat everyone to the results. A stranger collapses near Hotel Sutton and Lucy inadvertently winds up with the deceased's vintage Montblanc pen. She is surprised when her grandfather, a WWII vet and vintage pen collector, shows up after seeing the pen on Facetime. I really liked how this story merged the historical mystery of espionage with the modern mystery facing Lucy. Her grandfather is a hoot, and her officemates always up for an adventure too. I also enjoyed the genealogy tips and Lucy's initial visit to the cemetery.

Princess Fuzzypants here: Lucy’s excitement of finishing her documentary about a prominent hotel family is dampened when a strange man dies at her feet and begs her to “keep them safe” before passing her a Mount Blanc pen. She has no idea at the time how deeply her own family is tied to the man.

It is only when her grandfather shows up the next day after she has recounted her experience that she has any inkling and it is a doozy of a story that harkens back to WWII. It is filled with spies and intelligence and betrayal and bravery. But someone wants to rewrite history and is killing people to do it. Lucy and her grandfather are not the only ones in the crosshairs of this maniac. The killer will stop at nothing to exact revenge.

I enjoyed the details about genealogy in the series. I find the process fascinating which only increases my pleasure but this is a corker of a tale and it is well written, fast paced and very engaging. Lots of great characters including Lucy and her grandfather but I do have a special affection of NPH- Neil Patrick Housecat- whom I suspect might be a Maine Coon and is Lucy’s personal security kitty. It even kept me guessing most of the way as to who was the villain. I twigged just slightly before Lucy.

Five purrs and two paws up.

This was a pretty good cozy mystery. It is book 2 in the series and while I really enjoyed book one, this one was a bit slow and boring for my tastes. I liked the ideas but the spy story line just wasn't really believable for me. I do love the genealogy aspect of this series though. I also missed the romance aspect of this story line. I'm still looking forward to book three but this one missed the mark.

I requested and received an e-ARC of this book from S.C. Perkins and Minotaur Books through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed this book, I was able to guess who the killer was but I kept reading so that I could find out the why!?! I love the fact that Lucy is a genealogist and uses her research skills to help solve crimes. I also enjoyed all of the background characters, they were all very well developed and played crucial parts throughout the story.

3.5 / 5.0 stars

What a fun and interesting cozy mystery with the added nuance of a genealogist as the protagonist and amateur sleuth. This second book in series was my introduction to this intriguing sassy, outspoken and reckless woman, Lucy Lancaster. She's a professional genealogist for hire. One can certainly imagine how sleuthing genealogical clues can easily transfer to digging into murder mystery clues. It's all research, reasoning and parsing out the clues. Of course, there are always a few red herrings thrown in for good measure. As Lucy is working out the family lines of hotel heiress, Pippa Sutton she is also affronted with an an old man's sudden death outside the Sutton's hotel. His exquisite fountain pen and its sudden disappearance play into the story around which many lives entwine - all connected back to WWII covert operations. One such person is Lucy's grandfather - a man whom she respects and absolutely adores but who has a few secrets not yet divulged.

Perkins' writing style is smooth, engaging and propels the reader to a well-fraught climax from which the reader is gently brought back down. After hearing of a number of genealogical research errors within the first book in series, I was encouraged to read that Perkins engaged a professional genealogist to proof the references to this profession contained in this second book. If you enjoy well thought out, circuitous stories with a touch of history and family tales, then this may well be a book for you.

I am grateful to author S.C. Perkins and Minotaur Books for having provided an uncorrected digital galley of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity, however, has not influence this review - the words of which are mine alone.

S.C Perkins delivers another great cozy mystery with "Lineage Most Lethal". Lucy Lancaster, Genealogist extraordinaire is tasked with uncovering the ancestry of Pippa Sutton and her prolific family. In true Lucy style, she uncovers a complex family history full of dynamic ancestors with fascinating stories. What she doesn't anticipate is a man dying in her arms one night with a cryptic message of "keep them safe". Who was this man? How did he die? Who did he want to keep safe? What follows is an unbelievable mystery spanning generations, including secret service agents in WWII, Nazi's, and D Day. This title is definitely worth a read and can stand alone even if you have not read the first book in the series. Although, I would definitely recommend checking out book one as well.

A version of this review previously appeared in Shelf Awareness and is republished here with permission.

"Well, I'll be dashed.... It's a pigpen." Uttered by wily old fox George Lancaster, these words refer to something other than a mess. A cipher, to be exact--one that forces George to disclose long-held World War II secrets to his beloved granddaughter, genealogist Lucy Lancaster. To bust a murder scheme relating to an old espionage operation, they'll have to find the key and break the code before lives are lost.

Lineage Most Lethal is the second entry in S.C. Perkins's marvelous Ancestry Detective series, following 2019 Agatha Award nominee Murder Once Removed, and Perkins picks up the murderous magnetism right where it left off. Smarting from feeling ghosted by Harrison Ford-esque Special Agent Ben Turner, Lucy throws herself into her work for hotel heiress Pippa Sutton. Lucy is approached by an ailing, elderly man on the grounds of the Hotel Sutton. As he perishes, he presses a Montblanc pen against her hand and implores her to "keep them safe."

Charismatic Grandpa George comes to the rescue--as a collector of vintage Montblancs, he reveals to Lucy the special nature of the pen and its ties to a secret Allied mission. The messages held within uncover a plot for revenge that will embroil Lucy, George and the Sutton clan in a bitter grudge inherited through generations. Perkins's plots are thick with fascinating atmosphere, curios, history and family lore, but her humor and characters shine most brightly, holding readers in an embrace of warm and lethal Southern charm.

STREET SENSE: This series has become one of my favorites very quickly. Just tons of fun and super charming. In these trying times, Stephanie's books are a perfect remedy for lockdown blues.

COVER NERD SAYS: This series has some of the best cover work I've ever seen. Simply gorgeous. Whoever does the art gets the goldest of gold stars.

I recommend these books for those who love cozy mysteries and those who enjoy searching for their family's story. You can only hope your story does not include a murder or two.

Lucy Lancaster's on the case once again, and this time it hits a little too close to home when a man drops dead at her feet and she discovers that he's connected to her beloved grandfather (who we learn was a member of an elite group of WWII spies!) Fast paced and full of clues and suspects, it was a wonderful read, and author S.C. Perkins has hit upon a refreshing idea for a cozy series - a protagonist who conducts genealogical research for a living opens up sooooo many great possibilities for future books! Loved it, and am rating Lineage Most Lethal 5 stars and A+++!

Lineage Most Lethal is the second book in the Ancestry Detective series.

Lucy Lancaster is a genealogist and I love this profession in a cozy mystery.

The setting was fantastic . The story was engaging and kept my attention. There are twists and turns and a focus on family which I enjoyed.

I suggest reading the first book in the series it is equally fantastic.

An excellent cozy mystery, I'm happy I read it because I discovered a new to me series.
It's an engrossing and entertaining read, the fleshed out characters are likable and interesting, the solid mystery kept me guessing.
I can't wait to read another instalment in this series.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

LINEAGE MOST LETHAL, the second book in S.C. Perkins’ Ancestry Detective series, is an excellent, smart mystery featuring genealogist Lucy Lancaster. It is sure to please both cozy and traditional mystery readers alike.

The series’ premise of a professional genealogist solving mysteries is fresh and, to me, pretty exciting. Perkins does an excellent job of weaving Lucy’s work into both a present day mystery and a tale of World War II era espionage. I like the Austin, Texas, setting. The characters, especially Lucy and her grandpa George, are so appealing. Since the pair is tightly connected to the mystery, I felt invested in the story from the first page. The story is well plotted and expertly executed. The pace is steady and leads up to a nail-biting climax.

I am so glad that I came across LINEAGE MOST LETHAL and look forward to many more adventures with Lucy and crew. Highly recommended!

With much gratitude, I received an ARC of this title through NetGalley from St. Martin’s Press and voluntarily shared my thoughts and opinions here.

I love family history and genealogy, so the whole premise of this book delights and intrigues me.

Genealogist Lucy Lancaster is spending the week before New Year's Eve at the boutique Sutton Hotel in Austin, Texas. The hotel is owned by her client, a hotel heiress, and Lucy's there to finalize and present two months of research. Lucy's just arrived at the hotel when a strange man arrives, sweaty, staggering, with a broken tooth, and obviously ill. He presses a Montblanc pen into Lucy's hand and whispers "keep them safe," then immediately collapses dead at her feet.

In the chaos after emergency services arrives the pen disappears and Lucy forgets about it entirely until afterward. She tracks it down and retrieves it from her client's dog. Lucy's grandfather collects Montblanc pens so she decides to wait and show it to him before handing it over to the police. But grandpa's response is odd, starting Lucy down an investigatory trail.

Lineage Most Lethal is a fun and fast-paced cozy mystery, with interesting characters I hope to see in future books. Lucy's ninety-something year old grandfather plays a large role in the novel and is absolutely fantastic.

There is a spoiler for the killer from the previous book so I would recommend reading the series in order (this is book two).

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions in this review are honest and my own. #LineageMostLethal #mystery #cozymystery

I liked the story idea. I found it interesting, but it just didn't come together for me. I knew who the killer was almost right away, and there were way too many characters to really develop any of them. That said, I did like Lucy's grandpa. Probably will not seek out this author again.

Genealogist Lucy Lancaster is finishing her project for her latest client, hotel heiress Pippa Sutton. Lucy is staying at one of the hotels in Austin, Texas, which allows her to have access to Pippa's cousins who help provide information about Pippa's family. Lucy is shocked when she meets a man who hands her a Mont Blanc fountain pen before collapsing. When Lucy mentions the pen to her beloved grandfather George, he confesses to her that he was a spy during WWII and that the pen is a key link to a past mission. But then George becomes a victim of a hit-&-run and Lucy is forced to work on solving the mystery without his help.

This was an intriguing and riveting mystery, and another enjoyable book in the Ancestry Detective mystery series.

I received an eARC from Netgalley and St. Martin's Press with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.

I think that this is a very interesting book. I have not read the first one but plan to do so now. This book had. a great plot with mystery, genealogy, and a little romance. I loved Lucy’s grandfather.
Many thanks to Minotaur Books and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Lineage Most Lethal by S.C. Perkins is the second in the Ancestry Detective Series, featuring professional genealogist Lucy Lancaster. In this outing, Lucy is researching the ancestry of Pippa Sutton, a small hotel heiress in Austin, Texas, Lucy's hometown. Lucy is just about finished with the six-week long project, spending New Year's week at the flagship hotel, Pippa's great-grandfather's renovated home. She is there with much of the extended family, putting the finishing touches on a video she has completed for the family featuring not only genealogical information, but also stories told by family members. On her first night there, a man rushes out of the darkness, thrusts a Mont Blanc fountain pen at her, and drops dead at her feet. To say it was disconcerting would be a gross minimalization. Things get complicated from there, including her grandfather's past as a spy during World War II. Tons of family history of several families.

Lineage Most Lethal is a terrific series full of compelling historical facts and genealogical techniques, as well as a good mystery with several deaths happening before Lucy figured it out. She has good friends and they make her life better and more entertaining. It is a totally entertaining and fascinating read. The characters are real people and the plot was good. I loved it. I recommend it.

I was invited to read a free ARC of Lineage Most Lethal by Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #lineagemostlethal

This is the second book in the Ancestry Detective Mystery series by S. C. Perkins and is a solid follow-up to the first novel. In Lineage Most Lethal, genealogist Lucy Lancaster is hard at work putting together the family history of a young woman who has inherited her family’s fortune and turned the family estate into the flag-ship hotel of the family chain. The death of a man on hotel grounds initially appears to be an unwelcome, but accidental intrusion. However, Lucy, as she shares information about a collector’s quality Mont Blanc fountain pen with her grandfather, himself a collector, learns it is much much more.
In the process, Lucy learns much about her grandfather’s time in the military during WWII when, unknown to most of his family, he was a member of the intelligence branch with some top secret duties. His group had been issued pens matching the one carried by the murdered man so they could recognize one another, and thus the present starts to merge with the past.
Lucy’s grandfather is a charming character in the series, and his information is vital to solving the current mystery. There are also repeat appearances by Flaco, Lucy’s self proclaimed adoptive father and master chef of all things Mexican; her roommates, and a brief appearance by Ben, her love interest from the first novel. The book is self-contained and there is sufficient information for anyone to enjoy this one without having read the first in the series. However, if you are a lover of mystery series, you may want to read the first book and then this one as you will most likely want to continue as new books are published.
While I figured out early the identity of the murderer, it was no less enjoyable to read and see how Perkins included clues right in front of the reader’s nose that could easily be overlooked. Likewise, the importance of red herrings was cleverly touted while, in truth, having nothing to do with the murder. The entire story harkens back to occurrences from WWII, and thus seems a perfect setting for someone with Lucy’s interest and talent at doing historical research.
My thanks to St. Martin’s Press Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing me an advanced digital real copy of the novel. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Outstanding! I absolutely adored the first book in the series, and this one is just as good. Excellent writing and mystery plotting, terrific characters - I loved all of it. There's less of the best friends and the love interest from the last book - and I missed them. But their involvement was just right for the setting and the action for this story. I don't think you have to read these in order, but it helps to establish the characters - and the first book was fantastic. Do not miss this series! For cozy mystery fans and genealogy lovers.

When genealogist Lucy Lancaster was hired by Pippa Sutton to research her father’s family tree, she thought she was just putting together a family tree for a young woman who had taken over her family’s hotel dynasty. She didn’t realize that she was getting involved in a mystery that went back to World War II.

After spending weeks researching the Sutton family, Lucy has put together a presentation and a video to present to the family, who will all be gathered at one of the Sutton family hotels for New Year’s Eve. But when a man stumbles up to Lucy standing in front of the hotel, hands her a pen and implores her to, “Keep them safe,” Lucy finds herself drawn into a series of questions that can only be answered by deciphering a code from the spies of World War II.

At first, Lucy doesn’t know what to do about this stranger dying at her feet. But her inquisitive nature and her love of research win out. With the help of her grandfather, her two best friends and office mates, and her trusted network of genealogy researchers, Lucy is finally able to decode the names of the descendants of the WWII spies who are now in danger. But did she figure it all out in time to make a difference, or is the killer so far ahead of her that it simply be too late?

Lineage Most Lethal is the second in the Ancestry Detective series by S. C. Perkins. The series takes place in Austin, and that unique Texas flair can be felt, and practically tasted, with how much time they spend at a taco restaurant that I would love to try out myself! I really loved the character of Lucy and her resourcefulness as she tried to solve the mystery. She’s smart and feisty, and she knows (usually) when to ask for help.

I like to be honest in these reviews, so I will say this: there is something with this cover that I find off-putting. But a publicist recommended it to me, and I am so grateful that they did. While I might not have picked up this book based on the cover (I know what they say about that, but honestly, I’m always judging books by their covers! Artists put a lot of time and energy into making them appeal to the right readers), I am so glad I read it. It’s a wonderfully written cozy with an inventive story and characters that are fun to hang out with. What more could you ask for? So if you’re like me and unsure about the cover, just stop looking at it, preferably by opening the book to chapter one, and start reading. You won’t be sorry (except when you notice how much you’re craving chips and guac as you read it).

Egalleys for Lineage Most Lethal were provided by St. Martin’s Press (Minotaur Books) through NetGalley, with many thanks.