This is another fantastic addition to this series and I loved it. It had great pacing and made it hard to put down and the mystery was a great one. I love the ability of the author to weave the past in with the present to create her mystery. It is such a unique series and I also enjoy that aspect. The cast of characters is very well done and I am enjoying getting a better sense of Lucy's boyfriend. I definitely recommend this series to anyone who is a cozy mystery fan.

This is the third mystery in the Ancestry Detective series, featuring Texas genealogist Lucy Lancaster.

In this book Lucy is paid a visit by her former co-worker, Camilla Braithwaite. A negative story about one of Camilla's ancestors was published so she wants to hire Lucy to clear his name. Lucy agrees to investigate but only promises the truth, good or bad.

Camilla's uncle is murdered soon after Lucy starts her investigation and there's no shortage of suspects.

I liked the book although there were too many people to keep track of and too many coincidences. For example, the author of the article went to school with Lucy's boyfriend? And Lucy's mom happens to play cards with one of Camilla's relatives? And another of Camilla's relatives happens to be a docent where Lucy takes a painting? There are several more but they would be spoilers. I feel like they were unnecessary and distracting.

TWO-CENT TUESDAY

Below are a few (somewhat) brief $.02 opinions about books I've read or listened to recently but don't have the opportunity to review in full. Many of these titles I enjoyed as much or more than those that got the full court press. I hope you'll consider one or two for your own TBR stack if they strike your fancy whether they struck mine or not.

FATAL FAMILY TIES, by S.C. Perkins

This third installment in the charmingest of the charming cozies is proof positive I'm a convert to the light side. Texas genealogist Lucy Lancaster's Flacos Tacos lunch is interrupted by her least favorite former co-workers. Camilla Braithwaite now needs a favor--a recent article accuses Camilla's ancestor Charles, a civil war corporal, of being a phony and a deserter rather than a hero, and Camilla wants Lucy’s help clearing his name. Of course, shenanigans ensue before Lucy can get to the bottom of the mystery. This series leaves me longing for more time with the recurring characters. Thankfully, we got some of Lucy's Grandfather and more of her delightful parents. That meant a little less of her office best friends and Neil Patrick Housecat, but their on-screen time is always fun.

Fatal Family Ties, the third book in S.C. Perkins’s Ancestry Detective series is the perfect combination of history and mystery. With a tightly woven plot and a complex and layered mystery, this a novel that does not disappoint.

When a highly inflammatory article is published about a former colleague’s familial Civil War claims, genealogist Lucy Lancaster reluctantly becomes involved. In short order, a stolen painting and a mysterious death up the ante, and Lucy finds herself embroiled in a mystery that has consequences over the generations. With suspects galore, both present and past, Lucy must use all of her resources to uncover the truth and unmask a killer.

There is so much to like about this book. The history is fascinating, as are the details about the triptych painting. And the mystery is intricate, wrapped up in the historical questions concerning whether or not Corporal Braithwaite was a Civil War deserter, the legacy of the triptych, and in the present-day murder. The writing, too, is crisp and clean, propelling the story forward to an exciting and dynamic conclusion. The characters, too, are compelling. Lucy is the quintessential ancestry detective, combining archival skills with modern-day technology. Yet above all, she is a good person, a solid sleuth, and a logical thinker. And Ben Turner, her FBI agent boyfriend takes on a much bigger role. His presence brings a sweet balance to the story (although I can’t imagine that an FBI agent has that much free time). Even Lucy’s friends, Josephine and Serena, add to the storyline.

Once again, S.C. Perkins has crafted a fascinating and mesmerizing novel that blends the best of historical detail and modern-day intrigue. Fatal Family Ties is a sure-fire winner. I am looking forward to the fourth book in this fantastic series.

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

I enjoyed this book so much that I had to go back and get the previous books in this series. I am looking forward to reading them all from start to finish. The characters are so well written. The plot kept me hooked. This is definitely a series I plan on telling my friends about.

This is such a great series and I cannot wait for book #4! I love that Lucy uses her ancestry researching abilities to solve crimes and that there is always an ancestry presentation somewhere in the story.

I love the spiciness between Lucy and Ben (don't worry there is nothing descriptive) every time they get together. Looking forward to learning what their future may hold.

This is the third book in this captivating series by cozy author S.C. Perkins. I have enjoyed the entire series. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley. My review opinions are my own.

Lucy Lancaster has a unusual job as a ancestry detective. Her new job comes from a unexpected source, a old rival she dislikes Camille. The job is to research and clear the name of a relative from the civil war that is being maligned as nefarious online. When a present day murder occurs in their family Lucy takes on the investigation and soon is on the trail of a killer.

I like Lucy as a protagnist. She is savvy smart and independent. She has a love interest but she stands on her own. I like the supporting charcters and the intrigue of a past history mystery.

I love this mystery series with a genealogy theme and this installment was amazing. The mystery was good and as always I loved how Lucy tracks down the clues. It was a quick read for me because it captivated my attention.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Fatal Family Ties is the third book in the delightful ancestry detective series featuring free lance genealogist Lucy Lancaster. Lucy is thrown into the middle of a mystery involving the longest lived Civil War solider when she is approached by a former colleague from her days working for a university library. Camilla Braithwaite seeks out Lucy in the hopes she can use her superb genealogy research skills to debunk claims made against a member of the Braithwaite clan by a prestigious magazine, Chronology. The magazine claims Charlie Braithwaite has lied about his past and never rose to the rank of corporal. Even worse, the magazine also alleges that Charlie deserted the military after the second battle of the Bull Run. Camilla Braithwaite is proud of her family's past and Charlie's ties to the Civil War and is loathe to see his reputation tarnished by what she feels are unfounded claims. Although reluctant to become involved, Lucy has never been one to let a good genealogical puzzle go to waste. However things take a dark turn when a murder and art theft occur that are linked to the same puzzle Lucy is researching. Pairing up with FBI special agent Ben Turner, Lucy is able to dig deep to uncover some shocking revelations however the deeper she digs, the closer she comes to danger herself.
Fatal Family Ties is a fast paced, entertaining mystery full of research, genealogy, history and art. Lucy Lancaster steals the show with her stealthy research skills, determined nature, and her indomitable quest for justice and truth. Lucy and Ben make for a fun couple and their relationship continues to develop, adding a level of romance and whimsy to the story. Lucy, ever the methodical researcher, carefully explains the clues she uncovers, allowing readers to follow along right in her footsteps and delight in her discoveries. Perkins has a penchant for bringing history to life in an entertaining manner, a true delight for history and research buffs alike.

I was very reluctant to read this and the bestie talked me into it [reminding me that I always give a new-to-me author a second chance, and in this case, a third], even though my memory of the 2nd book was not favorable [and some of that may be because I knew who the killer was AND the why by chapter 3. That really sets the tone for the rest of the book]. Then, the bestie read this and DID. NOT. LIKE. IT., and I was really not enthused and was actually reluctant to read it. Finally, my schedule cleared up [nothing like a mid-month nonfiction book being sent to you by a publisher to mess up your whole reading schedule - it was a great book, but still LOL] and I was ready to dive in - and then I was pleasantly surprised. Very surprised.

This was [for me - apparently this book was Book 2 to my bestie, but as she points out, that is just how we do things! LOL] a really good read. To be honest, I didn't really know what this was about, but as soon as the Civil War started being talked about, I knew I was going to be in 100% as I enjoy Civil War history [of any kind - the author did her research though and the things you learn in this book are actually things that could have happened and I appreciate that. Not all cozy authors are quite so dedicated in that area] and this was a rather unique story-line involving art, history and the genealogy of one family, with parts of them going VERY VERY astray. I liked the story very much and I really enjoyed how Lucy and Ben got to be together for this whole thing - it was fun to watch them grow in their relationship and trust of each other and I loved Ben having to meet Lucy's parents. You also get to know more about Lucy's past work experience [and weren't THEY a joy to have to deal with on a day-to-day basis] and that goes a long way to further explain why Lucy is the way she is. You also get a fantastic lesson in BEING KIND even when you don't want to be - that was a huge lesson over and over in this book and that really stuck out to me - Lucy absolutely has no reason to be nice to, or even do work for Camilla, but chooses to be kind, put differences behind her [several times over the course of the book actually], and in the end, the final result makes it all worth it. That doesn't mean that you will always have a positive outcome when you are kind to someone who has been a "mean girl", but it WILL make you the better person, make you feel better, and no matter the outcome, you will have made an impression that the mean people will not soon forget.

Unfortunately, there are a couple of things that I was not a fan of [though way less than the last two books so I look at this as a plus]:
1. I do NOT need as much info on Lucy and Ben's "private" life. The way she ogles him and plain out ogles him [IN PUBLIC] is uncomfortable and there were moments that kind of skeeved me out [I am not a prude and this still bothered me as there was just SO much of it mentioned].
2. There was no need to continually go over what was happening. I felt like the author felt we had to have a synopsis every couple of chapters and it was just needlessly repetitive and annoying. We the readers are not children and I believe that most of us are capable of remembering what the story-line is and where we are in it.
3. I knew who the bad guy was right away. That is the biggest negative for me in these books. I am able to get the who and the what really early one. What saved this book for me was the whole Civil War story and the genealogy behind it; if it had not been for that, I would have had another book 2 on my hands and this review would have been scathing rather than complimentary.

Overall, this was a good read for me, I was entertained and I learned quite a bit more about a soldier's life in the Civil War, and even though I knew who the killer was, I was really carried along with the story and I wasn't so annoyed by the knowledge I had. I will absolutely be reading the next one [and I never thought I'd say that!].

Thank you to NetGalley, S.C. Perkins, and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Princess Fuzzypants here: I am always intrigued by the bits and pieces of genealogy research that are shared in these stories. The information provided only increases my pleasure in reading about Lucy as she tries to unravel the knots of time to let people know what they ancestors truly did. This time, Camilla, her third least favourite person from her former job, hires her to research her family. They are a wealthy family but the character of the patriarch and his accomplishments are thrown into peril by a scathing story in a highly regarded magazine.

At first she is reluctant because of the way Camilla had treated her when they worked together but she agrees. Once she meets Camilla’s great uncle and learns more about the family history, she is happy she signed on. But the elderly gentleman is murdered and a piece of artwork that he owned is stolen on the same night. It had been painted by the patriarch and was split into three separate pieces and handed down generation by generation. It appears the painting may hide another, much better painting underneath and the killers of Uncle Charlie, will stop at nothing to get the part of the painting that Camilla owns.

So while Lucy researches the patriarch to prove or disprove the allegations, she is also trying to keep the painting out of the wrong hands and to verify what is hidden underneath. Good thing she has her beau, the FBI agent, Ben to assist her. Her foes in this search are dangerous and duplicitous.

And speaking of Ben, there is a great side story of how Lucy and Ben are learning about each other and their respective families as their relationship develops over the course of the story. It is a highly satisfying sidebar to the main tale. Five purrs and two paws up.

Genealogist Lucy Lancaster loves three things: her family, history, and Big Flaco’s Tacos. The Austin restaurant is a second home for Lucy, and that’s where her former coworker Camilla Braithwaite finds her. Even though they weren’t great friends when they worked together at Howland University’s library, now Camilla needs help. A writer for Chronology magazine has published an article about her ancestor, Charles Braithwaite.

To Camilla’s family, Charles was a war hero. He fought in the Civil War, he was promoted to Colonel, and after the war he came home to work hard, raise his family, and help others whenever he could. He was also an artist known for his ability to capture detailed emotion in a person’s face. His journals and drawings are in a museum in Austin. He’d even painted a triptych of the war and divided it up between his three children. But this writer claims that Braithwaite had never gotten promoted as a soldier, and in fact deserted from the war.

While Lucy was surprised that a magazine like Chronology would take a stand like that, Camilla was distraught that her family name was being dragged through the mud like that. While they had already been talking to the town about removing the Braithwaite name from the public park and elementary school that had been named for him, Camilla drew the line at having him called a deserter. She was certain that the proper records would help clear up that misconception, so she wants to hire Lucy to dig through the war records to find out the truth of Charles’s past.

Lucy agrees to help Camilla, but as she gets started with her research, one of Camilla’s relatives is killed. Charlie, who Camilla felt was like an uncle to her, was one of the family members with one of the paintings from the triptych. Whoever killed him took the painting as well, along with some other treasures from his travels. Camilla is heartbroken, but she’s also concerned. Another painting is at her house, and she’s worried it may be in danger. Lucy and her FBI agent boyfriend Ben volunteer to get it from her house in Houston while Camilla stays in Austin for the investigation.

The more Lucy learns about the Braithwaite family and bout who might have found out about the paintings, the more the suspects pile up. But will Lucy and Ben figure out who the killer is before more bodies pile up?

S.C. Perkins is back with another Ancestry Detective book, Fatal Family Ties. This latest addition to the series is filled with lots of drama and danger but also history and art, humor and tacos, romance and warm chocolate chip cookies.

I will admit that I wasn’t sure how a writer could craft a story, much less an entire series, about a crime-solving genealogist, but these cozies are actually fantastic. In addition to just a well written, enjoyable mystery, Fatal Family Ties brings in a contemporary story line that blends history with present day, that brings the issues we struggle with today in the perspective of the country’s history. I was so impressed with the balance of entertainment and education, of sensitivity to current culture and dedication to telling the stories of our past. Fatal Family Ties is an expertly crafted mystery with strong characters and a very good plot.

Egalleys for Fatal Family Ties were provided by Minotaur Books through NetGalley, with many thanks.

Lucy has a new task – to debunk an article featured in Chronology magazine that devalues the history of an ancestor of Camille, one of Lucy’s former co-workers. Charles Braithwaite was a Civil War soldier who successfully made his way by lecturing about the Civil War and debunking many of the myths. This left his ancestors wealthy and his name well-known in certain circles.

This book is the best of the series to date. I love the characters and so happy to see more of Ben, Lucy’s FBI boyfriend.

I enjoyed this book very much. I like the characters and the mystery. The MC has some great friends and there are not reoccurring irritating characters. Love Grandpa! I don't think we got as much on the genealogical research as past books (which I missed) but feel there was more about the mystery (never a bad thing in a mystery book),

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fatal Family Ties is the third book in S. C. Perkins’ Ancestry Detective Mystery series. Professional genealogist Lucy Lancaster is approached by her former coworker, and third least favorite person from her time at Howland University, Camilla Braithwaite. She has come to talk to Lucy and request her help in proving the allegations made in Chronology magazine by writer Savannah Lundstrom are not true. In the article about Camilla’s ancestor Charles Braithwaite, Savannah asserts that this person remembered as a civil war hero and champion for the rights of all after the war was indeed a deserter and charlatan.

Also in question is the very ugly triptych purportedly done by Charles. Each of his three children was given a section more than 100 years ago. However, based on the magnificent drawings seen in Charles’ journal it is hard to believe he could have done this triptych. Camilla now has the piece from her family tree branch and her Uncle Charlie, actually a different branch but a close relative of the heart, has a second section. The whereabouts of the third piece is unknown. Uncle Charles has been unwell, but when he mysteriously dies under Camilla’s careful watch, it is determined that murder is the cause. And along with the murder there was a robbery including paperwork and his section of the triptych. A few days later attempts are made to also steal Camilla’s panel of the triptych.

In a twisty turny tale of miswritten history and unsuspected relatives with very devious plans, S. C. Perkins has produced yet another wonderful page turning mystery. I very much enjoyed this novel and definitely recommend it!

This is the third installment in the Ancestry Detective series, but each story can be read on its own. There is a continuing storyline of Lucy’s romance with FBI Special Agent Ben Turner.
In this installment, Lucy is surprised when a former co-worker, one of three who mistreated her while she worked at the University library came calling for help. It seems that a journalist has done a hatchet job of an article on an ancestor of hers, a Civil War veteran named Charles Braithwaite. The journalist claimed that Mr. Braithwaite was a deserter, liar, and more, and Camilla wants to hire Lucy to find out the truth.
As soon as she starts the case, she meets Camilla’s great uncle Charlie, but almost immediately he becomes the victim of foul play. Now it seems that Lucy Has not one, but three mysteries to solve. One, find out the truth about the Civil War veteran Charles Braithwaite. Two, find out who killed Charlie Braithwaite. Three, find out who stole Charlie’s piece of the triptych and make sure nothing happens to Camilla’s since it’s the last known piece.
Lucy has her work cut out for her in this exciting mystery, there’s lots of action, lots of excitement, and you’re left turning pages wanting to know what happens next. I thoroughly loved this story and can’t wait for the next one in the series to come out. If you’re a fan of cozy mysteries, I definitely recommend Fatal Family Ties. It will keep you tied up and not wanting to put the book down until the very end.
**I received an ARC of this story from the publisher and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

I've loved the idea of this series since it started. Professional genealogist is on my top ten list of dream jobs and I love books involving family history. However, while I enjoyed the last two books I felt they were missing just a little something I couldn't put my finger on. This one was the one I had been wanting. The mystery is solid, the characters are likable and developed, and the ending was nicely fleshed out and explained. There was a bit of research, a bit of adventure, and even a touch of romance all with the occasional description of some mouthwatering Mexican food.

When Camilla, one of the mean girls from the library where Lucy had worked in the past, shows up begging Lucy to clear her ancestor's name Lucy has to wonder just what the big deal is. Charles Braithwaite has been dead for 100 years and why does cool collected Camilla care that he's now being branded a deserter from a war that he fought on the wrong side of in the first place. Lucy is always willing to give people a second chance agrees to help Camilla and I thoroughly enjoyed the chase as what was a simple "prove this guy didn't desert" turns into a case of murder and art theft. I really liked the art restorer Helen Kim and hope we see more from her in future books. As well the mystery did keep me guessing and I loved how the wrap up was handled - especially the genealogy aspect.

This is a great mix of history and mystery with likable characters and a good pace. While it is the 3rd book I think you could easily jump in here though the previous two are good reads.

This is the third book in this cozy mystery series. It has, as its sleuth, a genealogist named Lucy Lancaster. While I haven’t paid much attention to my family tree, there are individuals in my family who do so. It’s pretty amazing what can be discovered when one looks into it.

In this story, Lucy is approached by a former co-worker, Camilla, who wishes to hire Lucy to clear a smear against one of her ancestors. While Lucy doesn’t really care for this co-worker (though there are two others she dislikes even more), she does decide to help her.

As they start working together, a close and beloved relative of Camilla is murdered. It seems to tie into the mystery surrounding some artwork of the questionable ancestor as a piece of his artwork goes missing from the place of the murder.

There are twists and turns and appearances by some of my favorite characters in the series as well as the advent of some new ones. I enjoyed reading the book and look forward to more novels in the future.

I was provided a digital advance reader copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley.

Take a trip to Texas where everything is bigger - including the mysteries!
This is the first book I have read in this series, thanks to a Netgalley copy, but it will not be the last.
I enjoyed something different and learned a lot too. Always a bonus for me in a cozier mystery.

I really enjoyed the cast of characters and how they add to the story and support each other.
The research aspect fascinates me. I am not our family historian bu always look forward to new things she has discovered. I was almost as excited to hear about what was discovered for the Braithwait family. I like how it covered not just the historical mystery but other creative aspects.
Lucy gives credit where due, and doesn't just dismiss things as black and white to fit the findings she wants to uncover.

An excellent way to escape into a book.

Fatal Family Ties by S.C. Perkins is a genealogical cozy mystery. It all started with a magazine article accusing her great, great grandfather of being a fraud and a deserter. She was justifiably upset. So she did what she could do and that was visit an ex-coworker, Lucy, to prove her wrong. That simple visit opened up a can of worms beyond her wildest imaginings, including one murder, and nearly several more. Camilla Braithwaite was in Austin visiting her great uncle. Lucy had worked with her in Houston, and not particularly enjoyed the experience. Well, he was really some kind of cousin, but why complicate things. He was not feeling well, and she was worried. Then he was dead and she was accused. Lucy was thrown back in time into relationships she had no desire to revisit. The upside was she and Ben, her beautiful FBI boyfriend, to spend some time with her parents.

Genealogy is complicated. It is easy to draw conclusions without all the information because finding all the information could be tricky. Lucy was a determined professional and she worked hard to do a complete job. She also loved investigating, which she got to with this case. People were not telling the truth, at least not all of it, and Lucy had to wonder why. She and Ben made a good team. They had met on a case, after all. But she didn't tell him everything. He knowledge of Texas history and history in general helped her tremendously in both genealogy and crime fighting. She is a good character, with good friends and family. The plot is a good one, but sad as it was all family, their heritage. I love genealogy and I loved this book.

I was invited to read an e-ARC of Fatal Family Ties by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #fatalfamilyties