The second in the Ancestry Detective series. Set in the Hill Country of Texas between Christmas and New Year’s Day. Lucy Lancaster is spending the week at the Sutton’s hotel in New Braunfels, TX. Pippa Sutton is her client and Lucy has a presentation or two to give to the family after Pippa clears it.

Before Lucy makes it to her room, a strange man comes staggering toward her and presses a pen on her. He tells her to keep them safe. Unfortunately, the man dies and it was not an accident. So, Lucy and her grandfather are onto another search for a murderer.

I liked the intrigue, the characters and the plot. Plenty of twists and turns and mis-directions to keep the reader guessing. The second half of the book reads like a thriller but without the gore.

I also liked the cemetery tips for reading old gravestones.

Looking forward to the next installment. I was given an advanced reader’s copy. I am not required to leave a positive review.

Lineage Most Lethal by S. C. Perkins is another beautifully done historical book. I loved reading it and learning things about World War II that I never even thought of could exist.

Can Lucy figure out what is so significant about this pen?

Lucy Lancaster
Lucy Lancaster is back once again to solve a mystery that she stumbles upon unknowingly. She has been working diligently with this one client, but then once again, she gets wrapped up in another mystery. Just this mystery happens to also go into her own families' past, and Lucy is learning new things about her grandfather, then she thought possible. I loved how Lucy is shocked by what her grandpa was telling her and how that information helped Lucy solve the crime. Lucy is an excellent sleuth in that she solves crimes by looking into the past first before looking into the present. Doing this helps Lucy in so many ways. Especially if the past helps with the motive. What I like about her is that she knows that she isn't great at a lot of things but gives her something related to both history and genealogy; she is good to go. Another thing that I like about her is Lucy's relationship with her grandfather is everything. I still haven't found anything to dislike about her.

The Mystery
The mystery is in several different parts, but is each related, or are they all separate?
• The first murder happens to be of the guy that gives Lucy the pen that started this whole investigation on her part.
• The second murder didn't happen until the next day with someone else.
• In between those two was a woman who died on her walk.

There are a lot more things going on, but most of it is spoilers. But wow is this mystery very multifaceted, which is probably why it was hard for me to tell who the killer was. I didn't see who it was because I did fall for a red herring, but then once that red herring was cleared, I had no one else to look at as the potential killer. Let's just say that Ms. Perkins has this mystery writing trick down well.

Five Stars
Lineage Most Lethal by S. C. Perkins is fabulously written and so well thought out. I loved how Ms. Perkins dug up information that I never thought could be true about World War II. At least with the spies. Learning about history even in a fun way of trying to solve a cozy mystery in the present that links to the past are super cool. Ms. Perkins does a great job of doing this with her books. Taking all of that into account and the fact that I was so into the mystery that I didn't catch the right clues right away that I am giving it five stars and recommending it to anyone that loves cozies.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Lineage Most Lethal by S. C. Perkins.

Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out BaronessBookTrove.com.

I loved this book! The combination of history and modern day mystery works so well. Her profession makes logical sense for her to investigate. The surrounding characters are so fun and supportive. I look forward to more in this series

This book definitely fits the mystery/ thriller genre but it also mixes in many pieces of other genres that it's very hard to give a definite classification to. But that is far from a bad thing. Lucy is a talented genealogist. SC Perkins gives Lucy's character skills and abilities that would serve her well in this career while giving her intelligence and caring that will serve her well as she investigates the death of a stranger that seems to be someone her grandfather knows. As the mystery continues, watch for the clues scattered throughout. I missed a few and had to go back to look for them. A truly enjoyable read that has added another author to my FOLLOWED list.

Who among us hasn't been curious about our roots and our family history. Do we come from heroes or traitors? When Lucy is tasked with digging into a hotel heiress' family tree she finds connections to WW2 like many of us would if we did our own digging. As Lucy arrives back at the hotel after finishing up for the day she is confronted by a man who hands her a pen and tells her to keep them safe then falls dead. She has no idea what he means but knows her grandfather collects the pen she was given so she calls him for answers. This opens up a whole new story into WW2 and what role many ancestors played in it.

I enjoyed this book very much. I am like many people interested in my own family history and what roles they played in history.

In the SECOND book of the Ancestry Detective Lucia is back to getting herself into trouble solving a mystery tied to the past. When a man collapses and dies in front of her, Lucia isn’t sure what to make of his final words...”keep them safe”, and why did he try to give her a pen? She knows something is up when her Grandfather shows up the day after she sends him pictures of the pen. Can she solve this WWII mystery before the killer finishes their list?

Being a genealogy nerd myself, I was drawn to this series for that reason, but the writing keeps me coming back. Lucia may be a genealogist, and not a cop, but her character stands out because she comes across level-headed and smart. She puts a lot of thought into the case as opposed to bumbling through it. The writing is smooth and flows well. The history and genealogy aspects are well researched. I have thoroughly enjoyed this series and I look forward to the next book!

DISCLAIMER: I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this one! I love genealogy so this was right up my alley. It’s a quick, light read and I would recommend it to others.

An older gentleman, looking quite distressed, approaches genealogist Lucy Lancaster, pushes a Montblanc into her hand imploring her to “keep them safe” as he collapses.

The gentleman dies, a murder victim. Lucy is in the middle of researching the family tree for client Pippa Sutton. Still, curiosity about the dead man and his message motivates her to call her grandfather, who knows a lot about Montblanc pens. Quite quickly, the story takes off with Lucy juggling her Sutton family project with helping her granddad investigate the murder.

S. C. Perkins constructs a complex and complicated mystery with well-drawn characters, a few more murders, and a conundrum anchored in WWII. Lineage Most Lethal, the second Ancestry Detective Mystery, is an absorbing story that moves at a comfortable pace and is an intriguing read.

LINEAGE MOST LETHAL is the second book in the Ancestry Detective Mysteries by S.C. Perkins. While I thoroughly enjoyed the first in this series, Ms. Perkins finds her stride in this newest release and her writing shines. From memorable and well-developed characters to an intricate and well-paced plot to WWII intrigue to murder, the author weaves an entertaining tale. The protagonist, Lucy Lancaster, is a genealogist working on a family project for 24-year-old hotel heiress, Pippa Sutton. I love how intelligent Lucy is and the author is meticulous in inserting enough of the research process in tracking ancestors (through a variety of methods) into the story that gives it a feel of authenticity. She also includes an opening scene that promotes the preservation of ancient tombstones while still allowing a person to access the engravings without causing damage. I found it interesting, especially for those who might be fascinated in tracking down their ancestors. This added scene weaves in another layer of authenticity.

As I turned the pages and lost myself in the story, I often had to pause to admire the level of research Ms. Perkins had to undertake to create this book. I’m an avid fan of WWII historical fiction, especially stories of behind-the-scenes heroes and heroines who sacrificed to bring freedom to Europe. When combined with Lucy unraveling the history and the role her beloved grandfather played in the war, along with a current day mystery, I just couldn’t put the book down. Added to my admiration of how the murder mystery plot intertwines with the historical aspect, Ms. Perkins’ characters add enjoyment. Lucy’s two best friends, Serena and Josephine, bring lighthearted humor with their banter, while Lucy’s 92-year-old grandfather brings heartwarming moments. His zeal for life and his support of Lucy makes me hope he is featured prominently again in future books. As Lucy unravels the cipher left for her by the victim and as she follows the clues, she finds secrets that could be hiding the killer. With an edge-of-your-seat reveal, Ms. Perkins brings all the threads of the story together with a highly satisfying conclusion that has me waiting on pins and needles for the next release!

3.75 stars

Genealogist Lucy Lancaster is back for another Texas adventure. Lucy is putting the finishing touches on a presentation for a local family that owns and operates a luxury hotel in a former mansion. Unfortunately, Lucy trips over a dead body on her way into the hotel and it's the start of an amazing quest.

Soon Lucy and her beloved grandfather are embroiled in a case that reaches back to World War II and espionage escapades. Lucy learns things about her grandpa that she never suspected. Lucy can use the distraction since her new boyfriend/FBI agent has disappeared from her life.

This book moves along at a nice pace with lots of action and interesting tidbits about family history and research. Are there quite a few coincidences? You bet, but it doesn't attract from the fun. Great light escapist fare. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed the first installment in this series, so I dove into this one with high expectations. And it was an enjoyable read with appealing characters and vivid writing. Throw in some WWII spying ramifications, a promising relationship that ended with ghosting, and Lucy's charming grandfather, and it's an enjoyable afternoon read.

What I didn't care for very much was how big a role coincidence played in the plot. I lost count of how many plot turns rested on two people happening to interact when they had historical ties to each other, known or unknown. "I could hardly believe it. I was being ___ by a descendant of one of the ___ who unjustly killed my ____." That's the problem. I could hardly believe it, either.

I like the genealogy angle, but better plotting is needed in the current day to make the mystery feel more believable.

Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Well written and entertaining detective mystery. Good plot and character development. I look forward to reading more books in this series. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and this is my unbiased review.

Crossing back across the bond, we land in Texas, where family is at the heart of the mystery at hand. This is the first book of this series I have read and I would defintely call it 'mystery chic lit, with a side of cozy'. You have relationship drama, family drama, long helf beliefs, and a little mystery that seems unsolvable until our heroine does her genealogy magic and finds the solution that is at the heart of the murder mystery. For those who love genealogy, its a fun read, and for others it will be a new take on a cozy mystery.

Cozy Mystery in Austin
This book really grabbed me. It features a genealogist researching a family that owns a chain of 4-star hotels. It involves WWII espionage, ciphers, and spies. The author does a great job weaving the story through the generations and making it all seem relevant. I particularly love the patriotism shown by both the older generation of spies and the younger generation of citizens. I love this book so much that I am going to go read the first book in the series. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.

So glad I finished reading before it was archived on the 25th of June! I received a free digital copy from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

I loved the book. I loved the British connection. Lucy is a professional genealogist. The 24 year old hotel heiress, Pippa Sutton, hires Lucy to do genealogical research. After Lucy arrives at the hotel, a guest walks up to Lucy and says "Please save them", giving her a fancy pen, just before dying. Lucy's grandfather George arrives at the hotel and helps Lucy. Yes, it was murder.

Throughout the book, there are several murders and attempted murders. It has something to do with what happened during the Second World War.

This is a wonderful read!

Lucy Lancaster, genealogist extraordinaire, is polishing her video and presentation for the Sutton family at a family hotel in Austin. A talented historian and a tad nosy, when a dying man presses a pen in her hand, she puts her talents to use in unravelling this mystery. Engaging characters and an interesting plot with an historical perspective back to WWII.

I can't get enough of this series! I love Lucy and the stories she uncovers are so amazing! This was a great mystery with a ton of different layers to it. I could not put it down and read it in one day. When is the next one coming out?

Lucy Lancaster, professional genealogist and amateur detective is back, this time with a job for a local hotel heiress. Lucy is invited to stay at the hotel while presenting her genealogy research to the extended members of the Sutton family, an invitation she is eager to accept with the upcoming Christmas holiday. However it is hard to stay in a festive mood when bodies start landing, quite literally at her feet. A mysterious man drops dead after attempting to slip a secret code to Lucy hidden inside a Montblanc pen. Intrigued, and slightly terrified as well, Lucy feels compelled to get to the bottom of this mystery. With the help of her grandfather, Lucy discovers that the pen holds secrets to the past, relating to an Allied spy ring formed during WWII. As Lucy starts researching and attempting to uncover hidden connections, a skill she is most suited for, she quickly realizes just how close the danger lurks. After her grandfather is involved in a hit and run accident, Lucy knows she must hurry to find answers before she, or her grandfather, become the next victims.

Fast paced, intricately plotted, but still cozy, Lineage Most Lethal is sure to appeal to a wide range of mystery lovers. It is clear early on that the author has done her research, and the slow, steady unraveling of clues, along with hidden connections from the past, has the feel of ancestry research, without all the dead ends. Lucy's profession as a professional genealogist is a new and much needed breath of fresh air to the cozy mystery genre. Lineage Most Lethal links a present day mystery to secrets dating back to WWII expertly, with plenty of covert missions, puzzles, and hidden codes to keep you guessing. While the first half of the book reads like a cozy mystery, the pace picks up a bit in the second half, giving the book the feel of a thriller without losing any of its earlier charm. I highly recommend Lineage Most Lethal to cozy mystery lovers, genealogy lovers, history buff, or those looking for an intriguing summer read.

A strong addition to an engaging series. The way the author moves between past and present to solve mysteries is a beautiful thing to be lucky enough to witness. One would think you would get lost in the details, but that is definitely not the case. An enjoyable read from start to finish.

I enjoyed this book as much as the last. I love how the genealogy, the characters and the mystery all come together in a great cozy mystery. Thanks to NetGalley for the privilege to read and review this book.