Book Review: The Desk from Hoboken by M.L. Condike

Rating: 3.5 Stars

As I delved into "The Desk from Hoboken" by M.L. Condike, I found myself immersed in the world of forensic genealogist RaeJean Hunter on a quest to uncover the truth behind the mysterious death of Mary Rogers. Initially drawn to the book to heal from personal grief, RaeJean's straightforward case of identifying human remains takes a perilous turn, leading her on a dangerous journey filled with unexpected twists and turns.

From the start, the narrative captured my attention with its blend of historical facts, modern genealogical techniques, and a hint of mysticism surrounding an antique desk that guides RaeJean in her investigation. The story unfolds across four states, revealing long-buried secrets and escalating threats that put both RaeJean and her family in jeopardy.

While the premise of the Mary Rogers mystery and the forensic genealogy elements were undoubtedly intriguing, I found myself struggling with the pacing of the book as it approached the three-quarter mark. The plot became repetitive and convoluted, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the story. However, despite these drawbacks, the novel still managed to maintain its grip on me, compelling me to see it through to its conclusion.

"The Desk from Hoboken" has the potential to be a standout read with its captivating premise and well-crafted characters. With some refinements to streamline the plot and eliminate unnecessary repetitions, this book could easily elevate its rating. Fans of mystery and genealogy will find this novel a worthwhile read, eagerly anticipating the next installment in the series.

For those intrigued by historical mysteries, suspenseful storytelling, and the intricacies of forensic investigation, "The Desk from Hoboken" offers a compelling narrative that is both engaging and thought-provoking. Despite its flaws, this book sets the stage for a promising series that will likely resonate with fans of the genre.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. I am interested in all things forensic science so this book was right up my alley. The storyline was interesting centering around a forensic genealogist. The story flowed nicely and the characters were well drawn. Highly recommend

I didn’t really like the writing here - it felt pretty juvenile. Maybe that’s the goal? It didn’t really come together for me.

Well this was fun! I love books with logic and science behind them, despite being fiction so learning about the role of forensic genealogist was right up my alley. Definitely a cozy mystery but it was a nice read and one I would recommend to friends

This is the first mystery I read featuring a forensic genealogist and I found it intriguing and entertaining. Well plotted, solid mystery, a cast of welll developed characters
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

As a genealogist, this book was intriguing. The plot, characters and writing kept me.reading to the end. A little slow in some.spots but still highly recommend for a fun read!

A clever plot with engaging characters. The tension builds throughout the story and keeps the reader captivated..There is a good mix of crime, drama, and mystery.
Many thanks to Harbor Lane Books and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This mystery was so good! I loved all the twists and turns. I adored the main character RaeJean and I got so involved and vested in her story and investigation. If you like mysteries, history and investigative genealogy then you will love this book!!
I just reviewed The Desk from Hoboken by ML Condike. #TheDeskfromHoboken #NetGalley
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This novel was amazing! I loved the details of the research that the character did. What an amazing job she had. Perfect read!

Absolutely fantastic! Once I started this book I did not want to put it down. It can hold the reader captive and give a need and want to solve the mystery with the FMC.

I have never seen or heard of a genealogy mystery before, and it far from disappointed me. I really hope this becomes a series!

The only reason I didn't give it a five-star rating was because of the plot with the FBI - I think the book didn't need this plot point or twist to be good.

I love books that look at open cases from a new slant. The Desk From Hoboken is an investigation of the mysterious death of Mary Rogers in 19th century New York City, the same Mary Rogers that inspired Edgar Allen Poe's Marie Roget. The main character, RaeJean Hunter, is a forensic genealogist and the book follows a circuitous genealogical journey that begins when she accepts a case involving the authentication of human remains.

I found the genealogy interesting in general but had trouble keeping all the names and moving parts in tow. I finally gave up trying to remember who was who and that took away from my enjoyment of the book. A sub-plot was RaeJean's recent miscarriage and her resulting depression. I liked the parallel with various aspects of the story but would have liked to see a more dimensional look at her evolving emotional state.

My thanks to NetGalley and Harbor Lane Books for a free copy in exchange for an honest review. I recommend this book to those enjoy historical mysteries and have a serious interest in genealogy.

This book starts interesting but goes downhill fast. I found it rather tedious with all the information of genealogy, family diaries, and history that seemed to be repeated over and over. Thanks to author ML Condike, Harbor Lane Books, LLC, and NetGalley. I received a complimentary copy of this ebook. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I was really looking forward to this book because I enjoy history and how it is linked together by stories, papers and photos. This book started strong with a mystery to solve using genealogy but I felt like it kept rehashing the same things over and over again. I guess in a time where mysteries are solved in a 1/2 hour on tv, this type of dogged detective work can get tedious.
In all honesty, I skipped through this story. So I am probably not the best to review it.
If you are really into details and genealogy then you will probably love this book.

Forensic genealogist, RaeJean Hunter, stumbles upon a seemingly straightforward case...identify the 180 year old remains of a woman found on a college campus. There is even already a presumed identity. But this straightforward case soon turns sinister, and RaeJean may find she has more than just her career on the line.

This fictional story combines modern forensics history, genealogy, and cold case techniques to solve the mystery that inspired Edgar Allan Poe's "The Mystery of Marie Roget." The story doesn't get bogged down in all the details, instead using them to tell the narrative and engross the reader in the mystery at hand. I found the story to be pretty even paced, with some definite wind up towards the conclusion. I enjoyed learning about the different disciplines used for this fictional case. RaeJean was a fun character to explore and I hope there are more books forthcoming in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harbor Lane Books, LLC for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all views expressed are my own.

I really enjoyed this book my only issue was trying to keep up with the family tree Rae was building. I wish there were illustrations at the end of the chapters that showed her progress with the tree.

It was so interesting to see what a forensic genealogist does and throw a mystery in there. The story follows a genealogist (Rae)who is hired to Identify the remains of a female who would have died over 100 years ago. She touches a nerve of a family member that doesn’t want their family secrets exposed.

Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for providing me with an advance copy ♥️

I just finished this book and I'm still reeling from the experience. RaeJean Hunter's journey to unravel the mystery of Mary Rogers' death is more than just a historical whodunit - it's a deeply personal exploration of the human psyche. What struck me most was how the author wove together DNA analysis and genealogical sleuthing to uncover the dark secrets of the past. It's a testament to the author's skill that I felt like I was right there with RaeJean, following the breadcrumbs and piecing together the clues. The writing is masterful, the plot is gripping, and the themes of family, power, and legacy will haunt me for a long time. If you're looking for a book that will challenge your assumptions and keep you up all night, this is it. Just be prepared for a wild ride that will leave you questioning everything!

A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Harbor Lane Books for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

DNF 35%. This book has a great deal of focus on genealogy, which unfortunately for me made my eyes glaze over with all the names and family trees given. This isn’t the fault of the author, but simply that for me personally family genealogy has never been an interest and I wasn’t aware going into this book that such a large focus would be on this, and in such detail.

However, what I did read I found interesting, and the investigation ongoing for this supposedly “simple” case has a lot of potential. I also enjoyed the hints of danger lurking in the shadows for the main character - both from real and supernatural dangers.

I think this book would appeal to anyone who likes both mysteries as well as genealogy, as a large portion of this book was an investigation of this one particular family line. You can tell the author has done their research on this topic, and even with my confusion on family trees (I, personally, have never been able to follow them easily) I was mostly able to follow along with who was what, and how they were related. I just personally couldn’t focus when a great deal of the novel was simply tying in family trees, and honestly I found it a bit unbelievable that so many people know their own family history to the degree given in this novel. (But then again, maybe that’s me, who couldn’t tell you any further than maybe my grandparents’ names on one side of my family.)

Many thanks to both Harbor Lane Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of The Desk from Hoboken. The expected publication date is March 5, 2024.

"After all, what truths have been hidden for 180 years that would be worth bribery, kidnapping, and even murder?"

The Desk from Hoboken starts when RaeJean is asked to investigate the puzzling death of the woman whose death inspired Edgar Allan Poe's "The Mystery of Marie Roget." Although I enjoy reading historical, as well as historical-fiction books, I became a wee bit tired of the repetition in this one. I probably would have enjoyed the book more if I had ever done any genealogy searches, myself.

The Desk from Hoboken has some very likable characters and some intriguing side stories. There was a touch of romance and paranormal, too. As one who knows nothing about genealogy, I still liked this book ... and I wanted to own the desk!!

This unique book will appeal to people with an interest in genealogy and mystery. The main character is RaeJean Hunter, who is a freelance forensic genealogist. She has suffered a personal loss and has not had the heart to take on new cases.

Then a body washes out of what was part of an old, nearby cemetery dating back to the 1800's. Rumors soon start that the woman could be Mary Rogers, who had died almost 200 years before. She was a member of a notorious family, and Edgar Allen Poe had written a short story believed to be based on her. RaeJean is interested enough to take the case, and soon some disquieting things begin to happen. She can't shake the feeling of being followed, and there is a man she spots too often in her vicinity.

I believe anyone interested in history and genealogy will enjoy this story. Learning about the historical resources, and all the different occupations available to people in the history and genealogy fields was fascinating. I particularly liked the combination of history, genealogy, and STEM used to solve the mystery of Mary. With a little help from a possibly haunted desk.

I received an e-ARC of this book from the publisher Harbor Lane Books LLC via NetGalley, and voluntarily read and reviewed it.

This was a great novel. Mystery combined with historical research. A exploration of grief as well, and going forward.

I enjoyed the detail in the historical research, and the searching for answers. Well done.