If you follow S.C. Perkins’ Ancestry Detective series, I’m sure you’ve noticed the clever way the publisher chooses to illustrate the reference area for genealogist Lucy Lancaster. It’s obvious that Fatal Family Ties deals with the American Civil War. Lancaster, a genealogist based in Austin, Texas, has a fascinating story to uncover.

Lucy once worked at Howland University Library where three librarians looked down their noses at the genealogist. So, she’s shocked when Camilla Braithwaite, one of those librarians, wants to hire her to look into a family story. The large Braithwaite family has thrived on the stories about Corporal Charles Braithwaite, the longest-lived soldier who fought in the Civil War. Now, though, a prestigious magazine, Chronology, features a story that says Charlie lied about his past. He never rose to corporal, and, worst of all, he was a deserter after the Second Battle of Bull Run. The family has always been proud of Charles’ reputation as an artist, and, even more so, of his reputation for supporting the Black population of Houston, and women’s suffrage. Now, Camilla wants Lucy to find the truth.

Camilla does have an unusual piece of art as part of Charles’ story. She owns one third of a triptych, a painting on three panels, of a Civil War battle. Descendants of Charles’ three children each own one part. Camilla has a relative who owns one piece. But, he believes there’s a hidden painting, a masterpiece, underneath the cartoonish piece that has been handed down in the family. Before Lucy can send the painting to an art restorer, one of the Braithwaite family is murdered, and a panel is stolen.

Once again, Lucy teams up with FBI Special Agent Ben Turner. He’s interested because a murder was committed just as he and Lucy were arriving at the house. Lucy wants to help right the wrongs of murder and theft, and she’s proud to use her genealogical skills to do that.

I’ll admit Fatal Family Ties started a little slow for me. It didn’t help that I didn’t like Camilla, and I did like the murder victim. But, the book took off as Lucy delved into Charles Braithwaite’s story. This time, the most engrossing part of the book wasn’t the murder mystery, but the genealogical search, and the Civil War stories. I’d recommend that readers come for the murder mystery, but stay for the history and characters. While I might not have been fond of Lucy’s client, her friends and family are charming. And, the Civil War aspects of the story are fascinating. S.C. Perkins is to be commended for her use of genealogy in this intriguing, well-developed series.

S.C. Perkins’ website is https://scperkins.com/

Fatal Family Ties by S.C. Perkins. Minotaur Books, 2021. ISBN 9781250789648 (hardcover), 326p.

FTC Full Disclosure – The publisher sent a copy of the book, with no promise of review.