A Texas-based genealogist takes on a deadly case. Self-employed genealogist Lucy Lancaster is enjoying her renewed relationship with FBI Special Agent Ben Turner when a former colleague shows up with a problem. Camilla Braithwaite is not Lucy's favorite person. Abrasive and snarky, she and her two acolytes made Lucy's life miserable when she worked at a university library. Now a journal has published an article accusing Camilla's well-respected ancestor Charles Edward Braithwaite of being a coward and deserter who lied about his Civil War service. Camilla wants Lucy to prove the charges false. Lucy agrees to take the job and begins researching--a tough job, as Civil War records are notoriously spotty. Camilla's family is even facing a frivolous lawsuit by a family who claims that money spent entertaining Charles ruined them financially. The family tree is widely spread, and the branch belonging to Charles' daughter is hard to track down. But Lucy perseveres in hope of finding part of an ugly triptych that's a family treasure. Camilla owns one panel. Another belongs to her Uncle Charlie, who by accident discovers under the nondescript panel a stunning depiction of a battlefield. Lucy asks her friend Helen Kim, an art restorer, to take a look at it, but Uncle Charlie is smothered and the panel stolen before Lucy can pick it up. Fortunately, Ben has time off and can help Lucy with what turns out to be a most dangerous search. Genealogists and history buffs will delight in the minutiae of this torturous tale of hate and greed. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Genealogist Lucy Lancaster reluctantly agrees to look into the case of Camilla Braithwaite's ancestor, Civil War soldier Corporal Charles Braithwaite, whom a recent historical journal article called a deserter and a liar. Camilla hopes Lucy can prove the disparaging article is incorrect. Although Camilla, a former colleague, didn't treat Lucy well in the past, the project looks interesting, and Lucy believes she can quickly resolve the matter. When Camilla's Uncle Charlie is killed and his third of a folk-art triptych painted by Charles Braithwaite is stolen, Lucy begins to investigate this mystery, too. Who would even want the amateurish painting? Suspects include members of the lost branch of the Braithwaite family, a neighbor, and even Camilla herself. With Lucy's boyfriend, FBI Special Agent Ben Turner assisting, Lucy attempts to tie all the pieces together, but not before having to defend herself against the culprit. Rich in details about genealogical research, Civil War times, and present-day Austin, Texas, this cozy incorporates well-drawn characters, close friendships, and a deepening romantic relationship for Lucy.

In Perkins's engrossing third Ancestry Detective mystery (after 2020's Lineage Most Lethal), Camilla Braithwaite hires Austin, Tex., genealogist Lucy Lancaster to research the military record of her Confederate soldier ancestor, Charles Braithwaite, and, she hopes, clear his name. A recent article in a history magazine claims Charles deserted his Texas regiment after the Second Battle of Bull Run and spent the rest of the Civil War hiding in a small Louisiana town. Soon after Lucy starts her research, an elderly relative of Camilla's is murdered, and someone tries to steal a hideously ugly but prized-by-the-family heirloom painting. Could the timing of the article have any connection to the murder and attempted theft? Lucy's careful investigation into Charles and his descendants uncovers forgotten family secrets and unlikely connections among branches of the family, the painting, and the murder. Perkins offers the perfect mix of mystery, family drama, art history, and romance to keep cozy readers eagerly turning pages. Anyone who has ever looked into their own family history will be fascinated by the intriguing details of Lucy's genealogical research. Agent: Christina Hogrebe, Jane Rotrosen Agency. (July)