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.