Fatal Family Ties

Texas genealogist Lucy Lancaster is back, working to uncover the truth behind a Civil War-era painting and its elusive artist in this delightful third mystery in the Ancestry Detective series.

Lucy is just about to tuck into a basket of tacos at her favorite Austin eatery, Big Flaco's Tacos, when she gets an unexpected visit from her not-so-favorite former coworker. Camilla Braithwaite is brandishing a magazine feature on her

ancestor Charles, a Civil War corporal who went on to gain fame speaking about his war experiences. The article alleges Charles was a liar and a phony-not to mention a deserter-and Camilla wants Lucy's help clearing his name.

Lucy is also tasked with finding an art restorer to look at part of the triptych-or three-panel painting-Camilla's ancestor painted featuring a battle scene. Far from a showpiece, and with one panel's whereabouts unknown, the triptych has

nevertheless been passed down through the Braithwaite family for generations. But might a recent discovery give the panels more than sentimental value?

When a member of the Braithwaite family is murdered and another panel of the triptych is stolen, the suspects begin piling up-and Camilla is at the top of the list. At least Lucy's new relationship with Special Agent Ben Turner is going well, because everything else is in a downright muddle as Lucy and Ben road-trip to Houston and back again in hopes of uncovering the triptych's secrets, untangling a web of Civil War service records, and unmasking a killer before it's too late.