Kindred

Jefferson Tayte Genealogical Mystery #5

by Steve Robinson

Jefferson Tayte is good at finding people who don’t want to be found. For years he has followed faint genealogical trails to reunite families—and uncover long-hidden secrets. But Tayte is a loner, a man with no ties of his own; his true identity is the most elusive case of his career.

But that could all be about to change. Now Tayte has in his possession the beginnings of a new trail—clues his late mentor had started to gather—that might at last lead to his own family. With Professor Jean Summer, his partner in genealogical sleuthing, he travels to Munich to pick up the scent. But the hunt takes them deep into dangerous the sinister secrets of World War II Germany, and those who must keep them buried at any cost.

When their investigations threaten to undermine a fascist organisation, Tayte and Summer know time is running out. Can they find their way to the dark heart of a deadly history before they become its latest victims?

This is the fifth book in the Jefferson Tayte Genealogical Mystery series but can be enjoyed as a stand-alone story.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Thriller, Crime, Historical, Germany

354 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 12, 2016

About the author

Steve Robinson is a London-based crime writer. He was sixteen when his first magazine article was published and he’s been writing ever since. A keen interest in family history inspired his first million-copy bestselling series, the Jefferson Tayte Genealogical Mysteries, and with 'The Penmaker's Wife' and 'The Secret Wife' he is now expanding his writing to historical crime, another area he is passionate about.

The idea for his Jefferson Tayte series came to him in 2007, on his return from a trip to Cornwall, where the first book is set. In the five years that followed, he wrote the first three books in the series, all the while trying to find a publisher for them. In 2012 he published the books via Kindle Direct Publishing, and following their success, eighteen months later he signed a four-book deal with Amazon Publishing. The books were released in March 2014 under the Thomas & Mercer mystery and thriller imprint, and since then a further three books in the series have been published, taking the total to seven.

In December 2019 his first non-Jefferson Tayte book, The Penmaker’s Wife, was released. It was chosen as an ‘Editor’s Choice’ book, and was nominated for the 2020 Crime Writer’s Association Historical Dagger award, and the 2020 Costa Coffee book award in the ‘Best Novel’ category.

Steve can be contacted via his website, www.steve-robinson.me, or his Facebook page, www.facebook.com/SteveRobinsonAuthor, where you can also keep up to date with his latest news.

Reviews

[Kylie D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another intriguing entry in the Jefferson Tayte Genealogical Mystery series, this book finds JT finally on the trail of his own biological parents. Armed only with a photo of his mother, JT finds himself in Munich, and the path he follows lead back to Nazi Germany during WW2. As JT continues to unearth clues surrounding his past the question arises, will he like what he finds?

Honestly, I found this book a little slow at first, and had a bit of trouble getting into it, yet it soon started to ramp up and I found I was hooked. With the wonderful character of JT, the ongoing mystery surrounding his family, and some unexpected twists, Steve Robinson weaves an excellent tale of love, deceit and betrayal. This is a series well worth reading for all lovers of historical mysteries.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the fifth in the Jefferson Tayte genealogical mystery series and possibly the best. JT is a professional genealogist who was adopted and has never been able to learn the identity of his own parents. But now he has a solid clue that his mother was in Munich, Germany in 1963. With that JT and his friend, Dr. Jean Summers, are off to Munich where his mother had been photographed in front of the former Hitler Youth headquarters. Their research soon leads to a warning from a fascist group who don't want certain facts to be revealed. As with the other books in this series the story moves between present day events and those in the past. In this case we get a fascinating glimpse into the point of view of a German soldier during World War two. With danger lurking around every corner the story leads to a shocking conclusion. You do not have to be a genealogist to enjoy this or any of the other books in the series. I highly recommend them all.

[Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had me on tender hooks all the way!!

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable, fast-paced adventure with JT & Jean. Has JT finally solved his own personal genealogical mystery?
Kindle Unlimited, read & listen

[Kath Middleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a great fan of the genealogical super-sleuth, Jefferson Tayte and this fifth book in the series is going to have readers on the edge of their seats. JT has been able to solve many a difficult and even dangerous case but the mystery of his own origins has always eluded him. All he knew was that his mother gave him away for his own good. His late friend and mentor, Marcus Brown, left some clues which have led JT and his friend Jean to Germany. His digging around stirs up a hornets’ nest of Neo-Nazis who want their secrets to remain buried. It becomes obvious that there’s a distinct possibility that Tayte will not like the answers, even if he manages to find them.

We switch smoothly back and forth between present day and wartime Germany, and try, with JT and Jean, to piece together the jigsaw of clues they obtain from various sources, including an old man who suffers from a bad heart. It’s touch and go – and the outcome is not what I imagined! This is not going to let fans of Jefferson Tayte down and I think it could stand alone as a novel for those who haven’t read the earlier books. There’s a good outcome and I finished it with a smile. It’s great having ends tied up but knowing there’s more to come. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

[Bbainbridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

5! A masterpiece. As usual, this entry is finely written and researched, but with the added benefit of a well
rounded, excitng plot and particularly satisfying conclusion.We loved the alternating time portraits as the story progresses and our knowledge increases (what would you expect from a genealogical novel?). And the discovery of some characters with multiple identities only adds to the intrigue as we move towards JT's hoped for results.

Although this is only my third SR novel, I look eagerly forward to those I've missed, and to the ones which follow. May they be many!

Note: While some masters ptoduce only a single exceptional work (Harper Lee or Margaret Mitchell, e.g.), others are blessed to repeat the miracle. Now while I haven't finished this well done series yet, and so don't know, I can still hope. So, SR, grab your pen. And perhaps JT can start on that little weight encumbrance.

Note to Goodreads: Since most readers see your Brief Description first when trying to choose a new book, could you please provide one in English. Thanks.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well done mystery going back between present WWII. Nice blend of history. In my opinion best in series so far.

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ohhhh..this was a good one!

[Diane Coto · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very excited to read this book from the very start. You know why? I’ve been a loyal fan of this genealogical series and after all this time, Jefferson Tayte (JT), with the help of Professor Jean Summer, is finally investigating his own family’s past. Up until his parents passed away, he’d had no idea they were his adoptive parents. But searching for and finding his own family, his own identity, had always eluded him. Once again, he’s afraid he may lose ground as the man he needs to speak with is very old … and dying. All JT had to go on was a picture of his mother from 1963 that she had left for him. His friend and mentor, Marcus Brown, who had died in a prior story, had been uncovering a lead on JT’s actual family. It is that research that prompted JT and Jean to travel to Munich to speak with Johann Langner, a former soldier in Hitler’s army. More than once, Johann asks JT if he’s sure he wants to know his past no matter what. Then, Jean’s life is threatened. Someone doesn’t want the secrets of the past to become unburied. What are they hiding?

JT’s research into his family’s past is layered against the historical time period making this as much a historical fiction as a contemporary story. In particular, it goes back to the Holocaust, war crimes, and events at Dachau concentration camp. His partner in research, Jean Summer, is also someone he’s developing a close relationship with. Yet this is not a romantic suspense. Perhaps romance will be in a future book in the series. I like their playful comradery and the author has crafted both of them with believable and likable personalities. The danger felt real and there was an unbelievable twist that left me breathless. This book can be read as a standalone, but I’ve come to love JT after reading the four prior books in the series. I would suggest picking up the first, In the Blood, and starting there. It is a clean series for those that prefer no harsh language. Rating: 5 out of 5.

[Tish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having become interested in genealogy (my own) in the past couple of years, I thought a genealogical mystery would be right up my alley. And in fact, I enjoyed the story; the plot was exciting and moved right along and had enough surprises to keep me guessing. The main character, JT, is a professional genealogist (helps people research their family tree) who is now looking into his own family tree after finding out that he had been adopted as a baby. As they say, don't ask questions unless you really want the answer and the answers JT gets are not always pleasant ones. In case you think genealogy sounds rather boring, don't worry, this has plenty of action, suspense, and danger.

This turned out to be #5 in a series, which I didn't know when I requested it, but worked just fine as a stand-alone. I may go back and read some of the earlier ones, as I'd like to get to know JT's friend Marcus.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a free ARC of this book.

[Sadie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book! It was my first "genealogy mystery. I've always been fascinated by genealogy but wish I were from a country like England where the records have been kept for hundreds of years. Much more fascinating! This book was right up my alley.

Granted, it took a bit of suspension of disbelief that a mild-mannered researcher could get caught up in something so dangerous. Still, the mystery was too intriguing for me to care. I blew through all the books in the series in no time flat and started searching for others in this genre, while I wait for Steve Robinson's next book to be released. (And, yes, I've pre-ordered it!)

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read my review on my blog here.
The Book Return Blog
Jefferson Tayte, an American genologist is on the hunt for this birth parents. His search leads him to Germany were he must untangle his own roots by way delving into the horrors of WWII.
Why everyone doesn't know about what a great author Steve Robinson is, I have no idea. He writes another fast paced multilayered novel. The entire story kept me guessing. Another five star novel that keeps me anticipating the next Jefferson Tayte novel.
I was given a copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

[Mary Couch pike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved them all. Jefferson Tayte rocks!

Your books have kept me from sleeping.
Especially the last one. Second guessing the plots and always wrong made me all the more intrigued.
I have read a lot of different fictional books. Tayte has made me a huge fan. Looking forward to the next.

[The Cats’ Mother · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the first four in this series a few years ago, enjoyed them and had marked this to buy soon, but too many other books jumped the queue. Then I received Book 7 from NetGalley, and given it's being published his week, and my OCD tendencies mean I am unable to read series out of order, had to get on with it - and no regrets for that.

Jefferson Tayte, genealogical investigator, is finally on the trail of his own family history. Travelling to Munich with his partner Jean, with only a photo of the mother who gave him up for adoption as a baby, he meets elderly art dealer Johann Langner, whose best friend during WW2 was notorious war criminal Volker Strobel, who is still alive and being hunted for his crimes. Threats from Neo-Nazis tell them hey are on the right track. Johann tells them the story of how he got to know Volker and we follow his story in flashbacks, how he fell in love, endured the war, and finally fell out with his friend.

These books are all separate stories so probably could be read as standalones, but I've enjoyed seeing JT's character evolve. I don't really like war stories, so skimmed over the battle scenes, but Johann's story was crucial to the plot. You would think by now JT would know not to keep blundering into suspicious empty buildings, but he is always driven to get to the truth, no matter what, which I like. Jean also makes a great side-kick.
I had been contemplating skipping book 6, but with the revelations here, will just have to read the next two quickly!

[Daenerys · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is probably one of the best books in the Jefferson Tayte series. It has a much more personal feel in that Tayte is trying to discover the identity his own parents after many years of unsuccessful searching. His quest brings him to Munich and confronts him with the possibility his grandfather may in fact be a Nazi war criminal still at large.

I saw the "plot twist" come at about page 50 out of 346 - and yet I still enjoyed the story. The flaws are the same as in the rest of the books in this series, with the main one being Tayte jumping to conclusions, such as: a woman whose identity I don't know and who I THINK is my mother visited a lawyer 30 years ago looking for her partner's father, and enquired about a war criminal. Conclusion: this war criminal must be the father they were looking for, and by extension Tayte's grandfather. There is no proof whatsoever at this stage.

Aside from that minor sources of irritation are the usual bouts of exposition (mostly WWII-related, including one three-line long sentence that reduces the Soviet "Night Witches" to: they're just some women who fly planes at night to "disrupt and deny the enemy sleep". Robinson forgot the bit where they were dropping bombs, too), the sentences that are either carelessly constructed or plain odd ("they stopped walking beside a door to their right"), and the sentences that are just completely unnecessary to the point it becomes irritating ("being a professor of history, she was no stranger to research" - well done you).

Having said all of that, there was enough tension and interest in the story to keep me reading. It is however a bit of a relief that Tayte finally works out who his parents are - 5 books in, the "orphan without roots who just want to be loved" trope becomes a little tired.

[Anam Cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the fifth in the Jefferson Tayte series. In this book he researches his own family tree.

Tayte has a lead on who his biological parents are/were thanks to research done by his late mentor Marcus Brown. He is led to Germany based on a photo of a woman he believes to be his mother which was taken in Munich in 1973. There he meets with a 90+ year old SS officer named Johann Langer who tells him a story of friendship, love, and betrayal all set in Nazi Germany. Of course, gaining knowledge never comes easy for Tayte and there are people who do not want the truth concerning a fugitive war criminal to be revealed. He and Jean Summers are threatened, but his desire to know the truth about his "roots" outweighs the dangers he must face.

This was an amazing story. It was well told, bouncing back and forth between Tayte's interviews with Langer and Langer's memories of the past. The reason I gave it 4 stars was that for me personally it was hard to read.

I lived in Germany for 12 years over the 4 decades beginning in the 1970's, leaving for the last time in 2002. I spent time in the mountains where the prologue takes place - a place of death for an unnamed (at that point) character. I am familiar with areas of Munich mentioned and nearby towns. I know Dachau and have been to the town and taken visitors there although I never entered the concentration camp myself. I knew Americans who had liberated the camp in 1945 and having learned from their first-hand stories of what they found, I knew I could never go in myself. Perhaps that was wrong of me - imagination can be more intense than fact. But the horrors described to me were more than I wanted to face. I admit that there were parts of the "memories" in the book that I skimmed because I just couldn't bear to even read about what was happening to people during this war.

While reading, I kept notes and have now developed a limited family tree for Jefferson Tayte although I know he has more information than I have as some ancestral names were alluded to in the story, but not given to the reader. Having done genealogical research myself in Germany, I know how hard records can be to come by. I admit to some amazement at how quickly he was able to track down records in Bavaria. I wish it were that easy for the rest of us.

Although all was well in the end, I was left with a sense of darkness that I have not experienced in other Tayte novels. It could be the subject matter was too intense for me.

However, I would certainly recommend this book to others. I would just add the note that the reader should be aware of the subject matter before beginning. The cover should be enough to alert the sensitive reader.

[John Purvis · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Kindred” eBook was published in 2016 and was written by Steve Robinson (http://www.steve-robinson.me/Welcome....). Mr. Robinson has published five novels, all in his “Jefferson Tayte Genealogical Mystery” series. This is the latest in that series.

I received a galley of this novel for review through https://www.netgalley.com. I categorize this novel as ‘PG’ because it contains scenes of Violence. This Mystery / Thriller novel is set mostly in contemporary Munich, Germany, but bounces between World War II flashbacks and the current time. The primary character is professional genealogist Jefferson Tayte. He is in Germany follow up on a lead that he hopes will help him find his birth parents.

Accompanying Tayte is Professor Jean Summer, his partner and love interest. Tayte and Summer interview an aging World War II survivor, Johann Langner. He was in the German SS and knew a fellow SS member, Volker Strobel, who has been labeled a war criminal. Tayte is convinced that Langner and Strobel have information that will lead him to identifying his parents.

Asking questions about Strobel, who has been in hiding since the end of the War, seems to stir up the anger of those who still believe in the Nazi party. The effort by Tayte and Summer to ferret out information leading to Taytes ancestry slowly yields one small piece of information after another.

It comes down to whether Tayte will be able to find his family before he and Summer are forced to leave Munich. I thoroughly enjoyed the 7.5 hours I spent reading this 352 page novel. This is the second of Robinson’s novels I have read and this is every bit as good as the first. I have dabbled in investigating my family ancestry, so I found an interesting link to the story. I liked the characters of both Tayte and Summer and look forward to reading more of their exploits. I give this novel a 5 out of 5.

Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at http://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally, fans of Steve Robinson’s Jefferson Tayte series have got what they wanted – JT is investigating his own past. Adopted at a very early age, Tayte has made a career out of researching the family history of other people when, ironically, he has no idea about his own past. After receiving a clue in a previous book, however, he sets off on a journey that will change his life…

Set mainly in Germany, and told during two time frames (present day and World War Two), Kindred tells the story of two friends, Volker Strobel and Johann Langner and the roles they both played in World War Two. Without giving too much away, it is obvious from quite early on in the book that they are going to have very different wars, but what happened in the past that leaves JT and his partner, Professor Jean Summer, fearing for their lives in the present day?

‘Kindred’ deals with some very emotive issues, not least the subject of the Holocaust. The descriptions of the events at Dachau concentration camp and the atrocities at Kristallnacht were particularly harrowing but essential in explaining the circumstances behind JT’s adoption. Much research has evidently gone into ensuring that this book, although fictional, is as true-to-life as possible.

This is the fifth book in the Jefferson Tayte series, and arguably the best, as Steve Robinson is very adept at writing about World War Two, as shown in another of his books, ‘To The Grave’. You do not need to have read the previous books in the series, but you’ll want to read them after finishing this one. The only problem with this book? The wait before the next one!

Thank you to Net Galley for providing this book in return for an honest review.

[Suzan Pinciotti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keep getting better!

The Jefferson Tayte Genealogical mysteries keep getting better and better! With his own quirks, he just might be the Hercule Poirot of this genre!!!

[Jean Kolinofsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for a review. Jefferson Tate is a genealogist who makes his living reuniting families and digging up family secrets. Ironically, the one family that he has been unable to track is his own. Now has arrived in Munich to discover his past. Armed with a picture of the mother that abandoned him and the man he believes to be his father, he has traced the building in the background. However, asking questions about the past in Germany has its dangers.

Jefferson and his partner, Professor Jean Summer, interview Johann Langner, owner of the building in the picture, who relates his story, from membership in the Hitler Youth, experiences in the trenches and the consequences of his actions in the SS. It is one of pride, a love story, a tale of war and finally a tale of revenge.

Robinson nicely weaves Jefferson's and Langner's stories together and keeps them moving at a rapid pace. While this book is part of a series, it provides enough backstory to allow this entry to stand on its' own. Recommended for readers of historical mysteries, it has enough twists and surprises to keep the reader entertained to the very end.

[Linda Hardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

JT and his partner Jean travel to Germany in the quest to discover who JT's real family are, he was adopted as a baby and only has one photograph of his real mother and does not even know her name, as he and Jean start digging for answers Jean is threatened and JT is arrested on suspicion of murder. The story told by Langer at the end I almost did not want to read, so sad, so horrific, how could one man be such a monster. More questions left answered - Did JT say Yes to Jean, and what becomes of Rudi? Look forward to the next book.

[Karolina Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first part of this story unravels at a slower pace than other installments of Jefferson Tayte's mysteries, and the first impression may be a bit weaker compared to other books from the series. This is especially the case of the prologue, that can be solved quite quickly by any reader (a bit too quickly maybe).

The ultimate revelation and the 'end' of the journey is quite rewarding though and makes up for the slower start. Overall a very quick and entertaining crime/mystery book from Robinson.

[Kaye Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific

I have liked all of his books, but this one has moved to the top of the list. In each of his books, someone is trying to get rid of the genealogist His reasons always makes more sense than other author's reasons. Particularly in this book. I would recommend this book to all interested in genealogical thrillers.

[Kathrin · Rating 4 out of 5]

5th book in the Jefferson Tayte series and as I have read all of them, I think this is the best one yet. The author switches back and forth between a historic and a present timeline and in this book it had the best results yet. This is also the first time I listened to the audio book in this series and I thought the narration was really good.

[Anand Kombe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Immensely enjoyed a mysterious ancestry ! Beautifully described German characters who greatly suffered during World War II. Tedious job in Genealogical research - I MUST say. Definitely a page turner!

PS : Recommended, if any of you a voracious reader. Indulge yourself...

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow,that was awesome

This book was well written and gives you a few surprises in it as you go along for the journey
If you have read his other books then you will enjoy this one as well

[Hpnyknits · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book answers many questions about JT’s own history, but the major event that the whole story depends on, is so unbelievable, and the author tries to explain it in 2 sentences. Not buying it. Still, for people who follow the series, many questions are answered.

[Shar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best one yet, so glad JT got some answers finally. Loved this book from start till finish, great believable characters and a great mystery ongoing through the book.

Highly recommended.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kindred is the first book I have read by Steve Robinson. I loved it! I hope to read more by him in the future.
5 stars.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best one of the Jefferson Tate genealogy mystery series, this time involving a Nazi war criminal.