In the Blood

Suzie Fewings Genealogical Mystery #1

by Fay Sampson

The first in a fascinating new series combining mystery and genealogy - Keen family history researcher Suzie Fewings is delighted when she discovers an ancestor with the same name as her teenage son. But what she finds out about the seventeenth-century Thomas casts a darker shadow than she expected. Then her own Tom's girlfriend is found dead in mysterious circumstances, and Suzie finds it hard to suppress her growing fears that Tom has inherited more than a name from his predecessor . . .

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

204 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Fay Sampson graduated in Mathematics, and trained as a teacher. Combining teaching with writing, Fay's children's books were frequently featured in 'Children's Books of the Year'. When she became a full-time writer, she turned to writing novels for adults, based on history and legend. She now lives with her husband in a Tudor cottage in mid-Devon.

Reviews

[JQ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I could not believe how painfully immature and just plain dumb the main character was. Her husband wasn't the brightest bulb on the string either, so I guess they were well suited to each other.

There was only the vaguest hint of a mystery here, and I wouldn't say it was genealogical in nature at all, so I have no idea why this book is labeled a "genealogical mystery". I mean, there was a bit of mystery here, and there was some genealogy in the book also, but they had nothing, absolutely NOTHING to do with each other.

The mystery was quite lame - I figured out whodunnit almost immediately as it was signaled quite loudly I thought. At least it was a quick easy read. I may read the next in the series just because I'm curious to see if this woman is still going to be as dumb and immature as she was in this first book!

[Miriam Kahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

It figures I've found a wonderful new to me author and there are few if any copies of her books in the libraries I have access to. I'll have to do some creative borrowing.

Sampson combines a contemporary murder mystery with an historical murder and lots of British (Devon) genealogy. Suzie Loosemore Fewings is the genealogist with a vivid imagination who is searching for ancestors in the early 1600s. Turns out the ancestor killed a church rector during the Civil War (1642-49). At the same time, her son is accused of murdering his girlfriend.

I love the mix of history, genealogy, and murder. The investigation into the historical bits is fascinating. The contemporary murder is unsettling.

Will I read more Sampson? Absolutely. I'll just have to scour the libraries for her books since she's been writing since the 1970s and is not a 'household' name. Viva the hunt!

[Martha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hesitate between two and three stars. It's pretty well-written and I like genealogy-based mysteries, but the heroine was very irritating, and the genealogy really had nothing to do with the mystery. In addition, the protagonist kept leaping to really ridiculous conclusions, and the whole segment concerning the pedophile who went after her daughter seemed to be a distraction more than it added anything to the story.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most Saturdays Suzie Fewings and her husband Nick make short trips to place of genealogical interest for Suzie — Nick isn't actually all that interested. Although disappointed by the Victorian renovations of the church in Southcombe, Suzie is elated to see the name of a possible ancestor, Thomas Loosemore in a list of churchwardens, especially since she and Nick named their son Thomas Loosemore Fewings. But her excitement is dampened by further information about the earlier Thomas. At the same time, her son's former girlfriend is found dead, and young Tom becomes a suspect. Juggling her family responsibilities and worries with her genealogical interests becomes difficult, especially since Nick is less than supportive. Unlike most genealogical mysteries, the mystery and the research are not actually interconnected — which may actually be more realistic.

[Judith Rainbow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had this book from the Library on Thursday 4 August as I could not get a copy on kindle. I have finished it.
The first part of the book is quite slow/boring but I muddled through and was glad I didn't take the book back on Friday unread. Brilliant book.

[Lesley Lambourne · Rating 3 out of 5]

More a crime novel with a bit of genealogy, than a Genealogical Mystery, but very readable and just what I needed after reading two non-fictions, back-to-back

[Mgb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book with its touches of genealogy and history. There is a murder, but it is more background for the story than the start of a mystery.

[S.C. Skillman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an intriguing and page-turning tale of mystery, crime and family history. I found this a thoroughly enjoyable read and identified with a lot of it. Suzie and her husband Nick turn up in a country church where Suzie is investigating details of her ancestor. I too am about to do that very thing, as I plan to visit a church in Oxfordshire where I may, like Suzie, find an inscription bringing me closer to my 7-times great grandfather who was born in the reign of James I. Suzie's story not only gives a strikingly close-to-life depiction of life with a rapidly-disenchanted husband and two challenging teenagers, but a mystery, an almost-romance, a crime which ultimately finds its resolution, and a warning to family researchers - if you get too personally involved with the story of your ancestor, and find out things you wish you hadn't, you too may find it taking over your life in the present....

[Lori Shafer · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a genealogist, I was looking forward to reading a mystery series that features genealogy. But I just did not get into this book. I would not recommend this novel.

[Cherie Bush · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wanted to like it, but just didn't enjoy it.