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Alex and Briggie #5
The Hidden Branch
Heirs, Heirs, Heirs – Which one of these Armenians is the killer? Could it be Vazden Mardian, II—the World Class surfing champion, with the piratical eye and the tattoo of an ancient Armenian coin on his arm? The coins belonging to the murder victim were the motive for his murder. Or was it Henry Arkesian—the fanatical professor with an indefatigable lust for anything pertaining to his heritage? He was angry that the victim was leaving his ancient Armenian artifacts to a museum. Or, perhaps, Gorgeous George, Henry’s brother—an Orange County Estate lawyer with a penchant for Ferraris and expensive real estate who is forever in debt? Alex endeavors to keep her mind on the case so that the murderer will not benefit from his crime against Paul Mardian, the billionaire inventor of the pop-top can. Feelings run high amid this passionate, attractive family who live the style of the Orange County, California wealthy. However, while trying to find the perpetrator, she almost loses her life (again), and faces a crossroads in her personal life with a due amount of angst. Briggie, seduced by the sea, boogie boards, and California cuisine, is less help than usual, and gets herself and Richard into more trouble than ever before. Would you believe . . . jail? Fancy footwork was never needed more by our daring duo, in order to escape a madwoman with a scimitar. Join them on this crazy, but heartwarming adventure!
222 pages, Paperback
First published December 21, 2011
5 people are currently reading
167 people want to read
About the author
G.G. Vandagriff
55 books323 followersG.G. Vandagriff is the author of over thirty novels Amazon #1 Bestselling Author. The Last Waltz, the first novel in her 20th Century Historical Romance Series won the Whitney Award for Best Historical Novel in 2009. There are now two more books in that series—Exile and Defiance.
Thirteen of her novels are Regency romances, compared by critics to the witty novels of Georgette Heyer. She has also written a lively genealogical mystery series featuring Briggie and Alex, two whacky widows, as sleuths. Her most recent publications are Romantic Suspense. Her trilogy featuring Breaking News, Sleeping Secrets, and Balkan Echo tell the tale of high profile TV journalists--the Super Sleuths of WOOT TV station in Chicago.
GG graduated from Stanford and received her master’s degree from George Washington University. She worked as an associate editor at Stanford’s Hoover Institution, an assistant treasurer in the Harvard Treasurer’s office, a bond analyst at Fidelity Investments, and an international banker for Continental Illinois National Bank (later acquired by Bank of America).
She and her husband David are the parents of three children and seven grandchildren, her greatest joys in life. Her favorite novel? Jane Eyre. She also loves Florence, Sundance Resort, The Voice, hot chocolate, lilacs, and dachshunds.
Find out more about her books, download a free novella, and sign up for her newsletter at http://ggvandagriff.com. Also, be the first to know when Vandagriff’s next book is available by following her at http://bookbub.com/authors/G.G.Vandag... to receive new releases and discount alerts.
Thirteen of her novels are Regency romances, compared by critics to the witty novels of Georgette Heyer. She has also written a lively genealogical mystery series featuring Briggie and Alex, two whacky widows, as sleuths. Her most recent publications are Romantic Suspense. Her trilogy featuring Breaking News, Sleeping Secrets, and Balkan Echo tell the tale of high profile TV journalists--the Super Sleuths of WOOT TV station in Chicago.
GG graduated from Stanford and received her master’s degree from George Washington University. She worked as an associate editor at Stanford’s Hoover Institution, an assistant treasurer in the Harvard Treasurer’s office, a bond analyst at Fidelity Investments, and an international banker for Continental Illinois National Bank (later acquired by Bank of America).
She and her husband David are the parents of three children and seven grandchildren, her greatest joys in life. Her favorite novel? Jane Eyre. She also loves Florence, Sundance Resort, The Voice, hot chocolate, lilacs, and dachshunds.
Find out more about her books, download a free novella, and sign up for her newsletter at http://ggvandagriff.com. Also, be the first to know when Vandagriff’s next book is available by following her at http://bookbub.com/authors/G.G.Vandag... to receive new releases and discount alerts.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
October 23, 2009
When it comes to writing intriguing mysteries, G. G.Vandagriff and Agatha Christie have a lot in common. Both authors have the gift of piquing the reader’s curiosity and creating elaborate and entertaining plots that give nothing away before the end. But to my mind, GG scores extra points because of the fascinating genealogical connections she weaves through her Alex and Briggie series.
I’ve now devoured all four books in this series (Cankered Roots, Of Deadly Descent, Tangled Roots, and Poisoned Pedigree), so reading The Hidden Branch was like catching up with old friends.
I was soon lost in the latest adventure, which takes place in an area I love – Huntington Beach and Balboa Island, California. I could picture each well-written scene as it unfolded. Alex, the main character, kept me guessing almost as much about her fiancé as she did about the mysterious death of a client. I don't want to give too much away, so will simply say The Hidden Branch is a book you don’t want to miss.
I’ve now devoured all four books in this series (Cankered Roots, Of Deadly Descent, Tangled Roots, and Poisoned Pedigree), so reading The Hidden Branch was like catching up with old friends.
I was soon lost in the latest adventure, which takes place in an area I love – Huntington Beach and Balboa Island, California. I could picture each well-written scene as it unfolded. Alex, the main character, kept me guessing almost as much about her fiancé as she did about the mysterious death of a client. I don't want to give too much away, so will simply say The Hidden Branch is a book you don’t want to miss.
January 25, 2010
Terrible. Skimmed it out of boredom.
November 2, 2023
Traveling helps you to read a full book in 3 days. Book #5 with Alex and Briggie. There are proposals afoot, shooting, arguments, death , kidnapping and happy endings. These books are light , a little far fetched and has some funny things. I started laughing and my husband asked me what I was laughing about. I told him “Briggie and Richard are in jail.” I loved these characters.
June 20, 2019
Idea was good--I love family history mysteries--but some was just so far-fetched. Granted--some real-life events are far-fetched but actually happen. Guessed on the dates--was sometime this spring/winter and it definitely didn't take me a month.
May 23, 2018
It makes family history look exciting! A great surprise!
July 30, 2020
Not the best of the series... I think that is book #3
October 13, 2020
Fun mystery, maybe a little far-fetched. Sometimes a little preachy, but fun to read a family history mystery
July 13, 2023
Alex & Biggie, cozy mystery, and genealogy!
Love cozy mysteries and love genealogy, this series combines both perfectly! Love G.G. Vanagriff's work, with she would do more cozy!
Love cozy mysteries and love genealogy, this series combines both perfectly! Love G.G. Vanagriff's work, with she would do more cozy!
March 27, 2014
Now that I have finished this series, I think I get it--I admit, I was slow, but I didn't expect farce! I thought I was reading murder mystery, albeit mixed with romance, which was in turn mixed with psychological drama, which was mixed with a spiritual conversion story . . . I should have realized from how much the author had going on that she could not possibly be serious for a minute.
This melodrama has Alex and Briggie accompanying Richard Grinnel (the estate lawyer) to Huntington Beach, California to identify the heirs to a fortune left by an Armenian inventor of the pop-top (I have not yet looked to see if this is based on anyone real!)--and they find, of course, a pedigree puzzle that has the same elements as in the other four mysteries they unravel.
Some of the crazy things include:
Charles's mother has a bad heart attack upon hearing that her son has >gasp< been baptized into the Mormon Church. Knowing that she might die, Charles flies all the way from Chicago to California with Alex before he tells her and leaves to fly all the way home to England to be with his mother.
Alex then breaks and reinstates her engagement over and over in the company of those around her in California, without notifying Charles of any of the see-saw antics.
Alex goes out with one after another of the Mardian bachelors who are all good looking, athletic, and rich, except Henry, who is a suspect, and at last the good-looking ones take turns being suspects too.
Briggie and Richard, driving erratically on L.A. freeways, get arrested and then get engaged while in jail.
Alex makes jokes about always getting coshed by a suspect in each of her and Briggie's cases, so for variety, in this case she gets shot, sliced up by a curved sword, and has cigarette ashes ground into her gunshot wound. An ER doctor, hearing this catalog, asks what dangerous profession she follows--genealogy, of course!
How could I have ever thought this was serious?
This melodrama has Alex and Briggie accompanying Richard Grinnel (the estate lawyer) to Huntington Beach, California to identify the heirs to a fortune left by an Armenian inventor of the pop-top (I have not yet looked to see if this is based on anyone real!)--and they find, of course, a pedigree puzzle that has the same elements as in the other four mysteries they unravel.
Some of the crazy things include:
Charles's mother has a bad heart attack upon hearing that her son has >gasp< been baptized into the Mormon Church. Knowing that she might die, Charles flies all the way from Chicago to California with Alex before he tells her and leaves to fly all the way home to England to be with his mother.
Alex then breaks and reinstates her engagement over and over in the company of those around her in California, without notifying Charles of any of the see-saw antics.
Alex goes out with one after another of the Mardian bachelors who are all good looking, athletic, and rich, except Henry, who is a suspect, and at last the good-looking ones take turns being suspects too.
Briggie and Richard, driving erratically on L.A. freeways, get arrested and then get engaged while in jail.
Alex makes jokes about always getting coshed by a suspect in each of her and Briggie's cases, so for variety, in this case she gets shot, sliced up by a curved sword, and has cigarette ashes ground into her gunshot wound. An ER doctor, hearing this catalog, asks what dangerous profession she follows--genealogy, of course!
How could I have ever thought this was serious?
October 7, 2009
The Hidden Branch by G.G. Vandagriff
In G.G.'s last Alex and Briggie Genealogical mystery, we find their sleuthing sends them off to the sunny beaches of Huntington Beach, CA, my hometown, and better known as Surf City. And, G.G. you brought back some happy memories of some well-known places. I used to spend my Saturdays with my friend walking on the pier and walking across the street to the corner drugstore to buy movie magazines. Anyway, back to our story.
Paul Mardian, an Armenian billionnaire, who invented the pop-can, is found murdered in his wealthy home in Kansas City, MO.from one of his artifacts. Alex, Briggie, Richard, Charles and Marigny all fly to Surf City to find the heirs to the Mardian fortune, worth several million. With a murder, a kidnapping and a nearly dead Alex, stakes are high to keep Alex and Briggie from unveiling the murderer. And, with so many suspects in the Mardian clan, it's hard to trust anyone and with Alex, Briggie and Richard, there's no telling what kind of mischief they'll get into. An old journal winds up missing and it's up to the sleuths to find it.
The main attractions in this last of this series is Ruby's, a 50's-60's style restaurant in the motif of a soda shop, which is on the edge of the pier, with all the fishermen, surfers, espresso shops, Golden State Community College, Hoag Memorial Hospital (our family hospital), Four Crowns, UC-Irvine, Balboa Bay, (where we had our wedding reception), Corona Del Mar and The Hyatt Regency across from the pier and John Wayne International Airport.
Forever Friends Rating 4 Stars by Teri
Until Next Time, See You Around The Book Nook.
Pub. Date: September 2009
Deseret
320pp
.
In G.G.'s last Alex and Briggie Genealogical mystery, we find their sleuthing sends them off to the sunny beaches of Huntington Beach, CA, my hometown, and better known as Surf City. And, G.G. you brought back some happy memories of some well-known places. I used to spend my Saturdays with my friend walking on the pier and walking across the street to the corner drugstore to buy movie magazines. Anyway, back to our story.
Paul Mardian, an Armenian billionnaire, who invented the pop-can, is found murdered in his wealthy home in Kansas City, MO.from one of his artifacts. Alex, Briggie, Richard, Charles and Marigny all fly to Surf City to find the heirs to the Mardian fortune, worth several million. With a murder, a kidnapping and a nearly dead Alex, stakes are high to keep Alex and Briggie from unveiling the murderer. And, with so many suspects in the Mardian clan, it's hard to trust anyone and with Alex, Briggie and Richard, there's no telling what kind of mischief they'll get into. An old journal winds up missing and it's up to the sleuths to find it.
The main attractions in this last of this series is Ruby's, a 50's-60's style restaurant in the motif of a soda shop, which is on the edge of the pier, with all the fishermen, surfers, espresso shops, Golden State Community College, Hoag Memorial Hospital (our family hospital), Four Crowns, UC-Irvine, Balboa Bay, (where we had our wedding reception), Corona Del Mar and The Hyatt Regency across from the pier and John Wayne International Airport.
Forever Friends Rating 4 Stars by Teri
Until Next Time, See You Around The Book Nook.
Pub. Date: September 2009
Deseret
320pp
.
July 9, 2012
LDS Fiction. This is the 5th installment in the Alex and Briggie series. I don’t know if the author is planning to advance this series beyond this point. She could certainly leave it where it is with the conclusion of this episode. She appears to have wrapped up, rather nicely, some of the plot lines that have been ongoing since book one.
These two intrepid genealogists have been asked to trace the family tree of a wealthy Armenian gentleman to determine the legitimate heirs to the considerable fortune he left behind when he tragically met his death. The fact that he died as the result of a deadly blow to the back of his head and that some Armenian antiquities in his possession disappeared at the time of his death, makes his demise a murder scene. So, once again, Alex and Briggie find themselves in the middle of a murder mystery with no end of possible suspects.
One element in this episode that made this book more enjoyable for me, was the incorporation of LDS doctrine into the heart of this tale. By that I mean, Alex and her fiancé are neophyte members of the church and each of them experience an in depth increase in the depth of their testimonies and a greater appreciation and understanding of the power of the Atonement as they confront challenges in their lives.
So, mystery, romance, humor, and testimony all are found within the pages of this enjoyable read.
These two intrepid genealogists have been asked to trace the family tree of a wealthy Armenian gentleman to determine the legitimate heirs to the considerable fortune he left behind when he tragically met his death. The fact that he died as the result of a deadly blow to the back of his head and that some Armenian antiquities in his possession disappeared at the time of his death, makes his demise a murder scene. So, once again, Alex and Briggie find themselves in the middle of a murder mystery with no end of possible suspects.
One element in this episode that made this book more enjoyable for me, was the incorporation of LDS doctrine into the heart of this tale. By that I mean, Alex and her fiancé are neophyte members of the church and each of them experience an in depth increase in the depth of their testimonies and a greater appreciation and understanding of the power of the Atonement as they confront challenges in their lives.
So, mystery, romance, humor, and testimony all are found within the pages of this enjoyable read.
March 31, 2010
Do you want a fun read with lots of intrigue that has sleuthing by two wonderful main characters who would rival Agatha Christie's Poirot? Well I've found it in G.G. Vandagriff's book The Hidden Branch. This book is just plain fun! Not only does the mystery of the novel twist and turn, but so does your heart as you follow the characters and worry over them. My heart sank when Charles, Alex's fiance, has to leave to go to his dying mother. Though I hadn't read the previous book in the series, which showed the struggle of these two lovebirds getting together, that didn't stop me from rooting for them to maintain their love. (I'm going to have to read the other books in the series now. Thanks, G.G.) You'll have to read The Hidden Branch to find out if Charles comes back, and if Alex's love for him will survive as she works with Briggie to solve this murder mystery.
January 3, 2016
The Hidden Branch takes Alex and Briggie to California, to the heart of a large Armenian family to solve a murder mystery. The Armenian setting was interesting, but I felt by this point the series was getting a bit predictable. The mystery was pretty similar in formula to the previous books in the series, and Alex's self-deprecation was a bit annoying (She has 3 guys in love with her, but she doesn't think she's attractive? Really?) Also, I liked that Charles had a faith crisis, but I wish we could have seen more of it, instead of wrapping it up so quickly and neatly. Still, there was plenty of action and enough lighthearted moments to keep the story moving along. Part of me would like to read another book in the series, to find out what happened to the main characters after this, but part of me thinks this is a good place to end the series.
June 20, 2012
This was a really good story. I only read at work, so it didn't really take me four days to read the book. I read in between phone calls at a call center. I read the first half in one day at work, didn't work on sunday, read most of the rest on Monday and finished the last 30 pages this morning in less than 2 1/2 hours.
The story is good and as usual I find a book that is not the first in a series. But it always seems to be good.
I liked the characters except for Daniel. He really needs to go away. He's quite annoying.
I liked the two business partners, Briggie and Alex. Of course I figured out the outcome for Alex and her fiance. Nothing new there. I will have to look for the other books.
I enjoyed the story, the writing was easy, and the characters were great.
The story is good and as usual I find a book that is not the first in a series. But it always seems to be good.
I liked the characters except for Daniel. He really needs to go away. He's quite annoying.
I liked the two business partners, Briggie and Alex. Of course I figured out the outcome for Alex and her fiance. Nothing new there. I will have to look for the other books.
I enjoyed the story, the writing was easy, and the characters were great.
February 20, 2010
This is probably my least favorite of the series. Not to say that I didn't enjoy the book, it only took me two days to read.
Alex was pretty much on her own in this book. I really missed the escapades and scrapes that she would get into with Briggie. I think that Briggie is my favorite character. Briggie is on her own trying to fend of Richard, who keeps on proposing. Charles is having a family and emotional crisis and heads back to England to sort things out.
Of course, eligible and non-eligible men are attracted to Alex and trying to take advantage of Charles absense.
The ending is a suprise and everything is resolved, I just wish that the sidekicks were present a bit more.
Alex was pretty much on her own in this book. I really missed the escapades and scrapes that she would get into with Briggie. I think that Briggie is my favorite character. Briggie is on her own trying to fend of Richard, who keeps on proposing. Charles is having a family and emotional crisis and heads back to England to sort things out.
Of course, eligible and non-eligible men are attracted to Alex and trying to take advantage of Charles absense.
The ending is a suprise and everything is resolved, I just wish that the sidekicks were present a bit more.
April 7, 2014
This is the 5th book in the series about genealogy sleuths Briggie and Alex. This one is about a billionaire who leaves all of his money to a branch of his family he has never met--and then is killed by someone who is robbing his valuable coin collection. So Briggie, Alex, Richard, and Charles head to California to meet the heirs, and one of them is kidnapped and held for ransom. Then someone tries to kill Alex. It's a cute book with a happy ending, and contains mystery, romance, religion, and silliness. I enjoyed it, but I had a hard time remembering who the different characters were; there were very many of them.
October 21, 2009
This book is written for an LDS audience. This is the fifth book in the series of books. (I didn't know that going into the book so some parts I was a little lost because I hadn't read the previous books.) Anyway, the story is about two women geneologists that accompany a lawyer friend to help solve a family murder mystery. There are lots of twists and turns in the plot and lots of action. This is a great fun read.
November 6, 2009
Fifth in the Alex & Briggie genealogy series, this book lives up to its successors, and even exceeds them. I found I enjoyed the complex relationships between her usual characters more in this book, and the characters that were unique to this story were intriguing and memorable. The mystery kept me guessing until the end, and the peril was a little more intense than usual. Though it may be the last, I would love to see another book or two in this series.
January 31, 2012
This book was a very easy read and the content was wonderful. However, I had a hard time relating to it. The story line seemed unbelievable. Rare coins, kidnapping, murder--seemed over the top.
I did like the idea of Genealogy being placed in the context of Mystery Solving and excitement. There is a lot that can be learned from names and dates, more than one would think. It isn't a superficial hobby at all.
I did like the idea of Genealogy being placed in the context of Mystery Solving and excitement. There is a lot that can be learned from names and dates, more than one would think. It isn't a superficial hobby at all.
January 31, 2013
If genealogy is weak in monetary value, it makes up for it in mystery and danger. Alex and Briggie are once again asked to follow another probate case to find the heirs to Paul Meridian's fortune. The decendancy chart reveals Armenian holocaust parentage, and an assortment of priceless Armenian artifacts in the mix. Alex almost loses her life, receives another concussion, and Briggie and Richard become engaged--hysterically! The only disappointment for me was so little of Charles.
February 23, 2010
The most current book in the Series. Just read all five of them in about six weeks. I was thrilled to find them. I love books about my hobbies and have enjoyed these. It was quite a change for me to read mystery books. They have been fun and I really hope that there will be more to the series. Sounds like she left it open for more!!!
September 19, 2010
Hugely disappointing. The whole plot is given away in the title. Honestly, if this novel had a different title, I might have an entirely different opinion. The book is a little rough at the beginning with character dialogue and inner monologue. It improves as it goes along and ended up being enjoyable. If only I hadn't already known how it was going to end!
May 22, 2015
My sister, Elizabeth, loves this series and read them ages ago... I just recently tried them, this is the last one. It is pretty good as far as LDS mystery suspense goes I found the whole series a bit far fetched although if I thought you could really meet as many handsome eligible men as the main character Alex does doing genealogy I would certainly put more effort into learning about it.
January 20, 2012
I loved the first book that G.G. Vandagriff wrote but each one since is a little predictable and slow. Hidden Branch is somewhere in between. I like books about Genealogy and the mystery in this one is actually kind of hard to resolve. Good not great.
November 24, 2015
I'm not sure why, but I can't get into Vandagriff's books. I read another of hers (his) a few years ago and I remember having the same feeling when i finished it.... I wondered why I didn't like it more????
October 3, 2009
I like Alex's latest adventure.
October 9, 2009
This book was a good addition to the series.
July 23, 2011
ANother winner, now on to Foggy With a Chance of Murder!
October 28, 2009
Great whodunit and insights into relationships.
November 3, 2009
Her books are all rather similar so I can't say they are great, but I still enjoy a clean mystery even when I can guess the storyline before I open the book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews