THE DESK FROM HOBOKEN
A Genealogy Mystery, #1
by
ML Condike
Mystery / Women Sleuths / Forensic Genealogy
Publisher: Harbor Lane Books, LLC
Date of Publication: March 5, 2024
Number of Pages: 446 pages
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After a personal loss, forensic genealogist RaeJean Hunter accepts what she believes is a straightforward case to ease back into the game: a student at Connecticut College has found human remains on the school campus. The College hires RaeJean to confirm their tentative identification that it’s a woman named Mary Rogers, whose cause of death has never been determined.
Unfortunately, it becomes downright dangerous. Someone thwarts her investigation of the same case that inspired Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Mystery of Marie Rogêt.” Still, she meets relatives, some helpful and others not, amid escalating threats. Using her skills, including DNA analysis, historical records research, genealogy mapping, and guidance from a mystical antique desk, she follows every clue.
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Who knew that genealogy could be so dangerous?
This new cozy series is full of information, so much so that you might need to reference the family tree documents on the author’s website! If you have ever been fascinated with genealogy, this is a series you might want to dive into. I really enjoyed watching the process of RaeJean uncovering documents and tying them to the people she is researching. She is one smart woman, but not without issues that sometimes impact her work when she comes across something that reminds her of her loss. The relationship that she has with her husband, Sam, is a loving one. They are supportive of each other, and their chosen careers sometimes intersect. This happens when RaeJean finds a puzzle box in a desk she accepts as part of her fee to research Mary Roberts.
The mystery is very detailed, especially when it comes to the affected family trees. It takes a little time to keep these people straight in my head, but I think I had it by the end of the book. It is quite interesting to see the lengths some people will go to protect their family name. RaeJean runs into this with Lillian, a Mather and self-appointed historian for the family. Turns out, not many in the family like her, which is a good thing when all is revealed in the end. Lillian has some secrets; see if you can figure them out. I know I didn’t!
The story flows nicely, and I was never left hanging, wondering what happened in different situations. The answer might come later in the book, but everything is explained.
There are some minor characters that I would love to see more of in future books. Claire is a fellow genealogist and quite brilliant in her own right. She has a minor storyline in this book, but it ties everything together. Caitlin is RaeJean’s sister and, I think, a strong supporter of RaeJean. You can see the family bond quite well.
My review would be remiss if I didn’t mention Sophie, her corgi. I love dogs in books, and I really enjoyed Sophie and how she didn’t let RaeJean get too engrossed in her work. After all, dogs need to be walked and fed.
This book revived my interest in my own family’s genealogy. There is a lot that goes into tracking down the correct information. I am still unsure how forensic genealogy can help identify bones, but I can understand tracing the family lineage.
This book was hard to put down, and we give it 5 paws up.
ML Condike’s novel, The Desk from Hoboken, is the first in a genealogy mystery three-book series. She also has short stories published in five anthologies. ML Condike completed Southern Methodist University’s Writer’s Path in Dallas in 2019 and is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime North Dallas, Granbury Writers’ Bloc, and Key West Writers Guild.
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THREE WINNERS:
1st: signed paperback + Corgi plush toy
2nd: signed paperback + $25 Amazon gift card
3rd: choice of $25 gift card OR signed paperback
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Terrific review. You really touched on some nice elements of the story, like the methodical way that RaeJean approached digging through the old diaries & other papers. Getting a glimpse of how that kind of research is done was fun.
Maryann
Wow, this must be a good book if it stumped you on some of the mysteries! You almost always figure them out. Thanks for a great review; I really look forward to reading this book.