As a library staff member, it is no surprise that I love reading. As a genealogist, it is no surprise that I love reading histories, memoirs, mysteries, historical fiction and genealogy how-to books. Did you know that there is a genre* that covers all of my favorite reads?
GENEALOGICAL FICTION!
These books combine history, character development, and mystery all against a back drop of genealogical research. And I love them!
They are not easy to find because they aren't a recognized genre. Most are not widely available and you will have to request them in. Some are only available as Kindle books.
Here are some of my favorites:
Morton Farrier, Forensic Genealogist Series by Nathan Dylan Goodwin
The setting is present day U.K. and Morton is a young man who makes a living researching other people's family, while ignoring the mysteries in his own life. I like it for the setting, the character development and for the peek at how the Brits research their families.
Currently I am impatiently waiting for the fifth book in the series to come in for me. (Hurry up and finish the book already! whoever you are!)
Another series set in England, is the Jefferson Tayte Genealogical Mystery by Steve Robinson. I have read the first two books in the series: In the Blood and To the Grave. They are also good mysteries. Jefferson is an American whose business as a genealogist takes him to the UK. Good plot line, but I find that Jefferson doesn't ring true as an American. Having recently traveled in England, and along the Cornish coast, Jefferson takes the driving on the left side of the road and the very narrow rock-walled Cornish roads too much in stride. An American would have been having fits. As we did! But still a good read.
This next series is on my "to read" list: - Torie O'Shea Mysteries by Rett Macpherson. After reading a random page, or two, they seem to be good, engaging cozy mysteries. There are 11 books in the series. So they might have to wait until gardening season is over.
My first awareness of genealogy fiction was upon joining the Genealib list serve. It is dedicated to librarians who work with genealogists. They have compiled a comprehensive 6 page list of Books with a Genealogy Theme.
Here are some ideas on how to find more Genealogy Fiction books:
Google search "genealogy fiction" returned these interesting lists:
BOOKALIKES is an in-house reader's advisory tool at MCDL. It had this series: Suzie Fewings Genealogical Mystery by Fay Sampson Another series set in England, but I have yet to read it. It is an older series (2009-2014) that just hasn't caught on.
GENEALOGICAL FICTION!
These books combine history, character development, and mystery all against a back drop of genealogical research. And I love them!
They are not easy to find because they aren't a recognized genre. Most are not widely available and you will have to request them in. Some are only available as Kindle books.
Here are some of my favorites:
 |
| The first three books in the Morton Farrier series. |
Morton Farrier, Forensic Genealogist Series by Nathan Dylan Goodwin
The setting is present day U.K. and Morton is a young man who makes a living researching other people's family, while ignoring the mysteries in his own life. I like it for the setting, the character development and for the peek at how the Brits research their families.
Currently I am impatiently waiting for the fifth book in the series to come in for me. (Hurry up and finish the book already! whoever you are!)
 |
| The first book in the Jefferson Tayte series. |
Another series set in England, is the Jefferson Tayte Genealogical Mystery by Steve Robinson. I have read the first two books in the series: In the Blood and To the Grave. They are also good mysteries. Jefferson is an American whose business as a genealogist takes him to the UK. Good plot line, but I find that Jefferson doesn't ring true as an American. Having recently traveled in England, and along the Cornish coast, Jefferson takes the driving on the left side of the road and the very narrow rock-walled Cornish roads too much in stride. An American would have been having fits. As we did! But still a good read.
 |
| First book in the Tori O'Shea Mysteries. |
This next series is on my "to read" list: - Torie O'Shea Mysteries by Rett Macpherson. After reading a random page, or two, they seem to be good, engaging cozy mysteries. There are 11 books in the series. So they might have to wait until gardening season is over.
My first awareness of genealogy fiction was upon joining the Genealib list serve. It is dedicated to librarians who work with genealogists. They have compiled a comprehensive 6 page list of Books with a Genealogy Theme.
Here are some ideas on how to find more Genealogy Fiction books:
Google search "genealogy fiction" returned these interesting lists:
- Good Reads list of "Popular Genealogy Fiction Books"
- Lisa Louise Cook's "Genealogy Book Club: Genealogy Gems to Read"
- ThoughtCo "Top Fiction Books for Genealogy Lovers"
- Julie Tarr's Julie's Genealogy and History Hub, "Genealogical and Historical Mysteries List.
- Jacqueline Beard's Blog on writing includes her list of favorite "Genealogy Fiction", mostly British.
- And Cyndi's List of genealogy related "Movies, Music, Fiction & Non-Fiction » Fiction & Non-Fiction"
 |
| First book in the Suzie Fewings series. |
BOOKALIKES is an in-house reader's advisory tool at MCDL. It had this series: Suzie Fewings Genealogical Mystery by Fay Sampson Another series set in England, but I have yet to read it. It is an older series (2009-2014) that just hasn't caught on.
Novelist is a reader's advisory database that is available from the Library's web site. From Novelist:
- Genealogy (May 2006) By: Casey, Maud When Samantha Hennert suffers an aneurysm while all alone, it is up to a relative stranger, Thompson, to track down the two children and her husband to share the tragic news.
- The Slow Way Back (Sep 1999) By: Goldman, Judy Thea, a Jewish woman married to a non-Jewish man who feels disconnected from her family and her traditions, finds a cache of 1930s letters written in Yiddish by her grandmother concerning her parents troubled and secrecy-shrouded marriage.
- The Virgin Blue (Nov 2002) By: Chevalier, Tracy As she investigates her ancestors, the Tournier family, Ella Turner is drawn back 500 years to the sixteenth century world of Isabelle du Moulin. She is haunted by Isabelle, a woman who was brutally persecuted under suspicion of practicing witchcraft. Ella's search uncovers a long-hidden tragedy and reveals the shocking fate of her ancestor. I have read and enjoyed this title (years ago) and am a huge fan of Tracy Chevalier's work.
- In the Company of Others (Oct 2010) By: Karon, Jan, 1937- Arriving in western Ireland to research the Kavanagh ancestry, Father Tim and Cynthia are disrupted by a burglary, a sprained ankle, and local distress over the theft of a cherished painting. I have read a number of Jan Karon's Father Tim series, but not this book. I will add it to my "must read" list.
- Family Tree (Jan 2006) By: Delinsky, Barbara Dana Clarke has finally achieved the stability she has craved in her marriage to a man from an old New England family, but when her daughter is born with African-American traits in her appearance, her family life is thrown into turmoil.
Fantastic Fiction is a site that specializes in listing books in series. Once you find an author you love, look for other recommended authors or series.
Happy Reading Everyone!
*Genre:
1: a category of artistic, musical, or literary composition characterized by a particular style, form, or contenta classic of the gothic novel genre
2: KIND, SORT
According to Merriam-Webster https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/genre
1 comment:
Great blog post, Kat - and thank you for the link. Best wishes Jacqueline Beard
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