Organize Your Family History

Stay focused and happy while exploring your roots

Genea-fiction recommendation: Ellie McClellan Genealogy Mysteries

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I just finished reading the fourth Ellie McClellan Genealogy Mystery, Family Crimes, by Beth Farrar. Way back in 2014, I wrote a post about how I had just discovered genea-fiction and requested recommendations. I’ve read many since and I’m especially enjoying this series. Ellie McClellan is a professional genealogist living in Canada who leads a weekly group of senior citizens in learning how to tell their family stories. It’s sweet and cozy and the characters are so likeable. I love that so many of the characters are older. I love the attention to detail. And I love that author Beth Farrar sneaks in lots of genealogy tips!

I learned about the Ellie McClellan Genealogy Mysteries in the Genealogical Crime Mystery Book Club Facebook group, of which Beth Farrar is a member. I subscribe to Kindle Unlimited (it has an $11.99 a month fee) and I can read the Kindle version of these books at no additional charge. They’re also available for purchase in hardback or paperback versions.

If you like genea-fiction and you’re not a member of the Genealogy Crime Mystery Book Club, I encourage you to join if you’re on Facebook. And if  you’re a genea-fiction fan and you haven’t read this series yet, I encourage you to give it a try. I can’t wait for the next one to come out!

Discovering genea-fiction

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inthebloodcoverBack in the 90s, when I was a dog writer, there was a series of dog lovers’ mysteries whose protagonist was a dog writer.  There is at least one set of mysteries whose main character is a professional organizer (my current profession).

So I shouldn’t be surprised that there’s a whole genre of genealogical mysteries. I guess I should be surprised that it took me this long to discover that fact!

Last night I started reading In the Blood, by Steve Robinson. Jefferson Tayte, the book’s main character, is a professional genealogist. I’m already hooked.

I think one of the things I love about doing family history research is that I’m solving mysteries. And of course I love reading mystery novels. Throw together family history research, historical fiction, and the particulars of being a genealogist and that’s a recipe for success, in my book.

In the Blood is the first in a series, which I’m sure I’ll read. When I’m through with that series there are plenty of other series from which to choose, including Nathan Dylan Goodwin’s Forensic Genealogist books, and Jimmy Fox’s Nick Herald Genealogical Mysteries.

If you read genea-fiction, I’d love to hear any recommendations for other titles. What are your favorites?