I really enjoyed reading this book. There is a little geneology, a little Mississippi River flooding, a little history, and a well written suspenseful mystery.

I've read a couple of other in the series and hadn't realized until I was finished that this was the first. The series centers around Torie O'Shea, a woman who lives in a small town on the Mississippi River south of St. Louis. She's married, has a good family life, works part-time in a historical house giving tours in period costumes, and her hobby of genealogy is sometimes done for pay. This story begins when a woman on a tour comes up to her and asks her to research her family tree -- with particular interest in her father, who disappeared in World War II without a trace. For some reason, Torie takes the work, although she hasn't done genealogy for pay for a while. Very quickly, there's a murder that is quite possibly related to her genealogical search. Someone seems anxious to get Torie to just drop it. Which of the people she's been meeting is the killer, and presumably also the person who has been trying to get her to drop it.

This whole series is entertaining -- well written, well plotted, and, well, cozy. But this particularly volume isn't quite the caliber that I'd give five stars to -- but quite possibly, 4 1/2 stars.

Torie O'Shea is a wonderful, down to earth, everyday woman character. I think I AM Torie O'Shea!

The mystery aspect of the book is interesting but what really makes this book such fun to read is Torie, her husband Rudy, her mom (and mom's developing "friendship" with the Sheriff who is 12 years her junior, and who Torie considers her arch-enemy), Torie's jam-session playing dad, and the other citizens of New Kassell. I especially like the "News You Might Miss" columns from Eleonore.

A great, fun, light reading book with some true laugh out loud comments.

Don't miss it!

(I've already read the 2nd in the series and am about to start the 3rd).

This is the first of the Victory O'Shea books/series. Wonderful slant, well written and simply interesting. The author mixes comfortable and well thoughtout details with an excellent story line and very good character construction. I like her syntax. I have read other books in this series and this one certainly was a good lead into them. I hope we will get many more in the future. I very much recommend this one.

Victory "Torie" O'Shea seems to lead an idyllic life in the historic town of New Kassel, Missouri. In this first book from St. Louis author Rett MacPherson, we meet Torie and her family. Torie is married to Rudy and has two little girls. Torie also works as a tour guide of the historic buildings in her home town of New Kassel, even dressing in vintage clothing while giving her tours. Torie is also an avid genealogist. As the story opens, she is hired to prepare a family tree for town resident Norah Zumwalt. Norah has an interesting family mystery, which is that her father went off to World War II and was never heard from again--no official death record from the war or anything. After finding some interesting information which she wants to share with her client, Torie is horrified when she goes to Norah's house, finds the front door ajar, and discovers that Norah has been savagely murdered.

Being naturally inquisitive (or is it nosy?) Torie wonders if there is some secret in Norah's family tree that led to her murder. Throughout the story, Torie works with the county sheriff to find out the identity of the murderer. The plot is a good one, with lots of turns.

I enjoyed the genealogy aspect of the story too. I'm looking forward to reading Torie's next adventure in family history.