If you know anything about
me, you realize that I am very much interested in researching my family
history. It’s an exciting and rewarding hobby and one that often provides an
author with some great ideas for historical fiction novels. My own books are
based on the few facts I have discovered about my Huguenot ancestors and their
lives after fleeing France and settling in England.
Steve Robinson is an author
who is also using genealogy as the basis for his books. He has come up with a
great protagonist by the name of Jefferson Tayte who does genealogical research
for a living. In each book, there is a mystery attached to his historical
findings and he goes in search of the answers. Usually it’s where no man has
dared to tread before and some of what he digs up puts the genealogist in grave
danger.
“The Lost Empress” is the
fourth genealogical mystery I've read by Steve Robinson. I love the technique
he uses in writing these books. There is usually Jefferson‘s own story as he
tries to unravel mysteries of the past; and then there are the actual stories
of those who came before. The author manages to do an excellent job of
interspersing the two.
Although this book is part of a series, it stands alone just fine. One of Tayte's clients thinks that her recently deceased grandmother may have actually been a woman who supposedly drowned when "The Empress of Ireland" floundered and sank in the St. Lawrence River in 1914. Taking what pictures the granddaughter has given him and what info he can dig up on the internet, Jefferson is off to England once more to speak to the descendants of the lady who drowned. When he is met by definite hostility, he is convinced that the family has a shameful secret they do not want unearthed.
You can't help loving the somewhat overweight and uncoordinated Jefferson with his love of chocolate bars and his timidity of aggressive women. Enjoyed this read and look forward to the next Tayte book.
Although this book is part of a series, it stands alone just fine. One of Tayte's clients thinks that her recently deceased grandmother may have actually been a woman who supposedly drowned when "The Empress of Ireland" floundered and sank in the St. Lawrence River in 1914. Taking what pictures the granddaughter has given him and what info he can dig up on the internet, Jefferson is off to England once more to speak to the descendants of the lady who drowned. When he is met by definite hostility, he is convinced that the family has a shameful secret they do not want unearthed.
You can't help loving the somewhat overweight and uncoordinated Jefferson with his love of chocolate bars and his timidity of aggressive women. Enjoyed this read and look forward to the next Tayte book.
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