Tangled Roots. Marcia Talley. 2019. Severn House Publishers. 180 pages. [Source: Public library.]
Anyone who has participated in genetic testing or otherwise had their DNA analyzed will be familiar with a general disclaimer. The results may include something you are not aware of, and could be upsetting. Naturally, when Hannah Ives gets a call from her sister Georgina that her DNA test results indicate a 25% Native American heritage, the sisters are taken aback. They’ve grown up hearing about their family background, with its Puritan roots that make them a shoe-in for DAR membership. This little wrench, then, raises all kinds of questions about the truth of their grandparents.
Tangled Roots presents Hannah’s attempts to figure out whether the results are a fluke or if they do indeed have Native American heritage and a family they’ve never known. Along the way, they deal with a shady death closer to home that threatens to wrench the family further apart and unable to trust anyone. From their quiet lives in the suburbs of Maryland to protests in the nation’s capital and visit to a remote Native American reservation, this story goes all over, both in plot and locale.
As someone who is familiar with genealogical research, I found the descriptions of Hannah’s research redundant. However, someone who is not at all familiar would likely find this approach critical to understanding what is going on. That being said, Talley does a good job at presenting the myriad resources and techniques available to those beginning their genealogical journey, particularly through the use of DNA analytics. And as the story unfolds, there are several events that feel like they’ve been ripped from the headlines over the last decade. To that end, key parts of the story are completely plausible which made reading it more enjoyable.
The book centers a single family, so there’s a range of characters, ages, and experiences. I didn’t always find their responses or dialogue completely relatable, but it was never so jarring that it took me out of the moment. Some lines of conversation, particularly around genealogy, were too on the nose. It was clear the author needed to explain something in order for the plot to move forward, but dialogue provided wasn’t always the best vehicle.
This book is #17 in the Hannah Ives series, but it did not feel like it. There is one obvious mention to a previous incident that I assume occurs in a preceding book, but it’s not salient in this story. As a result, Tangled Roots works as a standalone. What works less well are the two competing stories in this book. Hannah’s research into her family history would easily have been its own book; the secondary story about a mysterious murder absolutely should have been its own book. Because they’re both pushed here, the stories aren’t as developed as they could be, and the resolutions to both feel rushed and superficial.
Tangled Roots was a quick, engaging read for me. It has room for improvement, but it works on its own merits. I recommend it to lovers of cozy mysteries or genealogy enthusiasts who like a little drama and crime, but aren’t looking for tense suspense or to be emotionally drawn to the characters. I read this in less than a day, so it might be perfect to bring along on a day trip or a long evening out on the deck.
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