Beneath the Soil

April 28, 2014
Sampson’s sixth mystery featuring English genealogist Suzie Fewings (after 2012’s The Overlooker) proves a rather tepid family affair. Suzie’s husband, Nick; 15-year-old daughter Millie; and 19-year-old son Tom are all drawn into a murder at bucolic Saddlers Wood, where Suzie goes to research a 19th-century ancestor of hers, Richard Day. Soon after reaching Saddlers Wood, they hear a gunshot, then meet farmer Philip Caseley carrying a shotgun. After a tense exchange with Philip, they have a separate, equally awkward conversation with his wife, Eileen, who directs them along a bramble-filled path to the ruined cottage where Richard once lived. Soon afterward, the Fewings learn that Eileen has been shot dead and Philip is being questioned. Revisiting the cottage, Suzie and Tom discover a possible clue—a survey nail—but their interference in the case displeases Chief Det. Insp. Alice Brewer. The plot bogs down into repetition until a family member is endangered, leading to an unsurprising conclusion. Agent: Pollinger Limited (U.K.).

June 1, 2014

Fewing family members get in over their heads when Suzie's latest genealogical field trip takes them to a remote farmhouse one weekend. Startlingly, the woman who resided at the farm turns up murdered a few days later. Suzie can't let go of the idea that the victim seemed terrified when they saw her; she takes ownership of her instincts and returns to the scene of the crime for more of a look-see. Once involved, the Fewings learn that the victim's property has some mineral potential. When the geologist whom Nick, Suzie's husband, met turns up dead, too, the Fewings hope the authorities realize someone dangerous is afoot. VERDICT Sampson's sixth series entry (after The Overlooker) is a bit thin initially, but the family uncover some surprising secrets about the land, ratcheting up the suspense. Genealogy buffs will appreciate how the protagonist's inherent curiosity about her past morphs into amateur detecting. Low-key, almost cozy, and great for readers who enjoy family ensemble casts.

Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2014
Suzie Fewings is an enthusiastic genealogy buff. When she discovers new information about her great-great-grandfather, she persuades her family to take an excursion to Saddlers Wood Farm to see the ancestral home. While walking in the woods, they hear a gunshot and then encounter Phillip Caseley, a local farmer, with a shotgun. He appears distracted but sends them to find his wife, Eileen, who will show them the ruined cottage that belonged to Suzie's family. When they arrive at the Caseley home, Eileen seems very upset, but she tells them where to find the cottage. Two days later, the family learns that Eileen has been murdered and her husband arrested for the crime. Suzie thinks that there is more to the story and begins to investigate, though the police have no interest in her discoveries. This latest in the Suzie Fewings series again makes good use of the genealogy frame to support a murder investigation. Family secrets, after all, can be dangerous. A good choice for genealogists and cozy lovers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)