Customer Reviews

To the Grave (Jefferson Tayte Genealogical Mystery)

I have a great interest in genealogy and I loved Steve Robinson's first book In the Blood. However I think his second is even better. Once I started I couldn't put it down and read it in less than a day.

Sixty six year old American Eliza Gray receives a parcel from England containing possessions which apparently belonged to her real mother. Totally bewildered as, until then, she had no idea of her adoption she turn to genealogist Jefferson Tayte. Jefferson travels to England in search of her birth mother Mena Lasseter. His research uncovers dark family secrets and leads him into considerable danger as it becomes apparent he is not the only one looking for Mena.

Set both in the present and at the end of WW2 the action moves well between the two times. It is a fascinating and at times a gripping read. Though the plot is quite intricate it is not difficult to follow. However, the author was always one step ahead of me and I couldn't guess what would happen next.

The characters of the Lasseter family are particularly well drawn and Mena is such a sympathetic character you really feel for her. Jefferson Tayte himself is developing well as a character and I looking forward to reading more about him.

Fans of Steve Robinson's loner of a genealogist, Jefferson Tayte, are going to be thrilled to bits with this second novel of which I had a preview copy. JT is researching on behalf of an American lady who has just found that she was adopted. His short stay in England on her behalf dredges up a family mystery which has had profound echoes down the years. A close-knit family is torn apart by misunderstandings and by the behaviour of a member whose reason for her misguided actions was to keep them together. What he uncovers puts his own life in danger.

This is a tense thriller which takes us back to 1944/5 so that at times, we know what Tayte is still to discover. Steve Robinson doesn't just tell the reader the story, he drops us into the scene so that we can smell the zest from the Christmas orange, feel the chill from the crystalline frost. The characters are real, believable and not all by any means likeable! Mena, our `lost' girl, has a harridan of a mother and a weak father but you can join with her in her young and growing affections. I like to think of the contrast between the modern story and that of the past as counterpoint. It's like one melody moving against another and each highlights something from the other.

I felt that the story was strong and the family interactions very credible. I was working towards the conclusion which the author gave us but only at the very end. This is a great read and very well worth the 5 stars I give it. I will happily read more from Steve Robinson. He is a talented writer.

After reading and loving Steve Robinson's first book, In the Blood, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one. I certainly wasn't disapponted! It was one of those rare books that I found myself thinking of during the times that I was forced to set it aside to get on with life. I cared deeply about these characters and am very much hoping that we will see more of JT in the not too distant future.

I've given five star reviews before but after reading this I wish there were more stars to give.
This story is so well written that you are caught up in all the emotions of the characters and in a way they become your own.
At the end I have to admit I cried, but this isn't some soppy story. Although this is fiction I'm sure a lot of the events in this book have happened to many families because of the way people saw things and kept family secrets back in the days of WW2 and the tragedy that those thoughts brought.
I thought that the previous book, In the Blood, was good but this was, in my mind, far better.
All I can do is recommend this book and say if you don't buy it you've missed a great read.

I really enjoyed In the Blood: A Genealogical Crime Mystery #1 (Jefferson Tayte) but this one was even better.

Our American Genealogist Jefferson Tayte aka JT has been employed by Eliza Gray who has received a suitcase with some effects telling her that she was in fact adopted. JT travels to Leicestershire to discover who the mysterious Mena Lasseter was. The story of Mena is based towards the end of the war in 1944/45 but the current day story has just as much, if not more to offer.

The characters are well drawn and Mena's story is an emotional one but at the same time there is a lot of intrigue in the present day. JT finds himself in danger but who wants to cover up what happened all those years ago.

This is a stand alone story however I would suggest reading Steve Robinson's previous book first In the Blood: A Genealogical Crime Mystery #1 (Jefferson Tayte). As before the genealogical angle is covered accurately but not laboriously so it only serves to enhance the story not get in the way of it.

This emotional, thrilling tale thoroughly deserves 5 stars, I can't wait for the next one.

This man sure knows how to spin a yarn. One storyline splits into two and the reader follows the man hunting for the truth in the present, whilst simultaneously reliving it with the person he is hunting for in the past. The past and present unfold like layers of ancient scripture, which has to be pried open and lifted carefully so it doesn't tear or disintegrate forever.
I found myself thinking ahead, completely certain of the events that had transpired, only to find the author was just a tad more clever and inventive. My heart went out to Mena and yes I even found myself blinking back a tear or two. I felt anger at the injustice, the waste and the lost opportunities, which is so often the case with deep dark family secrets.
Some of the dialogue between Tayte and the characters in his part of the storyline is at times overly descriptive and superfluous. Tayte smiles a lot and that particular word was used too often. On a more personal note I felt that the reader was kept very close to Mena until her disappearance and then the story from her point of view was lost. I would have loved to have heard her perspective a little longer, but I admit the way it is written is better and more realistic.
Aside from those tiny details this was a cracking read and I highly recommend it.

Having thoroughly enjoyed the first book in the series, which also was Steve Robinson's first published novel, I've been looking forward to reading his next book. I wasn't disappointed; I enjoyed this even more than the first book! There is plenty to get your teeth into here - beautiful writing, mysteries, tragedy and a nail biting finale. I can really recommend this as an enjoyable and satisfying read.

I had waited for this book for what seemed like forever....although it wasn't that long really, and it was well worth it :-)
Steve Robinson has once again produced an excellent storyline based around genealogy, and it keeps you guessing right to the end. I loved the detailed descriptions of places and houses, which made me feel as if I was there, or would love to visit:-)
I could smell that orange, and was transported back to my own childhood when the soldier turned up at Christmas with special edible treats for the family (it was during WWII and food was rationed, so any extras were always welcome)The story moves at a great pace and has many twists and turns that keep you guessing from start to finish, with an ending that is perfect and unexpected. Altogether a brilliant read, and if you haven't yet read Steve's books I would recommend you do so without further delay :-)
Thank you Steve for another great read :-)x

To The Grave is Steve Robinson's second novel, following his highly acclaimed debut In The Blood which also features genealogical Private investigator Jefferson Tayte.
This book has a strong cast, so vividly drawn that he made me care about their fate and angry at the social injustices so sadly common in 1944 the time in which much of the story is set. Stylishly written and superbly constructed it benefits greatly from the meticulous quality of the author's personal research and insight.
The plot twists and turns effortlessly moving between two different eras without a glitch, one of those rare books that you want never to end..

4.5*s
A slower paced read than "In the Blood" as the main characters are much more fleshed out. After the 75% mark the story goes into overdrive. I certainly enjoyed the ride and can't wait for #3.