Book review: THE DESK FROM HOBOKEN

I love a good mystery, and have been gravitating towards cozy mysteries lately. The Desk From Hoboken by ML Condike one doesn’t quite have the quirky, lightheartedness that would make me categorize it as a “cozy”, though.

Instead, The Desk From Hoboken is a quiet, thoughtful mystery that offers excellent twists and turns and emotions – not at all what I expected, but so much more!

Read on to learn more about the book and it’s author, and I’ll share my thoughts as well as a lovely giveaway, courtesy of Lone Star Book Blog Tours.

THE DESK FROM HOBOKEN A Genealogy Mystery, #1
by
ML Condike

Mystery / Women Sleuths / Forensic Genealogy
Publisher: Harbor Lane Books, LLC
Date of Publication: March 5, 2024
Number of Pages: 446 pages 

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SYNOPSIS

After a personal loss, forensic genealogist RaeJean Hunter accepts what she believes is a straightforward case to ease back into the game: a student at Connecticut College has found human remains on the school campus. The College hires RaeJean to confirm their tentative identification that it’s a woman named Mary Rogers, whose cause of death has never been determined.    

Unfortunately, it becomes downright dangerous. Someone thwarts her investigation of the same case that inspired Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Mystery of Marie Rogêt.” Still, she meets relatives, some helpful and others not, amid escalating threats. Using her skills, including DNA analysis, historical records research, genealogy mapping, and guidance from a mystical antique desk, she follows every clue. 

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REVIEW

The Desk from Hoboken is a quiet mystery with an air of sadness as its protagonist, forensic genealogist RaeJean Hunter is recovering from personal loss. It was a fascinating look into how a forensic genealogist works. There is also a bit of “spooky” thrown in as the lovely desk she takes as part of her payment for the job speaks to her emotionally and feels like it has a purpose to serve. (And how do you not love a story with an adorable corgi?)

What should be a straightforward job, albeit one shrouded in secrecy as the benefactor of the search is nameless (as is the previous forensic genealogist who started, and then abruptly quit the job) turns out to be much more complicated than expected. There’s an interesting cast of characters who add to the drama, including a very unreliable relative who is also allegedly doing research. One minute she seems to be willing to help RaeJean, the next she is either scooping her research or standing in her way.

Coincidences abound (or are they?) as this fascinating story further unfolds and danger ramps up.

This is a quiet, almost cerebral mystery that takes a few jarring turns as RaeJean finds herself in several dangerous situations. Someone does not want her to finish the research, and the why is not apparent until the climax.

I enjoyed the mystery, the history, the look into the life of a forensic genealogist, and the touch of the supernatural RaeJean experiences with the desk. My only (very mild) issue with the story IS its villain, who in the end a somewhat Scooby Doo-ish “meddling kids” air – believable as the bad guy, but their actions feel a bit out of character (or just totally unhinged).

Still, this was a lovely book for a rainy afternoon with a cup of tea, and totally engaging. This is a story about secrets – those we keep from each other, those that are buried to protect, and those that are meant to hide. It’s also a story about healing, and about setting right the past.

I’m giving The Desk From Hoboken four stars.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ML Condike’s novel, The Desk from Hoboken, is the first in a genealogy mystery three-book series. She also has short stories published in five anthologies. ML Condike completed Southern Methodist University’s Writer’s Path in Dallas in 2019 and is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime North Dallas, Granbury Writers’ Bloc, and Key West Writers Guild.

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THE DESK FROM HOBOKEN GIVEAWAY!

THREE WINNERS:
1st: signed paperback + Corgi plush toy
2nd: signed paperback + $25 Amazon gift card
3rd: choice of $25 gift card OR signed paperback
(US only; ends midnight, CDT, 03/29/24)

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