Thicker than Water — Rett MacPherson

A LONG HISTORY OF DEATH

When Sylvia Pershing dies, genealogist Torie O'Shea becomes sole beneficiary of her boss and mentor's estate. Torie inherits an enormous amount of cash plus Gaheimer House, headquarters of New Kassel, Missouri's proud historical society. But as Torie sorts through decades worth of Sylvia's private belongings, she discovers a photograph and an ominous note that leads her to suspect the 102-year-old Sylvia did not die of natural causes.

Using cryptic information supplied by the private investigator Sylvia had secretly hired, Torie discovers some dark details and curious mysteries about Sylvia. Cantankerous and contentious, she was not an easy woman to like, but who hated her enough to kill her? As the fate of the historical society is jeopardized by uncharacteristic rancor and unrest among its members, Torie is becoming less concerned about losing her inheritance and more about losing her life, because it's clear somebody wants her dead.