In Rett MacPherson’s charming cozy mysteries, genealogist Torie O’Shea always seems to be right in the middle of it all in the goings-on in New Kassel, Missouri. When a drought hits the tiny river town and the depth of the mighty Mississippi lowers, Torie is one of the first on the scene to see what the water has revealed: the decades-old wreckage of a riverboat. Soon, the rumors that surrounded its sinking have resurfaced as well and are swirling all over town, most notably about the existence of a cache of diamonds thought to be on board that was never recovered. Before long, a trove of treasure seekers flocks to town, and inevitably, tragedy strikes amid the feverish competition of the treasure hunt.

Meanwhile, Torie is staggered by another discovery---the existence of a half sister she never knew she had. Shocked and surprised, she looks around for a distraction, and decides to dig into what really caused the wreck, as well as the location of the missing diamonds. All in all, the combination of personal intrigue and cold-blooded murder makes Blood Relations a sparkling addition to a terrific mystery series.