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Beth Farrar
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Family Secrets: Ellie McLellan Genealogy Mystery - Book 1 Kindle Edition

by Beth Farrar (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 out of 5 stars 905 ratings
What would you do to keep your family safe?

Widowed genealogist Ellie McLellan has spent years healing her ravished heart by carefully constructing a new and quiet life away from the hungry glare of the paparazzi. She now fills her days with genealogical research for various clients, safe in the small town of Percyville, Quebec.

Until her bid to save a child’s life is caught on camera and ambitious tabloid reporter Diane Cooper recognizes her. Turns out Ellie is not safe at all.

With Diane sniffing around for dirt and her “big break” story, Ellie learns a dark family secret with the power to destroy the only family she has left—and the first tentative relationship she’s dared to believe in since that fateful day she lost everything.

To protect her family, Ellie must follow every clue and use every skill she possesses in her race to stay ahead of the ruthless Diane and learn the truth about the genealogical mystery she has stumbled upon.

No more hiding. This time, Ellie will fight.
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  1. Book 1 of 8
    Ellie McLellan Genealogy Mystery
  2. Print length
    249 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    October 8, 2022
  5. File size
    1.6 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BHRHVK7P
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 8, 2022
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.6 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 249 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1738666409
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 8 ‏ : ‎ Ellie McLellan Genealogy Mystery
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 905 ratings

About the author

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Beth Farrar

Beth Farrar

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bethfarrar.com

Beth Farrar has been writing stories since her parents handed her a library card with which she always took out the allowed five books per week. From that moment on, her imagination was sparked. Encouragement from English teachers set her on a serious path of learning the craft.

From TV scripts to full length movies (none of which came to screen but were for pleasure and practice), she developed her writing skills by exploring various mediums. Filling notebooks with ideas, sketching characters and locations, and inventing sticky situations for the heroes and heroines to survive, is Beth's happy place (besides walking in cemeteries, but that's another story).

For fifteen years Beth wrote a monthly column, Living Country, in her local English language newspaper, Main Street, sharing interesting observations of living and raising her three sons in the country with her husband.

Having always loved genealogy, Beth melded two of her passions together and created the Ellie McLellan Genealogy Mystery series.

Beth's three sons now live in Montreal but she and her husband still live in their log cabin on a lake north of Montreal. They love the quiet and the bird song (sometimes way too early in the morning!). They’re not particularly fond of power outages in the deep winter months, the shoveling, or the mosquitoes in summer. But the rest = priceless!

For tips and tricks on how to write your own personal history story, head over to Beth Farrar – Author

on Facebook for more information, or you can sign up to my newsletter at https://bethfarrar.com and receive my Oral History Questions booklet packed full of questions to help you start writing your own personal history story.

And being a Canadian author, please forgive the extra "l"s and wayward "u"s you may find in my work. Please don't report them, it's just the way we spell words here in the great north, eh!

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
905 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this genealogy mystery book engaging, with a strong storyline and well-crafted characters. They describe it as a delightful and enjoyable read.

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27 customers mention "Mystery"24 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the mystery elements of the book, describing it as a good genealogical mystery with a strong storyline.

"...I am looking forward to it! I love a good mystery and can't wait to dig into this one...." Read more

"...with well-developed characters, a surprising family secret, a nice tight plotline, and an old-fashioned clean romance you won’t mind sharing with..." Read more

"...Great characters and a story that had me turning the pages. I can't wait for the next book in the series! I happily recommend this book!" Read more

"I love genealogy mysteries. The investigation processes that are employed to uncover key stories from the past are what captivates me...." Read more

14 customers mention "Character development"14 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, with one noting the realistic dialogue.

"I love genealogy and this book had it and more! It was well written to keep my attention and I finished it that night!" Read more

"This is a refreshing read filled with well-developed characters, a surprising family secret, a nice tight plotline, and an old-fashioned clean..." Read more

"...What family secret surrounds her aunt? Great characters and a story that had me turning the pages. I can't wait for the next book in the series!..." Read more

"...Ms Farrar crafted such wonderful characters and I’m anxious to learn more about them...." Read more

8 customers mention "Enjoyment"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the book delightful and enjoyable, with one describing it as a great debut novel.

"This is a refreshing read filled with well-developed characters, a surprising family secret, a nice tight plotline, and an old-fashioned clean..." Read more

"...These books were entertaining and an easy read." Read more

"I enjoyed this story. It was good. Very interesting with the link to genealogy. I’m about to buy the next book to see what happens next." Read more

"I must say that I absolutely loved this book!! It hooked me right away. I loved the characters. They fit the story so well and were..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • AWV909
    5.0 out of 5 stars genealogy and more!
    Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I love genealogy and this book had it and more! It was well written to keep my attention and I finished it that night!
    Helpful
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  • Andrea
    4.0 out of 5 stars Looking forward to the read.
    Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I just purchased this book for my Kindle Paperwhite reader. I am looking forward to it! I love a good mystery and can't wait to dig into this one. I have family in Canada and have spent some time in Montreal, so the setting pulls me in too. I'll be back to write a full review. Join me?
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Triviaologist
    5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful read
    Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    This is a refreshing read filled with well-developed characters, a surprising family secret, a nice tight plotline, and an old-fashioned clean romance you won’t mind sharing with family members. The romance is part of the charm of the story, doesn’t waste our time, and the novel is pleasantly devoid of gratuitous sex or violence.

    I found myself engaged in the story and looked forward to making time to read on breaks, at lunch, and into my evening. The dialogue was realistic and well-written, and the chapters stood up well throughout the book.

    I enjoyed the interplay between Ellie and her Senior’s Genealogy group, and even picked up a few pointers on writing personal histories.

    The stage is perfectly set for Book 2, and I look forward to picking up where we left off.
    7 people found this helpful
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  • Kathy Alvis Patterson
    3.0 out of 5 stars It's Hard to Believe This Book was Written in 2022
    Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    This is not a modern genealogical mystery. There is no use of DNA, no online resources, and no email.
    I have been a genealogist since 1966. There was no technology involved back then either, just letter-writing and libraries. Even in the 20th century, Ellie would have had a hard time making a living as a genealogist, randomly walking around one cemetery and never checking even the resources that were available, like the IGI or a phone book.
    The story was interesting, but Ellie's Senior genealogy class had to be a failure, since the only lesson given was how to write a memoir.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Sheila C. Siarkiewicz
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent start to a new series!
    Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    This is the first book I've read by this author and it left me wanting more! Genealogist Ellie McLellan has a new and quiet life in a small town. Healing from the loss of her husband and daughter she is happily working helping people with genealogy and following their family trees. When she saves a little boy from being hit by a car her carefully constructed private and quiet life changes. Whose little boy did she save? Why are the press hounding her? What family secret surrounds her aunt? Great characters and a story that had me turning the pages. I can't wait for the next book in the series! I happily recommend this book!
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Carol Michaels
    4.0 out of 5 stars Family Secrets
    Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I love genealogy mysteries. The investigation processes that are employed to uncover key stories from the past are what captivates me. Technology can only uncover a portion of a story. I was out off a bit that she jumped to conclusion based on blood types which excluded the possibility of a different father or kidnapping rather than switched babies. It held my interest and look forward to more.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars I could not put the book down. I was captivated by the end of the first chapter.
    Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I would recommend this book to all readers who enjoys mysterious challenges and genealogy. I am looking forward to book II.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Claudia Reed
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful characters, a mystery to solve
    Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I absolutely loved this first book in the Ellie McLellan Geneology series by Beth Farrar. It was a story that could not be put down and left me ready for the next one. Ms Farrar crafted such wonderful characters and I’m anxious to learn more about them.
    Ellie is a geneologist trying to acquaint people with their family members. After becoming widowed, she works to keep herself secluded from the prying eyes of the press. She discovers a mystery in her own family and sets out to solve it without alerting reporters.
    I highly recommend this read.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Lady Molly
    5.0 out of 5 stars interesting read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 7, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Enjoyable story that had a couple of interesting twists. I particularly enjoyed the genealogy aspect and how she used the information gain. I would definitely recommend it
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  • JAC from Down Under
    5.0 out of 5 stars I love a mystery
    Reviewed in Australia on January 14, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    This was a book I found hard to stop reading. Enjoyed every bit of it. The story kept moving along nicely. Thank you. I will be buying more books.
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing! A Twist in Cosy Mysteries
    Reviewed in Canada on January 24, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Ellie McLellan uses her Genealogy background to uncover the truth behind her own cousin’s birth mother’s identity. While trying to keep her quest secret from the press she becomes involved with the lives of famous actors and their handsome body guard. A must read.
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  • Jaxfree
    4.0 out of 5 stars quick read …
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 2, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Fascinating read, really enjoyed the story and the characters except Diane! Definitely read more by the author. I doubt it’s quite so easy to trace people, however it didn’t spoil this story.
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  • HeatherP
    4.0 out of 5 stars family secrets
    Reviewed in Australia on May 25, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    What a wonderful, feel good story. I loved Ellie from the start. The story line was well developed with great characters and the descriptions of the places were lovely.
    Report

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