Always Time to Die
by Elizabeth Lowell
Published by Avon
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Reviewed by Jeff Foster
Genealogist Carolina (Carly) May has been hired by the maiden aunt of Josh Quintrell (the sitting Governor of New Mexico) to complete a matriarchal genealogy of her family.
What May finds upon her arrival is maybe the most dysfunctional family in American History. This is a story woven so tightly that you will refer to the genealogy tree included in the opening pages so many times it will wear out.
It is immediately apparent that the recently deceased (murdered) patriarch of the family, U.S. Senator Andrew Jackson Quintrell IV, not only led a powerfully dominating and dictatorial life, but he has also held an iron sway over every facet of the lives of his family, employees and nearly everyone in Taos, New Mexico.
The Senator's dalliances with every female of the household, nefarious family alliances and illegitimate children abound. Everyone in Taos seems to be related somehow, but disinclined to talk. Carly quickly learns that the Senator was also the most prodigious philanderer she has ever encountered. At this point, the Governor forbids anyone from talking with Carly and strictly prohibits anything about his family from appearing in her finished work for Winifred Castillo.
Shortly after her initial interviews, threats to her safety begin and Carly receives unsolicited help from Dan Duran, a local with a shade of darkness hanging over his head.
Undeterred Dan Duran proves to have resources and knowledge that help Carly unravel the family history and bring to light unspeakable acts that cloud the family tree even further.
The threats continue and Carly realizes that unless she pieces the genealogy together soon, her sources are becoming intimidated and the threats continue. Pressing forward despite the threats, Carly and Dan unravel the key to the primary deception that someone in the Quintrell family is determined to prevent from coming to light.
Lowell has woven this web so tightly and precisely that your fingers will feel sticky as you turn the pages. Initially it's tough to keep track of all the characters. The addition of the family tree in the first few pages is extremely helpful to keeping the names and relationships straight.
Armchair Interviews says: The most dysfunctional family in American history...that could be an enticing read.