For some reason, I thought this was another novel in Barbour Publishing’s new true crime series. It’s not—although it definitely has a suspense element and echoes of The Pink Bonnet by Liz Tolsma.

In the Cradle Lies is a dual timeline novel.

In the present, genealogist Jillian lives in a ski town in Colorado, where she and her best friend, Kris, meet a visitor. Tucker appears to have more money than sense, as he keeps buying expensive ski gear and wants to ski the dangerous Hidden Run ski trail.

In the past, Matthew loves his mother but had a difficult relationship with his father. As the novel progresses, we find that Matthew’s father is hiding a big secret … and that Matthew is Tucker’s grandfather.

I found the first quarter a little hard going.

That’s partly my own fault, for thinking I was reading true crime when In the Cradle Lies is actually split time. But it was also because Tucker was odd, and odd men in fiction often turn out to be creepy stalkers … so I was waiting for Tucker to turn creepy and stalkerish. But he didn’t. Instead, the oddball turned out to be Nolan, Jillian’s father (who was merely odd, not stalkerish).

I’ve done my share of family history research, so I enjoyed the genealogical research side of the story. I can’t say I enjoyed the past story—but that’s the point. It’s full of tension, and it was meant to be thought-provoking rather than entertaining.

The writing was strong, and the plot certainly kept me engaged.

I realised about halfway through that this isn’t a standalone novel—it’s the second book in a series. Having said that, I haven’t read the first and I don’t think it affected my enjoyment (although if I had read The Inn at Hidden Run, maybe I would have realised this was split time).

As such, I recommend In the Cradle Lies to split time fans, especially those who like a bit of mystery and suspense.

Thanks to Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Olivia Newport

Olivia Newport’s novels blend the truths of where we find ourselves now with insights into what carried us in the past. Enjoying life with her husband and nearby grown children, she chases joy in stunning Colorado at the foot of Pikes Peak.

About In The Cradle Lies

A Father-Daughter Genealogy Team Link Present to Past on Family Trees

On a solo ski vacation in Canyon Mines, Colorado, Tucker has a love-hate relationship with his wealth, spending indiscriminately while skiing fearlessly and preparing to conquer the overgrown slope of Hidden Run, a dangerous run not attempted in decades. As genealogist Jillian tries to uncover enough of Tucker’s family tree to understand his charming nature but reckless resolve, Jillian’s equally charming father, Nolan, cajoles Tucker into giving him ski lessons to get him talking about the suspicious circumstances surrounding his grandfather’s life in St. Louis in the 1930s.

On the surface, Tucker’s family’s history seems too perfect. The secret may lie in the sealed envelope Tucker carries with him at all times—even on the ski slope. When no one can find Tucker to tell him the fiancée he never mentioned turned up in Canyon Mines, they realize he must be off attempting to ski Hidden Run alone in a snowstorm. And they may be too late.

In the Cradle Lies is the second book in the Tree of Life series by Olivia Newport.

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