Murder on the Quilt

"Murder on the Quilt" is a genealogical murder mystery. After his mother dies Nick Coy unexpectedly discovers he was adopted. He decides to trace his biological family, a journey that takes him from Oakland, California to two small towns in rural Indiana. There he meets Christy Johannson, the local librarian, and Irv Robinson, the local genealogical and historical expert, who provide help to him. Irv takes Nick to a very old cemetery where his relatives are buried.

Utilizing the practice of grave dowsing, Irv locates an unmarked grave. A skeleton is dug up, and it's determined that it's a homicide victim. A DNA test confirms Nick's suspicion that he's related to the unidentified skeleton, which is that of Nicholas Koy (who used a different spelling of the surname), Nick's five times great-grandfather, who disappeared under mysterious circumstances in 1873.

Two questions remain: who killed him and what were the circumstances surrounding his death? A unique 184-year-old quilt, made by Sally Hough, the sister of Nicholas Koy, and a Civil War-era pistol, are housed in the local museum. Two of the quilt's panels depict a murder and a cemetery. The two artifacts prove to be links to the murder.

A diary - also 184 years old and written by Sally Hough - is discovered in the bottom of a cedar chest and makes its way into Nick's hands. He reads the diary and through Sally's chronicles learns why his ancestor was murdered and who killed him.