Gold and Gunslingers: A genealogical dual timeline mystery

During the 2020 Covid pandemic, a young father, Seth Landry, wants to follow in his older brother's footsteps as an amateur genealogist. He hopes he'll uncover family secrets the way his brother did when he traced their German roots, but he's working on their American side and going back to the 1850's California Gold Rush days.

The investigative journey begins with his discovery of diaries and journals, written by five people, that have been collecting dust in the Landry home attic. Seth believes one or more of the five strangers must somehow be related to the Landrys but who: Is it a former sheriff turned miner Ralph Preston, the local doctor Daniel Friedman, the widow hotel owner Laura Carson, a female miner Magda Shapiro, or wife and mother Emma Hamilton.

Seth has something to prove to his family, his over-achieving brother, and perhaps to himself. He has the drive, but self-defeating habits, former buddies and life's challenges threaten to derail and maybe even destroy his marriage and the life he has built. Can Seth discover why the diaries are in his attic? Is there a connection between those five people and his family? Can Seth overcome his set-backs and insecurities? What happened to the gold the miners found?