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Jayne Sinclair Genealogical Mystery #8
The Irish Convict
While she is visiting Australia, Jayne Sinclair, investigative genealogist, is asked to research one of her client’s ancestors, Annie Kelly, after a letter, written by a mysterious ‘D’, was found hidden in a family bible. The task seems straightforward; there is a comprehensive obituary of Annie Kelly published in 1904 as she was the founder of a famous department store. But on digging deeper, Jayne discovers that nothing in the obituary is as it seems. In fact, the more she researches, the less she finds. Who was Annie Kelly? And who was the mysterious letter writer? Jayne faces one of the most difficult and puzzling cases of her career. How can she discover the truth when all she has to go on is lies? This Jayne Sinclair Genealogical Mystery is part of a series but can be read as a standalone novel.
358 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 26, 2023
113 people are currently reading
91 people want to read
About the author
M.J. Lee
46 books444 followersMartin has spent most of his adult life writing in one form or another.
He has spent 25 years of his life working outside the North of England. In London, Hong Kong, Taipei, Singapore, Bangkok and Shanghai.
He writes three series; the Danilov books set in 1930s Shanghai. The genealogical mysteries of Jayne Sinclair and the contemporary crime cases of DI Ridpath set in Manchester.
When he's not writing, he splits his time between the UK and Asia, taking pleasure in playing with his daughter, practicing downhill ironing, single-handedly solving the problem of the French wine lake and wishing he were George Clooney.
He has spent 25 years of his life working outside the North of England. In London, Hong Kong, Taipei, Singapore, Bangkok and Shanghai.
He writes three series; the Danilov books set in 1930s Shanghai. The genealogical mysteries of Jayne Sinclair and the contemporary crime cases of DI Ridpath set in Manchester.
When he's not writing, he splits his time between the UK and Asia, taking pleasure in playing with his daughter, practicing downhill ironing, single-handedly solving the problem of the French wine lake and wishing he were George Clooney.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
October 18, 2023
Brilliant! Another worthy addition to this series. Loved this one.
Read
November 11, 2023M.J.Lee does it Once again.
Jayne Sinclair Series Is 1 of the best Of miss lee's Works. All of her books in this series have been wonderful Giving you A look into different periods in history. If you're interested in g Genealogy At all Her books Give you an insight And how it's done.
Jayne Sinclair Series Is 1 of the best Of miss lee's Works. All of her books in this series have been wonderful Giving you A look into different periods in history. If you're interested in g Genealogy At all Her books Give you an insight And how it's done.
November 15, 2023
A truly fascinating tale
Wonderful characterisation gives depth and colour to early Australian history as well a really interesting investigative story of people who could well have been our own ancestors.
Wonderful characterisation gives depth and colour to early Australian history as well a really interesting investigative story of people who could well have been our own ancestors.
October 25, 2023
Family secrets, convicts, and lockdown collide when genealogist Jayne Sinclair is 'stuck' in Australia when COVID hits, and she's given a research challenge she can't resist.
Each new story in the Jayne Sinclair series always has a good mystery, combined with a bit of a history lesson in disguise. This time around, it was great to see some of Australia's colonial history take centre stage.
Each new story in the Jayne Sinclair series always has a good mystery, combined with a bit of a history lesson in disguise. This time around, it was great to see some of Australia's colonial history take centre stage.
October 12, 2023
Excellent book on Australia and Irish convicts sent there. Good Family History story. Always enjoy these books by M J Lee
October 12, 2023
Brilliant!
As always, a gripping story of both genealogical and 'real' people. How your ancestry is a large part of who you are is demonstrated in these books.
As always, a gripping story of both genealogical and 'real' people. How your ancestry is a large part of who you are is demonstrated in these books.
November 12, 2023
The Irish Convict
What a wonderful book. I love stories that deal with genealogy. It was an incredible journey through some very bad times. The punishments given out for minor offenses.
What a wonderful book. I love stories that deal with genealogy. It was an incredible journey through some very bad times. The punishments given out for minor offenses.
October 10, 2023
lover her books!
This one was just as good and well-researched as all the others. With the added benefit of learning something new!
This one was just as good and well-researched as all the others. With the added benefit of learning something new!
September 30, 2023
Excellent as usual
Jane, her step father and his wife are in Australia, initially for a holiday but then a longer stay thanks to Covid. Jane can’t resist the challenge of investigating a woman from the 19th century who arrived from Ireland and set out selling elixirs as did her father in Ireland. The complexities of her life, of those around her and her family are, just that, complex. Told from her point of view and from that of Jayne trying to disentangle fact from, well, exaggeration is intriguing and fun. Satisfactory ending and a well-researched read . Go for it.
Jane, her step father and his wife are in Australia, initially for a holiday but then a longer stay thanks to Covid. Jane can’t resist the challenge of investigating a woman from the 19th century who arrived from Ireland and set out selling elixirs as did her father in Ireland. The complexities of her life, of those around her and her family are, just that, complex. Told from her point of view and from that of Jayne trying to disentangle fact from, well, exaggeration is intriguing and fun. Satisfactory ending and a well-researched read . Go for it.
October 1, 2023
Love this book and series
Always look forward to one of a Jayne characters books. MJ is a master storyteller and these books are great. I being a Genealogist really enjoy these books. The other characters are wonderful too. I highly recommend these books and can't wait for the next one but all of MJ books are the best.
Always look forward to one of a Jayne characters books. MJ is a master storyteller and these books are great. I being a Genealogist really enjoy these books. The other characters are wonderful too. I highly recommend these books and can't wait for the next one but all of MJ books are the best.
October 2, 2023
The best of the series….
Having read all the pervious books in this series, I feel this one was by far the best! Like all books that comprise a series, one needs to start with the first book to learn and grow with the various players. If you like genealogy and genealogical mysteries, you’ll love this one!
Having read all the pervious books in this series, I feel this one was by far the best! Like all books that comprise a series, one needs to start with the first book to learn and grow with the various players. If you like genealogy and genealogical mysteries, you’ll love this one!
October 4, 2023
Welcome back Jayne
Yet another good read of a well written story. Interesting read on a subject I knew little of. Jayne has still got the gift.
Yet another good read of a well written story. Interesting read on a subject I knew little of. Jayne has still got the gift.
September 30, 2023
Done it again Mr Lee !
Another good tale - and this time a chance to hear about surviving Covid in Australia in 2020.
Love this series, the continuity of the main characters mixed with ancestry research and a snapshot of a time and place in history. Looking forward to number 11, circumstances limited the cat and the chocolate in number 10, but I'm sure they will be back next time!!!
Another good tale - and this time a chance to hear about surviving Covid in Australia in 2020.
Love this series, the continuity of the main characters mixed with ancestry research and a snapshot of a time and place in history. Looking forward to number 11, circumstances limited the cat and the chocolate in number 10, but I'm sure they will be back next time!!!
October 2, 2023
Good one
This is the first book I've read in a while about convict transportation to Australia. Very interesting to read a more technical account from the perspective of the documents created.
This is the first book I've read in a while about convict transportation to Australia. Very interesting to read a more technical account from the perspective of the documents created.
September 28, 2023
Another great addition to this series. This book is set in Perth mainly, and Sydney, in Australia. Jayne is on holiday with Vera and Robert, her stepfather. They are waiting out covid. Jayne is asked by a client to research her family history, which throws up some surprises. I love how Jayne gets so engrossed in researching for her clients and the research is fascinating. Love this series.
September 29, 2023
I don't know why, but I thought this book was not as long as other books in the series.
Even so it was a great insight into the way co victs from the UK were treated. I now understand why my grt grandfathers cousin never came back from Tasmania after her so many convictions of theft and sheep rustling.
Even so it was a great insight into the way co victs from the UK were treated. I now understand why my grt grandfathers cousin never came back from Tasmania after her so many convictions of theft and sheep rustling.
September 29, 2023
Life on the other side of the world
Love the book and love the characters. It can be to easy especially when researching your family history to find something good and make the people saints but all people have many different sides. Great read
Love the book and love the characters. It can be to easy especially when researching your family history to find something good and make the people saints but all people have many different sides. Great read
September 27, 2023
Outstanding!
I had been anxiously waiting for this books release and I was not disappointed! Great characters and an intriguing storyline.
I had been anxiously waiting for this books release and I was not disappointed! Great characters and an intriguing storyline.
October 3, 2023
When a girl is sentence to Australia her life changes
When Annie Kelly was sent to Australia she never thought she would not only change her life but also her family
When Annie Kelly was sent to Australia she never thought she would not only change her life but also her family
December 19, 2023
While stuck in Australia, Jayne undertakes to solve a family mystery for a woman who has found a mysterious letter to her ancestor. This genealogical mystery follows two timelines. The story set in the 1840s to 1860s is of Annie Kelly, a young woman transported from Ireland to Australia for stealing a basket of apples who marries, has children, and builds a successful life there but hides an important secret. The present time line follows Jayne's search for Annie's information while, at the same time, worrying about her step-father who has become very ill.
The book is very revealing and accurate about the experience of Irish who were transported often for minor crimes, and the hardships of their lives in Australia. It also provides insight into the experience of the Irish at home in the mid 1850s and the rise of rebellious elements.
The book is very revealing and accurate about the experience of Irish who were transported often for minor crimes, and the hardships of their lives in Australia. It also provides insight into the experience of the Irish at home in the mid 1850s and the rise of rebellious elements.
May 11, 2024
Jayne Sinclair is on holiday in Australia in 2020. While there she is asked to investigate Annie Kelly in a lady's family tree. The lady shows her the family bible with names and date of births, also a letter signed D. Jayne finds an obituary for Annie Kelly and thinks this is straight forward. When she looks for the documentary evidence it is not there, so is the obituary full of lies. While you see Jayne try and put the pieces of the puzzle together you also see Annie Kelly's life unfolding.
I love these books.
I love these books.
March 26, 2025
Another great book I'm this series!
These are rear reading and also information especially on Ireland. As the granddaughter if Irish immigrants I am continuously seeking books containing facts of Irish history. These genealogical mysteries have been a great source of information of both reference books and backgrounds of family history searches. Besides, there are great stories in this series
!
These are rear reading and also information especially on Ireland. As the granddaughter if Irish immigrants I am continuously seeking books containing facts of Irish history. These genealogical mysteries have been a great source of information of both reference books and backgrounds of family history searches. Besides, there are great stories in this series
!
October 25, 2023
what a waste of time to read this book
Painfully anemic in every way a book worth publishing should not be. No plot, thin characters and a no ending. Amazing that this author has been able to publish more than one of her anemic novels, if that is the genre she thinks this falls into.
Painfully anemic in every way a book worth publishing should not be. No plot, thin characters and a no ending. Amazing that this author has been able to publish more than one of her anemic novels, if that is the genre she thinks this falls into.
January 5, 2024
Informative
Each of M J Lee's genealogical mysteries are so informative. This one covered the shipping of convicts from Ireland to Australia. The storyline was so pure that I laughed and cried at parts. Annie went through hell and back with everything in her life but she never lost her humanity. Another great book.😀
Each of M J Lee's genealogical mysteries are so informative. This one covered the shipping of convicts from Ireland to Australia. The storyline was so pure that I laughed and cried at parts. Annie went through hell and back with everything in her life but she never lost her humanity. Another great book.😀
March 22, 2024
Review
As always, I enjoyed Mr Lee's novel. It was such a moving and sad story. I knew a lot about the Irish being sent to Australia but it was usually about the men. It was very interesting to see the woman's side. It was a very harsh punishment for such a minor crime. I'm glad things worked out for Jayne. I have become attached to her and her family.
As always, I enjoyed Mr Lee's novel. It was such a moving and sad story. I knew a lot about the Irish being sent to Australia but it was usually about the men. It was very interesting to see the woman's side. It was a very harsh punishment for such a minor crime. I'm glad things worked out for Jayne. I have become attached to her and her family.
August 18, 2025
I read the Jayne Sinclair books because I have an interest in genealogy. The Irish Convict gave some brief history of Ireland around the time of the potato famine and highlighting the heavy hand of British rule. I also learned a bit more about the beginnings of Australia as a penal colony. For me there were some take aways but very little depth or character development.
October 21, 2023
While in Australia, Jayne's father has a heart attack and Jayne is urged to return to work to stop the worry. Some one contacts her wanting to find out about her ancestor, Annie Kelly. We are told Annie's story in narrative form as Jayne searches for the truth.
October 25, 2023
Great series
I always get a history lesson from the Jayne Sinclair genealogical mystery books, and I was not disappointed with this story. However, I was a little concerned about Robert's health. That's how alive these characters are.
I always get a history lesson from the Jayne Sinclair genealogical mystery books, and I was not disappointed with this story. However, I was a little concerned about Robert's health. That's how alive these characters are.
December 16, 2023
Long book
This book took me a long time to read, it seemed to go on forever! I don't know if it was a lack of interest or my being busier. I am reading this book in December so that could be it. I liked the book but not as much as others.
This book took me a long time to read, it seemed to go on forever! I don't know if it was a lack of interest or my being busier. I am reading this book in December so that could be it. I liked the book but not as much as others.
February 10, 2024
Absolutely brilliant. As always this author never fails to please and if like me your into your family history lots to learn in it ! I discovered why a relative of my husband never returned from Australia after serving his 7 years ! Great book !
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews