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The Forensic Genealogist #5
The Spyglass File
Morton Farrier was no longer at the top of his game. His forensic genealogy career was faltering and he was refusing to accept any new cases, preferring instead to concentrate on locating his own elusive biological father. Yet, when a particular case presents itself, that of finding the family of a woman abandoned in the midst of the Battle of Britain, Morton is compelled to help her to unravel her past. Using all of his genealogical skills, he soon discovers that the case is connected to The Spyglass File—a secretive document which throws up links which threaten to disturb the wrongdoings of others, who would rather its contents, as well as their actions, remain hidden forever.
292 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 30, 2016
481 people are currently reading
414 people want to read
About the author
Nathan Dylan Goodwin
35 books630 followersAuthor of the acclaimed genre-bestselling Forensic Genealogist series, featuring Morton Farrier.
Born in the famed battle town of Hastings, England, Nathan Dylan Goodwin has always had a passion for writing in one form or another. Having gained a degree in Radio, Film and Television Studies, Nathan went on to gain a Masters degree in Creative Writing, from Canterbury Christ Church University.
Nathan started his writing career with non-fiction, his first book 'Hastings at War' being published in May 2005. This was followed by three further local history books pertaining to the area around his home town of Hastings.
His first forays into fiction writing culminated in the publication in 2013 of 'Hiding the Past' - a genealogical crime mystery novel. This was followed in 2014 by book two in the series - 'The Lost Ancestor'. Also released in 2014 was the the third, a Morton Farrier novella - 'The Orange Lilies'. The fourth book in the series, 'The America Ground' was published in September 2015, followed in September 2016 by 'The Spyglass File'. The sixth in the series, 'The Missing Man' was another Morton Farrier novella and was followed by 'The Suffragette's Secret', a short-story. 'The Wicked Trade' was the ninth instalment of the series and is a full-length novel, as is the 2020 follow-on, 'The Sterling Affair.' 'The Foundlings' followed on and 2023 saw Nathan's return to Morton's world once more in 'The Deserter's Tale'. 2025 was the chosen moment for the long-awaited 'The Hop-Picker Murders'.
The 11th November 2018 saw Nathan release the first of a second series, called Ghost Swifts, Blue Poppies and the Red Star - Mrs McDougall Investigates Book 1. This features a distant relative of Nathan's in the starring role and is set in the aftermath of the First World War.
In December 2018, Nathan created a prequel to the whole Forensic Genealogist series, in the form of a short story, The Asylum, which is available for FREE via his official website.
Nathan designed a special online choose-your-own-story for Morton Farrier fans and wrote about the protagonist's activities during the English 2020 Coronavirus lockdown. The story is currently free and is hosted on the author's website.
January 2021 saw Nathan launch a third series, Venator Cold Case Series book 1 - 'The Chester Creek Murders.' This series is a US-based spin-off from his UK-based stories and features Madison Scott-Barnhart as the lead character. October 2022 brought us the next installment of the series, 'The Sawtooth Slayer.'
In his forties, Nathan enjoys running, skiing, reading, genealogy, writing and time with his husband, son, dog and chickens.
That about sums it up!
Born in the famed battle town of Hastings, England, Nathan Dylan Goodwin has always had a passion for writing in one form or another. Having gained a degree in Radio, Film and Television Studies, Nathan went on to gain a Masters degree in Creative Writing, from Canterbury Christ Church University.
Nathan started his writing career with non-fiction, his first book 'Hastings at War' being published in May 2005. This was followed by three further local history books pertaining to the area around his home town of Hastings.
His first forays into fiction writing culminated in the publication in 2013 of 'Hiding the Past' - a genealogical crime mystery novel. This was followed in 2014 by book two in the series - 'The Lost Ancestor'. Also released in 2014 was the the third, a Morton Farrier novella - 'The Orange Lilies'. The fourth book in the series, 'The America Ground' was published in September 2015, followed in September 2016 by 'The Spyglass File'. The sixth in the series, 'The Missing Man' was another Morton Farrier novella and was followed by 'The Suffragette's Secret', a short-story. 'The Wicked Trade' was the ninth instalment of the series and is a full-length novel, as is the 2020 follow-on, 'The Sterling Affair.' 'The Foundlings' followed on and 2023 saw Nathan's return to Morton's world once more in 'The Deserter's Tale'. 2025 was the chosen moment for the long-awaited 'The Hop-Picker Murders'.
The 11th November 2018 saw Nathan release the first of a second series, called Ghost Swifts, Blue Poppies and the Red Star - Mrs McDougall Investigates Book 1. This features a distant relative of Nathan's in the starring role and is set in the aftermath of the First World War.
In December 2018, Nathan created a prequel to the whole Forensic Genealogist series, in the form of a short story, The Asylum, which is available for FREE via his official website.
Nathan designed a special online choose-your-own-story for Morton Farrier fans and wrote about the protagonist's activities during the English 2020 Coronavirus lockdown. The story is currently free and is hosted on the author's website.
January 2021 saw Nathan launch a third series, Venator Cold Case Series book 1 - 'The Chester Creek Murders.' This series is a US-based spin-off from his UK-based stories and features Madison Scott-Barnhart as the lead character. October 2022 brought us the next installment of the series, 'The Sawtooth Slayer.'
In his forties, Nathan enjoys running, skiing, reading, genealogy, writing and time with his husband, son, dog and chickens.
That about sums it up!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
April 10, 2017
An enjoyable page-turning read. Professional genealogist Morton is hired by Barbara, the illegitimate daughter of Elsie Finch who gave her up for adoption during WWII, having become pregnant after her husband was reported missing, presumed dead. But what seems a straightforward case becomes a dangerous mystery for Morton, as people in the present day take a hostile interest in his researches. In between the present day scenes, the original 1940s story plays itself out, so that we get to know Elsie very well as a character.
The two timelines of the present day and the wartime years are well interwoven with some good cliffhanger chapter endings. It is necessary to suspend the disbelief slightly that a genealogist can become so involved in a dangerous situation, but I really enjoyed Elsie's wartime experiences and rooted for her throughout. Her war service in intercepting and interpreting enemy radio traffic was fascinating, a nice change from the Bletchley Park activities usually depicted in fiction and drama, and her love story was well developed against a background of the sinister role of her in-laws who arrange the adoption of her child.
The only thing that held this book back from a 5-star rating is the very occasional typo - a couple of missed words or a character being given the wrong name in one place - and a few minor anachronisms. But otherwise a very enjoyable story.
The two timelines of the present day and the wartime years are well interwoven with some good cliffhanger chapter endings. It is necessary to suspend the disbelief slightly that a genealogist can become so involved in a dangerous situation, but I really enjoyed Elsie's wartime experiences and rooted for her throughout. Her war service in intercepting and interpreting enemy radio traffic was fascinating, a nice change from the Bletchley Park activities usually depicted in fiction and drama, and her love story was well developed against a background of the sinister role of her in-laws who arrange the adoption of her child.
The only thing that held this book back from a 5-star rating is the very occasional typo - a couple of missed words or a character being given the wrong name in one place - and a few minor anachronisms. But otherwise a very enjoyable story.
July 16, 2017
I love The Forensic Genealogist series, but it took me a long time to get through this one and I didn't enjoy it so much as the first three or four. As usual, Goodwin entwines the present investigation and the past (WWII in this one) but I got a little bit peeved at the jumbled up dates in the past narration. I felt the story was chopped up into small pieces and I occasionally found myself getting a bit bored. I never thought I'd say that about this series. Still a good read though...
August 20, 2017
Another genealogical mystery, based on a complex and twisting story of a WAAF officer and the modern day investigation into her life and family
May 26, 2021
This was a great mystery. I really couldn't figure out whodunnit. I was three quarters of the way through before I figured out the relationship between the three half-siblings. The protagonist, Morton Farrier, is becoming more and more interesting as the series progresses.
August 31, 2019
This is one of a series of books. A forensic genealogist traces family trees for others, to solve many family questions. This book #5 takes you back to the World War years as London is being bombed almost daily. You learn about the people during this terrible time and how the family, he is researching, is existing during the years. Interesting read.
September 12, 2016
Another wonderful book
I enjoyed this book so much. The characters are so well written that by the end of the book they feel like your friends. Being born and raised in America, I love to read about how other countries faired during the war. My father served in WWII in the U.S. Army. He would never talk about the war. He did bring home a book of photos that he and I would look through together. I thank you, Mr. Goodwin, for your attention to details and the many hours of research. I appreciate your hard work. I will recommend this book to all who read.
I enjoyed this book so much. The characters are so well written that by the end of the book they feel like your friends. Being born and raised in America, I love to read about how other countries faired during the war. My father served in WWII in the U.S. Army. He would never talk about the war. He did bring home a book of photos that he and I would look through together. I thank you, Mr. Goodwin, for your attention to details and the many hours of research. I appreciate your hard work. I will recommend this book to all who read.
November 15, 2019
Another winning book from Nathan Dylan Goodwin! Using the background of WWII and the WAAF (Women's Auxiliary Air Force) in England during the bombing by the Luftwaffe, Mr. Goodwin creates a story of strong women who broke ground by intercepting German radio transmissions, translating them and breaking down code words to intercept and fight the enemy planes.
The book is based on historical facts, events, locations and people from that era. In fact, the author relies on his own family history to bring color and a story line to the book. The book merges story lines of the Battle of Britain, the work of the WAAF and the Y-Service, black market babies, love lost and found, betrayal and redemption. A thoroughly engrossing tale that kept me up late at night because I needed to read just one more chapter.
And if you take away just one thing from this book, other than a good story and information on the use of the 1939 British Name Index (which I plan to put to use soon), it's this: For God's sake, back up your genealogy files. Back them up to the cloud. Back them up to a flash drive. Back them up to online trees, even if you keep them private. Back them up to multiple places. Otherwise, your research will suffer the same fate as Morton's!
The book is based on historical facts, events, locations and people from that era. In fact, the author relies on his own family history to bring color and a story line to the book. The book merges story lines of the Battle of Britain, the work of the WAAF and the Y-Service, black market babies, love lost and found, betrayal and redemption. A thoroughly engrossing tale that kept me up late at night because I needed to read just one more chapter.
And if you take away just one thing from this book, other than a good story and information on the use of the 1939 British Name Index (which I plan to put to use soon), it's this: For God's sake, back up your genealogy files. Back them up to the cloud. Back them up to a flash drive. Back them up to online trees, even if you keep them private. Back them up to multiple places. Otherwise, your research will suffer the same fate as Morton's!
July 16, 2022
I thought this a definite improvement on the last book in this series. The pantomime villainy had thankfully been toned down and the vocabulary was a lot more even. The author should have more faith in his obvious ability to write gripping mysteries, without having to resort to putting Morton in mortal peril all the time. Those parts are never the page-turners.
There were still instances of "sensing", as another Goodreads reviewer described it, in a review for a different book, where Morton unrealistically manages to put two and two together. Also, the flashbacks towards the end were sometimes rushed, with characters actions occasionally far-fetched (though, overall the flashbacks are still by far my favourite parts).
However, it was an enjoyable story, with a main character you could root for. And if, like me, you love historical fiction and find the topics of women's lives during the World Wars and the war on the Home Front interesting, then you will probably enjoy this for a bit of light, relaxing reading.
There were still instances of "sensing", as another Goodreads reviewer described it, in a review for a different book, where Morton unrealistically manages to put two and two together. Also, the flashbacks towards the end were sometimes rushed, with characters actions occasionally far-fetched (though, overall the flashbacks are still by far my favourite parts).
However, it was an enjoyable story, with a main character you could root for. And if, like me, you love historical fiction and find the topics of women's lives during the World Wars and the war on the Home Front interesting, then you will probably enjoy this for a bit of light, relaxing reading.
September 12, 2016
As ever, a really enjoyable book by Nathan Dylan-Goodwin in his Morton Farrier series. Based on a woman's life in the WAAF, the story was very believable and her work extremely interesting. Sadly, the book which supplied much of the background information - which I would love to read - was written by one of the real-life characters in the story and is over £20 on Amazon so I'll have to look for a copy in the library.
My only disappointment - without giving anything away - was that Morton's personal story will have to wait for the next book. Or will there be a novella again, Nathan, to fill us in before Morton's next case? Whichever it is, I can't wait!
My only disappointment - without giving anything away - was that Morton's personal story will have to wait for the next book. Or will there be a novella again, Nathan, to fill us in before Morton's next case? Whichever it is, I can't wait!
September 13, 2016
Just finished The spyglass File I do so enjoy Morton's adventures especially the different places he visits that I know I have visited. The beginning of the book I thought wow this is happening with my researching now trying to find the Father of the baby that was adopted in the last part of the WW2? I look forward to reading more or Morton's adventures.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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September 8, 2016I enjoy reading this author. He has the knack for combining genealogical research with a mystery. I love the way he writes about modern research and links it to the past. The only problem is that once I start reading, I have to keep going. Highly recommended.
March 12, 2019
I posted a little essay on my blog about the first 4 full-length novels in this series. Here it is:
I’ve been reading the Forensic Genealogist mystery series by Nathan Dylan Goodwin and have found a new favorite genre to read, as well as a possible new life adventure as a reference archivist, one of whom says to series protagonist Morton Farrier: “Ah! Here he is, the only genealogist in living history who can make our sedate, sedentary little hobby into a dangerous sport.” Yeah!
These are incredibly fun books, combining serious research that might be boring to anybody but a rabid genealogist like me (and like Morton) with over-the-top mayhem perpetrated by various villains who in each succeeding book remind me more and more of the characters Boris and Natasha from the Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoon series of the 1960s.
The good guys are Morton Farrier, the forensic genealogist, and his live-in girlfriend, Juliette Meade, who works for the police and who qualifies as a full-fledged policewoman over the course of several books. She’s a handy sidekick, providing Morton with a sort of safety net and a reason for all sorts of weird internal angst since she wants them to get married and he resists.
The bad guys are always a powerful woman and her beefy henchmen who all apparently love violence; some are also brainy with breaking into Morton’s computer remotely. They all are implausibly successful at attaching various kinds of tracking mechanisms to Morton’s phone and his car. Why doesn’t Morton do a sweep of these things routinely every day, after so many cases where he’s tracked down? I cannot believe he has no backups either when his laptop gets remotely wiped clean. Morton! You idiot!
It becomes something of a running joke. He is greeted in the carpark after work by one archivist this way: “They’ve punctured your tyres and put a tracker under your bonnet.” When Morton looks confused, she clarifies, “Men with guns,” she tells him, “. . . that’s just what usually happens when you come here, isn’t it?”
The books offer a double narrative in each, one in the present, with Morton and his latest case, and one in the past, featuring the characters whose documents Morton is trying to assemble to prove whatever-it-is his latest client wants. The historical narratives are intensely interesting and well written. They really are the stars of the series. Morton and the villains’ shenanigans are the comic relief. As a cherry on top, I’m learning a lot of new genealogical tricks, so I couldn’t be happier!
Then Juliette says to him, “I’m going to go to my nice safe job catching murderers, burglars and rapists, whilst you get on with your highly dangerous job ordering birth certificates and leafing through tired old documents.”
Go Morton!
I’ve been reading the Forensic Genealogist mystery series by Nathan Dylan Goodwin and have found a new favorite genre to read, as well as a possible new life adventure as a reference archivist, one of whom says to series protagonist Morton Farrier: “Ah! Here he is, the only genealogist in living history who can make our sedate, sedentary little hobby into a dangerous sport.” Yeah!
These are incredibly fun books, combining serious research that might be boring to anybody but a rabid genealogist like me (and like Morton) with over-the-top mayhem perpetrated by various villains who in each succeeding book remind me more and more of the characters Boris and Natasha from the Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoon series of the 1960s.
The good guys are Morton Farrier, the forensic genealogist, and his live-in girlfriend, Juliette Meade, who works for the police and who qualifies as a full-fledged policewoman over the course of several books. She’s a handy sidekick, providing Morton with a sort of safety net and a reason for all sorts of weird internal angst since she wants them to get married and he resists.
The bad guys are always a powerful woman and her beefy henchmen who all apparently love violence; some are also brainy with breaking into Morton’s computer remotely. They all are implausibly successful at attaching various kinds of tracking mechanisms to Morton’s phone and his car. Why doesn’t Morton do a sweep of these things routinely every day, after so many cases where he’s tracked down? I cannot believe he has no backups either when his laptop gets remotely wiped clean. Morton! You idiot!
It becomes something of a running joke. He is greeted in the carpark after work by one archivist this way: “They’ve punctured your tyres and put a tracker under your bonnet.” When Morton looks confused, she clarifies, “Men with guns,” she tells him, “. . . that’s just what usually happens when you come here, isn’t it?”
The books offer a double narrative in each, one in the present, with Morton and his latest case, and one in the past, featuring the characters whose documents Morton is trying to assemble to prove whatever-it-is his latest client wants. The historical narratives are intensely interesting and well written. They really are the stars of the series. Morton and the villains’ shenanigans are the comic relief. As a cherry on top, I’m learning a lot of new genealogical tricks, so I couldn’t be happier!
Then Juliette says to him, “I’m going to go to my nice safe job catching murderers, burglars and rapists, whilst you get on with your highly dangerous job ordering birth certificates and leafing through tired old documents.”
Go Morton!
December 18, 2022
Genealogist Morton Farrier has been hired by an adoptee who hopes to learn the true identity of her biological father. Leading up to his own impending wedding, Morton expects this to be a fairly straightforward case, but of course complications arise and it turns out that he is trying to uncover a more well-hidden secret than just that.
This story takes us into the world of WWII London and outlying areas. We see the daily lives of people who were affected by air raids and the daily threat of death, particularly from the point of view of the women who were tasked with listening to the airwaves and translating the Germans' coded conversations.
I like Goodwin's writing style, which is descriptive without being overly so, and provides reasonable insight into his characters' thoughts and motivations. One thing I did notice, though, is that he has a habit of using the word "muttered" when writing dialogue. The frequency with which this word appears can be somewhat distracting! Another thing that I suspected was foreshadowing but was not followed up on was Morton's frequent headaches - sometimes these seemed severe enough to take him out of commission for a spell, yet we never learn if there is a serious reason for his suffering.
Overall, though, this is another novel that I would recommend, especially to anyone who is interested in the research of genealogical records as Goodwin shows us, through his character Morton, many different places where clues to our ancestors may be found, and how to determine the value of the various "threads" a researcher picks up along the way.
This story takes us into the world of WWII London and outlying areas. We see the daily lives of people who were affected by air raids and the daily threat of death, particularly from the point of view of the women who were tasked with listening to the airwaves and translating the Germans' coded conversations.
I like Goodwin's writing style, which is descriptive without being overly so, and provides reasonable insight into his characters' thoughts and motivations. One thing I did notice, though, is that he has a habit of using the word "muttered" when writing dialogue. The frequency with which this word appears can be somewhat distracting! Another thing that I suspected was foreshadowing but was not followed up on was Morton's frequent headaches - sometimes these seemed severe enough to take him out of commission for a spell, yet we never learn if there is a serious reason for his suffering.
Overall, though, this is another novel that I would recommend, especially to anyone who is interested in the research of genealogical records as Goodwin shows us, through his character Morton, many different places where clues to our ancestors may be found, and how to determine the value of the various "threads" a researcher picks up along the way.
March 4, 2018
Another enjoyable Morton Farrier genealogy novel, this time with the secret world of WW2 as its backdrop. Having recently had my own reasons for researching the roles of women during WW2, this held particular interest for me.
The life of Elsie Finch as a WAAF officer, who was on the front line of those unsung heroes who listened in to the airwaves to pick up German “chatter” with the aim of learning vital information in protecting Britain, was extremely well portrayed. So was the mystery of Elsie’s unpleasant mother-in-law and what she was up to, which would become the trail Morton follows in the present day investigation for his clients.
I always find Nathan Dylan Godwin’s books tell a really good tale and I invariably learn something about genealogy research methods during the process, too. They’re a compelling read for anyone but for a family historian they give an extra nugget of delight. I’m so pleased I’ve still got several more of the series to read yet!
The life of Elsie Finch as a WAAF officer, who was on the front line of those unsung heroes who listened in to the airwaves to pick up German “chatter” with the aim of learning vital information in protecting Britain, was extremely well portrayed. So was the mystery of Elsie’s unpleasant mother-in-law and what she was up to, which would become the trail Morton follows in the present day investigation for his clients.
I always find Nathan Dylan Godwin’s books tell a really good tale and I invariably learn something about genealogy research methods during the process, too. They’re a compelling read for anyone but for a family historian they give an extra nugget of delight. I’m so pleased I’ve still got several more of the series to read yet!
August 24, 2021
In this 4th book of the Forensic Genealogist series, Morton Farrier is readying to be married and to travel to the US on his honeymoon. Before those thing happen, he is hired by a woman who has discovered, later in life, that she was adopted and now wants to know more about her biological mother, Elsie Finch. The explorations go back to the height of WWII in England between 1939-1944, and captures the experiences of bombing raids and soldiers' experiences, and particularly that of Elsie who learns her husband is presumed and lost dead, but then enlists as a WAAF, helping the British intercept German messages about the bombing raids. As usual, the story becomes complex and dangerous for Morton. As always, the best parts are the flash backs, seen through the eyes of Elsie. Morton's personal angst and propensity for getting kidnapped, threatened and assaulted is getting a bit monotonous.
March 24, 2025
This is the 5th book in the series that I have read in a 'binge'. They are books with very good plots and characterisation, dialogue etc. But. The plots are spoiled by the ridiculous "criminal' elements and the characters in these parts are cartoon stereotypes. These parts of each plot are unnecessary, uninteresting and unbelievable; they leave me wishing for a way to cut them out of the book on my Kindle.
I think I am reacting so strongly to these, and only give the books 4 stars, because otherwise the plots are so strong and absorbing. I find the mystery of what happened in the past and the way the protagonist discovers them fascinating and absorbing. What I don't need is the distraction of him being ridiculously beaten up, kidnapped, rescued by his girlfriend etc.
Rant over. Read these books; you might enjoy the bits I don't, and the rest is good enough for five stars.
I think I am reacting so strongly to these, and only give the books 4 stars, because otherwise the plots are so strong and absorbing. I find the mystery of what happened in the past and the way the protagonist discovers them fascinating and absorbing. What I don't need is the distraction of him being ridiculously beaten up, kidnapped, rescued by his girlfriend etc.
Rant over. Read these books; you might enjoy the bits I don't, and the rest is good enough for five stars.
October 28, 2017
Morton Farrier is a forensic genealogist who has been struggling of late, not taking any new cases instead choosing to focus on finding his own father. When he is contacted by Barbara Springett and asked to help her locate more information on her biological mother, Elsie Finch, he is drawn into the mystery. As he begins to delve into her past, he soon discovers someone is trying very hard to keep the information secret, but why? I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about the Y-Service of the WAAF women in England and the extremely valuable role those women played during WWII. I loved how the author included characters in the book who actually lived and worked in the WAAF during this period of time.
April 5, 2019
Just finished The Spyglass File by Nathan Dylan Goodwin...book #5 in the Forensic Genealogist Series. I have to say that so far, this is my least favorite of the Morton Farrier mysteries. The premise of the story has to do with Morton helping to find the family of a woman abandoned during the Battle of Britain. It’s not a bad story, but it seemed to drag on a bit in places and wasn’t a quick read or a page turner...at least not for me. The chapters devoted to the 1940s were slightly out of sequence, which made it a little difficult to follow at times and the chapters devoted to Morton’s present day research just weren’t fleshed out enough compared to the other stories in the series. I liked the book, but I could only give it ⭐️⭐️⭐️.
January 19, 2020
I really enjoy this series. The trouble Morton gets himself into feels a bit far-fetched but I love it anyway. The historical portion of this book was especially strong and fascinating — WAAF girls and their hard work during WWII as the backdrop for an altogether different storyline. I loved that the truth of the past was revealed slowly, as usual, with several different, but linked, surprises spread out as it was wrapping up. Instead of one big long burst of truth to tie things together, we got a few different reveals. I can’t wait to see what trouble Morton gets himself into in the next book. Also, I loved the author’s note at the end about the real-life mystery from his own tree that influenced this book!
May 20, 2020
I've read a few of Goodwin's books, and this has been my favorite so far. I love his technique of switching back and forth in time, as genealogist Morton Farrier attempts to discover the family history and secrets of a client. This one was particularly interesting to me, as the female he was trying to trace had served in the WAAF (Women's Auxiliary Air Force) for the British in the early days of WWII. She was involved in the top secret work of decoding what the German pilots were saying as they flew over Britain, keeping logs, and then eventually having those logs sent to Bletchley Park. What an exciting time in history! Twists in the plot, along with Morton's attempts to discover his own family history, made for one great read!
May 24, 2021
I'm loving this historical mystery series focused on a sleuth-genealogist main character, set in England. This book (#5) deals with WWII--specifically WAAF operators during the Battle of Britain. Really interesting history, and the author tells a good, page-turning story.
Over the arc of the series, there's a prolonged subplot dealing with the protagonist's search for his birth father. In this book, we get to see some present-day genealogy research relating to Massachusetts, which happens to be an area I work in. A few tiny research mistakes stuck out to me and drew me out of the story. (Honestly, most readers won't notice, especially readers outside of the U.S.) I'm still very much looking forward to reading the next book, though. :-)
Over the arc of the series, there's a prolonged subplot dealing with the protagonist's search for his birth father. In this book, we get to see some present-day genealogy research relating to Massachusetts, which happens to be an area I work in. A few tiny research mistakes stuck out to me and drew me out of the story. (Honestly, most readers won't notice, especially readers outside of the U.S.) I'm still very much looking forward to reading the next book, though. :-)
February 2, 2018
I love this series of books. As a fellow genealogist I appreciate the research process that Morton uses to find out his information. I wish that it all fell into place as easy in 'real' life but the story with Morton's own family tree shows that brick walls are more often the case. I am pleased that with my own research I have not had the same turbulent journey. I think it would put me off for life! The book is well written. I love the 'windows' into the past running alongside Morton's research. It gives it a dimension that this kind of book needs. Always sad to finish another book. Looking forward to reading book 6 and hope there are more to come in this series.
August 18, 2018
A woman discovers she is adopted and wants to know more about her birth parents. Seems straight forward, but it is anything but. The ending is perfect if a tad expected. The modern day reasoning is more unexpected. Elsie was WAAF during WWII after her unloved husband is presumed dead at Dunkirk. She is billeted to her mother-in-law's home while serving as a radio operator decoding German pilot chatter. She ends up pregnant and conveniently her in-laws are willing to adopt the baby. But those same in-laws now are very determined that Morton not discover much about the family history. Morton is also making progress in his own struggles but this adoption case is hitting close to home.
March 21, 2025
Another excellent novel featuring the Forensic Genealogist, Morton Farrier.
This one focuses on events in 1940 and 1941 and Goodwin evokes time and place well. A stand out passage is the description of a dogfight which takes place in the skies above Kent. The sense of danger and excitement is conveyed in a powerful piece of writing.
Goodwin maintains the high standard of previous novels in the series, though his hero should really do something about protecting the files on his PC and the ease with which those who wish to do him harm manage to get into his locked car. It's happening rather too often.
Still a cracking read though.
This one focuses on events in 1940 and 1941 and Goodwin evokes time and place well. A stand out passage is the description of a dogfight which takes place in the skies above Kent. The sense of danger and excitement is conveyed in a powerful piece of writing.
Goodwin maintains the high standard of previous novels in the series, though his hero should really do something about protecting the files on his PC and the ease with which those who wish to do him harm manage to get into his locked car. It's happening rather too often.
Still a cracking read though.
November 12, 2020
This series has begun to become a grind to read. I am not a big fan of books that jump back and forth in time and this series does that frequently. The other annoyance is the author's insistence to give grinding details as to his sources. I really don't see a point of being given book, page, folio, name of every record that Morton accesses. Simply stating that he checked the would be sufficient. Another annoyance is every note that passes between Morton and his girlfriend has to end with 'kiss kiss'.
May 26, 2017
Fantastic reading
Anyone be interested in geneology and WWII will find this book very engaging. Nathan Dylan Goodwin's books are so well written that you feel a connection to with all the characters. You find yourself rooting for the good and condemning those numbers that interfere with Mr. Farrier and the task at hand.
I hope that Mr. Goodwin keeps writing for many years to come. I am disabled so any books I read that lets me travel along, are my best friends.
Lee
Anyone be interested in geneology and WWII will find this book very engaging. Nathan Dylan Goodwin's books are so well written that you feel a connection to with all the characters. You find yourself rooting for the good and condemning those numbers that interfere with Mr. Farrier and the task at hand.
I hope that Mr. Goodwin keeps writing for many years to come. I am disabled so any books I read that lets me travel along, are my best friends.
Lee
March 12, 2018
This book has a very interesting story in both the historical sense relating to WWII in England, as well as from the genealogy research standpoint. The narrative mixes the "current" research plot with segments of the historical events, much the way many TV shows are now presented. The two stories progress in parallel, in order to keep the mystery for the end.
An interesting story with good character development.
An interesting story with good character development.
May 13, 2018
This is another series that links to the growing popularity of family history, although the hero is not terribly endearing. He seems to bumble along, suffering more migraines than we'd like. The plot darts about from present day to war time, and this is handled very well without causing confusion.
The characters are quite well drawn, and the plot is cleverly developed. One could see how things were developing towards the end, so no great surprises, but overall an entertaining tale.
The characters are quite well drawn, and the plot is cleverly developed. One could see how things were developing towards the end, so no great surprises, but overall an entertaining tale.
August 18, 2020
The 5th book in the Forensic Genealogist series, it continues the story of modern day Morton Farrier and his quest to find his biological father, as well as, to solve his current case. Lots of information on the role of the English WAAF during WWII, the pilots based in Sussex, the island of Malta, and the selling of wartime babies. A big part of this series is Morton's knowledge and use of genealogy resources to solve his client's cases, as well as coming closer to his own family mystery.
September 7, 2020
Love, Love, LOVE this series of books and cannot put them down!
My three favourite things :- History, Genealogy and Crime all encompassed in a loving relationship that the lead character, Morton Farrier, has with his very patient (now) wife, Juliette - a police woman, which comes in handy with the amount of trouble he gets into!
All I need now is to know when book nine of the series comes out?! I literally cannot wait!
My three favourite things :- History, Genealogy and Crime all encompassed in a loving relationship that the lead character, Morton Farrier, has with his very patient (now) wife, Juliette - a police woman, which comes in handy with the amount of trouble he gets into!
All I need now is to know when book nine of the series comes out?! I literally cannot wait!
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