The Sterling Affair

The Forensic Genealogist #8

by Nathan Dylan Goodwin

‘If you love a whodunnit, The Sterling Affair is sure to grab your curiosity, and if you enjoy family history, you’ll relish the read all the more’Family History magazineWhen an unannounced stranger comes calling at Morton Farrier’s front door, he finds himself faced with the most intriguing and confounding case of his career to-date as a forensic genealogist. He agrees to accept the contract to identify a man who had been secretly living under the name of his new client’s long-deceased brother. Morton must use his range of resources and research skills to help him deconstruct this mysterious man’s life, ultimately leading him back into the murky world of 1950s international affairs of state. Meanwhile, Morton is faced with his own alarmingly close DNA match which itself comes with far-reaching implications for the Farriers.This is the eighth novel in the Morton Farrier genealogical crime mystery series of ten stories, although it can be enjoyed as a stand-alone story.‘The events of the book are as much of a roller-coaster ride for Morton as they are for the reader. If you’re an avid reader of Nathan Dylan Goodwin’s books, you won’t need to be convinced to buy this latest instalment in the Forensic Genealogist series - but if you're not, now’s the time to start, because The Sterling Affair is a real cracker!’LostCousins‘If you like mystery or thriller books, enhanced by a convincing backdrop of family history research, then this one will appeal to you’Waltham Forest FHS‘Nathan Dylan Goodwin delves into a world of intrigue, espionage and duplicity and consequently, provides the reader with a cracking book to immerse oneself in when seeking a moment of literary escapism. The author’s usual meticulous research techniques are outstanding and become evident in this story’East Yorkshire FHS‘The Sterling Affair is an enthralling story with many twists and turns, which keeps one glued to the book until the very end’Cardiganshire FHS

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Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, British Literature, Crime, Detective, Mystery Thriller

393 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2020

About the author

Author 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!

Reviews

[marilyn moore langley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another really great job by Nathan Dylan Goodwin

There are many twists to Morton’s adventures in this one. There’s also a new surprise relation? You have to keep up, Nathan did a lot of research about a time many of us remember, they are brought back up in his usual brilliant way!! Great work NDG, as usual can’t wait for the next!!

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what can I say? This has been the most interesting assignment within Morton's career to date! He encountered spies, espionage, Russians, Egyptians, money, suspicious deaths, DNA intrigue and investigation, deliberate misinformation and duplicity, files relating to MI5, MI6 and MI8 with massive areas redacted so how he completed this latest assignment I'll never know. On top of the difficult assignment he had personal revelations to contend with that he was not expecting but I'll not provide any spoilers. This book can be read as a stand alone also but you would be missing out if you don't try this series. I think this will be a book I'll re-read.

[Dave Robison]

Extremely well researched fiction that carries a wonderful blend of historical fact and Goodwin's fertile imagination. All of Nathan's books will keep you captivated!

[Lisa Shower · Rating 5 out of 5]

Complicated and twisty...

This book had so many twists and turns that I am dizzy. A great book by a great author, I look forward to more of his books.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Well-written as always, but not my favorite in the series. Very complex!

[David Highton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A complex plot built over 3 or 4 time frames unearthed by Morton Farrier, involving communist sympathisers and agents, the Suez crisis and fake indentities.

[Elizabeth Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Morton Farrier is a lucky man. His occupation as a forensic genealogist allows him to do what he loves best, research family history. His skills and experience make him very successful and like a terrier he doesn’t give up easily. I have enjoyed previous novels in this series, but this is the most compelling tale, of Morris Duggan, a man who had adopted a false identity. Perhaps his reason for this was a link with MI6, but will the redacted files Morton seeks out, give any useful information. Alongside Morton’s investigation, we move back in time to Duggan’s life in the Middle East during the 1950s Suez crisis.
The thrilling tale of Duggan’s escapades in Beirut, Egypt and London are convincingly described while the careful examination of evidence in Family Record Offices and online, ring true. I was also intrigued by Morton’s personal discovery of an extremely close DNA match on Ancestry which cause him to wish he had never embarked down this route.
Another delightful thread within the book is Morton’s family life with his wife Juliet, a police officer and their daughter, little Grace, always into mischief but loving to play Peppa Pig with her daddy. A pleasant relief from some of the more dangerous escapades within the book. The final chapter, set in 1944, links the characters in a satisfying conclusion.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best yet in this series. Morton has a week free, just in time to try to puzzle out his relationship to a new very-close DNA match. But then his personal research is interrupted when elderly Clarissa Duggan arrives on his doorstep with a mystery of her own. Her brother died when he was seventeen, and yet an elderly man who died recently claimed to be Maurice. And since he didn't leave a will, Clarissa is his heir. So she want Morton to determine just who the false Maurice really was, and find his true heirs. Morton agrees, and the more he delves into the research the more intrigued he becomes. The story alternates between Morton's researches and the past interactions of the people he is researching. And he still finds time to fit in some personal research, which only turns up yet another mystery. This book will keep you riveted as the mysteries seem to keep on multiplying. Totally fascinating and hard (if not impossible) to put down. Highly recommended.

[Jackie Cain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, welcome back, Morton Farrier and your little family! As with any series, it is not fun waiting for the next book to be written but this was definitely worth waiting for and I enjoyed it very much, especially the satisfying ending - although I think there is still a question remaining: who came to see the old man at the end?

The flashbacks in this book are to a much more recent history than in Mr Goodwin's other books and I didn't find them as convincing at first. Later I relaxed into them. As always, I loved seeing the details of Morton's genealogical and family history research. He often analyses photographs to track down a person's location and the date it was taken, which is a very useful skill to have. I had some doubts about the identity of certain characters and it was nice to see how that plays out through the book.

I look forward to the next instalment, whenever that arrives.

[Kathie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clarissa Duggan receives an inheritance from her recently deceased brother Maurice. However, there is a problem - her brother had died over 70 years earlier. So Clarissa arrives on Morton Farrier's doorstep seeking his help to find out who the imposter really was. The flashbacks take the reader back to the period of the Suez Canada crisis of 1956 and the story becomes a tense, exciting spy thriller. It takes all of Morton's skills to unravel a complex story of not one, but two, stolen identities and a twisted story of political intrigue often hidden in missing or redacted documents. Meanwhile, in his personal life, Morton is enjoying his life as husband and father, but now discovers challenging new truths from his dna results.

This is the best Forensic Genealogist yet of the series so far. The historical detail is well-researched and the detail of the genealogical research is realistic.

[Sisu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I happened upon this author purely by accident whilst searching Amazon for something else. I have never heard of Nathan Dylan Goodwin before or read any of his books. Thank goodness I didn't judge a book by its cover which although apt I found rather drab but the contents were different matter. My interest was first piqued by the label Forensic Genealogist Series and further by the accompanying blurb. The Kindle offer also helped - 99 pence. I was drawn in from the very start and kept guessing right to the end. Thank goodness I found this over a Bank Holiday weekend as I was compelled to keep reading. It was clearly very well researched by an author that knows their subject. There is no question that I will be reading more books from the series (of which there are nine) and if you don't, you'll be missing a treat especially if you like a good mystery or historical fiction and even moreso if you have an interest in genealogy.

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've enjoyed the story of Morton Farrier more with each investigation he takes on - and with each new convolution in his own family history.
This investigation is a bit different from most of his previous ones. It starts with a slightly bemused but very worried old lady who's been handed a check for nearly £9000, inherited from her recently deceased 91 year old brother. Except that her brother died in an accident at the age of 17! This investigation is more tangled and takes Morton to more archives than usual, even searching sensitive government files. Just when he thinks he's found the answer, he realises there's another layer hidden beneath. I enjoy the intertwining of the historical story with Morton's investigation. The epilogue in this book has such a twist I had to share it with my husband!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The death of a 92-year-old man wouldn’t ordinarily make the newspapers, but this was no ordinary elderly gentleman. Notwithstanding the fact that he appears to have committed suicide, there is another major problem: this man actually died in the 1940s. Tasked by a woman to investigate the real identity of the man who has been living under the name of her long-dead brother, forensic genealogist Morton Farrier finds himself involved in the shady world of 1950s espionage. Meanwhile, he has a problem of his own to solve when a close DNA match poses problems for the Farrier family.

As a family historian and a fan of genealogical fiction, I have thoroughly enjoyed all of Nathan Dylan Goodwin’s previous books centred around Morton Farrier. Farrier is a likeable character and it has been great fun to go with him on his professional and personal journey as he researches the family history of his clients whilst also trying to untangle his own complicated genealogy. The Sterling Affair, however, is a step up from the author’s previous offerings, mixing mystery, genealogy and espionage with ease and creating a genuinely enthralling story.

It is plain to see how much research has gone into this book as the author mixes fact with fiction making it impossible to see where one ends and the other begins. The Suez crisis is not a period of history that I profess to know a lot about and so I enjoyed learning about the events in the middle east and the involvement of Britain in its development. Told in two time frames, it allowed us to see events as they were unfolding in the 1940s/1950s and also Morton’s research in the present day. As always, Morton’s research was thorough and I liked reading about different sources that I (as yet) have not had the opportunity to use.

As well as the fascinating main plot, I was also drawn in by the plot regarding Morton’s own family. Just when you thought he couldn’t have any more skeletons in his closet, his DNA throws up an amazing twist, with a story line worthy of a book of its own. I hope that this is a case that the genealogist takes on as I would love to read the outcome in the next book.

The Sterling Affair is a gripping read, thrilling and educational at the same time. Highly recommended.

[Judith Rainbow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished reading this book on 22 January but my Kindle did not save for some reason.
This is the best book in the series so far. The research that Nathan Dylan Turner has collected, to be able to write this gripping book,certainly had me lost in its contents.
Morton Farrier is asked to find out, why a man Maurice Duggan, known to have died in 1944 in his youth, has left a legacy to his sister Clarrisa, on his death in 2019.
Morton's research concludes that the man who died was in fact a friend of her brothers, Hubert Spencer who became a double secret agent. He also used the name of another person when he became the double secret agent.
Someone must make this series of books into a TV series please!! Its just as good as Miss Marple if not better!!

[Kathy Stevenson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This time, a genealogical assignment had led Morton to delve into records of spying in the mid 1950's.

Spies and espionage are not my favorite, and I had to force myself to keep reading through those flashback parts of the book. That struggle was balanced with the real enjoyment of reading about Morton's research work: the places he went looking for records, the people he talked to, and the connections he made through DNA testing of people he though may possibly be related. All very fascinating!

In between all the work he's doing on his client's case, Morton is also looking into a tantalizing mystery concerning his grandfather. This part of the story is not wrapped up by the end of the book. Morton receives dreaded news from America, and we don't know where that will take him.

[Ajoyful1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast paced and gripping with lots of twists!

I've read all of the Morton Farrier books and have loved each one of them. I get lost in the stories and can't put them down. This one is no exception. As a matter of fact, this one is richer and denser than the previous books. Goodwin did so much research to knit this story together. The fact and fiction perfectly blended to keep me enthra!!ed. I'm also deeply appreciative that Goodwin has kept his books clean, letting the story tell itself, and not needing gratuitous profanity or sexual content that interferes with the beauty of the story, like some of his contemporaries have started doing. He's a master storyteller. I hope he keeps them coming. I've grown to love Morton Farrier and his family, and his quirky character.

[Helen Edwards]

The Sterling Affair is this author's best book yet. I started reading it at noon yesterday and finished just before midnight. I did have to stop to eat but that was about it. I just could not put the book down as I was intrigued by the many characters and their relationships with each other. I did not see the ending coming; I had it all wrong. I felt I was with his character when he was doing research and wish I was as confident with DNA as Morton was. It is a learning process but I will get there someday. Keep those books coming. Highly recommended for anyone who loves genealogy and history or just likes a great read.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

The technical experts who are popping up in mysteries hold endless fascination for me. I guess it was just a matter of time before genealogists got into the act, after a serial killer in California was caught when a close relative put his DNA test into one of the national databases for people tracing their ancestry.
This is a somewhat convoluted case involving two mysterious deaths: one current (although the victim was in his 90's) and one in the period after WWII in Britain.
The pace is leisurely, and there is a fair bit of Cold War espionage, if you like that sort of thing. For me, this falls somewhere between a 3 and a 4-star work, but I would certainly try another in the series.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nathan has written the best genealogical crime mystery I have read. It held my interest throughout, with excellent plot twists. He parsed the clues out fairly, and they were cleverly done. He does a very good explaining the research process, including DNA, without making it seem like a textbook. That is often a problem in other genealogical mysteries. The description of the archive process is especially good. I can very easily put myself into the character. Nathan hooks us to discover more about Morton’s family in the next installment. I will highly recommend this to my mystery loving friends and genealogists.

[Marci · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the way a genealogical mystery story should be told. Great plot, characters, settings, and use of flashbacks. There are a few things that were obvious, but the solution to the mystery was not. The only detraction I see in this book is that a reader who has not invested in the series from the beginning will be at sea in the sections concerning Morton Farrier's own family tree tangle, and that subplot is not wrapped up within this book either. It remains a tantalizing series-long mystery that ensures that I will be reading the next book published.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my second time reading this book. I really enjoy this series.
This book has so many twists and turns because it's about spies, espionage and Morton doesn't actually KNOW who he is researching!
The book is very interesting and I think because of the twists and turns, I have a hard time following (my fault, I read very late at night and fall sleep in the middle - not because of the book!). I will be re-reading this book and, because of the depth of the mystery, will be learning more things every time.

[Sandy Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Confusing.... in a good way.

Spies, intrigue, altered identities, (the temptation is too much...need to add an 'oh my!') all entwined to make this genealogy story a real mystery. An elderly woman receives a sizeable check from the estate of her recently deceased brother. Only problem is her brother died at 17 and this man supposedly committed suicide at age 92! The challenge is too much for Morton to ignore so fueled by curiosity and the fun of the challenge, he sets out to find the identity of the man, becoming more and more confused the more he discovers.

[Wendy Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're looking at my GoodReads record, don't take how long I spent reading this book as any indication of how good it is - as a Kindle book I rationed my time to when I was away from home and out and about, so read it in short bursts when I was at a cafe or cycling at the gym (which I don't do often enough, of course!) and things like that. It took a lot of will-power to not sit down and devour the book in a single sitting, which I resisted until I was 95% of the way through the book. I'm still enjoying the series, and have started the next book already.

[Lilian Magill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nathan Dylan Goodwin has written another excellent Morton Farrier story. The Sterling Affair is #8 in this series and has mystery, spies, unexpected DNA matches and a cute two year old, Grace Farrier.
I really enjoyed the story, made even better as some of the places mentioned, in London, I had been to, having stayed at Lancaster Gate, last year. Each story stands alone and as such you don’t have to read them in order but to follow Morton’s story, you should read in order.

[Linda Hartlaub · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. Well written with a totally unexpected twist at the end. Characters are likable (even the foreign spies). Mr. Goodwin does a terrific job of mixing Morton Ferrier's career as a forensic genealogist, his home life and the lives of the individuals he is researching. Have to say that he has enough skeletons in his ancestors' combined closets to go around and share with other genealogists. Can't wait for the next book to come out.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this was the best Morton Farrier book yet! You can't go wrong with a genealogical mystery that involves spies, and man does Morton's family keep getting more and more complicated. I'm looking forward to more exciting stories and currently I'm enjoying the free story on Nathan Dylan Goodwin's website, "Morton in Lockdown" It is a choose your own adventure style so I'm trying my best to think like Morton.

[Amberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not want to put this down! My favorite Morton Farrier book yet. It included two interesting DNA threads — one to help establish the original identity of someone who lived as someone else, and one that involved a cold case. The research required of the main character, Morton, to solve his case was complex and fascinating. It’s not often a genealogist gets to delve into the world of espionage to help establish identity. I loved every bit of this book!

[Dave W · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is like a murder mystery in terms of plot, and provides a good reminder that genealogical research includes libraries, archives, people and places in addition to the internet searches.
Goodwin also brings in the new modern aspect which DNA is adding to the mix; sometimes with answers and other times with just additional questions.
Interesting historical context, based on facts, with twists and turns for a great read.

[June Richland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did get really lost in the middle of this book. Trying to hold all the information about the spy issues and the many different names was a bit much for my poor brain. However, it did all come together in the end and, as always, Nathan summarised it in his feedback to the client so it did all make sense. A really clever book however which must have entailed hours and hours of research and study.

[Kathi Jacobs · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Real Page Turner

How do I even begin to explain how much I enjoyed this book. The characters and the story line are well thought out. The back and forth between the past and current times keeps the story moving along at a good pace. The twists and turns of the story kept me guessing. I couldn't wait to read the next chapter to see what it would reveal. I highly recommend The Sterling Affair.