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Making Meredith
If ancestry is a story, then truth may be an unhappy ending…
When amateur genealogist Rob Banks travels to the remote town of Meredith in the north of England he hopes to research his mother’s father. His mum never knew her dad, yet she believes he was the local doctor – surely a well-respected man?
Seventy years earlier, Dr Robert Lachlan faces a dilemma of morals and medicine. No matter what course he chooses, he will hurt his loved ones and change his life.
This is a tale of two men in different times. A grandfather whose deeds still haunt his descendants; a grandson searching for his ancestor’s secrets.
Sometimes you have to see through history to discover who you are.
When amateur genealogist Rob Banks travels to the remote town of Meredith in the north of England he hopes to research his mother’s father. His mum never knew her dad, yet she believes he was the local doctor – surely a well-respected man?
Seventy years earlier, Dr Robert Lachlan faces a dilemma of morals and medicine. No matter what course he chooses, he will hurt his loved ones and change his life.
This is a tale of two men in different times. A grandfather whose deeds still haunt his descendants; a grandson searching for his ancestor’s secrets.
Sometimes you have to see through history to discover who you are.
318 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 13, 2019
89 people are currently reading
102 people want to read
About the author
Andy Southall
6 books7 followersAndy grew up in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, spent too many years in the fog of London, then followed the long white cloud – and his wife – to Wellington. Always wanting to write, he completed an Advanced Certificate in Creative Writing (Novel) at Whitireia in 2015, followed by a Graduate Diploma in 2016. He writes contemporary fiction, science-fiction and travel blogs. Several of his sci-fi short stories have been published in Sponge.nz.
While living in Samoa for three months during 2017, he published the travel blog, One Hundred Days in Samoa, which he has also adapted into a book. More recently, he has published his first novel, Making Meredith, a historical mystery about the perils of looking for lost ancestors.
He was delighted to receive a New Zealand Society of Authors mentorship in 2018 to work on a second novel –- a love story set in Samoa about growing old.
While living in Samoa for three months during 2017, he published the travel blog, One Hundred Days in Samoa, which he has also adapted into a book. More recently, he has published his first novel, Making Meredith, a historical mystery about the perils of looking for lost ancestors.
He was delighted to receive a New Zealand Society of Authors mentorship in 2018 to work on a second novel –- a love story set in Samoa about growing old.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 21, 2020
Making Meredith is a moving genealogical mystery about one man’s quest to find his origins in a small Cumbrian town. The author is a kayaking acquaintance, and I had read his amusing account of his months in Samoa, so when he mentioned last year that he’d written a novel, I bought it planning to read and review it straight away. Unfortunately NetGalley got in the way and it’s taken the National Lockdown to catch up enough to be able to begin to tackle my “bought TBR” list!
Introspective accountant Rob Banks travels North on his own to the isolated town of Meredith, to fulfil his ailing mother’s desire to know about the biological father she never knew, who was the town’s GP. Checking into the gloomy hotel, he is warned by the oddball owner that the locals are wary of strangers, but that doesn’t prepare him for the animosity he encounters when he mentions his grandfather’s name. We are taken back to 1918, where young doctor Robert Lachlan returns home from the Great War that took his older brother’s life, and must face the inexplicable hatred of the powerful Cushing family. He joins the local practice and starts a family, but finds happiness only on a short sabbatical in Sussex, until he is forced to return to Meredith, bitterness and tragedy.
Southall has a lyrical descriptive style that sets up the rather gothic atmosphere of Meredith - parts of the early reminded me of some of the classic Victorian novels where a well meaning stranger arrives in a spooky place full of secrets. There’s also a decidedly deadpan English wit. We see Robert’s point of view, so share Rob’s confusion as he is told that his grandfather was not the kindly competent GP that he imagined, but who should he trust when most of the locals just want him to leave?
This is a sad story on multiple levels - Rob loves his wife, but longs to have children. Robert doesn’t love his wife, but adores his daughters. His patients find him cold and distant, and cannot forgive his perceived medical failures when only penicillin - not available for another decade - would’ve made a difference, and a longstanding family feud leads to a devastating deception.
It does however end positively - it’s not at all depressing and I liked the final reveal. Finally - that cover - stunning!
Introspective accountant Rob Banks travels North on his own to the isolated town of Meredith, to fulfil his ailing mother’s desire to know about the biological father she never knew, who was the town’s GP. Checking into the gloomy hotel, he is warned by the oddball owner that the locals are wary of strangers, but that doesn’t prepare him for the animosity he encounters when he mentions his grandfather’s name. We are taken back to 1918, where young doctor Robert Lachlan returns home from the Great War that took his older brother’s life, and must face the inexplicable hatred of the powerful Cushing family. He joins the local practice and starts a family, but finds happiness only on a short sabbatical in Sussex, until he is forced to return to Meredith, bitterness and tragedy.
Southall has a lyrical descriptive style that sets up the rather gothic atmosphere of Meredith - parts of the early reminded me of some of the classic Victorian novels where a well meaning stranger arrives in a spooky place full of secrets. There’s also a decidedly deadpan English wit. We see Robert’s point of view, so share Rob’s confusion as he is told that his grandfather was not the kindly competent GP that he imagined, but who should he trust when most of the locals just want him to leave?
This is a sad story on multiple levels - Rob loves his wife, but longs to have children. Robert doesn’t love his wife, but adores his daughters. His patients find him cold and distant, and cannot forgive his perceived medical failures when only penicillin - not available for another decade - would’ve made a difference, and a longstanding family feud leads to a devastating deception.
It does however end positively - it’s not at all depressing and I liked the final reveal. Finally - that cover - stunning!
January 18, 2022
Not what I expected!
I mean, all he wanted was to find out something nice to tell his Mom about her grandfather!! This town of Meredith was pretty crazy, the people very strange.. I am surprised he found out anything!
This was a different kind of book but I believe you will enjoy!
I mean, all he wanted was to find out something nice to tell his Mom about her grandfather!! This town of Meredith was pretty crazy, the people very strange.. I am surprised he found out anything!
This was a different kind of book but I believe you will enjoy!
July 9, 2020
A good story, well told: a gentle 'whodunnit' with enough suspense to be a genuine page-turner. The style is mature, and the breaking of the narrative into several time-settings is skilfully-done and not gimmicky, as it sometimes is. Highly recommended.
October 22, 2020
Poking in dark corners
I could feel the pain; so much pain, so many isolated and bitter people, godless and without peace in their world. Hope, a longing that it all work out somehow....
I could feel the pain; so much pain, so many isolated and bitter people, godless and without peace in their world. Hope, a longing that it all work out somehow....
November 25, 2020
Robert
I don't necessarily like books that travel back in time. I understand the name of the book now but not while I was reading it. It was a good story and explained a lot to the very end. I enjoyed reading it because I enjoy seeing ancestry play out.
I don't necessarily like books that travel back in time. I understand the name of the book now but not while I was reading it. It was a good story and explained a lot to the very end. I enjoyed reading it because I enjoy seeing ancestry play out.
January 22, 2022
It was an interesting enough story, but it was never really explained why the townspeople were so secretive and angry.
July 31, 2022
A well edited account of a man searching for information about his grandfather. There is much sadness involved.
March 20, 2020
I really enjoyed this book! Easy read with interesting look at family history and how there can be more than one interpretation of the past!
December 13, 2019
Every family has secrets.
I enjoyed this book and the use of genealogy to create a story the weaves between 3 generations. She gives light to the stories that come when looking into a person's lineage. Who wants to find out that a family member wasn't so good or made some unwise decisions. This is what Rob comes across as he looks into his grandpa, a person he didn't know existed until his Mom did the research. He travels to a town unwilling to give up secrets and fights to learn the truth. What is truth when it's altered be each persons individual feelings and interactions with it. This is a long read. There are a few parts that you have to wade through, but it was worth it. The author did a wonderful job in connecting her characters and unraveling parts of truth.
I enjoyed this book and the use of genealogy to create a story the weaves between 3 generations. She gives light to the stories that come when looking into a person's lineage. Who wants to find out that a family member wasn't so good or made some unwise decisions. This is what Rob comes across as he looks into his grandpa, a person he didn't know existed until his Mom did the research. He travels to a town unwilling to give up secrets and fights to learn the truth. What is truth when it's altered be each persons individual feelings and interactions with it. This is a long read. There are a few parts that you have to wade through, but it was worth it. The author did a wonderful job in connecting her characters and unraveling parts of truth.
October 20, 2019
I loved how compelling this book was. I wanted to keep reading each night but knew I needed sleep before work the next day. I liked how it was set historically and in the current day. A perfect way of handling family ancestry
... write from both the ancestor and the descendants point of view.. The author kept the reader engrossed right the way through and the story did not completely evolve until the very end ... brilliant! A must read in my opinion.
... write from both the ancestor and the descendants point of view.. The author kept the reader engrossed right the way through and the story did not completely evolve until the very end ... brilliant! A must read in my opinion.
November 17, 2019
Loved it - the ultimate geneology search makes you want to try it yourself. The two person narrator in different time spheres worked well to tell the story and the writing is seamless drawing you in with empathy to the lives of both characters. Well worth a read.
November 7, 2019
I loved this book and found it very hard to put down. The author's storytelling absolutely captured me from the first page! Incredible and emotional journey in time. Wow!
December 2, 2019
That book is actually fantastic.
December 5, 2019
Great Read
This was a great book, once I got into it, I couldn't put it down. Especially for lovers of history and ancestry, the story from both past and present pulls you in.
This was a great book, once I got into it, I couldn't put it down. Especially for lovers of history and ancestry, the story from both past and present pulls you in.
February 2, 2020
A great read with a host of quirky characters. I particularly liked the historical passages.
February 1, 2022
What a surprise -- probably more realistic than many things we think will happen
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews