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Ghost Swifts, Blue Poppies and the Red Star Paperback – November 11, 2018

by Nathan Dylan Goodwin (Author)

549 ratings

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Ghost Swifts, Blue Poppies and the Red Star
A gripping historical mystery of love, loss, and wartime secrets

1919. The Great War may be over, but for Harriet McDougall, the search for truth has only just begun.

Widowed and grieving the deaths of her two sons, Harriet refuses to accept the silence left behind. Armed with a tin of old letters, a cryptic message from a London medium, and the reluctant help of her only surviving son, she begins an extraordinary investigation into what really happened on the battlefields of Belgium and Greece.

From rural Sussex to the ruins of war-torn Europe, Ghost Swifts, Blue Poppies and the Red Star is a powerful, page-turning historical mystery—blending genealogy, family secrets, and emotional depth in a story that lingers long after the final page.

Perfect for fans of The Nightingale, The Alice Network, and The Book Thief

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

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 Bachelor's 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. The next books in the series are: The Lost Ancestor (#2), The Orange Lilies (#3), The America Ground (#4), The Spyglass File (#5), The Missing Man (#6), The Suffragette's Secret (a Morton Farrier short story) and The Wicked Trade (#7). In his very early forties, Nathan enjoys running, skiing, reading, genealogy, writing and time with his husband and son. That about sums it up!

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published
Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 11, 2018
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 207 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1726723380
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1726723381
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.9 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.52 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,618,229 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #6,117 in Historical Mystery
- #17,104 in Women Sleuths (Books)
- #19,382 in Amateur Sleuths

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549 ratings

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Nathan Dylan Goodwin

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Nathan Dylan Goodwin is a writer, genealogist and educator. He was born and raised in Hastings, East Sussex. Having attended school in the town, he then completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Radio, Film and Television Studies, followed by a Master of Arts degree in Creative Writing at Canterbury Christ Church University. A member of the Society of Authors and the Crime Writers’ Association, he has completed several local history books about Hastings, as well as several works of fiction, including the acclaimed Forensic Genealogist series, the Mrs McDougall Investigates series and the Venator Cold Case series.

His other interests include theatre, reading, running, skiing, travelling and, of course, genealogy. He is a qualified teacher, member of the Guild of One-Name Studies and the Society of Genealogists, as well as being a member of the Sussex Family History Group, the Norfolk Family History Society and the Kent Family History Society. He lives in Kent with his husband, son, dog and an assortment of chickens.

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Customers praise this historical fiction novel for its well-researched portrayal of life after World War I, with one review highlighting its detailed depiction of the front lines. The book features superb writing that reads effortlessly, captivating characters, and maintains readers' interest throughout. Customers appreciate the emotional content, with one review noting it's sentimental but not maudlin, while another mentions its stark realism.

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Story quality Readability Realism Attention span Emotional content Resilience Writing quality Character development

11 customers mention "Story quality"11 positive0 negative

Customers praise the historical fiction elements of the book, with one customer highlighting its portrayal of life after World War I.

"A thoughtful examination of life for the survivors after WWI in Britain, and one woman's search for the truth as to how her son died in the..." Read more

"...This opens her eyes to the ravages of war and the impacts on those who survived. Harriet sets out to help those who are struggling after the war...." Read more

"...This is an interesting story, but I feel as disquieted about it as Mrs McDougall feels about the war and what she learns about her sons...." Read more

"...Superb writing, riveting storylines and kept my interest all the way to the page-turning end! Thank you - may we have more, sir?" Read more

10 customers mention "Readability"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book fantastic, with one noting it's a good first in a series.

"...I did enjoy the book and will continue with the series." Read more

"...read the author’s eight book series and really liked it but this one was really good. Love Harriet, the main character...." Read more

"...Definitely NOT disappointed! The book was fantastic. It's quite different, but so very enjoyable. Hoping there are plans for a Book 2." Read more

"This was a very good book...." Read more

7 customers mention "Realism"7 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's realism, noting its well-researched content and vivid descriptions of the front.

"...Well researched, beautifully written. If you like the Maisie Dobbs novels you will love this. Sentimental but not maudlin...." Read more

"...I also enjoyed his description of the early establishment and care of the war cemeteries, and the scenes of the devastation of central Ypres...." Read more

"...His books are always well researched, authentic and hard to put down." Read more

"...Life after the war is depicted with stark realism, but also with a glimmer of hope. Highly recommended." Read more

5 customers mention "Attention span"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging, with one mentioning it kept their interest throughout.

"...The main character was inspiring, strong and fun. His books are always well researched, authentic and hard to put down." Read more

"...He brings things together so nicely and keeps the reader’s attention...." Read more

"...It was quirky, yet captured my attention from start to finish." Read more

"...Superb writing, riveting storylines and kept my interest all the way to the page-turning end! Thank you - may we have more, sir?" Read more

4 customers mention "Emotional content"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book emotionally engaging, with one review noting it is sentimental but not maudlin.

"...If you like the Maisie Dobbs novels you will love this. Sentimental but not maudlin...." Read more

"...The prose reads effortlessly, but it's emotionally engaging and digs thoughtfully below the surface of cliches of loss, never resorting to melodrama...." Read more

"...Love Harriet, the main character. Looking forward to Mr. Godwin’s next novel." Read more

"...of a mother's grief, determination and perseverance as well as her compassion and overcoming of obstacles to find answers and bring joy and human..." Read more

4 customers mention "Resilience"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's resilience, with one noting that it holds together well.

"...The main character was inspiring, strong and fun. His books are always well researched, authentic and hard to put down." Read more

"...read; it is more of how we deal with such loss, our need to know and resilience...." Read more

"Amazing story of a mother's grief, determination and perseverance as well as her compassion and overcoming of obstacles to find answers and bring..." Read more

"...Holds together well. A good first in a series." Read more

4 customers mention "Writing quality"4 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, noting that the prose reads effortlessly.

"...Well researched, beautifully written. If you like the Maisie Dobbs novels you will love this. Sentimental but not maudlin...." Read more

"...The prose reads effortlessly, but it's emotionally engaging and digs thoughtfully below the surface of cliches of loss, never resorting to melodrama...." Read more

"...Superb writing, riveting storylines and kept my interest all the way to the page-turning end! Thank you - may we have more, sir?" Read more

"It was easy reading, read it in one day. Not much of a plot though" Read more

3 customers mention "Character development"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the characters captivating.

"In spite of a sad time in our history, the characters were captivating. The main character was inspiring, strong and fun...." Read more

"...Love Harriet, the main character. Looking forward to Mr. Godwin’s next novel." Read more

"Absolutely loved these characters and story. Find myself wanting to know more about their lives...." Read more

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Don Fort Lauderdale
GREAT DEBUT NOVEL
Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2019
Verified Purchase

A thoughtful examination of life for the survivors after WWI in Britain, and one woman's search for the truth as to how her son died in the battlefield. Well researched, beautifully written. If you like the Maisie Dobbs novels you will love this. Sentimental but not maudlin. Also a good travelogue to France and Belgium following the War to End All Wars.

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3 people found this helpful

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N. M. Dierker
Historical Fiction well done
Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2024
Verified Purchase
This book turned out to be a great read for women’s history month. It’s focus is a woman who lost two of her three sons in World War I. She sets out to understand the last days of her son Malcolm. This opens her eyes to the ravages of war and the impacts on those who survived. Harriet sets out to help those who are struggling after the war. I look forward to additional installments to see how Harriet can continue to improve the lives of those left behind.

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SWS
Engaging, easy, excellent read
Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2019
Verified Purchase
I read this in one long day and loved it.

As a family history enthusiast, I appreciated the skill with which Goodwin gave the protagonist only the sources that might reasonably have been available to her at the time. Today we would pay three pounds to National Archives for a war diary, but back then it took more effort. Of course, Goodwin lets Harriet have a couple of pieces of good luck (imagine if Mogridge had been killed in the war), but she's earned them.

One of the author's quiet triumphs is showing - never telling - the protagonist's dawning realisation of the profound post war changes in society. I also enjoyed his description of the early establishment and care of the war cemeteries, and the scenes of the devastation of central Ypres.

The prose reads effortlessly, but it's emotionally engaging and digs thoughtfully below the surface of cliches of loss, never resorting to melodrama. Harriet's reactions to her son's pyjamas are mile posts in her journey with her grief. That grief is a constant undercurrent, while on the surface the book is driven by her persistent search for details of Malcolm's end. If you're a family historian, you'll empathise with her successive attempts, and the increasing efforts she puts in to scaling her brick wall. Harriet grows in confidence with each attempt, and it's hard not to cheer her on.

I see this book may be the start of a series. If so, I hope - notwithstanding the travel difficulties Harriet would face - that we will be able to share Edward's story in Salonika. It's good to be reminded there were many other theatres of WW1 than the Western Front and Gallipoli.

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5 people found this helpful

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E. B.
Great read, interesting characters
Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2020
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In spite of a sad time in our history, the characters were captivating. The main character was inspiring, strong and fun. His books are always well researched, authentic and hard to put down.

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Kindle Customer
Interesting
Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2020
Verified Purchase
Pleasant easy read but sad but hopeful. WW I was notable for the increadabled lost of life and destruction of Europe.

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Kindle Customer
A determined lady on a quest for the truth
Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2020
Verified Purchase
I have enjoyed all of Mr Goodwin's genealogy mysteries and was looking forward to trying out this series. This is an interesting story, but I feel as disquieted about it as Mrs McDougall feels about the war and what she learns about her sons. It begins rather abruptly and there isn't much back story for any of the characters. We don't even know Mrs McDougall has a third son until he shows up following his father's funeral. Had she no anxious thoughts about him? How did she and her husband become so estranged? Why did Malcolm write so infrequently and not let her know anytime when he was in England? This seems unusual from what I know about soldiers in the Great War or any war for that matter. What is going on in Fraser's head?
I hope some of these questions might be addressed in the next book. This book would have benefited from the weaving together of past and present that Goodwin does so well. I did enjoy the book and will continue with the series.

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Joanna McKenna
Not Morton Farrier but definitely as good, maybe better!
Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2022
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I now regret not reading "Mrs McDougall" a couple of years ago when my loyalties were still in Rye with Morton. Few authors of a long-running series have the ability to develop a new cast of characters which measures up to those in the original series, but NGD has done it with Harriet McDougall. Morton fans will appreciate her search for the facts about son Malcolm's death and the events leading up to it follow the same processes Morton uses to unearth the truth for his present-day clients, but without the benefit of present-day technology or even many of the records repositories that didn't yet exist in the early 1900s. An ongoing sub-plot is the intermarriage of Harriet's Dengates and husband John's siblings. Having at least two English branches in my own family tree who did the same and many all-night online bolstered by caffeine and Excedrin sorting them out, I can attest this was not something NDG invented to spice up the interaction between main characters. Unfortunately, I lack his ability to use my own relatives to build a series as engaging as Morton has been and hopefully Harriet will be. Instead I'm content to eagerly look forward to the next installment of "Mrs. McDougall" arriving in my Inbox in the next few days!

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Deborah W
Ghost Swifts, Blue Poppies and the Red Star
Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2024
Verified Purchase
The first chapter I cried so much I didn’t think I would be able to keep reading. Because I love Godwin’s book so much and this is the only one I haven’t read I kept going and then I couldn’t put it down. He brings things together so nicely and keeps the reader’s attention. I do hope he continues with this series although I do love the genealogy and DNA mysteries.

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Top reviews from other countries

AW
Great author
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 21, 2021
Verified Purchase

I’d read all of the Morton Farrier books, so I was a little disappointed when I saw this come out - I wanted more Morton books, not the author distracted with another character 🙂 However, this is a brilliant book and I take it all back. Amazing historical detail about the first world war embedded in a cracking story. I’m now torn. Which character do I want the author to write about next?

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Margaret A. Jones
Awe full subject great read
Reviewed in Canada on April 28, 2019
Verified Purchase
Interesting story about after WW1 something that the history that
I learned in school never mentioned. My grandparents emegated from England to Canada in 1020, when they were asked why they would say for a future and change the subject now I understand! It’s absorbing the people are well described Will remember it for along time,didn’t look at the subject bought thinking that it was one of his mysteries but not disappointed.

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Wendy Percival
A heart-warming and poignant read about the legacy of WW1
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 6, 2018
Verified Purchase
While old film footage of the first Armistice Day shows thousands of people cheering in the streets to celebrate the end of the First World War, for many the date represented only partial closure. For those families who had lost loved ones it meant the start of a painful period of adjustment, made worse if the circumstances of their husband's, brother's, father's or son's death on the battlefield were clouded in mystery.

Ghost Swifts, Blue Poppies and the Red Star is a poignant tale of Mrs Harriet McDougall's determined post-war search for the truth, after two of her three sons are killed in action. With the assistance of her eldest son, Fraser, who survived (and is wary of returning to the place which still holds such traumas for him), Mrs McDougall sets off in search of answers concerning Fraser's younger brother Malcolm who died in a field hospital near Ypres in Belgium.

During Harriet's mission we learn much about the state of post-war Britain - the food shortages, the attitude to those who'd sought refuge in England during the conflict, the struggles faced by returning soldiers and the subtle changes happening to social norms - all of it woven seamlessly into the story. We also learn about the fate of the battle-scarred towns and villages of France and Belgium, and their stoic attempts to rebuild their communities and rise from the devastation of war.

Subtitled "A Mrs McDougall Investigation" (implying there are more to come), Ghost Swifts, Blue Poppies and the Red Star is a heart-warming read and I very much look forward to meeting this endearing amateur sleuth again before too long.

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Neil McVea
Good read; makes you think about benefits of War?
Reviewed in Australia on December 4, 2018
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Well written and a Very disturbing read; War and following 'Peace' as seen from a Mother's perspective; grim insight to gas warfare; makes you think about why??

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Diane Graham
A very informative and true-to-life story of WW1
Reviewed in Canada on August 29, 2019
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I like Nathan Dylan Goodwin as an author and I was not disappointed. He always puts historical facts in his stories so I am always learning.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Great author

5.0 out of 5 stars Awe full subject great read

4.0 out of 5 stars A heart-warming and poignant read about the legacy of WW1

4.0 out of 5 stars Good read; makes you think about benefits of War?

5.0 out of 5 stars A very informative and true-to-life story of WW1

Great author

Awe full subject great read

A heart-warming and poignant read about the legacy of WW1

Good read; makes you think about benefits of War?

A very informative and true-to-life story of WW1