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Nathan Dylan Goodwin
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The Lost Ancestor (The Forensic Genealogist Series) Paperback – September 10, 2014

by Nathan Dylan Goodwin (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars 2,622 ratings
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‘Finely paced and full of realistic genealogical terms and tricks, this is an enjoyable whodunit with engaging research twists that keep you guessing until the end. If you enjoy genealogical fiction and Ruth Rendell mysteries, you’ll find this a pleasing page-turner’
Family Tree magazine

When Morton Farrier, the formidable forensic genealogist, is called upon to uncover the mysterious disappearance of a housemaid working in a large Edwardian country house in 1911, he embarks on a perilous journey into the past. Uncovering surprising secrets and facing dangerous adversaries, Morton must use his comprehensive genealogical skills to solve the case. Will he be able to put the pieces together before it's too late?

This is the second book in the Morton Farrier genealogical crime mystery series, although it can be enjoyed as a stand-alone story.
Read more
Previous slide of product details
  1. Book 2 of 10
    The Forensic Genealogist Series
  2. Print length
    265 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    September 10, 2014
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 0.67 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1500883492
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1500883492
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The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

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The Orange Lilies: A Morton Farrier novella (The Forensic Genealogist Series)
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From the Publisher

Quote from Family Tree magazine
Different book formats
Quote from Your Family Tree magazine
First 5 Morton Farrier books

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for The Lost Ancestor

'If you enjoy a novel with a keen eye for historical detail, solid writing, believable settings and a sturdy protagonist, The Lost Ancestor is a safe bet. Here British author Nathan Dylan Goodwin spins a riveting genealogical crime mystery with a pulsing, realistic storyline'
Your Family Tree magazine

'Finely paced and full of realistic genealogical terms and tricks, this is an enjoyable whodunit with engaging research twists that keep you guessing until the end. If you enjoy genealogical fiction and Ruth Rendell mysteries, you'll find this a pleasing page-turner'
Family Tree magazine

'...an extremely well-constructed plot, with plenty of intrigue and genealogical detail - but all the loose ends are neatly tied up by the end...The Lost Ancestor is highly recommended'
LostCousins

'It's an excellent pick for holidays, weekend relaxing, or curling up indoors or outdoors, whatever the weather permits in your corner of the world'
Lisa Louise Cooke

'It's entertaining, and passes the time nicely while setting the chores aside... just the right kind of light reading we need during this time of holiday busyness'
Eastman's Online Genealogy

 'Delightful, charming, cunning are simply too simplistic to describe Nathan Dylan Goodwin's latest genealogical crime mystery, The Lost Ancestor. The surprise ending leaves you thirsting for Nathan's next book in the Morton Farrier series'
Baytown Genealogy Society

About the Author

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.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (September 10, 2014)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 265 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1500883492
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1500883492
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.67 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 2,622 ratings

About the author

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Nathan Dylan Goodwin

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.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
2,622 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoy this genealogy mystery book, particularly appreciating its dual narrative structure and how it provides a refreshing break from true life genealogy. Moreover, the book features interesting characters and is well-written, with one customer noting the author's close attention to detail. Additionally, customers praise the meticulous research and historical development, and find the pacing fast-moving.

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96 customers mention "Story quality"92 positive4 negative

Customers enjoy the story quality of the book, particularly its genealogy and mystery elements, with one customer specifically appreciating the dual narratives of past and present.

"Nathan Goodwin has the genealogy curiosity and obsession down pat. I am certainly in his shoes in the archives and libraries...." Read more

"...He was able to tell their stories in the past and in his main character's present tale and come full circle at the end with all the connections...." Read more

"Loved this book, well written also tells how he found info he needed for his Genealogy mystery...." Read more

"This clean and intriguing story was delightful. After starting 3 other Kindle samples and finding them trite, I saw this one...." Read more

92 customers mention "Readability"88 positive4 negative

Customers find the book entertaining and worth their time.

"...Masterfully he built in the murder mystery. Enjoyed it thoroughly. Looking forward to the next one." Read more

"This book was much better than the previous one and his later prequel to the series...." Read more

"Loved this book, well written also tells how he found info he needed for his Genealogy mystery...." Read more

"This clean and intriguing story was delightful. After starting 3 other Kindle samples and finding them trite, I saw this one...." Read more

21 customers mention "Character development"18 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the characters in the book, with one describing the hero as charming.

"...The hero is a charming, sometimes nerdy, researcher...." Read more

"...So far, the books have intelligent plots with some likeable and despicable character...." Read more

"...I loved every minute of this book and the neat wrap up of each character. I hope there will be more of this series soon." Read more

"...Interesting characters and logical pursuit of research techniques. Cannot wait to read more by Goodwin! GREAT!" Read more

17 customers mention "Writing style"17 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well written and easy to read, with one customer noting the author's close attention to detail.

"...Very well done even if the ending was a bit rushed. He forgot to have a resolution of Justice for the person who hired the assassin...." Read more

"Loved this book, well written also tells how he found info he needed for his Genealogy mystery...." Read more

"...bits and pieces of information about the research; the author is obviously knowledgeable." Read more

"...It is well written and moves along at a good pace. I will be reading other offerings in this series by Dylan Goodwin." Read more

8 customers mention "Research quality"8 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the meticulous research and history development in the book.

"...Nathan goodwin is a great story teller. He gives good detail of his research and he is great at keeping the mystery concealed and intrigue intersting" Read more

"...As a quondam amateur genealogist, I also enjoyed the bits and pieces of information about the research; the author is obviously knowledgeable." Read more

"...rest is finding out how the theories fit together, all done by meticulous research, lucky finds, and some good hunches. Definitely worth the read." Read more

"...Interesting characters and logical pursuit of research techniques. Cannot wait to read more by Goodwin! GREAT!" Read more

7 customers mention "Pacing"7 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the pacing of the book, finding it fast-moving and easy to follow.

"...It is well written and moves along at a good pace. I will be reading other offerings in this series by Dylan Goodwin." Read more

"...The author reminds me of Robert Goddard's work; intricate, fast paced, well plotted. I'll just settle in now and read the whole series!" Read more

"...research was a bonus to the well developed characters and fast paced story line, I'm on book number 3 in the series and even plan to locate some of..." Read more

"...It makes the miles go fast and enjoyable!" Read more

Genealogists tell the stories!
5 out of 5 stars
Genealogists tell the stories!
Really enjoyed this book. I am also a genealogist, and one of the main enjoyments in genealogy is putting together the stories along with all the facts. With historic newspaper articles, government records such as pension applications and death records, and uncovering long ago family histories, the stories of ancestors can be put together. For example, I've attached a photo made about 1860 of my great-grandmother, Hester. As a child, I received copies of 3 letters written to her by a sweetheart during the Civil War, but no one in my family knew what had happened to the young man except that he did not come home from the War Between the States. It took years to discover all of the information and to put it together, but their poignant love story will never die or be lost now.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Jeri J. Steele
    5.0 out of 5 stars genealogy and a murder mystery! it can’t get any better than that.
    Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Nathan Goodwin has the genealogy curiosity and obsession down pat. I am certainly in his shoes in the archives and libraries. Masterfully he built in the murder mystery. Enjoyed it thoroughly. Looking forward to the next one.
    One person found this helpful
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  • J Hancock
    4.0 out of 5 stars A genealogical mystery.
    Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    This book was much better than the previous one and his later prequel to the series. As in all genealogical ancestral stories, lives were messy and sometimes very sad. Mr Goodwin was able to really bring his characters to life in this book. He was able to tell their stories in the past and in his main character's present tale and come full circle at the end with all the connections. Very well done even if the ending was a bit rushed. He forgot to have a resolution of Justice for the person who hired the assassin.
    This book included beautiful details that helped me, as a reader, to picture exactly what was seen and heard and felt. As a mystery author, he was better at keeping the secrets until the end in this volume. However, I was able to figure out who the "bad guy" was before it was revealed. That is my favorite part in a mystery even if I guess incorrectly.
    You can see his writing style and talents develop from one book to the next.
    If this is a continued pattern, I can only imagine the next book to be even better.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Genealogy and mystery fiction
    Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Loved this book, well written also tells how he found info he needed for his Genealogy mystery. Wonderful refreshing book, w/o needing bedroom scenes. I highly recommend for folks that like a good mystery as well as interest in genealogy, but even if your not, still a good mystery, this author has numerous books. Have a try!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars I loved this book!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    This clean and intriguing story was delightful. After starting 3 other Kindle samples and finding them trite, I saw this one. Combining time transitions, mystery and genealogy I gave it a try. I was pulled in from page one. It only got better. Twists that kept me guessing, and a side story that gave it depth. I rarely read 2 books in a series back to back because I want to savor the anticipation of a good story after a few mediocre ones. The first one was so good I had to read this one immediately. I'm so excited there is a third one! But I'll wait to read it so I have something to look forward to.
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  • LadyPendragon
    4.0 out of 5 stars I Love Ancestry Research
    Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    This book feed that interest. Nathan goodwin is a great story teller. He gives good detail of his research and he is great at keeping the mystery concealed and intrigue intersting
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Mystery AND Genealogy!
    Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I was a little concerned when I realized that this book was self-published. Without an editor, things can go very wrong indeed. But the double story (from 1911 and 2014) drew me in. An elderly and dying man hires a professional genealogist to learn what had happened to his grandmother's twin sister, who disappeared in 1911. Someone in the present badly wants to keep the truth hidden; learning what had happened in 1911 and why it is so important in 2014 is the heart of the story. It is also told from the perspective of the events in 1911, so that two stories are being alternated throughout the book. I wanted to give fewer stars as I read, since the alternation doesn't completely work, but when I found that I was "living" the book, which seldom happens to me, I raised the grade back to 5. As a quondam amateur genealogist, I also enjoyed the bits and pieces of information about the research; the author is obviously knowledgeable.
    9 people found this helpful
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  • Claire Jones
    3.0 out of 5 stars kept my interest at some points. too much emphasis ...
    Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    kept my interest at some points. too much emphasis on the technicalities of genealogy. got a bit dragged out because of that but a couple of surprises in the mix
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Genealogical thriller
    Reviewed in the United States on July 11, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    This is a great story about a British genealogist and his latest client, in the second book of this series. The hero is a charming, sometimes nerdy, researcher. While there are a few references to his own mysterious heritage, the body of the story focuses on finding resolution to questions asked by his client. It is well written and moves along at a good pace. I will be reading other offerings in this series by Dylan Goodwin.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • J. A. Scott
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very good story
    Reviewed in Canada on March 10, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Enjoyed this book. I am not reading the books in order but that does not seem to matter at all. Totally recommended, especially if you are into genealogy but even if you are not, it is very interesting.
    Report
  • Jacqueline Sidwell
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant! Should be a text book - a fascinating one!
    Reviewed in France on May 11, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    This the third Morton Farrier story by Nathan Dylan Goodwin that I've read, including the short story prologue. Morton Farrier is a fictional forensic genealogist but as an amateur genealogist of many years myself, I know that the methods Morton uses to research his cases are exactly what anyone undertaking research into the history of a family would need to use. This series of books should be required reading for anyone starting out on research - so much more interesting than the average text book!
    In this book, like the first in the series, Morton goes above and beyond and his life is endangered in his quest for the truth, but like almost all of us who are bitten by the family history research bug, Morton is like a dog with a bone and refuses to give up. Of course he is a professional and being paid for his services! He goes up against a famous, influential family (again!) in his search for the long lost aunt of a dying man. This is an interesting tale of a poor girl against ruthless forces stronger than she. I like the device of telling the story of the past, alternating with Morton Farrier's research into it. Another writer of historical mysteries that I really enjoy, Irina Shapiro uses this device to good effect too. This book, like book 1 and the prologue are extremely well written and obviously well researched. And impossible to put down from chapter 1 ! Highly recommend.
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  • Linneke1902
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent reading
    Reviewed in Australia on December 5, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Excellent reading for those who enjoy mystery mixed with crime and history. Even more so for those interested in genealogy. The mysteries run throughout the book and it is only on the last few pages that everything ties together in a very satisfying way. My interest never faltered, loved it to the last
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  • Jane Weninger
    5.0 out of 5 stars good fast moving story
    Reviewed in Germany on March 15, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Found author's use of modern terminology during past flashbacks not so good, otherwise clever story woven into that 'looking for my past' subject which is becoming more and more popular today. Mr. Goodwin certainly knows his stuff. Good read. Look Forward to next book.
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  • Jules
    5.0 out of 5 stars Captivating
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 2, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Could this series get any better, I dare say they could, (even though they can be read separately).
    From page one, your taken into the past, living every minute in a "Downtown Abbey" episode!
    A really lovely story, so moving and well written.
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