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Ghost Swifts, Blue Poppies and the Red Star Hardcover – December 14, 2022

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 541 ratings

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Discover the power of forgiveness in the aftermath of World War I with Harriet Agnes McDougall’s story of survival and understanding. In 1919, in the aftermath of the Great War, Harriet is plagued by the need to understand how her middle son, Malcolm, met his death in the Belgian trenches. With peace now prevailing across Europe, she embarks on a voyage of discovery to retrace her son’s movements. As she uncovers the circumstances surrounding Malcolm’s death, she also meets various young men who are returned from war only to find that they seem no longer to have a place in this altered society—something which Harriet determines to address. Will she be able to find the answers she seeks as she struggles to come to terms with the immense loss she has experienced?

For updates on Nathan Dylan Goodwin's work:
Website & newsletter: www.nathandylangoodwin.com
Twitter: @NathanDGoodwin
Facebook: www.facebook.com/nathandylangoodwin
Instagram: www.instagram.com/NathanDylanGoodwin

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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BPVLPGSN
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published (December 14, 2022)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 207 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8364872975
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.3 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.66 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 541 ratings

About the author

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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.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
541 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the story relatable, interesting, and well-done. They describe the book as fantastic, enjoyable, and a great debut novel. The realism is described as stark yet with a glimmer of hope. The book keeps readers' attention with riveting storylines that keep them engaged. Readers appreciate the emotional content, compassion, and resilience of the characters. The writing quality is superb and reads effortlessly.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

11 customers mention "Story quality"11 positive0 negative

Customers find the story relatable and well-written. They appreciate the author's skill at depicting historical events through the eyes of a grieving mother. The book is described as an excellent fictional account of a British mother's determination to investigate her son's death.

"...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

"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 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 enjoyable and a good start to the series. They say it holds together well and is a great debut novel.

"...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. They find it well-researched and beautifully written. They enjoy the descriptions of the front, life in England after the war, and the care for war cemeteries. Overall, readers find the book realistic and interesting.

"...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

"...Well researched, beautifully written. If you like the Maisie Dobbs novels you will love this. Sentimental but not maudlin...." 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 and entertaining. They say the storylines keep their interest throughout.

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

"...The main character was inspiring, strong and fun. His books are always well researched, authentic and hard to put down." 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 appreciate the emotional content. They find it sentimental but not maudlin, and engaging. Readers praise the main character's perseverance and compassion.

"...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

"...If you like the Maisie Dobbs novels you will love this. Sentimental but not maudlin...." 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 and perseverance. They find it a good start to a series.

"...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 enjoy the writing quality. They find the storylines engaging and the prose flowing smoothly.

"...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

"...Well researched, beautifully written. If you like the Maisie Dobbs novels you will love this. Sentimental but not maudlin...." 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 enjoy the character development. They 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

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2019
    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.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2024
    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.
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2024
    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.
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2022
    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!
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2020
    Pleasant easy read but sad but hopeful. WW I was notable for the increadabled lost of life and destruction of Europe.
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2020
    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.
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2023
    The authors other books are favorites of mine, just found this one accidentally on Kindle Unlimited. It was quirky, yet captured my attention from start to finish.
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2019
    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.
    3 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • AW
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great author
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 21, 2021
    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?
  • Margaret A. Jones
    5.0 out of 5 stars Awe full subject great read
    Reviewed in Canada on April 28, 2019
    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.
  • Diane Graham
    5.0 out of 5 stars A very informative and true-to-life story of WW1
    Reviewed in Canada on August 29, 2019
    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.
  • Wendy Percival
    4.0 out of 5 stars A heart-warming and poignant read about the legacy of WW1
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 6, 2018
    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.
  • Barbara & Alan
    4.0 out of 5 stars A gentle endearing novel of family love. War may take loved ones away forever, but love will one day fill the gap that is left.
    Reviewed in Australia on December 8, 2018
    Losing two sons in the war, their mother, Harriet, tries to bring closure to the death of one of her sons. Her journey takes her away from home, but brings so much more love into her life.