Cards on the table – I love the Morton Farrier Forensic Genealogist series. And this latest instalment was right up there with the best.
It is classic Morton Farrier fare. A fast-paced crime fiction mystery, which right from the opening pages packs a punch. It intertwines the progress of Morton’s latest genealogy investigation with events of a bygone era – in this case the lives of East End seasonal hop-pickers working in Kent in the immediate aftermath of World War One, and a young woman’s quest to clear her missing brother’s name and find out what happened to him.
Nathan Dylan Goodwin skilfully weaves the multiple strands of past and present, with the latest developments in the hero’s own complicated family history backstory, and some professional twists along the way too. The characterisation of heroine Nellie means the reader is naturally and sympathetically drawn into her pursuit of truth and answers. The peppering of the story with various genealogical records and sources adds a further dimension for those involved in family history research, from the hobbyist through to the professional – though you do not need to be a family historian to appreciate this well-crafted crime fiction novel. The author’s meticulous research of seasonal hop-picking in this era gives it that all-important feel of historical authenticity.
The book was a joy to read, one of those I was truly sorry to reach the end of. The positive though is there’s clearly scope for more Morton Farrier adventures to come.
Now all I need is some of those weird and wonderful scone recipes to set me up for these future Forensic Genealogist exploits.
The book can be read as a stand alone novel, though as someone who has read all the previous books I’ve found knowing a little about Morton Farrier’s life up to this point does help contextually.
If you’ve not read any of the previous books in the Forensic Genealogist series and want to start at the beginning to sequentially see how the character’s backstory evolves, here’s the full list:
- The Asylum – short prequel to the series.
- Hiding the Past.
- The Lost Ancestor.
- The Orange Lilies.
- The America Ground.
- The Spyglass File.
- The Missing Man.
- The Suffragette’s Secret – Novella.
- The Wicked Trade.
- The Sterling Affair.
- The Foundlings.
- The Deserter’s Tale.
- The Hop-Picker Murders.
Finally, here’s the all-important purchase information for The Hop-Picker Murders. I read the paperback version, ISBN-13: 979-8298809924, which is due out in Spring 2026, with the audiobook version also due around then. The kindle and hardback edition (£18.99 RRP) are already available.
Full purchase details for these, and all the previous books in the series, can be found on Nathan Dylan Goodwin’s website. There’s also additional historical background information about hop-picking, and one of the real-life hop-pickers who features in the book.
Full disclosure: I received a free paperback copy of this book in return for a honest review. I have expressed my truthful opinion in this review.
Past To Present Genealogy 