The reports of the anti-suffrage movement in Brighton are also based in fact. The 25th November 1911 edition of The Brighton Herald reported that Mrs Humphrey Ward had delivered a speech to the Brighton Branch of the National League for Opposing Women’s Suffrage. It was held in the Brighton Pavilion and chaired by Sir Theodore Angier. Most of Mrs Francis Wild’s speech in this story can be attributed to Mrs Humphrey Ward.
The Militant Suffragette file held at The Keep and the women (with the exception of Grace Emmerson) mentioned in the document are all real.
Linden Grove is a fictitious location, but one which I based on a house in Hastings, called Levetleigh. It was owned by the local MP, Arthur du Cros, a man who was against women’s suffrage. On 15th April 1913 the house was burnt down and, although nobody was arrested for the arson attack, material found at the property led the police to point the finger of blame at local suffragettes.
Until the Married Women’s Property Act of 1882 was enacted, women would, upon marriage, become one person with their husband under the law. Any property owned by the woman automatically passed to her husband. One such case, which inspired this storyline, was that of the large country estate, Knole in Sevenoaks, Kent. The house had been in the Sackville-West family for hundreds of years and, when Lionel Edward Sackville-West died in 1928, the house did not pass to his only child—his daughter, Vita—but instead to his male nephew.
Most, if not all of the unfair issues, which the suffragettes campaigned against, have since been rectified and amended in law. In 1918 the Representation of the People Act enfranchised women over the age of 30 who owned property, meaning that around 8.4 million women were eligible to vote. Later that year women became eligible to be elected to Parliament. The Act was amended again in 1928, extending the vote to all men and women over the age of 21, regardless of property-holding. The first female Member of Parliament to take her seat was Nancy Astor in 1919. The first female Prime Minster was Margaret Thatcher, elected in 1979.
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Blog: theforensicgenealogist.blogspot.co.uk
Hiding the Past
(The Forensic Genealogist #1)
Peter Coldrick had no past; that was the conclusion drawn by years of personal and professional research. Then he employed the services of one Morton Farrier, Forensic Genealogist – a stubborn, determined man who uses whatever means necessary to uncover the past. With the Coldrick Case, Morton faces his toughest and most dangerous assignment yet, where all of his investigative and genealogical skills are put to the test. However, others are also interested in the Coldrick family, people who will stop at nothing, including murder, to hide the past. As Morton begins to unearth his client’s mysterious past, he is forced to confront his own family’s dark history, a history which he knows little about.
‘Flicking between the present and stories and extracts from the past, the pace never lets up in an excellent addition to this unique genre of literature’
Your Family Tree
‘At times amusing and shocking, this is a fast-moving modern crime mystery with genealogical twists. The blend of well fleshed-out characters, complete with flaws and foibles, will keep you guessing until the end’
Family Tree
‘Once I started reading Hiding the Past I had great difficulty putting it down - not only did I want to know what happened next, I actually cared’
Lost Cousins
‘This is a must read for all genealogy buffs and anyone who loves a good mystery with a jaw dropping ending!’
Baytown Genealogy Society
‘Hiding the Past is a suspenseful, fast-paced mystery novel, in which the hero is drawn into an intrigue that spans from World War II to the present, with twists and turns along the way. The writing is smooth and the story keeps moving along so that I found it difficult to put down’
The Archivist
The Lost Ancestor
(The Forensic Genealogist #2)
From acclaimed author, Nathan Dylan Goodwin comes this exciting new genealogical crime mystery, featuring the redoubtable forensic genealogist, Morton Farrier. When Morton is called upon by Ray Mercer to investigate the 1911 disappearance of his great aunt, a housemaid working in a large Edwardian country house, he has no idea of the perilous journey into the past that he is about to make. Morton must use his not inconsiderable genealogical skills to solve the mystery of Mary Mercer’s disappearance, in the face of the dangers posed by those others who are determined to end his investigation at any cost. This is the second book in the Morton Farrier genealogical crime mystery series, although it can be enjoyed as a stand-alone story.
‘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
‘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
‘…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’
Lost Cousins
‘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
‘The Lost Ancestor is fast-paced, not plodding, and does well building mystery… The author’s depictions of scenes and places are vivid; the characters are interesting and intriguing. In toggling back and forth from past to present, Goodwin shows how the deeds of long-dead ancestors are haunting their descendants’
GenealogyMagazine.com
The Orange Lilies
(The Forensic Genealogist #3)
Morton Farrier has spent his entire career as a forensic genealogist solving other people’s family history secrets, all the while knowing so little of his very own family’s mysterious past. However, this poignant Christmastime novella sees Morton’s skills put to use much closer to home, as he must confront his own past, present and future through events both present-day and one hundred years ago. It seems that not every soldier saw a truce on the Western Front that 1914 Christmas…
‘The Orange Lilies sees Morton for once investigating his own tree (and about time too!). Moving smoothly between Christmas 1914 and Christmas 2014, the author weaves an intriguing tale with more than a few twists - several times I thought I'd figured it all out, but each time there was a surprise waiting in the next chapter... Thoroughly recommended - and I can't wait for the next novel’
Lost Cousins
‘Morton confronts a long-standing mystery in his own family–one that leads him just a little closer to the truth about his personal origins. This Christmas-time tale flashes back to Christmas 1914, to a turning point in his relatives’ lives. Don’t miss it!’
Lisa Louise Cooke
‘This is Goodwin’s best work for me. It is not a murder mystery, but Morton does solve some family mysteries with an almost Agatha Christie denouement. I recommend it for its genealogical appeal, mystery, and for anyone interested in World War I’
McGenealogist Blog
The America Ground
(The Forensic Genealogist #4)
Morton Farrier, the esteemed English forensic genealogist, had cleared a space in his busy schedule to track down his own elusive father finally. But he is then presented with a case that challenges his research skills in his quest to find the killer of a woman murdered more than
one hundred and eighty years ago. Thoughts of his own family history are quickly and violently pushed to one side as Morton rushes to complete his investigation before other sinister elements succeed in derailing the case. This is the third book in the Morton Farrier genealogical crime mystery series, although it can be enjoyed as a stand-alone story.
‘As in the earlier novels, each chapter slips smoothly from past to present, revealing murderous events as the likeable Morton uncovers evidence in the present, while trying to solve the mystery of his own paternity. Packed once more with glorious detail of records familiar to family historians, The America Ground is a delightfully pacey read’
Family Tree
‘Like most genealogical mysteries this book has several threads, cleverly woven together by the author - and there are plenty of surprises for the reader as the story approaches its conclusion. A jolly good read!’
Lost Cousins
‘Goodwin’s stories have been good reads, engaging the interest of the genealogist with references to records…Readers will welcome this new book as a welcome distraction from the intensity of research to reading about someone else’s work, with murder thrown in’ Eastman’s Online Genealogy Newsletter
‘Great reading - a real page-turner! Good solid genealogy research – highly recommended’ Genealogy Happy Hour
‘It’s just a terrific book! It’s great stuff, I’ve read it, and you’re going to enjoy it’
Extreme Genes
‘The writing is pin-sharp and there is plenty of suspense in an excellent novel which makes me want to return to the first books in the series’
The Norfolk Ancestor
The Spyglass File
(The Forensic Genealogist #5)
Morton Farrier was no longer at the top of his game. His forensic genealogy career was faltering and he was refusing to accept any new cases, preferring instead to concentrate on locating his own elusive biological father. Yet, when a particular case presents itself, that of finding the family of a woman abandoned in the midst of the Battle of Britain, Morton is compelled to help her to unravel her past. Using all of his genealogical skills, he soon discovers that the case is connected to The Spyglass File—a secretive document which throws up links which threaten to disturb the wrongdoings of others, who would rather its contents, as well as their actions, remain hidden forever.
‘If you like a good mystery, and the detective work of genealogy, this is another mystery novel from Nathan which will have you whizzing through the pages with time slipping by unnoticed’
Your Family History
‘The first page was so overwhelming that I had to stop for breath…Well, the rest of the book certainly lived up to that impressive start, with twists and turns that kept me guessing right to the end… As the story neared its conclusion I found myself conflicted, for much as I wanted to know how Morton's assignment panned out, I was enjoying it so much that I really didn’t want this book to end!’
Lost Cousins
‘Author Nathan Dylan Goodwin has given students of the Second World War, and avid family historians another great genealogical read’
Eastman’s Online Genealogy Newsletter
‘Nathan Dylan Goodwin’s latest Morton Farrier genealogical mystery deserves its five-star reviews on Amazon. A gripping story that will have you sneaking away to read just one more chapter!’
Historian
‘Like his previous books, also set in England, this one keeps you intrigued right up to the very end… His style of weaving the past and present together is outstanding’
Bay Area Genealogical Society
The Missing Man
(The Forensic Genealogist #6)
It was to be the most important case of Morton Farrier’s career in forensic genealogy so far. A case that had eluded him for many years: finding his own father. Harley ‘Jack’ Jacklin disappeared just six days after a fatal fire at his Cape Cod home on Christmas Eve in 1976, leaving no trace behind. Now his son, Morton must travel to the East Coast of America to unravel the family’s dark secrets in order to discover what really happened to him.
‘One of the hallmarks of genealogical mystery novels is the way that they weave together multiple threads and this book is no exception, cleverly skipping across the generations - and there's also a pleasing symmetry that helps to endear us to one of the key characters...If you've read the other books in this series you won't need me to tell you to rush out and buy this one’
Lost Cousins
‘Nathan Dylan Goodwin has delivered another page-turning mystery laden with forensic genealogical clues that will keep any family historian glued to the book until the mystery is solved’
Eastman’s Online Genealogy Newsletter
‘Nathan Dylan Goodwin has once again written a thrilling page turner in his latest book The Missing Man... Definitely a must read in the latest series of Morton Farrier, the Forensic Genealogist’
Baytown Genealogy Society
‘Sometimes when you read a book you just know that the story was there to be told; it was clear in the author's mind and needed to be shared. This is one of those books. Sometimes when you read a book you just know the story was there to be told. It reads easily, with realistic, interesting characters and a gripping plot’
Genealogical Society of the Northern Territory
The Suffragette's Secret: A Morton Farrier Short Story (The Forensic Genealogist Series) Page 10