Review: “The Wicked Trade”
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The Wicked Trade (The Forensic Genealogist Series Book 7)
By Nathan Dylan Goodwin
Published by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 2018
Website: https://www.nathandylangoodwin.com/the-wicked-trade
376 pp.
I love mysteries. Especially genealogical mysteries.
(I have a bizarre mystery in my own family history, but that’s another blog post entirely.)
As I mentioned in a previous review, I love reading genealogical crime mysteries. I mean, what’s not to like? Genealogy + solving a mystery = a great story!
And for a great story, I always turn to Nathan Dylan Goodwin’s Morton Farrier novels.
What is The Wicked Trade?
Answer: Smuggling. You’ll have to read the book to find out “of what” (although, you can probably guess, based on this post’s featured image).
The Wicked Trade is the 7th book in Nathan Dylan Goodwin’s Forensic Genealogist series. It is a fun, fast-paced novel that will take you on a historical ride back to 1820s England, as well as on the main character’s personal family history journey.
Forensic genealogist Morton Farrier is “a stubborn, determined man who uses whatever means necessary to uncover the past.” Based in East Kent, England, Morton gets himself into all sorts of life-and-death situations… while making the job of a forensic genealogist seem very exciting!
Morton himself is an adoptee who has spent the better part of his career searching for answers to his own family history.
Set in a real historical time period, The Wicked Trade tells the story of a band of smugglers along the Kent and Sussex border in 1820’s England. Their actions have a direct impact on descendants 200 years later.
Many of the characters and locations are real, but the story itself is fiction:
“When Morton Farrier is presented with a case revolving around a mysterious letter written by disreputable criminal, Ann Fothergill in 1827, he quickly finds himself delving into a shadowy Georgian underworld of smuggling and murder on the Kent and Sussex border. Morton must use his skills as a forensic genealogist to untangle Ann’s association with the notorious Aldington Gang and also with the brutal killing of Quartermaster Richard Morgan. As his research continues, Morton suspects that his client’s family might have more troubling and dangerous expectations of his findings.”
My Impression
I think The Wicked Trade just might be my favorite book so far in the Forensic Genealogist series (although, The Suffragette’s Secret is a close second).
As with all of the stories in this series, I love the feeling of being right there alongside Morton as he makes his genealogical discoveries (I’ll admit to having a touch of archives-envy).
But I also enjoy seeing how Morton navigates his new family relationships. As I mentioned, he is an adoptee who has spent much of his professional life looking for answers to his own family history. In this, the 7th book, he now has some answers, but… let’s just say, “it’s complicated.”
In addition to providing a history lesson on 19th-century English smuggling, the book offers some interesting regional dialect that adds to the flavor of the story. As an American, I found myself trying to pronounce a few words out loud to figure out what they meant (thank goodness for the Kindle’s built-in dictionary)!
Honestly, the only thing not to like about the Forensic Genealogist books is that they end much too soon. Now begins the wait for the next book in the series…
Where to Find It
The Wicked Trade is available from Amazon in Kindle and paperback versions. Get the audio version with an Audible subscription (or sign up for a free trial).
Visit the book’s page on Amazon to read a sample online, or download a sample to your Kindle. As with all of Goodwin’s books, reader reviews are overwhelmingly positive – check them out!
About the Author
To learn more about genealogical crime mystery author Nathan Dylan Goodwin, please visit his website.
I enjoyed browsing through his Pinterest board for this book, which is full of photos and inspiration. Warning: possible spoilers ahead!
Other books in the Morton Farrier: Forensic Genealogist series include:
Hiding the Past
The Lost Ancestor
The Orange Lillies (novella)
The America Ground
The Spyglass File
The Missing Man (Read my review)
The Suffragette’s Secret (short story)
The Wicked Trade
The Asylum
The Sterling Affair
Morton in Lockdown (free online, interactive story)
Check out my reading list on GoodReads.
What are YOU reading this month?
NOTE: I was not provided with a complimentary copy of this book. As always, all opinions are my own.
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I think I need to add his books to my reading list! I’m missing out.
You totally are, Laura! I suggest starting with the first book so you can enjoy them all. 😀
You’ve captured my attention! I think I’ll buy the book as a gift for my mother so that we can enjoy it together.
I’m sure you’ll enjoy it, Liz! FWIW, the author says the book works as a “standalone,” but I suggest starting with the first book in the series, “Hiding the Past.” It will help you understand the main character’s personal journey as an adoptee searching for his family. Plus, they’re all really good books, so I wouldn’t want you to miss one! 🙂