Review: The Chester Creek Murders
Heart of the Family is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associate Programs and other affiliate services. This means that thefamilyheart.com receives a small commission by linking to Amazon.com and other sites at no cost to the readers.
The Chester Creek Murders (A Venator Cold Case Series Book 1)
By Nathan Dylan Goodwin
Published by Amazon: 2021
Available at Amazon
267 pp.
Are you looking for a great summer read that involves crime, suspense, intrigue, MURDER… and investigative genetic genealogy? Then, head over to Amazon and grab a copy of The Chester Creek Murders right away!
What is The Chester Creek Murders About?
The Chester Creek Murders is the 1st book in Nathan Dylan Goodwin’s Venator Cold Case series. It is a fast-paced ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat while the brutal murders of three young women are solved using investigative genetic genealogy (read: DNA).
Set in beautiful downtown Salt Lake City, Utah, in the year 2020, The Chester Creek Murders tells the story of Madison “Maddie” Scott-Barnhart, founder and owner of Venator, and her plucky team of investigative genetic genealogists. The group works tirelessly – often to the detriment of their personal lives and relationships – to find closure for previously unsolved homicide cases.
While many of the locations in the story are real, the characters and the story itself are fiction.[efn_note] There is one familiar name in the story that many of you will recognize… but she definitely is not who you might think she is![/efn_note]
When Detective Clayton Tyler is tasked with reviewing the formidable archives of unsolved homicides in his police department’s vaults, he settles on one particular cold case from the 1980s: The Chester Creek Murders. Three young women were brutally murdered—their bodies dumped in Chester Creek, Delaware County—by a serial killer who has confounded a slew of detectives and evaded capture for over thirty-eight years. With no new leads or information at his disposal, the detective contacts Venator for help, a company that uses cutting-edge investigative genetic genealogy to profile perpetrators solely from DNA evidence. Taking on the case, Madison Scott-Barnhart and her small team at Venator must use their forensic genealogical expertise to attempt finally to bring the serial killer to justice. Madison, meanwhile, has to weigh professional and personal issues carefully, including the looming five-year anniversary of her husband’s disappearance.[efn_note]”The Venator Cold Case series,” Nathan Dylan Goodwin, Genealogical Crime Mystery Author, https://www.nathandylangoodwin.com/venator-cold-case-series, 2021.[/efn_note]
My Impression
When I first heard that author Nathan Dylan Goodwin was planning to write a new series of genealogical crime mysteries set in the United States, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I mean, why would a British author – who already writes brilliant stories about British characters and history – want to write about Americans?
I’m happy to say that The Chester Creek Murders does not disappoint!
To be honest, the book caught my attention on page 1, and I couldn’t put it down for the rest of the day. Surprisingly, I finished the book in a day and a half – only stopping to sleep for a few hours – which must be a new record for me![efn_note]I’m a ridiculously slow reader because I like to savor every word. And I have wicked astigmatism.[/efn_note]
The book’s characters are described in rich detail. Not only can you vividly picture them in your mind, but you can see what they are seeing and feel what they are feeling. You will not like them all, of course, and a few will leave you… wondering. And the murderer is a vile creature with a creepy fetish who definitely belongs behind bars!
As I mentioned earlier, the characters and stories are fictional, but the locations in the book are real. In fact, the author spent time scouting for buildings, restaurants, ski resorts, and other places in Salt Lake City before writing the book.
Side note: my many trips to Salt Lake City have kept me confined to libraries, conference centers, and hotel rooms, but I intend to check out the restaurants featured in The Chester Creek Murders on my next trip!
As with most of Goodwin’s books, the story takes you back in forth in time: backward to 1983 as the crimes are being committed and forward to pre-COVID 2020 as they are being solved. But don’t worry; nothing is revealed too quickly. You’ll need to read all the way to the end for that FINAL TWIST.
What I enjoyed most about this book is the realistic depiction of investigative genetic genealogy. This is an emerging technology, especially as it pertains to law enforcement, and there are still so many questions and concerns surrounding its use. However, it is important to note that the author did not just “make this stuff up.” He consulted with top experts in the field, including police detectives, lawyers, and well-known genetic genealogists, to find out exactly how the process works.
If you have any interest at all in investigative genetic genealogy and/or gripping crime stories, then you need to pick up a copy of this book. I promise that you will love it!
Where to Find It
The Chester Creek Murders is available at Amazon in Kindle and paperback formats. It is also available as an audiobook with an Audible subscription or free trial.
Reader reviews of this book are overwhelmingly positive. The book currently has a 4.7 out of 5.0-star rating.
Visit the book’s page on Amazon to read a sample online, download a sample to your Kindle, or listen to an Audible audiobook sample.
About the Author
From Nathan Dylan Goodwin’s Amazon bio:
Nathan Dylan Goodwin is a writer, genealogist, and educator. He was born and raised in Hastings, East Sussex. Schooled 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, he has completed a number of successful local history books about Hastings, as well as several works of fiction, including the acclaimed Forensic Genealogist series and Venator Cold Case series.
To learn more about genealogical crime author Nathan Dylan Goodwin, please visit his website.
Be sure to check out his Pinterest board for The Chester Creek Murders, which is chock-full of photos and inspiration for the book. Warning: possible spoilers ahead!
This is the first (and only) book in the Venator Cold Case series. While you wait for the next installment, catch up with Goodwin’s Morton Farrier: Forensic Genealogist series:
- The Asylum (prequel)
- 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 –> read my review
- The Sterling Affair
- Morton in Lockdown (free, interactive, web-based story)
Want to know what else I’m reading? Check out my reading list on GoodReads.
What are YOU reading this month?
[cite]
NOTE: I received a complimentary copy of The Chester Creek Murders from the author. All opinions in this review are my own and were not provided in exchange for the book.
Heart Of The Family™ is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a small commission if you choose to make a purchase, but it does not add anything extra to the price you pay. For more, please read my full Disclosure Statement. I appreciate your support!
