E is for ...Esther : the extraordinary true story of the First Fleet girl who became first lady of the colony

 I've been researching my family history for over thirty years. Along this genealogy journey I have been supported by hundreds of books, many of which I have listed on my Librarything page. 

During the 2021 #AtoZChallenge I will be writing about two of my passions, books and family history. I'll be taking a trip down memory lane and revisiting some of those books that have enriched my genealogy experience.

Sometimes I read fiction to learn about the history and environment of the times in my ancestors lived. While the works in this genre of fiction based on fact may not be 100% accurate, if the author has researched her topic assiduously, they give one an insight into ancestors' lives and times. I like the sugarcoating this genre gives to learning history.

Ten of my direct ancestors including several women landed in Sydney Cove as convicts so I am most interested in reading works set in the early 19th century in New South Wales. 

In 2019 I attended a lecture by Jessica North at Toronto Library where she spoke about her writing and research for the book Esther : the extraordinary true story of the First Fleet girl who became first lady of the colony Jessica had consulted hundreds of diaries, letters, books, records, maps and journals to produce this her first novel. 

I borrowed the ebook version of this book from another local library. I enjoyed this book which told the story of a strong woman and expanded my understanding of the early years in the colony in Sydney, it was well written and very easy to read.

Morton strikes again

I was delighted to hear from author, Nathan Dylan Goodwin, a few weeks ago. Nathan offered to send me a review copy of the latest book in his Forensic Genealogist series, The Spyglass File.

As I had enjoyed the earlier books in the series I responded with an enthusiastic "YES Please."

My recent health problems have robbed me of the concentration needed to read books. I have started and not followed through with quite a few. This book was just the tonic I needed.

With its cliffhanger chapter endings and twists and turns this tale kept me reading right up to the last page. That it was a genealogical mystery from World War 11 added to my interest.

Having read earlier books in the series I have become quite fond of genealogist, Morton Farrier, whose character is further developed in this tale.  Following the relationship of Morton and his long suffering fiance, Juliette, adds an extra dimension to this series.

I enjoyed reading about the various real resources Morton used while researching Barbara Springett's ancestry and have added a few museums to my must visit list for my next trip to the UK. I was impressed that Morton used Ancestry DNA tests to confirm his traditional research. Of course Morton had more success in knocking down brickwalls than we ordinary genies have but The Spyglass File is a work of fiction.

While not a masterpiece The Spyglass File is competently written and engaged this reader right up to the last words. It is a page turner that provides a few hours amusement - just what I needed.  This is not just a book for those interested in genealogy I think that any reader who is fond of a good mystery would enjoy this book .... and, if you're into genealogy, you will definitely enjoy it.

I hope that it's not long before I can read of Morton's next adventure.

This book is available in print and ebook format - scroll to the bottom of this page for details.

Lost Sleep - thanks to Nathan

I like to read in bed before I turn in for the night. It is the fault of author, Nathan Dylan Goodwin, that I missed out on several hours sleep this week.

Nathan kindly sent me a review copy of his latest genealogical mystery, The America Ground - the third book in the Morton Farrier genealogical crime mystery series. Once I started reading it was hard to stop.

The book was attractively presented with an appropriate cover illustration, the paper was light enough that the book was easy to hold up in bed and the font a decent size for old eyes. I did find the narrow margins disconcerting and would have liked a bit more white space around the edges of the text.

I was quickly hooked by the story although at times I found the prose a bit stilted and thought that there was an overuse of adjectives in some places. But it's really all about the story and that hooked me in. 

Having read the first two books in the series I have become fond of Morton Farrier, the larrikin genealogist, and his long-suffering fiance. Will she ever get him to the altar? It was nice to reconnect with these characters but this book is suitable for anyone to read as a standalone. Anyone who likes a good whodunnit (not just genies) should enjoy this tale.

The story moves in time between 1827 and the present day with a short visit to the 1980s. I did not find this at all confusing as one does with some time travel tales. From a very early stage I was hooked by the story and just had to keep reading to see how Morton solved the mystery that was presented. With a few murders, some kidnapping and a touch of romance this novel kept me in suspense until its last pages. The subplot of Morton's search for his biological father added an extra dimension to the story. An added bonus for we genies is that Morton talks our talk and hangs out in the places we like to visist.

I would certainly recommend this book to fellow readers. Thanks Nathan for sending me a copy to read. I'm now hanging out for Book 4.

The America Ground is available as an ebook from Amazon Australia. I was pleased that I received a hard copy edition which it appears that Amazon.com will ship to Australia.

My mates overseas can buy the book in various formats here:

Buy The America Ground now! (UK)

Buy The America Ground now! (US)

Buy The America Ground now! (Australia)

Buy The America Ground now! (Canada)