GENEALOGICAL CRIME MYSTERY AUTHOR
NATHAN DYLAN GOODWIN
The Hop-Picker Murders
(The Forensic Genealogist #11)
Blurb
When Molly Moon discovers her aunt’s discarded 1920 journal, hidden in the attic of her Kent cottage, she uncovers a chilling claim among its cryptic entries: that four missing hop-pickers, including her own uncle, were murdered. Desperate to learn the truth, Molly turns to forensic genealogist Morton Farrier for help. What begins as a challenging case soon becomes far more complex as Morton delves into a murky world of disappearance, deception, and murder—while battling an unknown menace bent on destroying his career.
Click here to read the opening chapter
Praise for The Hop-Picker Murders
‘As ever, unputdownable’
Family Tree magazine
‘A very satisfying read. This book will be a delight for any family historian’
Waltham Forest Family History Society
‘The intriguing, multi-faceted plot combined with believable characters make this book hard to put down’
Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society
‘What can be better than genealogy and a crime mystery combined into one?’
Columbia County Historical & Genealogical Society
‘A real page-turner’
Hertfordshire People
‘If you love murder mysteries with a strong touch of genealogy sleuthing thrown in, this book is for you’
Family History Society of Arizona
‘The mystery itself is satisfying and well-paced, with enough twists and red herrings to keep the reader engaged’
Cheshire Ancestor
‘Fast-paced and engaging, The Hop-Picker Murders will appeal not only to crime readers but also to genealogists and social historians. Goodwin once again demonstrates his ability to combine meticulous research with compelling storytelling, producing a novel that reflects the real processes and challenges of family history investigation while delivering an entertaining and satisfying mystery’
Queensland Family History Society
‘The plot is written and paced such that, in this enthralling ‘who dun it’, you become sucked into Morton’s life, his family and the lives of his quest’
Leicestershire & Rutland Family History Society
‘In the Hop-Picker Murders, the plot jumps between the time of the disappearances and the current hunt for clues; weaving a timeline that pulls you into the narrative, chasing down sources. Names, places, and references that seem very familiar get you involved in thinking about what can be found, and where; with a few curved-balls thrown in to keep you guessing. Nathan writes mystery novels with the added interest of using genealogical sources. It gives easy to follow processes that you can use with your own family mysteries. Read it and see what you find out for the mystery of the murders, or your own family tree’
Fenland Family History Society
‘An interesting book for those who have Kent and/or East End ancestry and especially for those who love a forensic genealogical who-dunnit’
Anglo German Family History Society
‘This is a fabulous book’
Genealogical Society of the Northern Territory
‘His research ideas are wonderful to read’
The London Leaf
Hop-Picking Photo Gallery
Below you will find over 100 images showing some of the research process for this book and also showing the hop-picking process! Click the images for further information.
Lizzie Fry interview
Below you will find a 25-minute interview with Lizzie Fry, a real-life character featured in The Hop-Picker Murders.
Newspaper Article
Click below to read a newspaper article with Lizzie Fry about her time hopping in Kent.
1939 Register
Click below to see Lizzie Fry on the 1939 Register, where she is recorded staying at the Hopper Huts in Boughton-under-Blean.
Hopper Huts
Take a look inside The Bruff hopper hut, where Morton Farrier came to stay in September 2023 to research the case! More information (and booking) can be found at www.thehopperhuts.co.uk/
Hop-Picking film
Below you will find a wonderful old Pathé film depicting hop-picking in Kent.
Social Media Assets
