The Hampshire Family Historian | Vol.48 No.1 | June 2021

Book review

The Chester Creek Murders – an Investigative Genetic Genealogy Mystery

by Nathan Dylan Goodwin ISBN 9 798575 329886

This is the first book in a new series, set in the USA, following a female lead character Madison, running Venator, a small office with three genetic genealogical investigators. The case concerns three teenage girls whose bodies were dumped in Chester Creek – hence the book’s title - in 1982/83. The structure of the 39 chapters of the book alternates between the present day and those earlier dates. The Detective on the cold-case review engages the services of Madison’s team, as luckily there was a good DNA sample available from the initial investigation. Almost from the outset we are taken into DNA, much deeper than most readers would have gone (but interesting!), and then on into traditional family history researching. Nathan’s thorough and detailed writing makes you feel as if you were there, or in this case, to smell the coffee! And his attendances in the USA as an Ambassador for RootsTech was obviously beneficial to him in writing this book! The lead character’s husband disappeared 5 years previously and the Detective on the

Chester Creek open case review offered to review the circumstances around the disappearance for her. One of the Venator researchers badly wished to adopt, needed the money to enable that, and with resounding ethical implications, accepted to privately take on the work for greater rewards, instead of the normal route through the company he worked for. These were obvious hooks for further books in the series which we can look forward to! Nathan has once again demonstrated his skill in excellent creative writing, providing a gripping story of intrigue right up to the very end with the mandatory twists and turns along the way but more so towards the end. I have read all of his books which ought to come with a warning, as every time one starts reading, it is almost impossible to put it down! David Broomfield (Member #9363)

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