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The Foundlings: The Forensic Genealogist Series, Book 9 Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Nathan Dylan Goodwin (Author, Publisher), Ian Pringle (Narrator)
4.7 out of 5 stars 1,731 ratings

Forensic genealogist Morton Farrier agrees to take on a case to identify the biological mother of three foundlings, abandoned in shop doorways as newborn babies in the 1970s. He has just one thing with which to begin his investigation: the three women’s DNA, one of whom is his half-aunt.

With just six days of research time available to him, his investigation uncovers some shocking revelations and troubling links to his own grandfather, and Morton finds that for the first time in his career, he is advising his clients not to read his concluding report.

This is the ninth novel in the Morton Farrier genealogical crime mystery series, although it can be enjoyed as a stand-alone story.

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  1. Listening Length
    8 hours and 41 minutes
  2. Author
    Nathan Dylan Goodwin
  3. Narrator
    Ian Pringle
  4. Audible release date
    April 11, 2022
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Nathan Dylan Goodwin
  7. ASIN
    B09XMZ7DVY
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length 8 hours and 41 minutes
Author Nathan Dylan Goodwin
Narrator Ian Pringle
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date April 11, 2022
Publisher Nathan Dylan Goodwin
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B09XMZ7DVY
Best Sellers Rank #152,213 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#942 in Private Investigator Mysteries (Audible Books & Originals)
#2,111 in Historical Mysteries (Audible Books & Originals)
#3,158 in Police Procedural Mysteries

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
1,731 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoy this mystery book for its intriguing plot with many twists and turns, and find it entertaining with well-developed characters. The writing style receives positive feedback, and customers appreciate the pacing, with one noting how the flow keeps readers engaged. While customers find the book interesting throughout the series, some mention it contains too many details.

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IntrigueReadabilityWriting styleCharacter developmentPaceDetail
31 customers mention "Intrigue"31 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the intrigue of this mystery book, which features many twists and turns in its genealogical adventures.

"...and not super long, so can read them quickly and get back to my own genealogy." Read more

"...mystery is both entertaining and informative, with just the right amount of suspense...." Read more

"...a story like this could have, and does it with great sensitivity and intrigue. Well done, sir!" Read more

"Another excellent mystery solved through Genealogical Research...." Read more

30 customers mention "Readability"30 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable and entertaining, with one mentioning it's a fun read for genealogical enthusiasts.

"...It helps that the books are quite entertaining and not super long, so can read them quickly and get back to my own genealogy." Read more

"...The way Morton works through the mystery is both entertaining and informative, with just the right amount of suspense...." Read more

"I’ve loved the entire series and anxiously waited for this one. Maybe it was my overzealous anticipation, but I found it to be a slow starter...." Read more

"...the best outcome that a story like this could have, and does it with great sensitivity and intrigue. Well done, sir!" Read more

8 customers mention "Writing style"8 positive0 negative

Customers praise the author's writing style, with one noting it's an easy read.

"...The hardest part is waiting on the next novel by this amazing author!" Read more

"Nathan's books are always an easy read and hard to put down." Read more

"Thank you Nathan for another awesome job in writing...." Read more

"...or not you enjoy genealogy research, this is an excellent read in true Nathan Dylan Goodwin style...." Read more

5 customers mention "Character development"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the well-developed characters in the book.

"Love this intriguing, complex, mystery that’s full of great characters like Morton Farrier and Detective Steadman...." Read more

"...The plots are interesting and the characters are well developed." Read more

"Love the continuation of characters and stories, the detail, and the humanity and empathy in describing events. Thank you nathan" Read more

"Another great Morton book! Love keeping up with his story...." Read more

3 customers mention "Pace"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the pacing of the book, with one noting how the flowing back-and-forth narrative keeps readers engaged.

"...easily between past and current POVs without any confusion and keeping a steady pace. I'll be waiting for book #9!" Read more

"...I highly recommend this book. It's fast-paced and hard to put down. The hardest part is waiting on the next novel by this amazing author!" Read more

"...Flowing back and forth keeps the readers attention." Read more

11 customers mention "Detail"6 positive5 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the level of detail in the book, with several finding it excessive, while one customer appreciates the clear explanations.

"...Still good, with sound DNA research sources and techniques. Any budding genetic genealogist should read them all, starting with book one!" Read more

"...Although I’ve read them all, I occasionally struggled to remember details from past books that were necessary to keep up with the plot...." Read more

"...It is an amazing feat and keeps the reader mesmerized trying to figure it all out...." Read more

"...Way too much research explained step by step. Website by website. As a reader I am looking for a story not lessons in ancestry...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Ryan
    5.0 out of 5 stars I love this series!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I'm a genealogist. I don't have a lot of time to read, but I make time for this genealogy series. It helps that the books are quite entertaining and not super long, so can read them quickly and get back to my own genealogy.
    Helpful
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  • Amcoop
    5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Nathan has done it again! The way Morton works through the mystery is both entertaining and informative, with just the right amount of suspense. It inspires me to jump in and solve a couple of my own mysteries! It is indeed a Goodread!
    Helpful
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  • CPGirl
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great DNA story
    Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I’ve loved the entire series and anxiously waited for this one. Maybe it was my overzealous anticipation, but I found it to be a slow starter. Still good, with sound DNA research sources and techniques. Any budding genetic genealogist should read them all, starting with book one!
    Helpful
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  • Miss Peggy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Nothing in my house gets done
    Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    When Nathan Goodwin releases another genealogical mystery, all work in my house comes to a complete stop. I can't help it. From the first 2-3 pages I am swept up with what Morton is going to get involved in next.

    The Foundlings takes us to a side of genealogy that isn't always pleasant to discover, and we have to sensitive to. As a professional researcher I have sometimes come across situations that are similar to the basis of this story. Nathan takes us through to the best outcome that a story like this could have, and does it with great sensitivity and intrigue.

    Well done, sir!
    Helpful
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  • LadyPendragon
    5.0 out of 5 stars DNA Never Lies
    Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Another excellent mystery solved through Genealogical Research. I am personally glad in my own family tree I haven’t found the secrets that Morton Farier finds in his cases. But this stories do inspire my to keep working on the stories in my own family tree
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  • Melissa
    5.0 out of 5 stars Abandoned babies finally meet their 1/2 siblings thanks to intense genealogical sleuthing.
    Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Quite an adventure for Morton who was able to introduce these four half siblings to each other as adults, after their very troubled mother abandons each one of them, shortly after birth. Lots of twists and turns to keep you turning the pages. A rewarding good read!
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  • Marianne E. Bradley
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another great genealogy mystery from Nathan.
    Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    My 55+ years of genealogy research has spanned from inheriting my paternal grandmothers over 50 years of research from the late 1800’s and my mothers lifelong interest in it to the recent years of DNA. I am very able to relate to the way Nathan pieces together the stories and information from the past and weaves it into today’s genealogy Information Age. It is an amazing feat and keeps the reader mesmerized trying to figure it all out. This time I actually created a tree with the characters as it went along so that I could keep track of them! We await the next one Nathan!
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Diane Edes
    4.0 out of 5 stars One of Godwin’s best
    Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    A fun complicated mystery where Morton Farrier unravels the parentage of three founding sisters abandoned as days old infants. In places I got a bit confused about who was whom but it all got sorted out and was quite enjoyable. Interesting, amusing and charming.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Barbara D
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great story line
    Reviewed in Canada on December 28, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    This story was very well presented in an engaging way tying all loose ends together. Enjoyed also how the Foundlings took the results.
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Foundlings
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 26, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I found this book to be the best so far in the series, interwoven as it is with Morton's casework assignment and providing answers to his own family history.
    Report
  • Darklldo
    5.0 out of 5 stars From beginning to end it is good
    Reviewed in Australia on May 13, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    If ancestry is your thing, you should enjoy this book. It is part of a series by Nathan Dylan Goodwin which are very enjoyable.
    I started with book 1 and continued on in sequence. I suggest you do the same :)
    Report
  • L. White
    5.0 out of 5 stars a fascinating read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 4, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    This book contains a lot about the process of research, and having done some of that myself I found it fascinating. The two timelines work well together, to create a fascinating story of how research, including DNA evidence, can really discover information even decades later.
    Having stumbled across this, I’m now off to find the previous books in the series.
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  • M. Diane Rogers
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another great Morton mystery, this one a cold case with tangled, painful roots.
    Reviewed in Canada on November 24, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    A thoughtful mystery. Morton Farrier is not a detective, he's a 'forensic genealogist'. His investigations are naturally of interest to those interested in family history, but I recommend them to anyone who likes complex mysteries. Readers learn about the real world of crime investigation.
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