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Jayne Sinclair Genealogical Mystery #1
The Irish Inheritance
June 8, 1921. Ireland.
A British Officer is shot dead on a remote hillside south of Dublin.
November 22, 2015. United Kingdom.
Former police detective, Jayne Sinclair, now working as a genealogical investigator, receives a phone call from an adopted American billionaire asking her to discover the identity of his real father.
How are the two events linked?
Jayne Sinclair has only three clues to help her: a photocopied birth certificate, a stolen book and an old photograph. And it soon becomes apparent somebody else is on the trail of the mystery. A killer who will stop at nothing to prevent Jayne discovering the secret hidden in the past
The Irish Inheritance takes us through the Easter Rising of 1916 and the Irish War of Independence, combining a search for the truth of the past with all the tension of a modern-day thriller.
It is the first in a series of novels featuring Jayne Sinclair, genealogical detective.
A British Officer is shot dead on a remote hillside south of Dublin.
November 22, 2015. United Kingdom.
Former police detective, Jayne Sinclair, now working as a genealogical investigator, receives a phone call from an adopted American billionaire asking her to discover the identity of his real father.
How are the two events linked?
Jayne Sinclair has only three clues to help her: a photocopied birth certificate, a stolen book and an old photograph. And it soon becomes apparent somebody else is on the trail of the mystery. A killer who will stop at nothing to prevent Jayne discovering the secret hidden in the past
The Irish Inheritance takes us through the Easter Rising of 1916 and the Irish War of Independence, combining a search for the truth of the past with all the tension of a modern-day thriller.
It is the first in a series of novels featuring Jayne Sinclair, genealogical detective.
332 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 15, 2016
1987 people are currently reading
3194 people want to read
About the author
M.J. Lee
44 books438 followersMartin has spent most of his adult life writing in one form or another.
He has spent 25 years of his life working outside the North of England. In London, Hong Kong, Taipei, Singapore, Bangkok and Shanghai.
He writes three series; the Danilov books set in 1930s Shanghai. The genealogical mysteries of Jayne Sinclair and the contemporary crime cases of DI Ridpath set in Manchester.
When he's not writing, he splits his time between the UK and Asia, taking pleasure in playing with his daughter, practicing downhill ironing, single-handedly solving the problem of the French wine lake and wishing he were George Clooney.
He has spent 25 years of his life working outside the North of England. In London, Hong Kong, Taipei, Singapore, Bangkok and Shanghai.
He writes three series; the Danilov books set in 1930s Shanghai. The genealogical mysteries of Jayne Sinclair and the contemporary crime cases of DI Ridpath set in Manchester.
When he's not writing, he splits his time between the UK and Asia, taking pleasure in playing with his daughter, practicing downhill ironing, single-handedly solving the problem of the French wine lake and wishing he were George Clooney.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 405 reviews
March 12, 2017
I liked "The Irish Inheritance" so much, I bought the #2 in the series as soon as I had finished it. Although, as I read, I thought "this is only worth about 2.5 stars", but by the time I got to the delightful twist at the end it was up to 4 (N.B. I reserve 5 stars for really exceptional writing and plot).
I have a personal ancestral link to the Easter Rising, so it was great to remind myself of what happened in 1916 in Dublin through Ms Lee's writing. I am also crazy about family history, so the genealogical research hit the spot for me too. Then there was the mystery thriller element that clinched it all. It is quite rare to get all that in one book, although the genre is getting more and more popular (I'm also a fan of Steve Robinson, Nathan Dylan Goodwin and Stephen Molyneux).
So, on to WWI and "The Somme Legacy"!
I have a personal ancestral link to the Easter Rising, so it was great to remind myself of what happened in 1916 in Dublin through Ms Lee's writing. I am also crazy about family history, so the genealogical research hit the spot for me too. Then there was the mystery thriller element that clinched it all. It is quite rare to get all that in one book, although the genre is getting more and more popular (I'm also a fan of Steve Robinson, Nathan Dylan Goodwin and Stephen Molyneux).
So, on to WWI and "The Somme Legacy"!
June 13, 2016
Thank you to TBC and the author who gave me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Well, what can I say? I absolutely loved this book! It was the perfect mix of genealogy and mystery for me, with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. As a keen genealogist myself, I find this type of book fascinating. I love how the smallest of details can unlock old family secrets, bringing to life the people and places of the past.
The back and forth between past and present was handled seamlessly here, the story being revealed slowly as Jayne's investigation progressed. It also gave me a fascinating insight into a part of Irish history I knew very little about, which is one of the things I love about genealogical mysteries like this one.
'The Irish Inheritence' was the perfect introduction to genealogical detective Jayne Sinclair, who is a tough ex-DI with what I suspect to be a heart of gold beneath her rather businesslike and brusque exterior. I look forward to reading more of her genealogical adventures in the future.
A wonderful 4 star read that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a good mystery with a genealogical twist.
Well, what can I say? I absolutely loved this book! It was the perfect mix of genealogy and mystery for me, with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. As a keen genealogist myself, I find this type of book fascinating. I love how the smallest of details can unlock old family secrets, bringing to life the people and places of the past.
The back and forth between past and present was handled seamlessly here, the story being revealed slowly as Jayne's investigation progressed. It also gave me a fascinating insight into a part of Irish history I knew very little about, which is one of the things I love about genealogical mysteries like this one.
'The Irish Inheritence' was the perfect introduction to genealogical detective Jayne Sinclair, who is a tough ex-DI with what I suspect to be a heart of gold beneath her rather businesslike and brusque exterior. I look forward to reading more of her genealogical adventures in the future.
A wonderful 4 star read that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a good mystery with a genealogical twist.
May 6, 2023
a terrific read from start to finish
April 19, 2020
I would have liked to give this 3 stars, but I'm going with 2.5 and rounding down instead of up because of the very poor editing in this edition.
I was looking for another genealogical-themed mystery series after reading the Morton Farrier series by Nathan Dylan Goodwin. This seemed like an interesting pick, but I've decided it's pretty much a rip-off of Goodwin's series without the wit. Like the Farrier series, this features a genealogist who solves mysteries, but where Morton Farrier is a real genealogist, Jayne Sinclair in this series is an amateur who is also an ex-cop. I thought she was something of a combination of Morton Farrier (without his genealogical credentials) and Morton's wife, Julia, who is a cop. A key difference between the two series is that Jayne Sinclair's series is probably going to feature a lot of graphic violence if this first novel is anything to go by.
Both series start out with the protagonist taking a case only to be chased around by the murderous relatives or associates of the clients. It's a little more than obvious who the villain is and why in this Jayne Sinclair novel.
Both series feature flashbacks to the historical story that the genealogist is trying to find, interspersed with modern-day episodes of the genealogist's adventures in solving the mystery. But Goodwin handles the Farrier series with a much better style than Lee does the Sinclair story. This book gave away all its secrets early in the telling of what happened in the past.
One big drawback to this novel was the very poor editing. Proofreading errors abounded. Editing errors were also too prevalent for my taste. At one point a character recalls childhood outings with that character's father--every Sunday "until I turned one"--and I read and reread that sentence to make sure that it really said age ONE. It must have been a typo, right? In another place there was a major clue that was muddled. One character is caught smiling in a photograph in which nobody was supposed to smile, and then the smiling character is identified as someone different just a little further on. I went back and reread it to make sure I hadn't made a mistake about this. That's sort of annoying to me, this sloppy workmanship. One instance is one I quibble with but may not be an actual error:.
The tone of this book was a downer to me. Jayne Sinclair is in a failing marriage and there are a number of deary scenes and passages about that which I thought really failed to help the book. By contrast, in the Morton Farrier series his private life is a constant source of humor and entertainment that considerably lightens up the tone and provides comic relief when a case gets sticky or dangerous. In this book we go from dreary to dangerous and back again.
One of the delights of the Morton Farrier series is that it doesn't take itself seriously. That a genealogist runs into danger looking up old records is played tongue-in-cheek, as it should be. There's even a line where Morton's wife tells him to be careful while she goes out to her "safe" job of catching thieves and rapists and swindlers. But for Jayne, this job is very serious, and she has no sense of humor that's at all apparent. She fails utterly to note the supreme irony in having quit police work to take up genealogy and having her life threatened in the new job.
Finally, for a genealogical mystery, this was quite light on the genealogy. That the sleuth is only an amateur genealogist is something of a problem for me, because I don't expect an amateur to be able to get a business license to do other people's research. But I don't know if in Britain that's something you can do, where here in the United States you could not. It is not really clear what Jayne Sinclair's actual business title is. Maybe she's a private detective, having been in the police, and she takes on only the sort of cases that involve family history in some way that doesn't require genealogical standards? Anyway I'm not quite buying it.
I was looking for another genealogical-themed mystery series after reading the Morton Farrier series by Nathan Dylan Goodwin. This seemed like an interesting pick, but I've decided it's pretty much a rip-off of Goodwin's series without the wit. Like the Farrier series, this features a genealogist who solves mysteries, but where Morton Farrier is a real genealogist, Jayne Sinclair in this series is an amateur who is also an ex-cop. I thought she was something of a combination of Morton Farrier (without his genealogical credentials) and Morton's wife, Julia, who is a cop. A key difference between the two series is that Jayne Sinclair's series is probably going to feature a lot of graphic violence if this first novel is anything to go by.
Both series start out with the protagonist taking a case only to be chased around by the murderous relatives or associates of the clients. It's a little more than obvious who the villain is and why in this Jayne Sinclair novel.
Both series feature flashbacks to the historical story that the genealogist is trying to find, interspersed with modern-day episodes of the genealogist's adventures in solving the mystery. But Goodwin handles the Farrier series with a much better style than Lee does the Sinclair story. This book gave away all its secrets early in the telling of what happened in the past.
One big drawback to this novel was the very poor editing. Proofreading errors abounded. Editing errors were also too prevalent for my taste. At one point a character recalls childhood outings with that character's father--every Sunday "until I turned one"--and I read and reread that sentence to make sure that it really said age ONE. It must have been a typo, right? In another place there was a major clue that was muddled. One character is caught smiling in a photograph in which nobody was supposed to smile, and then the smiling character is identified as someone different just a little further on. I went back and reread it to make sure I hadn't made a mistake about this. That's sort of annoying to me, this sloppy workmanship. One instance is one I quibble with but may not be an actual error:.
The tone of this book was a downer to me. Jayne Sinclair is in a failing marriage and there are a number of deary scenes and passages about that which I thought really failed to help the book. By contrast, in the Morton Farrier series his private life is a constant source of humor and entertainment that considerably lightens up the tone and provides comic relief when a case gets sticky or dangerous. In this book we go from dreary to dangerous and back again.
One of the delights of the Morton Farrier series is that it doesn't take itself seriously. That a genealogist runs into danger looking up old records is played tongue-in-cheek, as it should be. There's even a line where Morton's wife tells him to be careful while she goes out to her "safe" job of catching thieves and rapists and swindlers. But for Jayne, this job is very serious, and she has no sense of humor that's at all apparent. She fails utterly to note the supreme irony in having quit police work to take up genealogy and having her life threatened in the new job.
Finally, for a genealogical mystery, this was quite light on the genealogy. That the sleuth is only an amateur genealogist is something of a problem for me, because I don't expect an amateur to be able to get a business license to do other people's research. But I don't know if in Britain that's something you can do, where here in the United States you could not. It is not really clear what Jayne Sinclair's actual business title is. Maybe she's a private detective, having been in the police, and she takes on only the sort of cases that involve family history in some way that doesn't require genealogical standards? Anyway I'm not quite buying it.
December 2, 2019
This started well--for once the genealogy research seemed realistic, and the writing was okay. However, the historical episodes, which I would have expected to enjoy, were somehow not very engaging, and the dialog (especially between Michael Dowling and his wife) was clunky. Jayne herself was not very likable as a character . The final plot resolution was pretty hard to swallow.
August 20, 2016
Jayne Sinclair is an ex-cop with a failing marriage and a new business as a genealogical investigator, she is a woman who once she starts a job doesn't finish till she gets an answer but in the Irish Inheritance she may have bitten off more than she can chew.
She is contacted by an American billionaire, a man who also has months to live, a man who has a dying wish. That wish is to find out who he is, literally. Adopted as a child, he wants to find out who he father is and with a couple of pieces of information he tells Jayne she has 8 days to find out before he returns to the States.
What should be a straight forward dive in to the past, looking through records to find this mans last request turns out to be much more with Jayne having to look over her shoulder as it seems somebody doesn't want her to find out the truth.
This book is also written from two POV's with a current day POV from Jayne and a POV from the time she is researching. The historical POV gives an insight in to Ireland during a time of great turmoil and the passion of the characters during these chapters is very close to surface.
This was an enjoyable read with a great story with the main story line with regards to finding out the truth of her clients history combined with a lesser story line that sees the failure of her marriage. The story is very engaging but I did find some of the historical chapters a little long in places but apart from that it was a great read.
Thanks to Neverland Blog Tours for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
She is contacted by an American billionaire, a man who also has months to live, a man who has a dying wish. That wish is to find out who he is, literally. Adopted as a child, he wants to find out who he father is and with a couple of pieces of information he tells Jayne she has 8 days to find out before he returns to the States.
What should be a straight forward dive in to the past, looking through records to find this mans last request turns out to be much more with Jayne having to look over her shoulder as it seems somebody doesn't want her to find out the truth.
This book is also written from two POV's with a current day POV from Jayne and a POV from the time she is researching. The historical POV gives an insight in to Ireland during a time of great turmoil and the passion of the characters during these chapters is very close to surface.
This was an enjoyable read with a great story with the main story line with regards to finding out the truth of her clients history combined with a lesser story line that sees the failure of her marriage. The story is very engaging but I did find some of the historical chapters a little long in places but apart from that it was a great read.
Thanks to Neverland Blog Tours for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 27, 2022
Review to come
October 1, 2021
Jayne Sinclair, a former police detective, now accepts genealogical clients. A dying man asks Jayne to discover his father's identity. The birth certificate lists a man who died several years before the birth took place. Jayne leaves her home in Manchester, traveling to Dublin to research the case. From that point, the investigation reads much like a thriller novel, with bad guys out to get her. She's promised her husband to be home in time for an important dinner, but her troubles in Dublin appear to lead to a falling-out in their relationship. It will be interesting to see if they patch things up or divorce in future installments. The book, like so many today, is set in two time periods--the present (2015) and during the Easter Uprising (1916). I'm not a huge fan of the alternating time periods, but at least this one places a date on each chapter. I hope my experiences in genealogical research don't lead to the life-threatening situations in which Jayne finds herself. While most genealogists make discoveries people might prefer to remain hidden, the only ones I know receiving life threats are those working with law enforcement to solve cold cases with DNA evidence. I'd prefer a little less "thriller" action. Still I'll give the next in series a try.
March 19, 2021
Being a genealogist, I really glommed on to this book. I couldn't put it down. The main character had a mystery from many years back to solve; and only three days to do it. In the meantime someone was trying to eliminate her so she couldn't find her answers. Looking forward to more in the series.
January 16, 2019
My favorite genre is historic mysteries and I spend time working on my family genealogy so what could be more perfect. Glad to find another series in this sub genre. But even being the right type of book doesn't insure it is a good read. If the 1st is the test then I have found a great series.
February 19, 2022
What a great book!
A new author and a new series discovered by my simply searching the Kindle Unlimited collection. I love historical mysteries and geneology, this series is a perfect match for me.
A new author and a new series discovered by my simply searching the Kindle Unlimited collection. I love historical mysteries and geneology, this series is a perfect match for me.
June 7, 2016
I received an ARC of this book from TBC on Facebook in exchange for an honest review.
I was a little hesitant to read (and review) this book as I had read a Genealogical Mystery by another author and it really wasn't to my taste. However I have read both of Lee's Shanghai thrillers and really enjoyed them, so I decided to give it a go.
I knew very little of the Easter Rising in Ireland during the early 1900's, so I was looking forward to finding out a bit more. In truth there is only enough written in the book to give the reader some perspective of the kind of world the characters were living in and the reasons for some of their actions. the author doesn't bog you down with historical fact, which for some readers will be important.
I loved all of the characters and I agree with some of the other reviewers that the historical chapters were much more vivid and emotional than the modern day ones. I really feel like Jayne Sinclair has more of her personality to show in future books and I believe this series can only get better with each novel. This was a great introduction to Jayne Sinclair and has set up her background story beautifully.
I think some of the violent scenes were a little rushed and I believe that Lee has written them as such so that the reader will feel the same panic as the characters. Unfortunately, for me, it didn't quite work out that way; I was left feeling that there were matters unresolved. There was also some repetition, which became a bit annoying once I'd noticed it.
I really enjoyed the book, I raced through it fairly quickly and I am already looking forward to the next installment!
I was a little hesitant to read (and review) this book as I had read a Genealogical Mystery by another author and it really wasn't to my taste. However I have read both of Lee's Shanghai thrillers and really enjoyed them, so I decided to give it a go.
I knew very little of the Easter Rising in Ireland during the early 1900's, so I was looking forward to finding out a bit more. In truth there is only enough written in the book to give the reader some perspective of the kind of world the characters were living in and the reasons for some of their actions. the author doesn't bog you down with historical fact, which for some readers will be important.
I loved all of the characters and I agree with some of the other reviewers that the historical chapters were much more vivid and emotional than the modern day ones. I really feel like Jayne Sinclair has more of her personality to show in future books and I believe this series can only get better with each novel. This was a great introduction to Jayne Sinclair and has set up her background story beautifully.
I think some of the violent scenes were a little rushed and I believe that Lee has written them as such so that the reader will feel the same panic as the characters. Unfortunately, for me, it didn't quite work out that way; I was left feeling that there were matters unresolved. There was also some repetition, which became a bit annoying once I'd noticed it.
I really enjoyed the book, I raced through it fairly quickly and I am already looking forward to the next installment!
September 1, 2022
2022 bk 260. I felt like I had received my monies worth with this historical/geneaolgical mystery. It was a little darker and more sophisticated than my normal cozy mysteries, but well worth the read. It didn't extend my knowledge of genealogical resources, but I loved seeing how the author had the geneaologist work. I will say, she found the newspaper article much faster on the microfilm than I would have - but then I get distracted by all the news stories. Well done and I am looking forward to the next one. Oh - plan on missing breakfast and lunch and supper if you start this as the day is beginning.
January 15, 2024
This book was aggressively recommended by StoryGraph due to my reading history. It is a quick, interesting story of a detective genealogist helping people research their pasts. Right up my alley. This the first in a whole series, and I think I just may continue following the adventure.
June 16, 2017
AudioBook Review:
Stars: Overall 4 Narration 4 Story 4
Told in dual-perspectives the story of Jayne Sinclair’s first case for an American Billionaire with questions about his own history and ties to Ireland in the early 1920’s, M.J. Lee uses detailed research, descriptive storytelling and a clever heroine with a compelling background to draw us into the story and keep us reading on. While I’ve read many accounts of the Easter Rising in 1921, this perspective of an adopted man searching for his family, and the voice from the past detailing conditions, attitudes and anger that fueled the tinderbox that was Dublin at the time is intriguing and engaging.
Jayne is struggling to get her new business as a genealogical investigator off the ground: she has the detecting skills as an ex-cop, and the determination to not stop until she has the answers, and a marriage in tatters to keep her motivated. So the enquiry was perfectly timed: the fact that her client has little time left to live instantly starts Jayne off on the search with a sense of urgency. And then…..
Everything starts to twist. What should be a reasonably simple, if tedious and time consuming search suddenly twists: someone doesn’t want the truth uncovered, even as the history (and point of view) from the days surrounding the Easter Rising are redolent with passion, anger, history and emotion: engaging in ways that harken to the traditions and feel of old Irish tales and famous tellers. Mixing history and present, finding little threads that connect the slow demise of Jayne’s marriage to the slow growth of anger and outrage leading to the Rising, and the twists that Jayne encounters in the history and in the increasing difficulties in finding the next logical piece all keep intrigue high.
Narration for this story is provided by Lucy Rayner, and her transitions between characters, presenting voices, emotional nuance and ever-increasing tension as the story progresses enhanced the listen and my interest in returning for more. While I couldn’t listen to this title in one sitting: Rayner never shorted her performance: from historical detail to emotional components: all added to the volumes of information, giving time to gasp at the twists, wondering just where things would go next.
While the moments devoted to the historical perspective often felt longer and more detailed, Jayne’s own personal story, and the threats she faced along the way in finding answers made for a story that added twists, turns and a great surprise at the end. A wonderful introduction to this author and this series, and a great listen for those who want a story to last several hours.
I received an AudioBook copy of the title from Tantor Audio for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Review first appeared at I am, Indeed
Stars: Overall 4 Narration 4 Story 4
Told in dual-perspectives the story of Jayne Sinclair’s first case for an American Billionaire with questions about his own history and ties to Ireland in the early 1920’s, M.J. Lee uses detailed research, descriptive storytelling and a clever heroine with a compelling background to draw us into the story and keep us reading on. While I’ve read many accounts of the Easter Rising in 1921, this perspective of an adopted man searching for his family, and the voice from the past detailing conditions, attitudes and anger that fueled the tinderbox that was Dublin at the time is intriguing and engaging.
Jayne is struggling to get her new business as a genealogical investigator off the ground: she has the detecting skills as an ex-cop, and the determination to not stop until she has the answers, and a marriage in tatters to keep her motivated. So the enquiry was perfectly timed: the fact that her client has little time left to live instantly starts Jayne off on the search with a sense of urgency. And then…..
Everything starts to twist. What should be a reasonably simple, if tedious and time consuming search suddenly twists: someone doesn’t want the truth uncovered, even as the history (and point of view) from the days surrounding the Easter Rising are redolent with passion, anger, history and emotion: engaging in ways that harken to the traditions and feel of old Irish tales and famous tellers. Mixing history and present, finding little threads that connect the slow demise of Jayne’s marriage to the slow growth of anger and outrage leading to the Rising, and the twists that Jayne encounters in the history and in the increasing difficulties in finding the next logical piece all keep intrigue high.
Narration for this story is provided by Lucy Rayner, and her transitions between characters, presenting voices, emotional nuance and ever-increasing tension as the story progresses enhanced the listen and my interest in returning for more. While I couldn’t listen to this title in one sitting: Rayner never shorted her performance: from historical detail to emotional components: all added to the volumes of information, giving time to gasp at the twists, wondering just where things would go next.
While the moments devoted to the historical perspective often felt longer and more detailed, Jayne’s own personal story, and the threats she faced along the way in finding answers made for a story that added twists, turns and a great surprise at the end. A wonderful introduction to this author and this series, and a great listen for those who want a story to last several hours.
I received an AudioBook copy of the title from Tantor Audio for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Review first appeared at I am, Indeed
March 13, 2017
I loved this one! Lots of history about the Easter Rising in Ireland in 1916. A dying American billionaire comes looking for his roots. He hires retired police detective turned genealogist Jayne Sinclair to unravel the mystery but someone is very intent on making she doesn't. This was very compelling story. The only criticism I had was that as a seasoned police woman, Jayne should have been more aware of her surroundings but her failure to recognize the danger she was in was excused by the subplot of her failing marriage. I will read more from this author.
November 26, 2019
Very noteworthy read
Historically interesting, not mushy, didn’t like the f word usage, very interesting twist which I like in stories such as this.
Historically interesting, not mushy, didn’t like the f word usage, very interesting twist which I like in stories such as this.
May 29, 2016
Genealogical investigator, Jayne Sinclair, is contacted by an American billionaire who is seeking help in order to trace his father. Adopted at a young age, and with no recollection of his early life, John Hughes is desperate to discover his true identity before he succumbs to the illness that threatens to end his life in the following months. With few clues to help her, the former police detective has to use all of her investigative skills in order to make connections to Ireland’s Easter Rising of 1916 and the later death of a British Officer on a hillside near Dublin.
Genealogical fiction has, in recent years, become a fast-growing genre with authors such as Steve Robinson, Nathan Dylan Goodwin and John Nixon leading the way. M J Lee has shown that there is now another author to add to the list. In Jayne Sinclair we have a solid lead character whose doggedness is evident throughout the book whether it be in her professional life or in the strained relationship with her husband. We also, however, get to see her softer side when she is with her father. The interaction between these two characters is, at times, touching as both of them try to come to terms with his early dementia.
The story is told in two timeframes: present-day Manchester and Ireland during the First World War and ensuing years. Writing about an issue as controversial as British rule in Ireland was always going to be a difficult task but the author deals with it in a sensitive and informative way, showing the events from the perspectives of those on different sides of the argument.
Something that authors of genealogical fiction occasionally get wrong is the methods used by their characters to research – this is not the case here. The steps Jayne uses are logical, using the Internet, record offices and interviews in order to discover the true parentage of John Hughes.
On the strength of this book, it is safe to say that the Jane Sinclair series promises to be a welcome addition to the growing genre of genealogical fiction.
The Irish Inheritance is available to pre-order on Amazon prior to its release on June 15th.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC
Genealogical fiction has, in recent years, become a fast-growing genre with authors such as Steve Robinson, Nathan Dylan Goodwin and John Nixon leading the way. M J Lee has shown that there is now another author to add to the list. In Jayne Sinclair we have a solid lead character whose doggedness is evident throughout the book whether it be in her professional life or in the strained relationship with her husband. We also, however, get to see her softer side when she is with her father. The interaction between these two characters is, at times, touching as both of them try to come to terms with his early dementia.
The story is told in two timeframes: present-day Manchester and Ireland during the First World War and ensuing years. Writing about an issue as controversial as British rule in Ireland was always going to be a difficult task but the author deals with it in a sensitive and informative way, showing the events from the perspectives of those on different sides of the argument.
Something that authors of genealogical fiction occasionally get wrong is the methods used by their characters to research – this is not the case here. The steps Jayne uses are logical, using the Internet, record offices and interviews in order to discover the true parentage of John Hughes.
On the strength of this book, it is safe to say that the Jane Sinclair series promises to be a welcome addition to the growing genre of genealogical fiction.
The Irish Inheritance is available to pre-order on Amazon prior to its release on June 15th.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC
June 12, 2017
The Irish Inheritance deals with two timelines. One during the time of the Easter Rising and the Irish War of Independence and the second in 2015 with Jayne's investigation. I'm always on the hunt for genealogical crime fiction since so many mysteries deal with long-buried secrets anyway. This first Jayne Sinclair mystery intrigued me for two reasons: one, that the genealogical investigator was a woman, and two, she is a former police detective. I thought this would make a change from the other similar series I've read where the main characters were all amateurs and male.
It did make a difference. Jayne may be saddled with a self-absorbed jerk of a husband, but her years on the police force certainly help her in knowing how to conduct investigations and interviews. Any attempts to intimidate her merely make her angry, and she also knows how to protect herself, which certainly comes in handy in this book.
One thing that amazed me (and shouldn't have) was when someone in the present-day timeline remarked, "There was fighting in Ireland?" Not everyone lived through all the IRA bombings in England, and few people seem interested in learning about their own history, which is why we keep repeating the same mistakes over and over. But to get back to The Irish Inheritance, although the identity of the person trying to hamper Jayne's investigation was rather obvious to me, I enjoyed the book a great deal. I liked Jayne, and her investigation was a fast-paced and intriguing one. I'll definitely be reading the next book in the series.
It did make a difference. Jayne may be saddled with a self-absorbed jerk of a husband, but her years on the police force certainly help her in knowing how to conduct investigations and interviews. Any attempts to intimidate her merely make her angry, and she also knows how to protect herself, which certainly comes in handy in this book.
One thing that amazed me (and shouldn't have) was when someone in the present-day timeline remarked, "There was fighting in Ireland?" Not everyone lived through all the IRA bombings in England, and few people seem interested in learning about their own history, which is why we keep repeating the same mistakes over and over. But to get back to The Irish Inheritance, although the identity of the person trying to hamper Jayne's investigation was rather obvious to me, I enjoyed the book a great deal. I liked Jayne, and her investigation was a fast-paced and intriguing one. I'll definitely be reading the next book in the series.
February 1, 2021
When I first started this book, I wasn’t sure if I was going to enjoy it. By the time I finished it up — whoaaaa was that a story!!
I didn’t have any major issues with the plot or characters, and in fact enjoyed the characters and use of history & genealogy quite a lot!
The only downside was slightly poor editing (I’m not sure if this was self-pubbed? But it appeared to be) so there were a few times when the wrong words were used. E.g., trying to describe a scene as being “grizzly” (instead of “grisly”) and saying a texture was “course” (rather than “coarse”). That was enough to jolt me out of my fog of suspension of disbelief, but not enough to negatively affect my enjoyment of the actual tale being told. There were other errors too but those were by far the most glaring.
I also bought book 2 on Kindle last night so I can go ahead and jump into that one right away if I so desire! I also bought book 1 in one of the others series that MJ Lee has written. Yay for exciting, absorbing stories!
I didn’t have any major issues with the plot or characters, and in fact enjoyed the characters and use of history & genealogy quite a lot!
The only downside was slightly poor editing (I’m not sure if this was self-pubbed? But it appeared to be) so there were a few times when the wrong words were used. E.g., trying to describe a scene as being “grizzly” (instead of “grisly”) and saying a texture was “course” (rather than “coarse”). That was enough to jolt me out of my fog of suspension of disbelief, but not enough to negatively affect my enjoyment of the actual tale being told. There were other errors too but those were by far the most glaring.
I also bought book 2 on Kindle last night so I can go ahead and jump into that one right away if I so desire! I also bought book 1 in one of the others series that MJ Lee has written. Yay for exciting, absorbing stories!
September 29, 2016
I would like to thank Helen at TBC and the author for giving me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest and open review.
This was a crime novel with a difference. I've always been interested in genealogy and combined with my favourite genre, this was a must read.
This is the first book I've read by this author but it certainly won't be the last.
I was gripped from page one. Even though it moved from past to present, it was very easy to follow.
It was a well-researched novel with interesting characters and lots of twists and turns.
I look forward to reading more about Jayne Sinclair and her investigations.
This was a crime novel with a difference. I've always been interested in genealogy and combined with my favourite genre, this was a must read.
This is the first book I've read by this author but it certainly won't be the last.
I was gripped from page one. Even though it moved from past to present, it was very easy to follow.
It was a well-researched novel with interesting characters and lots of twists and turns.
I look forward to reading more about Jayne Sinclair and her investigations.
March 22, 2021
I am giving this book 4 stars, as I only give 5 stars for a truly outstanding book. I enjoyed the geneology part of the story. It was a different way to write about a mystery. Once I got used to paying attention to the dates at the beginning of each chapter, I enjoyed the flipping from the past to present. I did not know anything about the Easter Uprising and feel as if I have learned something. I enjoyed and did not expect the twist at the end. However, I had figured out who the villain was before Jayne did. I am not sure that I particularly liked the Jayne character but would be willing to read the next book to judge.
March 20, 2021
This book has a unique heroine, an ex-cop turned genealogical detective, who is hired to help a dying billionaire find his birth father. In unraveling this mystery, the reader is treated to a walk through love stories and Irish struggle for independence from England in the 1915-20s. The twists and turns of discovering the true father of her client, leads Jayne Sinclair into some dangerous situations. I thoroughly enjoyed the story-line and the characters, and plan to read more of Lee’s books. Good writing!
June 1, 2016
I absolutely loved this book. Martin Lee has an amazing writing style that flows so smoothly. He transports you to places and you can hear the accents, see the scenery, smell the emotions! A wonderful saga of murder, mystery, war, greed, search for answers! I loved Jayne's tenacity and look forward to her next adventure. Thanks to The Book Club for the opportunity to review. 5 well deserved stars for me!
September 12, 2021
3.5 because it was a good story but the editing was so bad that it really annoyed me.
There is a key event in the story that takes place 3 days before the truce agreed between the British and the Irish. This is a historical event which took place on 11 July 1921.
However in this story our event (3 days earlier) is firstly 8 July 1922, then 21 July 1921, and finally 8 June. That's really bad editing.
There is a key event in the story that takes place 3 days before the truce agreed between the British and the Irish. This is a historical event which took place on 11 July 1921.
However in this story our event (3 days earlier) is firstly 8 July 1922, then 21 July 1921, and finally 8 June. That's really bad editing.
December 21, 2023
Whilst waiting impatiently for the next DI Ridpath installment, I thought I'd start reading the Jayne Sinclair novels by MJ Lee. And it certainly didn't disappoint.
Jayne is an ex copper who left the force after her partner was killed, now she is a genealogist. The case in this book takes her all the way back to The Rising in Ireland in the 20s.
This book is superb. The history is spot on and Jayne is ace!!!
Now on to book 2 while I still wait inpatiently for DI Ridpath 🤣
Jayne is an ex copper who left the force after her partner was killed, now she is a genealogist. The case in this book takes her all the way back to The Rising in Ireland in the 20s.
This book is superb. The history is spot on and Jayne is ace!!!
Now on to book 2 while I still wait inpatiently for DI Ridpath 🤣
March 6, 2018
Very badly written. I hopes the subject matter would be interesting enough to keep me going anyway, but it wasn't presented well and the pace was off. Could have been a nice enough historical mystery if done right. Shame, I thought the Shanghai novels from this author were truly excellent, and am disappointed.
April 3, 2021
This was an interesting mystery which kept me interested right to the end. A retired detective now runs a business solving genealogical mysteries for clients. This one went back to the Irish rebellion decades earlier with an ancestral puzzle to solve. I liked the main character and I could easily read more. I enjoyed the main character and the concept - well done!
October 17, 2021
I liked the story, what I thought was a little predictable, turned out otherwise. There were a few items with the writing that confused me at times, switching from 1st to 3rd person. However, it was a good book to break up the usual non-fiction I read. I will probably read other books by the author.
March 21, 2021
I am glad to have discovered this author
My deceased husband was an avid genealogy buff for decades. I loved listening to his research adventures. This book did not disappoint in rekindling those secondhand adventures.
My deceased husband was an avid genealogy buff for decades. I loved listening to his research adventures. This book did not disappoint in rekindling those secondhand adventures.
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