The Genealogist

Victorian businessman and volunteer army officer Henry Winterbourne is desperate to avoid bankruptcy. An amateur genealogist who traces his lineage to mediaeval times, Henry is proud of his ancestry, but there are secrets in his past which he dare not divulge. As Henry attempts to negotiate a deal to stave off financial ruin, he is drawn into a conspiracy masterminded by ex-army officer Colonel Algernon Walmsley. Walmsley’s manipulations threaten to expose Henry’s family secrets, including a scandal involving the woman he loves.

Set against the background of actual events of the period, The Genealogist explores Henry Winterbourne’s enigmatic personality, describing with vivid detail a cast of characters who lead Henry along a path which threatens his business and his secret life as a husband and family man.

Henry is resilient, but tragedy looms, with dramatic consequences for the lives and futures of those closest to him.