A gloriously rich and wonderfully assured debut, Lizzie Pook's Moonlight and the Pearler's Daughter tells the story of a daughter, a family, a place and a hidden history; rendered with astonishing clarity, it is a novel that marks Lizzie Pook as a name to watch. The ending is satisfying and dissatisfying. Eliza’s character stays true to her arc, making me happy. A couple of characters get the closure.

Well, they’re all hard, I should expect,” says Min eventually. “Especially now you’re on your nelly.” She chews distractedly on the side of her lip. Her features are sharp, as if whittled to points. I’d definitely be interested in reading what Lizzie Pook writes next. You may also be interested in: The Night Ship by Jess Kidd Review I guess I was a little way in to this before it really held me. In part that might well be because I read less historically based books these days and there is a real feel of and for history here. However once it did get to me it became quite hard to put down. By the latter stages I was fully engaged with the character of Eliza and loved her. The story here is definitely OK however I would suggest reading this to walk for a while with one of the better characters I've encountered in the past year or so. Eliza feels real. She is brave, scared, determined, unsure, warm, reserved etc. She made this a very satisfying read. An easy 4 star and probably nearer 4.5.

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How far is Eliza willing to go to save the ones she loves? And what family secrets will come to haunt her along the way? In a new and different world, there was hardly any exploration of the native people. At first I thought it was me, not the book. I changed my mind. This is not a far-fetch from the HF I normally love but there was too much missing.

The story of Eliza’s journey to find the truth of her father’s disappearance is not the strength of the story. Pook introduced various interesting characters, such as Min, a mixed-race girl of an Asian father who was forced into prostitution to survive. Min’s character could have been an interesting story. There is an orphan girl, Knife, who disguises herself as a boy to get by. Even Eliza’s father, who the reader only knows through his diary was an opportunity missed. I did feel that perhaps the focus on the descriptions and the author’s desire to stay true to the historical facts came at a detriment to character development. The supporting characters including Axel and her brother were underwhelming and undeveloped. Moonlight and the Pearler’s Daughter by Lizzie Pook: Summary Gritty, lyrical, breathtaking. I couldn’t put it down, drawn in by its vividly-drawn characters and wealth of historical detail."— Fiona Valpy , author of The Dressmaker's Gift

Moonlight and the Pearler's Daughter

And of course, I really liked Eliza, our headstrong, feminist protagonist who’s willing to go to any lengths to help the ones she cares for most. A woman who proudly refuses to live by the repressive societal conventions expected from women of the day. Eliza’s probably the most open hearted and honest character we encounter and I absolutely loved her fearlessness and the journey she undertakes was definitely an interesting one. My apologies,” he gasps, although a smile plays about his lips. “You ladies got right in the way. I beg your pardon.” He stands aside to let them pass. “Please.” It’s set in 1880s Bannin Bay, Western Australia and follows the headstrong Eliza Brightwell (daughter of the town’s most prolific pearl catcher) as she hunts for answers behind her father’s disappearance. The townsfolk suggest mutiny and murder but Eliza refuses to believe her father is dead and knows there’s more to the story than anyone is letting on. But, in a town teeming with corruption Eliza soon learns that the truth may cost more than she’s willing to pay—and must decide just how far she’s willing to go(or what she’s willing to do) to find it…

A lush mystery with a vivid and unique setting, wonderous prose, layered characters and a satisfying end. Pook has crafted a historical adventure I won't forget!”-- T.A. Willberg , author of Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder An extraordinarily vivid tale ... Readers will fall in love with the characters in this book, especially the courageous, stubborn Eliza, and will find themselves transported to Bannin Bay in the late 1800s. I could not put this book down.' KELLY RIMMERSHORTLISTED FOR THE 2022 WILBUR SMITH ADVENTURE WRITING PRIZEThe depth of research was also evident in the vivid descriptions of the land and what life was like under British colonial rule. It’s a gritty read and quite dark in places as the author doesn’t hesitate in showing the reader the brutalities and dangers of living in Bannin Bay. Lizzie Pook highlights how the Aboriginals were exploited, enslaved, and abused. It was really difficult to read in places but I understand the author’s need to be factual. It was slow, so very slow, dragging, not building on the protagonist, Eliza or her partner in crime Alex. Eliza could have been a strong woman, it disappointed me she was not. The ending left too much open for the reader to untangle alone. Lizzie Pook has been a travel writer for years, writing for The Guardian , The Telegraph , and other major publications, which is obvious when reading Moonlight And The Pearler’s Daughter . Even though Bannin Bay is a fictional spot (inspired by real locations in Western Australia) we found ourselves thinking a lot about travelling to Australia. Have you been? Do you think you’ll make it to that side of the world? Where would you visit, if you could travel to Australia? After no word for two weeks Eliza writes to Thomas but receives no reply. Not believing her father dead and determined to find him, Eliza along with two accomplices, heads off to find Thomas. I call them accomplices as they have quite an adventure. What a sorry tale Thomas tells her. I can’t tell you about it but it makes Eliza all the more determined to find her father - dead or alive!