Moonlight and the Pearler’s Daughter was the debut novel by Lizzie Pook. Published in 2022, the book was one of Stylist magazine’s ‘Fiction Books You Can’t Miss’ and was also longlisted for the HWA Debut Crown Award.
I was intrigued by the premise as it seemed really unique. I love historical fiction and as this book is set in the 19th century, it definitely sounded like a book I would enjoy.
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Plot
Moonlight and the Pearler’s Daughter is set in Western Australia in the late 19th century.
Eliza Brightwell arrived on the remote shores of Bannin Bay when she was just ten years old. Arriving with her mother, father and brother, Eliza realises that life in Bannin Bay is going to be hugely different from what she was used to in London.
It’s here where Eliza’s eccentric father hopes to make his fortune. Pearl shells lie at the bottom of the ocean, just waiting to be claimed by those brave enough to dive down into its depths. However, there is fierce competition and it could prove to be just as dangerous inland as out in the unpredictable ocean.
Ten years later, Eliza waits for her father and brother to return after months at sea. Eliza is horrified when her brother arrives on their pearl-diving boat, but without her father on board.
Nobody seems to know what happened to her father, not even her brother. Rumours quickly spread across Bannin Bay. Did he fall overboard? Was there a mutiny? Was he murdered?
However, when a local native is falsely accused of her father’s murder, Eliza knows he couldn’t be to blame because he wasn’t even at sea at the time her father went missing. Eliza realises in a town full of prejudice and corruption, it will be up to her to discover what really happened.
Moonlight and the Pearler’s Daughter Book Review
I really enjoyed the glimpses into the dangers of the pearl diving industry in 19th-century Australia. It’s something I knew nothing about and it’s clearly been so well researched.
The 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.
I enjoyed the writing style. The descriptions were so vivid and it created such a stifling atmosphere. I could almost feel the heat, smell the sweat and see all the insects. While I loved the descriptive writing and evocative prose, I also enjoyed the storytelling. There was adventure, mystery and even a bit of romance. The story did get off to a bit of a slow start but it did really pick up midway through the book.
I liked Eliza as a character. She brought an almost modern, feminist approach to her dealings with the people of Bannin Bay. I admired her tenacity and determination to find out what happened to her father. She was so brave and so stubborn and I could empathise with her frustrations as an unconventional woman living at that time.
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.
I did enjoy this Moonlight and the Pearler’s Daughter. It provided a fascinating insight into the pearling industry and the setting felt really unique. I enjoyed the resolution to the mystery and I liked how the story in general ended.
I’d definitely be interested in reading what Lizzie Pook writes next.
What to read next
If you enjoyed Moonlight and the Pearler’s Daughter you may also enjoy The Night Ship by Jess Kidd and Blood and Sugar by Laura Robinson Shepherd.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. For more information please see my disclosure policy.