Faeries, Elves and Goblins: The Old Stories and Fairy Tales
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Faeries, elves, goblins, leprechauns, brownies, spriggans and many other supernatural beings leap...
So, not a contemporary (at the time of Cornwell's writing) set mystery, then, with a heavy slant towards nautical matters.
Yet that is precisely what this is.
While I can't comment on the accuracy (or otherwise) of the naval segments - other than to say they seemed plausible to this land-lubber - I have to say, I also found this to be rather predictable fare, with it startlingly obvious - at least to me - just who stole the priceless Van Gogh (the McGuffin that provides the drive for the plot) further early on, not long after that character is introduced.
Sorry, Mr Cornwell: not your best effort.
The Game's Afoot (Band of Brothers #1)
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1415 England stands on the brink of war with France. Henry V receives intelligence, through...
The Second Sight of a Zachary Cloudesley
10.0
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Zachary Cloudesley is gifted in a remarkable way. But not all gifts are a blessing... Leadenhall...
Machine of War
10.0
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1947. Thomas Armstrong, a young Marine, returns home from the war in the Pacific. He hopes to forget...
mystery suspense thriller historical bookbuzz
His Lordship's Gift (His Lordship’s Mysteries #2.5)
8.0
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Dominick has everything he needs in life—a roof over his head, food in his belly, and the man he...
MM Historical Mystery Romance Short Story
The Birthday of Eternity (Comfort & Company, #2)
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L.A. private investigators Kit and Henry become entangled in the city's robust post-WWII occult...
Historical Mystery Private Dectectve Series
Novice Threads (Silver Sampler #1)
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A thirst for education. Shattered dreams. Fragile relations. 1840s Scotland Being sent to...
Historical Fiction Women's Fiction Victorian Saga
Cartier's Hope
6.0
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From M.J. Rose, New York Times bestselling author of Tiffany Blues, “a lush, romantic historical...
ClareR (5674 KP) rated Moonlight and the Pearler’s Daughter in Books
Jul 19, 2022
Historical fiction ✅
Set somewhere completely out of my previous knowledge ✅
A strong female character, operating in a difficult situation ✅
A bit of a mystery ✅ (I don’t really want to try and solve it, I just like the big reveal!)
As is often the case, the expectation of women in historical fiction is to stay at home, look after the house, wait to get married and have babies. But Eliza won’t stay at home when her father goes missing - she doesn’t assume he’s dead like the rest of the townsfolk.
There’s a real feeling of danger in a town where there appears to be no law keepers - not honest one’s, anyway. And if the corrupt, prejudiced townsfolk don’t get you, the climate and the wildlife (jellyfish, crocodiles!!) will.
This is a gripping, descriptive novel, that puts the reader firmly in Eliza’s world. I certainly had more of an idea of the hardships of living in NW Australia at this time. What will stay with me however, is Eliza’s determination to save her father and her family. She’s single-minded in her quest to find him, and determined not to let anyone else take the blame for his supposed death. It’s unnerving at times, when the attitudes of the white settlers towards the Aboriginals and other people of colour are starkly described.
A dark time in history, indeed.
And I’d highly recommend this. It’s wonderfully told.