Eliza and her family move to Austrailia. Eliza's father is a msster pearler.
Eliza's father's boat comes back, but her father isn't in the boat. She begins a search of her own.. Eliza just cant't help that something terrible has happened to her father.

Moonlight and the Pearler's Daughter draws you in slowly to the story of Eliza in 1886 who is desperately trying to find her lost father.

Eliza refuses to give up hope for her father who is the Captain of a pearl diving boat in Western Australia.

The pearl business is and can be cut throat and the tale is dark and so atmospheric.

Eliza brings light and hope no matter what she faces in her quest to get answers.

I cheered Eliza on as I cried with her and I worried for her.

Lizzie Pook writes beautifully and also gives the reader a clear picture into pearl diving.

Moonlight and the Pearler's Daughter is a wonderful debut and I can't wait to see where the author takes us next.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada, Simon & Schuster for a page turning read.

This debut book is brilliant! I really enjoyed the writers creativity. 18th century is sometimes a tough read, but I didn’t find that with this novel.
It was interesting to learn about pearling. I enjoy learning new things from books!

I thoroughly enjoyed this historical novel set in late 19th century Western Australia. It follows the life of a uniquely strong woman whose family immigrated from England to seek their fortunes in the harvesting of Mother of Pearl. This book will appeal to readers who enjoy learning about historical events that have been unacknowledged for centuries , and the stories that are finally being told.

After reading the first few pages I realized I'm not in the mind frame to read a book like this; I just read another historical fiction with a woman waiting for a ship to return and I need a break from that plot device, it starts too slowly for me. Definitely hoping to come back to this at some point because it does sound good! Just not for now.

Moonlight and the Pearler’s Daughter is a debut novel by London author Lizzie Pook. In it we follow Eliza who is the daughter of a respected Master Pearler in Australia in the late 1800s. When Eliza’s father doesn’t return with his ship, Eliza won’t believe her father is dead. She is used to him leaving her clues for imaginary missions while he is gone on lengthy trips and she now treats this disappearance as a mystery to solve.

There is no doubt that the imagery in this novel is beautiful. Every page has flowery descriptions of the setting,and birds in particular, of North West Australia. The author travelled to this area and her research of the terms used in the pearl diving industry and those of the birds is clearly detailed and thorough.

As for the plot, I found it a little lacking in structure. The adventure that Eliza and a man she hardly knows set off on seemed too simple and convenient in many ways. I could see how the author wanted to include certain scenes which, on their own, were very interesting but together seemed strung with knots.

I would have enjoyed a deeper look at a part of Eliza’s character that doesn’t come out until the end of the book and seems opposite to her actions for almost the whole story.

Reminding me of all the dangerous sharks, crocodiles, spiders etc. that exist in Australia did not have me wanting to visit. I did enjoy learning a little more about the history of the aboriginal people of Australia. Coming from Canada where we have our own poor history with Indigenous peoples, I think it is important to recognize the harms of colonization.

Thank you to @netgalley and @simonschusterca for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinions. Moonlights and the Pearler’s Daughter comes out June 7, 2022.

A very interesting story, but it was a bit slow. However, the story was compelling enough for me not to abandon reading it.

This was a really good book, I knew nothing about pearl harvesting in Australia in the 1800's and this story certain enlightened. Eliza Brightwell travels with her family, parents, brother, Aunt and Uncle to Western Australia to pursue her fathers' dream of making it rich harvesting pearls, a very perilous occupation at the time, men were sent down to the seabed wearing heavy iron masks and armor suits with a breathing tube while they picked pearls, many perished, suffering from the bends or from the animals (sharks! whales!). The story unfolds mostly in 1896, with brief flashes back to 1886 when the family had first arrived. Eliza is waiting for her father's ship to come in after being out at sea for a long while, when it does come in, he's not on it and rumor has it that he drowned. Eliza doesn't believe it and starts to investigate on her own. Eliza is quite inquisitive and uncovers a number of clues that eventually leads her to where she thinks her father may be. Along the way she enlists the help of Axel a sort of vagabond who travels the world at whim. The author brings this period to life seemingly effortlessly, I certainly felt like I could feel the heat of the sun, the grit of the sand, the tang of the sea, and the endless ways one could be done in by almost everything, whether flora, fauna or the creatures on land or in the sea. I would highly recommend this and would look forward to another by this author. Thank you to #Netgalley and #Simon Schuster for the ARC.

I have just read Moonlight and the Pearler's Daughter by Lizzie Pook.

This is a very unusual book with an unusual topic. It takes place in Western Australia, and is about Pearling, something that I know nothing at all about.

The Brightwell family travel from England with their children to start a new life are Pearlers in BANNIN BAY, AUSTRALIA. In the year 1886. They are seeking to make their fortunes in this new country.

Ten years later Charles Brightwell who now is a very successful Pearler goes missing. His Daughter is searching to find out what has happened to him.

It is a rough life, and the land is unique. The descriptions of the insects, and sea life, as well as the treatment of aboriginals is very eye opening indeed.

I was quite surprized to see how much I enjoyed this tale.

Thank You to NetGalley, Author Lizzie Pook, and Simon & Schuster for my advanced copy to read and review.
#NetGalley