This was a little slow to start but picked up speed around two thirds in.

The setting drew me in immediately, very impressive attention to detail for a debut novel. I love historical fiction and this did not dissapoint

This is a grand and evocative story with complex and intriguing characters. This author is one to watch!

Eliza Brightwell is a young British girl whose family moved to a remote pearling community in Western Australia ten years earlier. When her father - master pearl and amateur naturalist - goes missing she knows she can only rely on herself to solve the mystery of his disappearance. Eliza is both headstrong and has something to prove.

This book will appeal to anyone who enjoys historical fiction with a strong female lead. There are echoes of Where the Crawdads Sing in the key role played by the flora and fauna of the harsh but beautiful landscape of Western Australia. This is a meticulously researched novel and I was fascinated to learn more about the pearling industry and Australia's colonial past - both competitive and dangerous spaces to inhabit.

A solid debut by Lizzie Pook - definitely one to watch!

I struggled to get into this one. It was very slow to start and then there seemed to be a lot of action crammed into the end. I appreciated the descriptions of the environment though, and I did grow to like the protagonist. Thank you to the publisher for giving me access to this AVC.

This historical debut set in a fictionalized area around Broome in WA, Australia, is a beautifully written story where the story itself is really a side-line to the wonderful descriptive language and the well-researched information within.

Eliza is only young when her Father brings their family from England to the harsh, dry and hot pearling town of Bannin Bay in 1886. The story opens 10 years later where Eliza, now in her late teens, is desperately waiting for her father and brother to return with the other pearlers from a two month long stint looking for pearl shell. Her father’s lugger is the last to arrive but with news that her father is missing and a trusted Aboriginal who works for him has been arrested for his supposed murder. Her brother has few words for her and immediately sets off “for business” in another town. Eliza does not believe her father is dead and takes it upon herself to solve the disappearance and bring her father home from wherever he is.

The best historical fiction teaches the reader along the way and what appealed to me greatly in this book apart from the beautiful rich language, were the observations scattered throughout the book from her father’s diary of the wildlife and people of the area.

Really looking forward to more from this author.

A strong debut novel, full of fire, and a feisty heroine.

In 1886, the Brightwell family arrive in Bannin Bay, Western Australia, having left their home in England. Ten-year-old Eliza steps out into a land of heat, dust and blazing sunshine, not knowing what lies ahead.

Ten years later, during which time her family has had its share of heartache and trouble, her father, Charles Brightwell, who now owns a small fleet of boats and is the richest pearler in the bay, goes missing while at sea. He is nowhere to be found, and rumours start to arise of mutiny and murder aboard ship. But Eliza is convinced there is more to the story, refusing to believe her father is dead, and soon embarks on a mission to uncover the truth.

And so "Moonlight and the Pearler's Daughter" launches into a grand story of a daughter's search for truth against a background of lies, corruption, prejudice and blackmail, We meet the people of Bannin Bay, both aboriginal natives, arrogant incomers and well-meaning but weak friends. We learn about life in a land of soaring temperatures, wild storms and treacherous seas. We learn about the dangers of diving for pearls and shells, and the lengths people will go to plunder the riches of this new, rugged land.

The book introduces the reader to some truly interesting characters - plain-Jane Eliza, her Darwin-like Father with whom she shares a love of exploring the islands for new species of fish and fauna, her good-for-nothing brother, and her friend who understands the truths of surviving in Bannin Bay.

As the story unfolds, and we learn more about the lives of Eliza's father, her brother, her uncle and the secrets they all kept, we also learn about the way in which the indigenous people of Australia were treated by the newcomers, and of the wild, glorious sights, sounds and smells of the new world.

The writing is smooth and flowing, and the narrative fairly moves along at a pace. The characters are engaging and the secrets unfold nicely. There are several characters who badly need their story developing (one in particular) so it would be nice to see a sequel which explores this.

"Moonlight and the Pearler's Daughter" will appeal to a wide group of readers, and fans of Elizabeth McNeal, Natasha Pulley and ES Thomson will be delighted to meet a bold new heroine. Thoroughly recommended.

I was pleased to receive a Netgalley ARC, but rest assured I'll be first in the queue for a proper copy when it comes out.

Beautiful, lyrical, haunting.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me access an advance copy of this book in exchange for my feedback.

Lizzie Pook writes poetically, her images are so vivid, her characters evocative and her research seems meticulous. I honestly got lost in this book for hours at a time. The world of pearl fishing is a fascinating backdrop for this tightly plotted mystery novel. Eliza is a protagonist that you can fall in love with and her journey to discover what happened to her father.
Eliza is headstrong and determined and her motivations hold you enraptured as you follow her through this journey.
I found myself re-reading sections just to take in the pure beauty of the words. It is obvious that even though this is a debut, Lizzie is already a master of her craft and can conjure up a world that entices every sense you have.
I cannot wait to read more of Lizzie's work in the future.

This is a beautiful book, full of complex and well-rounded characters. Beautifully written, with a poetic and gorgeous backdrop and a stunning mystery at its core. Can't wait to read whatever Pook writes next!!

One of the wonderful things about book recommendations from Twitter people is that I often read outside my usual choices and this book is an example of that, and it’s WONDERFUL. Set in the very early days of Australia as we know it, I found the descriptions of place and people SO evocative and visual and it’s a brilliant example of research being woven into the fabric of a book and used to make the book come alive. The main character, Eliza is so fully realised I was rooting for her and her friends from the start, and the quest to find her father was one I was invested in to the extent of reading into the night. I particularly loved the ending (which I won’t spoil) as it stayed true to everything I’d grown to love about Eliza. A beautiful book which will be huge I’m sure.

This is truly a beautiful historical debut by an extremely talented author. I am in love with Lizzie’s writing style, the way she describes the setting had me literally transported to Australia. I couldn’t put it down!

This was lovely! I didn't know what to expect from a book with such a mythical title and this surpassed all expectations! The insight into the pearling industry was fascinating but it was the writing that really shone for me. I would recommend this to everyone who enjoys a great story that they want to get wrapped up in. I believe this is a debut. Impressive if not. Totally WOW impressive if it is!

Moonlight and the pearler's daughter by Lizzie pook

Thank you to Pan Macmillan for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

As the blurb suggests this stunning debut novel tells the story of an English family who travel across the world to Bannin Bay, Australia to the home of the Pearl diving industry in order for the father to make his fortune. Eliza and her brother Thomas have no idea what is in store for them beyond the tale of fortunes and pearls told to them by their father, who is a amateur naturalist.

Ten years later, with their mother dead and their father missing at sea, Eliza has no choice but to search for him facing hardship, danger and the difficulties being a women brings in 19th century Australia. Okay 

I was instantly captivated by this book, I couldn't put it down and read it over two days. The story seems well researched and the historical detail convincing but the emotional drive of the story was a young motherless woman driven by grief and the urge to make amends for what she sees an irredeemable failure. Lizzie was a wonderful character, engaging and headstrong and unwilling to conform.

The writing is beautiful, like the cover, and you can feel the heat of the sun, the danger of the storm and smell of the creatures' innards.

I loved this book and am excited to find a new writer to follow. Highly recommend this debut.

What an incredible debut! I expected I
would enjoy this book when I first read the synopsis but I didn't expected to feel completely immersed.

Set in 19th century Western Australia in the pearling town of Bannin Bay. Eliza Brightwell is the feisty, strong-willed adult daughter of master pearler Charles, who mysteriously goes missing at sea. Eliza takes it upon herself to search for her father and will stop at nothing to discover the truth.

Pook has done her research, the detail in this book is outstanding. I could visualise the setting from the first page. Incredible talent.

Release March 2022

Moonlight & The Pearler’s Daughter is an utterly mesmerising debut from journalist and travel writer, Lizzie Pook. Days after finishing this book, gutsy, clever Eliza lingered in my mind. Her quest to discover the truth about the disappearance of her father in a turn of the nineteen century fictional town on Western Australia’s vast and rugged coastline is the plot of this book, but I don’t know for sure if it’s the centrepiece, for me that was the masterfully written, gritty, grimy atmosphere of a place on the verge of discovering what it is (or, perhaps, what it is not). Strands (and an earlier timeline) weave in and around themselves to pull the face-paced ending together without any loose ends – you WILL NOT be left dissatisfied.

Lizzie Pook is a novelist to watch.

If you like Richard Flanagan, Tim Winton or M.L. Steadman you will LOVE Moonlight & The Pearler’s Daughter.

One of my reads of the year. Highly recommended.

Brutal and beautiful. Sad and uplifting.
At the heart Eliza Brightwell a strong and determined woman who I will continue to think about for a long lime.
A wonderful and emotional adventure.

An incredible and fascinating debut.


From the very first page Lizzie's prose conjures up the smells. sounds and sights of a nineteenth century harbour. And just like ten year old Eliza I was mesmerised by all the little details such as the foul smelling fish guts and "the land that looks so very much like blood." What a magnificent and intense entrance to Bannin Bay. Immediately I knew where I was even though I couldn't possibly have travelled there. So rich was the detail and imagery.


That exquisite prose continues throughout the narrative creating vivid scenes and a real sense of place and time. I could almost feel the humid heat and hear the scurrying of the roaches and when she described the dust as tangerine instead of orange - it confirmed for me that I was in the presence of an extraordinary storyteller.


Eliza herself is an enchanting character and her storyline is both enthralling and poignant. Such a brave, strong and independent female especially in the midst of the male dominated world of 19th century Western Australia. I adored her tiny observations and applauded the bold decisions she made. At times scared for her amongst the treachery and deception surrounding her father's murder, her determination to find out what happened to him kept me captivated.


The plotting is excellent and unravels gently across the pages. The themes of love and loss are sensitively and beautifully conveyed. The writing of this book must have taken a huge amount of research because Lizzie retells such an authentic story. The narrative surrounding pearl diving and all its dangers not only in the sea, but on land too, is compelling.


Feminist. Adventurous. Powerful and Breath taking. Moonlight and The Pearler's Daughter is a stunning debut novel. You will become immersed in Eliza's world.


Highly Recommended.

What an incredible debut! 'Moonlight and the Pearler's Daughter' by Lizzie Pook completely immersed me in the world of 19th century Western Australia, as I followed Eliza, the pearler's daughter of the title, in her search for her missing father. Eliza's beloved father has vanished from his ship, The Starling, whilst on the high seas, and nobody seems to know what has happened to him. But whoever is responsible for Eliza's father's disappearance hasn't reckoned on such a fiesty, determined heroine. Eliza will stop at nothing to discover the truth.

Lizzie Pook's sumptuous prose really drew me into this adventurous mystery, and her characters were the most vivid I have read in a long time....'A pearl has a glow like a fire or a lamp, Eliza learned that early. It is a siren song in the shape of a stone, sending men to lengths they never dreamed they'd go.'

I learnt so much about Bannin Bay, and the perilous pearl diving that went on there, and I could almost feel the searing sun on my skin and taste the brackish salt on the air as I turned the pages.

This novel is full of danger, deception and desperate acts of courage, and it held me enthralled until the very last page. I can't wait to read more from Lizzie Pook.

What a joy Eliza is.
She does not conform to societies expectations of what women of that time should do,or how they behave.
She's strong,brave,bold and just flipping brilliant.
I followed her through her adventures never once doubting she would triumph,no matter what was thrown at her.
I'm almost hoping she might show up somewhere else.......

Adventure, feminist heroine, porcupines and jellyfish, dangerous men, secrets, grief, love and hope.
Lizzie Pook's exquisite prose tugged me in and held me in the eye of the storm, my fingers tightly crossed for Eliza.
I absolutely LOVED it.
Gave me Where the Crawdads Sing AND The Light Between Oceans feels - but Moonlight and the Pearler's Daughter is unique and wonderful.