This novel was inspired by the tragic incident in Morecombe Bay, where 23 undocumented migrant workers drowned while cockling on the bay. Many of them had been illegally trafficked to the UK.
The Bay is the story of an unlikely friendship between Arthur, an elderly, widower with an interfering daughter, and Su Ling who is an illegal Chinese immigrant indebted to gang bosses and terrified of what the future might hold.
An unusual friendship grows between the two and the book also explores loneliness, prejudice, aging and trust within a story that has humanity at its heart.
Su Ling’s story is one we hear in the news, but the book gives it a human side and we start to understand some of the reasons why she travelled to the UK, and the many challenges that she faced – some of which may have not previously occurred to the reader.

I found the characters believable, well developed and beautifully portrayed.
The Morecombe Bay area, and the cockling activities were very well described, and the book made me want to learn more about the tragedy that occurred (please do not think that the book is about the tragedy, it isn’t. That is one element of the story, but doesn’t dominate the book - humanity is at the heart of the thought provoking and heartwarming story which also carries a powerful message.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Steve Worsley & An Yi. The two narrators was perfect for the story and brought the characters to life in a way that drew me in to the story and made me want to learn more.

The opening chapter of this book immediately brings back memories of the Morecambe Bay cocklers tragedy. While it takes until the end of the book for that tragedy to happen along the way the author brings us on a remarkable journey about the difficulties of the illegal immigrants and also the difficulties of aging in our society.
Suling is seeking a better life for herself and her family but to get to the U.K. she has accumulated a large debt and realises the job of picking cockles in the bay won’t settle that debt. Arthur is grieving the loss of his life and has a daughter suggesting he reside in a nursing home. The two meet and neither hesitate to help the other. This gives a poignant and at times disturbing look into the lives of illegal immigrants. It also examines loneliness, prejudice and aging. Yet out of it all the value of friendship and simple humanity shines through. A thought provoking and heartwarming story.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.

This is a lovely albeit slow story of a young cockle picker trafficked from China and an elderly man grieving his wife and his formerly thriving coastal town, inspired by the 2004 Morecambe Bay cockling tragedy. The growing friendship between the two was gently and empathetically written against the well-researched backdrop of rural seaside deprivation and migrant rights.

The narration by Steve Worsley and AnYi brought a lovely balance to the dynamics in the book.

An unexpected friendship develops between retired widow Arthur and a trafficked migrant when Suling attempts to escape the cruel treatment of a cockle picking gang in Morecambe Bay. The story is inspired by the Morecambe Bay cockling disaster in 2004, and the author cleverly creates realistic characters who I was invested in. Recommended. The audio book narration by Steve Worsley and AnYi was excellent. Thank you to Net Galley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

This is a slow moving but powerful tale about an unlikely friendship between two people. They’re widely different in age and cultural background but both are beautifully portrayed in this carefully crafted story.

It’s really well written and Julia Rampen has captured the essence of time, place and people; this is a story set around cockle hunting in Morecombe Bay which resulted in a tragic loss of life of illegal immigrant workers. One such worker, hiding from debt collectors helps an old man who’s fallen. He’s lost, lonely and embittered, but slow,y, these two disparate souks come together.

The narration is excellent. Well balanced and totally in keeping with the tone and pace of the book.

Modern slavery is something we like to pretend we are ignorant of yet every now and then a piece of news flags it up. The Morecambe Bay Chinese cockle pickers who died on the sands are an example of this. This is the bay where I swim regularly in the sea; I remember their deaths, yet with 20 years passed, I also don't dwell on it. This book is a reminder to us not to be fooled by the rhetoric about illegal immigrants, to be more sympathetic, to memorialise those who have died ruthlessly and to do what we can to be active in the prevention.

A endearing and sad story.

based on some fact, this work of fiction is a great read. The story of the cockle catchers in morecambe bay who drowned will be the most memorable factual part most of us remember. The research is extensive both of the local area and the event itself and is based loosely on labour gangs and illegal labour. Why do we need illegal labour? isn't it right for people to want to better themselves and emigrate? all these questions are thrown into the mix. The kindness of complete strangers can have such an impact and there is a lovely thread of friendship and respect woven alongside the storyline. Thank you #NetGalley for the audio book to review.

A poignant and beautifully written debut novel inspired by the tragic events in Morecombe Bay, where 23 trafficked/undocumented migrant workers drowned while cockling on the bay.

An unlikely friendship blossoms between Arthur an elderly, curmudgeonly man bitter from the loss of his wife and the interference of his daughter who believes he’d be better in a nursing home and Suling when they meet in his garage where he has taken a fall and she is hiding from the debt collector. A terrified teenage girl, indebted to gang bosses who have smuggled her to England to follow her boyfriend and get a job with enough money to build her mother a house, and learn English. The relationship that blossoms between the two is heartwarming. A simple life lesson really.

Sulings story is an all too familiar one, a life endangered by a hope for better, trafficked into the country and exploited for cheap labour, a teenager in a strange country with no papers no language nobody to look out for her, and a head and heart full of big dreams. Utterly heart wrenching.

A powerful and emotive story which was narrated beautifully.

Thank you to NetGalley and Saraband Audio for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in return for an honest review.

The Bay by Julia Rampen is an absolutely stunning debut novel.

I picked up this audiobook due to its reference to the Morecambe Bay cockling disaster in 2004 which I remember vividly and is sadly reflective of the human trafficking and disasters off UK shores to this day

However, the novel is a gentle yet striking account of unlikely friendships. Arthur is retired and widowed, tring to avoid being put into a home by his daughter. Suling is an undocumented, trafficked Chinese migrant who is terrified, with nowhere to turn, that is, until she runs into Arthur

The narration by Steve Worsley and AnYi is balanced and beautifully symbiotic. This was a great pairing to read this story

The character development and relationship development is authentic and emotional. The book is written with such empathy and understanding of the area, the disaster and likewise, the local community

My heart ached as much as it was lifted and I cannot recommend this audiobook enough.

Thank you to Netgalley, Saraband Audio, Saraband, the author Julia Rampen and the narrators Steve Worsley and AnYi for this heartfelt ALC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own