1886, BANNIN BAY, AUSTRALIA.

The Brightwell family has sailed from England to make their new home in Western Australia. Ten-year-old Eliza knows little of what awaits them on these shores beyond shining pearls and shells like soup plates – the things her father has promised will make their fortune.

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Ten years later and Charles Brightwell, now the bay’s most prolific pearler, goes missing from his ship while out at sea. Whispers from the townsfolk suggest mutiny and murder, but headstrong Eliza, convinced there is more to the story, refuses to believe her father is dead.

It falls to her to ask the questions no one else dares consider. But in a town teeming with corruption, prejudice and blackmail, Eliza soon learns that the truth can cost more than pearls, and she must decide just how much she is willing to pay – and how far she is willing to go – to find it . . .

My Thoughts:

I didn’t know much about this subject before reading this book, and I found it a real eye opener but an interesting and engaging one. It is set in 1886 in Australia and Eliza’s father who is well known and a very good Pearler, is coming back from sea but only for Eliza to realise he has gone missing. Eliza sets out on a journey to discover what really happened to her father. The cover of this book is absolutely stunning, it is like a pearl and beautifully iridescent, the story is a good one, it is gritty and raw and you wonder what lengths headstrong Eliza will go through to know the truth. I feel as though I learnt things I never knew about being a Pearler and what is involved so I think it is a very knowledgeable book, the author has clearly done a lot of research. I feel as though I will not forget this book in a hurry.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

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