Here is an unforgiving land where fortune sits patiently at the bottom of the ocean, waiting to be claimed by those brave enough to venture into its depths. When British pearl-boat captain Charles Brightwell goes missing out at sea, rumours of mutiny and murder swell within the bay's dens and back alleys. The ocean: what riches lie in wait for those bold enough to take the risk, to be so reckless surely must come with it’s fair share of rewards for the foolhardy, yet you must be willing to sacrifice everything you hold dear should you want to gain that which so many have risked themselves for. This suspenseful story has a fast-pace and smooth-flow, bringing a strong female character who faces prejudice and corruption, while trying to uncover disappearance of a successful pearler.

The level of detail in the atmospheric and evocative descriptions was absolutely amazing; the sticky cloying heat of the Bannin Bay, the salt encrusted seafarers and the dizzingly numerous dangers lurking amongst mangroves was utterly transportive. A woman who proudly refuses to live by the repressive societal conventions expected from women of the day. Knowing how rare the quality of their relationship is sharpens the intensity of Martha’s gaze as she watches the romantic lives of her grown children unfold. Moonlight and the Pearler’s Daughter will appeal to readers who enjoy historical fiction, strong female characters, mystery, and adventure. Her pen brought this world to life: you can feel the heat, the insects bites, the rain that soaks through your clothes.

Pook does provide some general insight into the industry, and thoughtfully acknowledges the appalling treatment of First Nations people by the white settlers of the area. I also think that the eerie Victorian era ambience could have been upped a notch, but that’s just a personal preference as I love the fascination with spiritualism in those times (I’m referring to one specific moment in this book, so if you’ve read it you know what I mean. Only his headstrong daughter, Eliza, refuses to believe her father is dead, and sets out on a dangerous journey to uncover the truth. One need read no farther than the first sentence to know this will be a deliciously descriptive book, and the beautiful writing is backed up by a mystery and an adventure unlike any I have read before.

The undimmed romance between 40-something Martha and her husband, Ephraim, adds a racy flair to the proceedings.

An appealing heroine, it’s a little unlikely Eliza would be quite as capable as she seems to be in a couple of scenes for a young woman of her status during the time period, but her determination and daring is admirable. When her father disappears off his pearling boat and a native man is accused of killing him Eliza is determined that she must do whatever necessary to find him as she is not convinced her father is dead.

Apology to the author on her debut book but the overly descriptive writing choked me and choked the story and I couldn’t go on after about 70+ pages. Another firm fave was Laura-Min (a childhood friend of Eliza’s) who’s one of the most supportive people Eliza knows and whose resilience and survival despite the racism and misogyny she endures made me really root for her to find happiness. This is an outstanding debut novel that will capture the hearts of many readers, especially those who love historical fiction. Ten years later and Charles Brightwell, now the bay’s most prolific pearler, goes missing from his ship while out at sea.With the early history of Australia’s pearling industry as a backdrop, Pook presents a story of mystery and adventure with a touch romance. It was an unexpected pleasure to be transported into another world as a young woman stands up to threats from man and nature in this debut novel. Both a breathtaking adventure story and a moving testimony to the lengths we go to for the people we love, it swept me away from the first page .

Interspersed in the narrative is Charlie's journal, from which Eliza seeks clues as to what might have happened. Eliza’s devotion to her family, despite the many flaws of Charles and Thomas, explains why she refuses to give up.And of course, I really liked Eliza, our headstrong, feminist protagonist who’s willing to go to any lengths to help the ones she cares for most.