Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

Preview
  • Moonlight and the Pearler's Daughter

  • By: Lizzie Pook
  • Narrated by: Anna Skellern
  • Length: 9 hrs and 25 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (17 ratings)

£0.00 for first 30 days

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Moonlight and the Pearler's Daughter

By: Lizzie Pook
Narrated by: Anna Skellern
Try for £0.00

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £12.99

Buy Now for £12.99

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Summary

Picked as one of Stylist magazine's 'Fiction Books You Can't Miss' and longlisted for the HWA Debut Crown Award.

Fortune favours the brave in Lizzie Pook's mesmerising and fiercely feminist historical novel, Moonlight and the Pearler's Daughter.

1896, Bannin Bay, Australia. 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. Only his headstrong daughter, Eliza, refuses to believe her father is dead, and sets out on a dangerous journey to uncover the truth.

But in a town teeming with corruption, prejudice, and blackmail, Eliza soon learns that the answers she seeks might cost more than pearls. How much is she willing to sacrifice to find them?

©2022 "Penguin Random House Australia (P)2022 Penguin Random House Australia
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Listeners also enjoyed...

The Burning Island cover art
The Empty Greatcoat cover art
Firetide Coast cover art
The Embroidered Book cover art
Across a Moonlit Sea cover art
Glorious Boy cover art
The Divine Sage cover art
The Lady's Guide to a Highlander's Heart cover art
Monstrous Heart cover art
The Chocolate Maker's Wife cover art
The Light on Farallon Island cover art
The Pearler's Wife cover art
The Secret River cover art

Critic reviews

"Tense and vividly atmospheric, with a determined, independent heroine intent on the truth… beautifully written, unflinching and brimming with adventure." (Jennifer Saint, best-selling author of Ariadne)

"A stunning debut...paints a memorable picture of ambition, sacrifice and corruption while exploring personal loss as driving force." (Charmaine Wilkerson, author of Black Cake)

"Gritty, lyrical, breathtaking. I couldn’t put it down." (Fiona Valpy, author of The Dressmaker's Gift)

What listeners say about Moonlight and the Pearler's Daughter

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    11
  • 4 Stars
    4
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    10
  • 4 Stars
    5
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    11
  • 4 Stars
    3
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

utterly gripping

What an utterly gripping story, kept guessing all the way through. So many twists and turns. Definitely shed a tear or two along the way. The reading brings the story to vivid life and you really feel like you're there with Eliza. Brilliance, Lizzie, bravo

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Atmospheric and descriptive

Very good presentation of the country at that time - unbelievably hot, dusty and difficult. A brilliant background for the story and the dangerous work of the pearl divers. Especially interesting if you’re a lover of nature and pearls as I am!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A rip roaring tale

This is a rip roaring tale full of unexpected twists and turns. Perhaps not for the squeamish, but well researched and very atmospheric. The language is powerful if at times a bit wordy. On the whole a piece of excellent story telling.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable listen

6) Moonlight and the Pearler’s Daughter by Lizzie Pook, audiobook narrated by Anna Skellern. Publisher Mantle listened using Audible. 3.5 stars Book club choice January
This was one of our book club reads and should have been one I really enjoyed as I quite enjoy historical fiction, especially when there is a background of reality to it.
But I found it to be just ok, it sort of went in one ear and nearly straight back out again I didn’t feel invested in any of the characters.
It is based in 1896 in Bannin Bay Australia (in real life, the Kimberly area) and the Pearl boat industry. The descriptions of the lives of some of these Pearl divers and how they were treated, along with the indigenous people of the area is not pleasant reading. It is the story of Eliza Brightwell who goes looking for her father when he doesn’t return from his latest trip, that just didn’t seem to quite feel right. A bit like when you are watching one of those films where everyone knows there is a killer about and someone still goes out in the dark on their own.
There is nothing wrong with this story, it was pleasant enough to listen to, but not really the story that will make you think about it for long.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!