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The story moves to 1896 and the focus of the story is Eliza’s effort to investigate the disappearance of her father. Moonlight and the Pearler’s Daughter will appeal to readers who enjoy historical fiction, strong female characters, mystery, and adventure. 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. I really liked Balarri (an aboriginal man who works on the Brightwell’s boat) who we are introduced to through Eliza’s memories, he introduced much of the native fauna and flora to her Eliza and the more I found out about him only endeared me to him further. 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.
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. He would mostly describe marine life, which really added to the atmosphere, by being poetic and appreciative of nature and yet real and even tragic at times. The book takes place in the 19th century in a brutal coastal town of Australia where pearling is one of the few ways to make a decent living. Eliza is suicidal in her mission to find her father and towards the end of the story, she really does not care if she lives.Eliza is an early feminist, who knows her own mind, not swayed by others, she has no intention of following the cultural rules and behaviour expected of women, although she has her own demons, she is helped in her quest by her friend, Min, who has to do whatever it takes to survive. The best part of the novel, for me, was Pook’s ability to make the reader feel the inequities brought on by the colonizers to the original Aboriginal people. The author's novel is based on actual Aussie history, and many of her characters are inspired by real historical figures. The undimmed romance between 40-something Martha and her husband, Ephraim, adds a racy flair to the proceedings. The first half of this book is a slow burn, describing the atmosphere of the town and about the pearling business.
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 pearl diving attracted Japanese and other Asians, although the power of the area was exclusively European. When Eliza's father doesn't come back from the last pearling expedition and her brother can't tell her what happened to him, she is determined to find him. Readers will fall in love with the characters in this book, especially the courageous, stubborn Eliza, and will find themselves transported to Bannin Bay in the late 1800s. A chance visit to the Maritime Museum in Fremantle led her to an exhibition about a family of British settlers involved in the early pearl diving industry.Those who know him know he has never told a lie in his life—“Never be the one to tell lies, Nico,” his grandfather teaches him. It was 1886 when Eliza Brightwell and her family arrived in Bannin Bay, Western Australia from England. Men only interested in money, and not at all concerned with the treatment of his those in his employ.
But “Moonlight” is a sensitive and compassionate book, admirable in its engaging synthesis of multiple strands of history. 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. Further complications are numerous: North has control over the Ballard family's lease on their property; Rebecca is carrying the child of one of her rapists; Martha’s son was seen fighting with Joshua Burgess on the day of his death. I know that anything written about the 18th century (pretty much) is going to be pretty gritty, dark, and grimy, so I thought I was prepared for it, but the grit was the sand between Eliza's toes, the darkness the complete blackness of the furious sea at night, and the grime clung viscerally to bones and secrets.The writing is wildly atmospheric, creating a clear image of this strange, raw place where the Brightwells live. In her author’s note, she said that she based her story on Broome Australia, which in the 1800s saw the boom of the pearling industry which involved indentured labor and slavery. 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. I question whether the fact that I listened to the story, rather than read it, may have contributed to the adventure piece falling flat.
This story does make me want to know more about Eliza Broadhurst, one of the people the author used as the starting point in developing the character of Eliza.
Eliza Brightwell is a fabulous character, unconventional and courageous, yet bearing the physical and mental scars of a horrendous loss. Beautifully written, unflinching and brimming with adventure' - Jennifer Saint, author of Ariadne and Elektra'Immersive storytelling, a rollicking mystery and a take-no-prisoners heroine' - Stylist1896, Bannin Bay, Australia. Such an oppressive time in history - women and the Aboriginees were valued as less than and were treated as such. The storytelling is rich and immersive with a dark tone, and Eliza made for a strong main character based on a historical figure of which I’d love to learn more. Eliza knows he had nothing to do with it, he wasn’t even on the boat when Mr Brightwell disappeared.
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