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A review by gemmiejewel
The Smuggler's Daughter by Kerry Barrett
4.0
Plot
1799
Emily Moon lives with her mother in an inn on a clifftop in the darkest reaches of Cornwall. After her father mysteriously disappears, her mother finds solace at the bottom of a bottle, and the only way to keep afloat is to turn a blind eye to the smugglers who send signals from the clifftops. But Emily knows that the smugglers killed her father to ensure his silence, and she will not let his murder go unpunished…
Present day
After a case ends in tragedy, police officer Phoebe Bellingham flees to Cornwall for a summer of respite. But rather than the sunny Cornwall of her dreams, she finds herself on storm-beaten cliffs, surrounded by stories of ghosts and smugglers – and the mysterious Emily Moon, who vanished without a trace over two centuries ago. As rain lashes down around her, Phoebe determines to find the truth behind the rumours – but what she uncovers will put herself in danger too…
Review
Atmospheric and gothic is two ways I can describe my beloved Cornwall and this book does them perfectly. I love how the storylines intertwine with each other even going as far as having Phoebe’s name having the same meaning as Emily’s.
I love the take on modern day smuggling mirroring the old ways and the fact that it’s two feisty women who both deal with mental health problems at the heart warms me to the core.
The ghostly tales add to the atmosphere and gives you the odd shiver up your spine which I live.
Won’t say anymore for fear of spoilers but a really enjoyable read.
Rating
Four stars
Recommend
Yes - maybe don’t read on a windy night by yourself!
1799
Emily Moon lives with her mother in an inn on a clifftop in the darkest reaches of Cornwall. After her father mysteriously disappears, her mother finds solace at the bottom of a bottle, and the only way to keep afloat is to turn a blind eye to the smugglers who send signals from the clifftops. But Emily knows that the smugglers killed her father to ensure his silence, and she will not let his murder go unpunished…
Present day
After a case ends in tragedy, police officer Phoebe Bellingham flees to Cornwall for a summer of respite. But rather than the sunny Cornwall of her dreams, she finds herself on storm-beaten cliffs, surrounded by stories of ghosts and smugglers – and the mysterious Emily Moon, who vanished without a trace over two centuries ago. As rain lashes down around her, Phoebe determines to find the truth behind the rumours – but what she uncovers will put herself in danger too…
Review
Atmospheric and gothic is two ways I can describe my beloved Cornwall and this book does them perfectly. I love how the storylines intertwine with each other even going as far as having Phoebe’s name having the same meaning as Emily’s.
I love the take on modern day smuggling mirroring the old ways and the fact that it’s two feisty women who both deal with mental health problems at the heart warms me to the core.
The ghostly tales add to the atmosphere and gives you the odd shiver up your spine which I live.
Won’t say anymore for fear of spoilers but a really enjoyable read.
Rating
Four stars
Recommend
Yes - maybe don’t read on a windy night by yourself!