Moontide by E. V. Thompson

by E.V. Thompson

A ship's padre, wounded at Trafalgar, is appointed to a church in Caerhays. After he becomes involved with Quakers and smugglers, he quickly falls foul of the Lord of the Manor. This is a gripping historical novel set on Cornwall’s south coast during the early 19th century.

Genres: Historical Fiction

Paperback

First published November 14, 1996

About the author

Ernest Victor Thompson was born in London and spent nine years in the Navy before joining Bristol police. He moved to Hong Kong, then Rhodesia and had over 200 stories published before returning to England in 1970 to become a full-time award-winning writer.

He settled in Cornwall, living at Idle Cottage in Sharptor.

He wrote 42 historical novels, mostly set in Cornwall, beginning with 'Chase the Wind' in 1977, a book that was voted the best historical novel of the year, with detectives Churchyard and Hawke two of his main characters.

He was awarded the MBE in the 2012 New Years' Honours list for services to literature and the community in Cornwall. He was also a Bard of the Cornish Gorsedd (Gorsedh Kernow). This is an individual honoured for significant contributions to the Cornish language, culture, or heritage.

He also wrote the Scottish historical epic 'Homeland' in 1991 under the pseudonym James Munro.

He died peacefully, with his wife, Celia, and two sons, Nathan and Luke, by his side, at his home in Launceston, Cornwall, on 19 July 2021, shortly after his 81st birthday.

Reviews

[Suparna Ghosh · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's like a fairytale. I really love the flow of the book and the plot, the twist and turnings. Everything is great but I guess it doesn't need to be unnecessarily lengthy. But still I didn't feel the storyline is dragged forcefully. Other than that every characters are well written but somewhere I feel the chemistry between Tobby and Bethany is not so well developed many things are missing.

[Lyn Stapleton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent story from this wonderful author

[Anne Harvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cracking adventure story about an intrepid curate and the Quaker girl he falls in love with. Toby Lovell is invalided out of the Navy following the Battle of Trafalgar. Already a recognised hero, he battles to establish a congregation at his church against the wishes of the local landowner, becomes involved in helping smugglers evade capture, saves seamen from a shipwreck and helps negotiate the release of both English and French prisoners of war. Phew! If anything, there's almost too much happening and the pace fairly gallops along. If I have one criticism, it's that it is written in the 'tell' not 'show' style so prevalent today. But then, it was written nearly twenty years ago.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love this book and have read it at least 3 times now.
Easy to read, great characters and the settings are so well described you think you're in Cornwall reading it.