Secrets of the Starlit Sea: The spellbinding and stunningly romantic new novel from the number one bestselling author!

by Santa Montefiore

368 pages, Paperback

Expected publication July 14, 2026

About the author

Santa Montefiore is the number one bestselling author of over thirty novels and has sold over eight million copies worldwide. Her books have been translated into twenty-five languages and she won an RNA Award for The Temptation of Gracie in 2019, which is currently in development for film. Born in England in 1970, she grew up in Hampshire and now lives in London with her husband, writer Simon Sebag-Montefiore, their daughter, son, and dog Simba.

Shadows in the Moonlight is the first novel of a trilogy following the character Pixie Tate, with Secrets of the Starlit Sea following in summer 2025. Santa loves to hear from readers and you can find her at www.santamontefiore.co.uk.

Reviews

[Caroline Barrett · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book!
It’s a mystery story with an unsettled spirits to move on into eternal life.
Filled with history of the Titanic journey too!

[Judy Cook]

Easy read and loved the setting but found the spiritual focus of the book quite annoying ! Will not read other books regarding the main characters..clairvoyant Pixie Tate and side kick ..

[Jenny Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pixie Tate has both psychic powers and the ability to travel back in time. Both of these attributes are used to the full in this novel as she is hired by a grand hotel in New York in order to solve a present day psychic problem that has arisen and finds herself transported back to one of the most famous events in history. She relives this incident and experiences its ordeals first hand.

Before I even started this book I was not only convinced that I wasn’t going to like it but also determined not to. Not an auspicious start. Psychic stuff, ghosts, spirits, time travel etc. are just not my thing and it was perfectly obvious from the blurb that all of these were going to feature quite heavily. It was therefore much to my surprise, and to the author’s credit, that I was proved completely wrong. The book doesn’t take itself too seriously and I just went along with it for the ride and had an unexpectedly good time.
The characters are not only engaging and likeable, they are also quirky, eccentric and interesting and well developed by the author.
The historical event around which the story is centred is well researched and accurately portrayed.

There is nothing specific that I would criticise about the book – it is what it is and it does it well.

I may even go back and read the first one in the series – a high recommendation indeed from someone who was pre-programmed to dismiss this book out of hand.

[Andrea Durak · Rating 2 out of 5]

Strange context including paranormal which was not in itself off putting. Writing style was very condescending; for example I know being gay was illegal in early 20th century, why explain this? Was this written for 10 year olds?

[Barbara Gardner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never read any of this authors books before. It was bought for me as a present and I have thoroughly enjoyed it and will read more of this authors books. It was a mystery and I couldn’t wait to see how it ended especially to see if I was right about one aspect.

[Simon Pitman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gem of a story. Very clever.

[Jenny Sharp]

Great story. This time Pixie Tate, a time slider, ends up on board the Titanic and is reunited (in a different body) with her true love.

[Wren Darling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super audio performance.

If this book was in a series I would be a rabid fan. Captures the historical elements well including societal and both the upstairs and downstairs. Recommended.