What do you think?
Rate this book
The Lead Miner's Daughter
A story of life, love and crime.
It is 1872 when Mary Watson, leaves her childhood home to work at Springbank Farm. She soon meets a handsome farmer, Joe Milburn, and becomes infatuated with him, but is he the right man for her? What will her future hold?
Mary’s story is woven into a background of rural life and crime. What happens in this remote valley leaves the community reeling in shock and seeking justice.
Find yourself in the secluded valley of Weardale, on the wide open moors and in the deep mines of the North Pennines as this intriguing and dramatic story unfolds.
It is 1872 when Mary Watson, leaves her childhood home to work at Springbank Farm. She soon meets a handsome farmer, Joe Milburn, and becomes infatuated with him, but is he the right man for her? What will her future hold?
Mary’s story is woven into a background of rural life and crime. What happens in this remote valley leaves the community reeling in shock and seeking justice.
Find yourself in the secluded valley of Weardale, on the wide open moors and in the deep mines of the North Pennines as this intriguing and dramatic story unfolds.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
334 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 29, 2018
143 people are currently reading
88 people want to read
About the author
Margaret Manchester
15 books15 followersMargaret Manchester lives in County Durham, England, with her husband. She was born in Weardale and spent her childhood there.
Research into her family's history showed many ancestors had lived and worked in the area for centuries, and this sparked an interest in local history.
While she studied Local History and Archaeology at the University of Durham, Margaret worked as a tour guide at Killhope Lead Mining Museum. After being awarded a Master's degree in Archaeology, she taught archaeology, local history and genealogy.
Margaret began to write in 2016. Her debut novel The Lead Miner's Daughter was published in 2018 and it soon became an Amazon International #1 Bestseller.
As well as writing, she enjoys her garden, her dogs and cooking.
Research into her family's history showed many ancestors had lived and worked in the area for centuries, and this sparked an interest in local history.
While she studied Local History and Archaeology at the University of Durham, Margaret worked as a tour guide at Killhope Lead Mining Museum. After being awarded a Master's degree in Archaeology, she taught archaeology, local history and genealogy.
Margaret began to write in 2016. Her debut novel The Lead Miner's Daughter was published in 2018 and it soon became an Amazon International #1 Bestseller.
As well as writing, she enjoys her garden, her dogs and cooking.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
May 15, 2019
Brilliant
Loved this book from my part of the country its a must read for all readers. Very enjoyable book. My first from the author
Loved this book from my part of the country its a must read for all readers. Very enjoyable book. My first from the author
November 11, 2018
What a beautiful book this is, even though it's about the hardships of living in a remote, rural valley in Durham in 1872, in the secluded village of Weardale where Mary lives, you would think it would be sleepy and peaceful, but it grips you from the start, it reminds me of a Catherine Cookson novel, but without the bitterness, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it flows so easily and pulls you in from page one, I would certainly recommend it to others.
September 28, 2019
I loved this book from start to finish and I couldn't put it down. I'm from near where the book is set and could relate to the characters and the hardships they go though. My granda was a coal miner in east durham and it was a hard life. The description of the area is spot on, even down to the flora and fauna which I'm very interested in. The author obviously knows the area well. Can't recommend this book enough and look forward to the next one.
August 17, 2018
Fantastic read
Couldn't put it down read it in 1 day. Had me gripped till the end hope there is a sequel
Couldn't put it down read it in 1 day. Had me gripped till the end hope there is a sequel
August 16, 2019
I liked his book
It started a little slow but quickly I couldn’t put it down I read it in 3 days. It’s a god story .
It started a little slow but quickly I couldn’t put it down I read it in 3 days. It’s a god story .
January 2, 2019
First class! This is the first book by a new author and was very good. An entertaining tale, with love and murder abounding, based in the lead mining and farming area of Weardale in County Durham in the nineteenth century. The author depicts the era very well, and draws you into the tale. I enjoyed it very much.
December 10, 2018
Characters lacked depth.
Very predictable and trite. The prose was choppy. The story line was boring. Would have been more interesting with a few unexpected twists to the characters.
Very predictable and trite. The prose was choppy. The story line was boring. Would have been more interesting with a few unexpected twists to the characters.
May 5, 2020
Love that sees you thru what ever life throws
A book that is so full of love trials that Mary overcame will keep you reading till you finish it loved every part of it couldn't put it down till the end
A book that is so full of love trials that Mary overcame will keep you reading till you finish it loved every part of it couldn't put it down till the end
July 6, 2019
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, have been to all the places Margaret
Mentioned as i live near area, looking forward to Margaret’s next book
Mentioned as i live near area, looking forward to Margaret’s next book
June 17, 2020
Great writing
Lovely story of romance with a little mystery with added history of mining in the hills of the North East of England
Lovely story of romance with a little mystery with added history of mining in the hills of the North East of England
September 2, 2019
For me...this book didn't live up to the 'hype'.
I read it because someone said it was on a par with Catherine Cookson's work. NO way! I own every book Catherine wrote..including the young reader stories, and the non novels. All of her novels have left me breathless! All the Young Readers books have left me smiling. Even the just informative works have been 'satisfying'
THIS book has a very promising story line, but, for me....none of it was 'fleshed out'.
Felt kind of 'choppy'. I finished it as I began...not really entwined with the characters.
That said tho, it's a first novel! So I take that into consideration. Maybe Margaret Manchester will grow into the potential I see in the story line itself. I hope she does! I'll be rooting for her...because we can never have too many wonderful story tellers.
I read it because someone said it was on a par with Catherine Cookson's work. NO way! I own every book Catherine wrote..including the young reader stories, and the non novels. All of her novels have left me breathless! All the Young Readers books have left me smiling. Even the just informative works have been 'satisfying'
THIS book has a very promising story line, but, for me....none of it was 'fleshed out'.
Felt kind of 'choppy'. I finished it as I began...not really entwined with the characters.
That said tho, it's a first novel! So I take that into consideration. Maybe Margaret Manchester will grow into the potential I see in the story line itself. I hope she does! I'll be rooting for her...because we can never have too many wonderful story tellers.
August 13, 2019
A sweet story
I read this book in one (bad weather day.) The hardships of farming life are only known to a small number of the population and it is good to be reminded of what our ancestors endured.
I read this book in one (bad weather day.) The hardships of farming life are only known to a small number of the population and it is good to be reminded of what our ancestors endured.
November 1, 2022
A book worth reading
Margaret Manchester is a fabulous author. She brings the characters to life and you learn to love them. I will recently be reading all of her books.
Thank you Margaret Manchester ❤
Margaret Manchester is a fabulous author. She brings the characters to life and you learn to love them. I will recently be reading all of her books.
Thank you Margaret Manchester ❤
September 4, 2023
The Lead Miner's Daughter immerses you into the hardship of Victorian rural life. The descriptive Weardale setting and strong characters brought the story to life. Well researched history, mystery and romance made for an engaging read.
November 19, 2023
My Musings
This is a book where there is a lot of telling but not much showing. Nonetheless, while not much character development I did like most of the characters. A mostly satisfied reader!
This is a book where there is a lot of telling but not much showing. Nonetheless, while not much character development I did like most of the characters. A mostly satisfied reader!
August 28, 2019
I'm surprised this book had so many high reviews. I only read the first few chapters, but I found the writing to be all tell and no show.
February 10, 2020
Enjoyed the descriptions of weardale.
February 6, 2021
Absorbing read!
Enjoyed this book so much could not put down. Kept reader interested whole way through must read more of this author's books!
Enjoyed this book so much could not put down. Kept reader interested whole way through must read more of this author's books!
June 2, 2025
Lovely historical novel, short but with plenty of plot to keep you interested, very enjoyable read.
December 23, 2025
The lead miner's daughter
This is a fantastic book i really enjoyed reading this story and i didnt want to put it down recomend reading.
This is a fantastic book i really enjoyed reading this story and i didnt want to put it down recomend reading.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews