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The Smuggler's Daughter
Only she knows the truth. Only she can save them.
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…
A haunting and moving timeslip novel perfect for fans of The Girl in the Letter, The Forgotten Village and The Witchfinder’s Sister.
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…
A haunting and moving timeslip novel perfect for fans of The Girl in the Letter, The Forgotten Village and The Witchfinder’s Sister.
384 pages, Paperback
First published September 18, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
September 14, 2020
1799: Emily Moon lives with her mother in an inn on a clifftop in Cornwall. Her father had mysteriously disappeared. Her mother turns to alcohol. The only way to keep afloat is to turn a blind eye to the smugglers who send signals from the clifftop. Emily knows that the smugglers killed her father.
Present day: After a case ends in tragedy, police officer Phoebe Bellingham flees to Cornwall for a summer of respite. She finds herself on storm-beaten cliffs with tales of ghosts, smugglers and the mysterious disappearance of Emily Moon who had vanished without trace. Phoebe decides to find out the truth behind the rumours.
This is a well written historical fiction novel set in Cornwall, one of my favourite places to visit. Cornwall has lots of tales of smugglers and there is plenty of caves to explore where they could have brought ashore through. Tge pace is decent and the plotline is intriguing. Tge characters are believable. Will Phoebe find out the truth in this twist filled read?
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #HQDigital and the author #KerryBarrett for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Present day: After a case ends in tragedy, police officer Phoebe Bellingham flees to Cornwall for a summer of respite. She finds herself on storm-beaten cliffs with tales of ghosts, smugglers and the mysterious disappearance of Emily Moon who had vanished without trace. Phoebe decides to find out the truth behind the rumours.
This is a well written historical fiction novel set in Cornwall, one of my favourite places to visit. Cornwall has lots of tales of smugglers and there is plenty of caves to explore where they could have brought ashore through. Tge pace is decent and the plotline is intriguing. Tge characters are believable. Will Phoebe find out the truth in this twist filled read?
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #HQDigital and the author #KerryBarrett for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2021
This book had all the elements I love. It was set in Cornwall, it read like Jamaica Inn which I read years ago and loved and it was dual time-line so, it was a sure fire win. I loved this book, it read like watching Poldark without (unfortunately) Aidan Turner which would have added to my enjoyment 😊 I hope to read more of Ms Barrett’s books in the future. If you want a book that takes you back to the smuggling days of Cornwall then give this book a try. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
September 29, 2020
https://thecaffeinatedreader.com/2020...
Mystery? Check.
Historical Fiction? Check.
Timeslip/Time Parallel? Check.
This book had the formula to be an enjoyable read and Barrett did a good job in making that formula successful!
We have Emily Moon from 1799, who witnesses her father’s death and wants to try and bring justice by capturing his killer. On the flip side we have Phoebe from 2019, a detective on leave from a crushing blow at work and she finds herself in Cornwall in the very building that Emily Moon lived in.
Phoebe finds out about Emily Moon and wants to know what happened to her while Emily tries to find a way to capture the smuggler who killed her father.
Both plots were equally engaging though of course I do always love the past a tiny bit more, I still liked watching Phoebe learn about Emily and use the past to help her crack her modern day case.
The historical connection and its importance to the present’s plot really pleased me and Barrett has a wonderfully fluid writing style, it will keep you engaged and it makes the book a very quick read.
It’s one of those books I always love to help me reset after I’ve had a particularly stressful time, the sort of plot that you need the answers for and with a wonderfully satisfying ending!
I would highly recommend this to timeslip/historical fiction/mystery fans! It spans all sorts of genres lol.
Thanks so much to HQ for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion as part of the tour, I give this book 3/5 huge cups of coffee and I’m off to recommend it to my sister now!
Mystery? Check.
Historical Fiction? Check.
Timeslip/Time Parallel? Check.
This book had the formula to be an enjoyable read and Barrett did a good job in making that formula successful!
We have Emily Moon from 1799, who witnesses her father’s death and wants to try and bring justice by capturing his killer. On the flip side we have Phoebe from 2019, a detective on leave from a crushing blow at work and she finds herself in Cornwall in the very building that Emily Moon lived in.
Phoebe finds out about Emily Moon and wants to know what happened to her while Emily tries to find a way to capture the smuggler who killed her father.
Both plots were equally engaging though of course I do always love the past a tiny bit more, I still liked watching Phoebe learn about Emily and use the past to help her crack her modern day case.
The historical connection and its importance to the present’s plot really pleased me and Barrett has a wonderfully fluid writing style, it will keep you engaged and it makes the book a very quick read.
It’s one of those books I always love to help me reset after I’ve had a particularly stressful time, the sort of plot that you need the answers for and with a wonderfully satisfying ending!
I would highly recommend this to timeslip/historical fiction/mystery fans! It spans all sorts of genres lol.
Thanks so much to HQ for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion as part of the tour, I give this book 3/5 huge cups of coffee and I’m off to recommend it to my sister now!
June 4, 2022
A decent read. Entertaining. It didn't "wow" me, but good enough to keep the pages turning. Pleasant. Lovely Cornish and ocean scenery.
March 24, 2021
With inspiration clearly garnered from Du Murier’s Jamaica Inn, it is obvious that the writer enjoyed creating this dual-timeline fiction. I was interested from the beginning, loving the setting and mystery as it becomes clear that not everything is legal by the Cornish coast.
Introduced to Emily Moon, readers learn that this girl has a severe stutter and struggles to speak. Barrett describes how poor Emily’s throat “closes up” and cannot communicate, leaving the rest of the community to consider her dumb and stupid. But this is certainly not the case as, after witnessing her father’s murder, Emily is determined to figure out what is going on along the Cornish coast. Rumours of ghosts haunting the coastline, Emily desires to protect her mother and reveal the truth… if only she could communicate what she has seen.
In the present day, Phoebe moves down to Cornwall with her friend, Liv, who has been given the task of re-modelling the same pub that Emily used to live in. Immediately we are presented with parallels between Phoebe and Emily, and Barrett continues this throughout the narrative. Phoebe, a police officer who needs to take a leave of absence, begins investigating Emily’s life as well as becoming suspicious about several locals who have befriended them and the pub. Like Emily in the eighteenth century, Phoebe is certain that her instinct is accurate and that the locals are not as innocent as they claim.
The parallels between the two stories definitely added to my enjoyment of this timeslip narrative. As Emily’s story develops, it is like Phoebe in present day is experiencing the same things. This added to the magic of both stories and certainly did not feel repetitious or tedious as a result. In contrast, I was excited to see Phoebe experience the same as Emily, especially as it meant that Phoebe would also uncover more truths at the same time.
Furthermore, I loved the Cornish setting. Although set during the summer months, Barrett shows it is still very much typical British weather! I think Barrett really brings the setting alive and I really appreciated reading about the mystery of the coves and how this was used to aid smuggling in the eighteenth century. I like reading historical books and I think is is clear the writer has carried out her research because it felt so believable – particularly with the level of corruption that extends around Emily.
Smuggling is such a romantic topic and this time Barrett presents a more sombre tone which is emphasised by Liv’s involvement in the present-day narrative. There is a mystery behind the coastline and although it surrounds Emily, is more about her silent investigations and the impact of the smuggling. The darkness that is connected to this topic is illustrated by the hidden actions, especially as so much of the crimes depend on tide movement and night-time. Although it was quite clear which direction the plot was headed in, I still found there were enough surprises along the way to keep me interested in Emily and Phoebe’s stories.
This was a great read and has introduced me to a new author whom I am keen to explore of more in the future! I like this dual-timeline and I think the story moves effortlessly between the two periods. The two female protagonists are likeable and I was supporting them in wanting them to find a voice and uncover the truths.
With thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Introduced to Emily Moon, readers learn that this girl has a severe stutter and struggles to speak. Barrett describes how poor Emily’s throat “closes up” and cannot communicate, leaving the rest of the community to consider her dumb and stupid. But this is certainly not the case as, after witnessing her father’s murder, Emily is determined to figure out what is going on along the Cornish coast. Rumours of ghosts haunting the coastline, Emily desires to protect her mother and reveal the truth… if only she could communicate what she has seen.
In the present day, Phoebe moves down to Cornwall with her friend, Liv, who has been given the task of re-modelling the same pub that Emily used to live in. Immediately we are presented with parallels between Phoebe and Emily, and Barrett continues this throughout the narrative. Phoebe, a police officer who needs to take a leave of absence, begins investigating Emily’s life as well as becoming suspicious about several locals who have befriended them and the pub. Like Emily in the eighteenth century, Phoebe is certain that her instinct is accurate and that the locals are not as innocent as they claim.
The parallels between the two stories definitely added to my enjoyment of this timeslip narrative. As Emily’s story develops, it is like Phoebe in present day is experiencing the same things. This added to the magic of both stories and certainly did not feel repetitious or tedious as a result. In contrast, I was excited to see Phoebe experience the same as Emily, especially as it meant that Phoebe would also uncover more truths at the same time.
Furthermore, I loved the Cornish setting. Although set during the summer months, Barrett shows it is still very much typical British weather! I think Barrett really brings the setting alive and I really appreciated reading about the mystery of the coves and how this was used to aid smuggling in the eighteenth century. I like reading historical books and I think is is clear the writer has carried out her research because it felt so believable – particularly with the level of corruption that extends around Emily.
Smuggling is such a romantic topic and this time Barrett presents a more sombre tone which is emphasised by Liv’s involvement in the present-day narrative. There is a mystery behind the coastline and although it surrounds Emily, is more about her silent investigations and the impact of the smuggling. The darkness that is connected to this topic is illustrated by the hidden actions, especially as so much of the crimes depend on tide movement and night-time. Although it was quite clear which direction the plot was headed in, I still found there were enough surprises along the way to keep me interested in Emily and Phoebe’s stories.
This was a great read and has introduced me to a new author whom I am keen to explore of more in the future! I like this dual-timeline and I think the story moves effortlessly between the two periods. The two female protagonists are likeable and I was supporting them in wanting them to find a voice and uncover the truths.
With thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 11, 2020
3.5 rounded up because it was just so readable.
Titles where the storyline switches back and forth between two distinct time periods are not easy to pull off, but Barrett more than accomplishes it here. The plot goes between 1799 and 2019 at the same pub in Cornwall, where smugglers don't seem to realize that "historically operated" means that they're supposed to have stopped. Emily, the 1799 heroine, is on the autism spectrum and has been labeled as "simple" by the townsfolk who don't understand that she just works differently, which allows the truly evil villain Cal Morgan to get away with not only smuggling, but murder and rape as well, because he knows no one will believe Emily, even if she didn't have a speech impediment. Meanwhile in 2019, police detective Phoebe retreats to Cornwall when her best friend Liv is asked to help fix up the pub that once belonged to Emily's family. Phoebe is suffering from having misjudged a suspect, resulting in a teenager's death, but her rest is almost immediately shattered when she realizes that the pub is still the site of shady activity. She's also fascinated by Emily and what happened to her, and one of the best parts of the book is the way that their stories and activities intertwine and mirror each other.
The ending is a little too neat for both Phoebe and Emily, and I would have liked more to be done with Liv specifically, whose actions I feel Phoebe brushed off too easily. But this is a good, solid piece of entertainment, and perfectly suited for a day curled up in a chair with no obligations but to read it.
Titles where the storyline switches back and forth between two distinct time periods are not easy to pull off, but Barrett more than accomplishes it here. The plot goes between 1799 and 2019 at the same pub in Cornwall, where smugglers don't seem to realize that "historically operated" means that they're supposed to have stopped. Emily, the 1799 heroine, is on the autism spectrum and has been labeled as "simple" by the townsfolk who don't understand that she just works differently, which allows the truly evil villain Cal Morgan to get away with not only smuggling, but murder and rape as well, because he knows no one will believe Emily, even if she didn't have a speech impediment. Meanwhile in 2019, police detective Phoebe retreats to Cornwall when her best friend Liv is asked to help fix up the pub that once belonged to Emily's family. Phoebe is suffering from having misjudged a suspect, resulting in a teenager's death, but her rest is almost immediately shattered when she realizes that the pub is still the site of shady activity. She's also fascinated by Emily and what happened to her, and one of the best parts of the book is the way that their stories and activities intertwine and mirror each other.
The ending is a little too neat for both Phoebe and Emily, and I would have liked more to be done with Liv specifically, whose actions I feel Phoebe brushed off too easily. But this is a good, solid piece of entertainment, and perfectly suited for a day curled up in a chair with no obligations but to read it.
November 17, 2021
A dual time line book that marries elements of historical fiction and mystery/crime.
Cornwall-1799. Emily Moon is the daughter of parents, Janey and Amos, who own an inn on the Cornwall coast. She has difficulties in speaking and is thought by the locals to be 'simple'. She catches her parents arguing. Smuggling, also known as Free Trade(!), is rampant in the area. Amos has been asked to be involved; he says no and his wife tries to convince him that the family needs the money.
London-2019. Phoebe Bellingham is a policewoman who is involved in a missing person's case. Needing to forget the outcome, she agrees to accompany her friend, Liv, to Cornwall to run an inn for the summer. The inn is the same as described in 1799, but now called The Moon Girl. Nefarious incidents are still occurring. Phoebe becomes involved in learning about and from Emily in solving the cause of the happenings.
Good book. Thought Barrett's ability to weave these stories seamlessly very good.
4 stars
Cornwall-1799. Emily Moon is the daughter of parents, Janey and Amos, who own an inn on the Cornwall coast. She has difficulties in speaking and is thought by the locals to be 'simple'. She catches her parents arguing. Smuggling, also known as Free Trade(!), is rampant in the area. Amos has been asked to be involved; he says no and his wife tries to convince him that the family needs the money.
London-2019. Phoebe Bellingham is a policewoman who is involved in a missing person's case. Needing to forget the outcome, she agrees to accompany her friend, Liv, to Cornwall to run an inn for the summer. The inn is the same as described in 1799, but now called The Moon Girl. Nefarious incidents are still occurring. Phoebe becomes involved in learning about and from Emily in solving the cause of the happenings.
Good book. Thought Barrett's ability to weave these stories seamlessly very good.
4 stars
September 19, 2020
Two women centuries apart. Two interconnected destinies.
The Smuggler's Daughter by Kerry Barrett tells the story of Emily and Phoebe, two women who lived centuries apart, but whose destinies were interconnected.
Our thanks to the author, HQ-Digital, and NetGalley for the advanced reader's copy.
Cornwall, 1799. Emily had difficulties expressing herself and did not like to be around people. The only person she felt comfortable with was Arthur, the son of the vicar.
When a man came to the inn owned by her parents and attacked her father, she was powerless to stop him or report what she saw to her mother.
London, 2019. Phoebe made an error in judgment, and a girl died. Suffering from the trauma, she follows her friend to Cornwall to try to put herself back together.
The book was well-written. I enjoyed how both stories were well developed and related to each other in several ways.
I usually dislike dual-time stories and end up preferring one period over the other, but it did not happen this time. I was equally invested in Emily and Phoebe.
The author took the opportunity to explore women's roles in the late 18th Century. Emily was probably autistic and was believed to be simple-minded. I was inspired by her strength and perseverance to be heard.
Her mother's situation was an excellent example of the hard choices women often had to make back then.
Arthur was a sweetheart. Without any formal knowledge, he saw the real Emily and understood her. It was so lovely to see how they supported each other.
Phoebe was also a complex character. Suffering from post-traumatic stress, she had an intuition that things were off, but doubted her own judgment.
Despite their struggles, both Emily and Phoebe stood for what they believed in, risking their lives.
The Smuggler's Daughter is an intriguing story full of adventure, imaginative characters, history, and beautiful Cornwall scenes.
Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Smuggler's Daughter by Kerry Barrett tells the story of Emily and Phoebe, two women who lived centuries apart, but whose destinies were interconnected.
Our thanks to the author, HQ-Digital, and NetGalley for the advanced reader's copy.
Cornwall, 1799. Emily had difficulties expressing herself and did not like to be around people. The only person she felt comfortable with was Arthur, the son of the vicar.
When a man came to the inn owned by her parents and attacked her father, she was powerless to stop him or report what she saw to her mother.
London, 2019. Phoebe made an error in judgment, and a girl died. Suffering from the trauma, she follows her friend to Cornwall to try to put herself back together.
The book was well-written. I enjoyed how both stories were well developed and related to each other in several ways.
I usually dislike dual-time stories and end up preferring one period over the other, but it did not happen this time. I was equally invested in Emily and Phoebe.
The author took the opportunity to explore women's roles in the late 18th Century. Emily was probably autistic and was believed to be simple-minded. I was inspired by her strength and perseverance to be heard.
Her mother's situation was an excellent example of the hard choices women often had to make back then.
Arthur was a sweetheart. Without any formal knowledge, he saw the real Emily and understood her. It was so lovely to see how they supported each other.
Phoebe was also a complex character. Suffering from post-traumatic stress, she had an intuition that things were off, but doubted her own judgment.
Despite their struggles, both Emily and Phoebe stood for what they believed in, risking their lives.
The Smuggler's Daughter is an intriguing story full of adventure, imaginative characters, history, and beautiful Cornwall scenes.
Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 16, 2020
The Smuggler’s Daughter by Kerry Barrett is an excellent dual timeline historical fiction that has mystery, intrigue, suspense, and a little romance added in for good measure.
I really enjoyed both stories equally. We have Emily in the late 18th century Cornwall, England and we have Phoebe in current day England. Both are strong female characters. Both have been through tragic and disheartening events. And both try to right the injustices respective of their own lives and time periods.
I enjoyed the concepts of comparing/contrasting the two characters. Both have different obstacles, yet both are trying to overcome their situations. Both women have different personalities and experiences, yet both are strong, intelligent, and imperfect. Both stories drew me in, and I was impressed with the author’s ability to interweave the two tales together. I enjoyed the journey, and the end.
5/5 stars
Thank you to HQ Digital/HarperCollins for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR, Bookbub, and Instagram accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, B&N, and Instagram accounts upon publication.
I really enjoyed both stories equally. We have Emily in the late 18th century Cornwall, England and we have Phoebe in current day England. Both are strong female characters. Both have been through tragic and disheartening events. And both try to right the injustices respective of their own lives and time periods.
I enjoyed the concepts of comparing/contrasting the two characters. Both have different obstacles, yet both are trying to overcome their situations. Both women have different personalities and experiences, yet both are strong, intelligent, and imperfect. Both stories drew me in, and I was impressed with the author’s ability to interweave the two tales together. I enjoyed the journey, and the end.
5/5 stars
Thank you to HQ Digital/HarperCollins for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR, Bookbub, and Instagram accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, B&N, and Instagram accounts upon publication.
August 5, 2022
Well this was a fab find on Scribd!
Even though I’ve got loads of books to read and listen to, I’m always scrolling through various bookish apps to see what might catch my mood reading eye and this definitely caught it. A story set in Cornwall, about smuggling with a dual timeline definitely ticked my bookish boxes.
I loved both storylines for this book, something that doesn’t all agree with me, as I normally tend to enjoy the historical plot more, but the present day mystery was just as good.
I loved both Emily Moon and Phoebe, and felt for both of them as they got dragged into dubious events surrounding the pub. I was as fascinated as Phoebe in Emily’s disappearance and couldn’t wait to discover what had happened to her.
I worked out the mysteries both Emily and Phoebe were involved in, but didn’t mind at all as I really enjoyed their journeys and how the plot and their characters developed throughout the book.
Both Emma Powell and Gloria Sanders were brilliant narrators and I wouldn’t hesitate to listen to other books read by them.
I definitely recommend this on audio if you enjoy dual timeline stories set in Cornwall.
Even though I’ve got loads of books to read and listen to, I’m always scrolling through various bookish apps to see what might catch my mood reading eye and this definitely caught it. A story set in Cornwall, about smuggling with a dual timeline definitely ticked my bookish boxes.
I loved both storylines for this book, something that doesn’t all agree with me, as I normally tend to enjoy the historical plot more, but the present day mystery was just as good.
I loved both Emily Moon and Phoebe, and felt for both of them as they got dragged into dubious events surrounding the pub. I was as fascinated as Phoebe in Emily’s disappearance and couldn’t wait to discover what had happened to her.
I worked out the mysteries both Emily and Phoebe were involved in, but didn’t mind at all as I really enjoyed their journeys and how the plot and their characters developed throughout the book.
Both Emma Powell and Gloria Sanders were brilliant narrators and I wouldn’t hesitate to listen to other books read by them.
I definitely recommend this on audio if you enjoy dual timeline stories set in Cornwall.
April 6, 2021
The Moon Girl.
A real page turner, I could' put it down. Suspense, Danger, Smuggling and ghosts combine with an old English pub makes for some fine reading. Although written in two time periods it is very readable and easy to determine which time period you are in. The book is about smuggler's on the coast of England and a pub called Moon Girl.
In 1799 Emily who everyone called Moon Girl discovers smuggler's at her mom's pub and with the help of her friend Arthur they set out to catch them in action. Emily and Arthur disappear never to be seen again.
In 2019 Phoebe , who her friend called Moon Girl, takes a leave from her job as a policeman after a hard case involving a missing teenager. She decides to spend the summer on the coast in England at a pub named Moon Girl. When Phoebe takes leave from her job as a policeman to spend the summer with her best friend she never dreams the adventure she will find. She is determined to solve the case of Emily and Arthur and in researching she stumbles across real live action at the pub where her friend is working.
The characters were great, the setting was perfect, and the story was well written. I recommend it.
Thanks to Kerry Barrett, Harper 360, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
A real page turner, I could' put it down. Suspense, Danger, Smuggling and ghosts combine with an old English pub makes for some fine reading. Although written in two time periods it is very readable and easy to determine which time period you are in. The book is about smuggler's on the coast of England and a pub called Moon Girl.
In 1799 Emily who everyone called Moon Girl discovers smuggler's at her mom's pub and with the help of her friend Arthur they set out to catch them in action. Emily and Arthur disappear never to be seen again.
In 2019 Phoebe , who her friend called Moon Girl, takes a leave from her job as a policeman after a hard case involving a missing teenager. She decides to spend the summer on the coast in England at a pub named Moon Girl. When Phoebe takes leave from her job as a policeman to spend the summer with her best friend she never dreams the adventure she will find. She is determined to solve the case of Emily and Arthur and in researching she stumbles across real live action at the pub where her friend is working.
The characters were great, the setting was perfect, and the story was well written. I recommend it.
Thanks to Kerry Barrett, Harper 360, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 2, 2021
I gave up reading this book, thus the rating of DNF. Right away I did not buy into the story of why the girl that witnesses her father's death can't tell anyone. That was the first problem. The second was the plotline did not really hold any real surprises and it took a long time to get to the point. So I flipped to the end and called it done enough for me.
May 20, 2021
Rounding The Smugglers Daughter up to 3.5 stars. This was the perfect book for me. I read books of all genres and this covered a few of them. Historical mystery is one of my favorites.
Cornwall 1799. It opens up with a murder, score! But why was Emily Moons father stabbed in the front of his inn? Emily is labeled as simple but she's far from it and I loved her. Unable to speak but to a few people she tells her stories in pictures.
Enter the other time-line. Present day police officer Phoebe is staying at the inn Emily Moon lived in. On leave from a bad police case this officer decides to find out some things about the ghost story of Emily Moon who is said to wonder the cliffs as a ghost.
Told in these alternating timelines we have murder, mystery, romance, and of course smuggling. Jack of all trades here. This book is available now published April 6, 2021.
Thank you to HQ Digital for a physical arc won through a Goodreads Giveaway. Never a dull moment in this one.
Cornwall 1799. It opens up with a murder, score! But why was Emily Moons father stabbed in the front of his inn? Emily is labeled as simple but she's far from it and I loved her. Unable to speak but to a few people she tells her stories in pictures.
Enter the other time-line. Present day police officer Phoebe is staying at the inn Emily Moon lived in. On leave from a bad police case this officer decides to find out some things about the ghost story of Emily Moon who is said to wonder the cliffs as a ghost.
Told in these alternating timelines we have murder, mystery, romance, and of course smuggling. Jack of all trades here. This book is available now published April 6, 2021.
Thank you to HQ Digital for a physical arc won through a Goodreads Giveaway. Never a dull moment in this one.
April 15, 2021
The Smuggler's Daughter was an enjoyable read from start to finish.
With two timelines I liked being able to read Emily Moon's story alongside Phoebe's, so different from each other but with a common purpose of doing what is right and necessary to those who hurt them and break the law.
I’m a big fan of books with two timelines, in this one the reading flows and keeps you wanting to know more about each of the main characters in their respective stories and time. And it all starts to tie together from the moment Phoebe arrives at the pub that belonged to Emily Moon's family, from then on the lives of these two women will seem to blend together in such a way that you will want to keep reading to see how it all ends and thighs everything.
This was my first read by this author but it won't be my last.
#thesmugglersdaughter #netgalley
With two timelines I liked being able to read Emily Moon's story alongside Phoebe's, so different from each other but with a common purpose of doing what is right and necessary to those who hurt them and break the law.
I’m a big fan of books with two timelines, in this one the reading flows and keeps you wanting to know more about each of the main characters in their respective stories and time. And it all starts to tie together from the moment Phoebe arrives at the pub that belonged to Emily Moon's family, from then on the lives of these two women will seem to blend together in such a way that you will want to keep reading to see how it all ends and thighs everything.
This was my first read by this author but it won't be my last.
#thesmugglersdaughter #netgalley
June 2, 2021
Strong past, plodding future.
I really wanted to like this book. Emily Moon, the 1799 protagonist, is a gem. I loved the descriptions, how she saw the world, and what the mystery worked out. Emily had so much depth and l was surprised by the neurodiverse representation. It worked. Her story felt organic.
I didn't love Phoebe, however. Phoebe is our contemporary (2019) protagonist and she felt flat. Some of her actions were understandable but not entirely. She didn't read as a true police agent considering her lack of efficiency. There was a lot of inconsistency in skills and sudden decisions. I just couldn't connect.
It's not a bad book. The last 30% just felt patched on and rushed.
I really wanted to like this book. Emily Moon, the 1799 protagonist, is a gem. I loved the descriptions, how she saw the world, and what the mystery worked out. Emily had so much depth and l was surprised by the neurodiverse representation. It worked. Her story felt organic.
I didn't love Phoebe, however. Phoebe is our contemporary (2019) protagonist and she felt flat. Some of her actions were understandable but not entirely. She didn't read as a true police agent considering her lack of efficiency. There was a lot of inconsistency in skills and sudden decisions. I just couldn't connect.
It's not a bad book. The last 30% just felt patched on and rushed.
December 31, 2020
Really enjoyed this. Two great stories - one from 1799 and one from 2019 - intertwined into one great read.
April 3, 2022
I couldn't finish it. Way too many typos and poor editing. Also, the British people are weird.
April 27, 2021
This book’s cover is positively stunning and that’s how it ended up on my TBR list! I love the tempestuous looking sky, rocky coastline, and the pale peach of the girl’s dress on the cover. It suggests innocents and yet something stormy brewing in the sea. Not to mention the title suggests adventure! I love books set on the coast, it’s something so instantly atmospheric about it.
Author Kerry Barrett, has written a couple of other books and while they sound good, this is the one that would naturally stand out to me. I love the description of the book and the setting, and as I noted before, the cover is eye catching. I liked that it’s a duel timeline story with a historical narrative and a modern day one that culminate in the end. This is a storytelling style that I rarely get tired of.
But then there was part of me that was hesitant about this one…..there are a lot of books with ‘daughter’ in the title—The Witches Daughter, The Timekeepers Daughter, The Painters Daughter, The Hangman’s Daughter….the list goes on. Everyone has a daughter and it’s a title that doesn’t really distinguish itself. But nevertheless, I liked the Smuggler portion of the title and I think in a way it did stand out for that.
So I will say this—-I liked this one. I didn’t LOVE it in the way that I had hoped but it was ok and a nice way to pass the weekend. I think what bothered me the most was the duel timeline. As I said before, I love duel timeline narratives especially in historical fiction, however there was something about this one that needed a little more for me. I think what bothered me about it in this one was that the book felt too short to support this style of narrative. It came in at almost 400 pages (380 ish) but for some reason it just felt short to accommodate this style of storytelling. It felt like the author was only just scratching the surface of the story, I think maybe 100 more pages the author could have gone a lot deeper into the characters and their stories.
Personally I liked Emily’s story better. Phoebe took me a while to get into, she was ok but I struggled with her character at times where as Emily felt more complete and developed plus she was more relatable and sympathetic for me. I think having Emily have a speech impediment made her more sympathetic for the reader and I felt an instant connection with her in a way that I just didn’t with Phoebe. The alternating stories felt balanced in their delivery but I found myself more anxious to get back to the past rather than staying in the present.
The one thing that stood out for me in this one was the setting. As expected the setting added atmosphere to the book and I thought that it added to the drama and suspense of the story. I liked that this one had a little bit of everything to excite readers—-romance, mystery, history and the contemporary and while it had a lot going on, it didn’t feel busy at all. Overall it was well written and enjoyable but I didn’t love it. For me it had that little something ‘extra’ missing and I am just not sure what that bit was. I liked it and spent a couple of days immersed in it and enjoying the story, setting, and characters but nothing about it really stood out and screamed ‘love me’. If you like historical fiction you will likely enjoy this one, there were plenty of other readers who LOVED it, but for me it was just good. Although I am excited to check out more books by this author to see if there are other books by her that I might enjoy as well.
See my full review here
Author Kerry Barrett, has written a couple of other books and while they sound good, this is the one that would naturally stand out to me. I love the description of the book and the setting, and as I noted before, the cover is eye catching. I liked that it’s a duel timeline story with a historical narrative and a modern day one that culminate in the end. This is a storytelling style that I rarely get tired of.
But then there was part of me that was hesitant about this one…..there are a lot of books with ‘daughter’ in the title—The Witches Daughter, The Timekeepers Daughter, The Painters Daughter, The Hangman’s Daughter….the list goes on. Everyone has a daughter and it’s a title that doesn’t really distinguish itself. But nevertheless, I liked the Smuggler portion of the title and I think in a way it did stand out for that.
So I will say this—-I liked this one. I didn’t LOVE it in the way that I had hoped but it was ok and a nice way to pass the weekend. I think what bothered me the most was the duel timeline. As I said before, I love duel timeline narratives especially in historical fiction, however there was something about this one that needed a little more for me. I think what bothered me about it in this one was that the book felt too short to support this style of narrative. It came in at almost 400 pages (380 ish) but for some reason it just felt short to accommodate this style of storytelling. It felt like the author was only just scratching the surface of the story, I think maybe 100 more pages the author could have gone a lot deeper into the characters and their stories.
Personally I liked Emily’s story better. Phoebe took me a while to get into, she was ok but I struggled with her character at times where as Emily felt more complete and developed plus she was more relatable and sympathetic for me. I think having Emily have a speech impediment made her more sympathetic for the reader and I felt an instant connection with her in a way that I just didn’t with Phoebe. The alternating stories felt balanced in their delivery but I found myself more anxious to get back to the past rather than staying in the present.
The one thing that stood out for me in this one was the setting. As expected the setting added atmosphere to the book and I thought that it added to the drama and suspense of the story. I liked that this one had a little bit of everything to excite readers—-romance, mystery, history and the contemporary and while it had a lot going on, it didn’t feel busy at all. Overall it was well written and enjoyable but I didn’t love it. For me it had that little something ‘extra’ missing and I am just not sure what that bit was. I liked it and spent a couple of days immersed in it and enjoying the story, setting, and characters but nothing about it really stood out and screamed ‘love me’. If you like historical fiction you will likely enjoy this one, there were plenty of other readers who LOVED it, but for me it was just good. Although I am excited to check out more books by this author to see if there are other books by her that I might enjoy as well.
See my full review here
April 5, 2021
THE SMUGGLER’S DAUGHTER is fast, taut and filled with the kind of foreboding that makes ghost stories so tantalizing. Author Kerry Barrett creates mood and tension through a dual story line, with two winning protagonists, both grappling with a bad situation they cannot completely describe. One is challenged by birth and one by recent circumstance. Both doubt their ability to recognize what they think is going on around them. Barrett does a great job and, lucky for readers, brings both stories to satisfying endings. For readers who love their romance tinged with eeriness and misgiving. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
January 29, 2023
This was OK. Almost the same story is told in parallel: smugglers and mystery and threats of violence in the same place only 200 years apart. It ties up loose ends neatly and is well-paced. Just didn't have much depth to it, so is firmly in the "fluff" category (which isn't a bad thing).
February 28, 2023
I usually don’t like books that are from a different person’s view every chapter but this was done really well and it flowed. It was very easy to get lost in this book, hence me reading it in 2 days! I loved the story line and that there was a mix of crime and romance
April 1, 2021
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this title.
An easy read that sucked me into the mystery of The Moon Girl pub. As a bigger fan of historical fiction than realistic fiction, I enjoyed the two storylines and seeing how the inn/pub impacted each character.
An easy read that sucked me into the mystery of The Moon Girl pub. As a bigger fan of historical fiction than realistic fiction, I enjoyed the two storylines and seeing how the inn/pub impacted each character.
February 9, 2021
Another page-turner from Kerry Barrett, telling the stories of two young women - one in 1799, one in the present day. Set around a remote inn on the Cornish coast, it follows police officer Phoebe who is taking a break from work to help her friend Liv run the pub. She starts to suspect some of the locals of being up to no good, including the handsome but mysterious Jed, while also investigating the history of the pub and a girl, Emily Moon, who reportedly lived and died there over 200 years earlier. As a “time slip” novel, it alternates Phoebe’s story with that of Emily who sets out to tackle the smugglers terrorising the local community. With a touch of romance, The Smuggler’s Daughter is an adventure story and thriller, recalling Daphne du Maurier’s Jamaica Inn as well as modern TV cop shows.
September 26, 2020
The book begins with two deaths, hundreds of years apart, and both have far reaching consequences. Firstly in 1799, Emily Moon who witnesses the brutal murder of her father Amos for not complying with the wishes of a man who wants him to do something illegal.
Then 200 years later, Phoebe, a police officer is called to a missing teenager, however due to the intervention of another person, the girl is found dead and Phoebe blames herself. Her friend Liv has been given a job of managing a pub, The Moon Girl in Cornwall and asks Phoebe to come along. When they get there, it is apparent that the last tenants left in a hurry but why ? Phoebe gets a visit from Ewan Logan and she knows that she does not trust him, and why is he interested in the pub? Phoebe finds herself attracted to Jed one of Ewan’s henchmen but can she trust him. ?
Emily’s story is really sad, seeing her beloved father killed and not being able to tell anyone was really tragic, then her mother becomes desperate and can not sell the inn because of the law so has to take drastic action.
Coming from the South West, I have always been fascinated by stories of smuggling and shipwrecks and Jamaica Inn is one of my favorites and this definitely put me in the mind of this. Mist, fog and gloomy skies is a Cornwall that I know well and I was transported there through this dual timeline story. There was lots of questions in this story that all get answered in the end. Creepy, atmospheric and gripping, a really great read.
Then 200 years later, Phoebe, a police officer is called to a missing teenager, however due to the intervention of another person, the girl is found dead and Phoebe blames herself. Her friend Liv has been given a job of managing a pub, The Moon Girl in Cornwall and asks Phoebe to come along. When they get there, it is apparent that the last tenants left in a hurry but why ? Phoebe gets a visit from Ewan Logan and she knows that she does not trust him, and why is he interested in the pub? Phoebe finds herself attracted to Jed one of Ewan’s henchmen but can she trust him. ?
Emily’s story is really sad, seeing her beloved father killed and not being able to tell anyone was really tragic, then her mother becomes desperate and can not sell the inn because of the law so has to take drastic action.
Coming from the South West, I have always been fascinated by stories of smuggling and shipwrecks and Jamaica Inn is one of my favorites and this definitely put me in the mind of this. Mist, fog and gloomy skies is a Cornwall that I know well and I was transported there through this dual timeline story. There was lots of questions in this story that all get answered in the end. Creepy, atmospheric and gripping, a really great read.
November 20, 2021
The Smugglers Daughter is a mix of Timeslip Mystery and Historical Fiction, and I rather think that Kerry Barrett has got the merging of the two such different genre's spot on. I am a fickle reader when it comes to Time-slip Fiction, I love this genre but there are times where I do get disappointed that I don't love what I am reading as much as I probably should, but I need not worry about this book. The author has done a wonderful job, the past merging with the present so beautifully.
This book tells the story of two women; Emily in 1799 and Phoebe in the present day. Emily, lives in a little inn on the coast of Cornwall, after her father's murder her mother decides the only relationship she needs or wants is that of a bottle. Emily finds herself in a precarious position, she witnessed the murder of her father by the smugglers who are currently using their cliff top as a way to send out secret signals, which is the reason why her father was silenced and now her mother has decided to keep quiet while drinking her way through all of the booze in Cornwall it is only Emily who knows the truth and only her who wants vengeance for her father's death. She wants the answer to her father's death, why did they kill him? But will her wanting the truth and wanting her fathers killer brought to justice mean trouble for Emily?
Phoebe is currently working in the police and after an incredibly hard case involving a missing girl which has pushed her to places, she would have prefered not to go. Phoebe's darkened mind into even murkier waters, she know for the sake of her mental health she needs to take a breather and take a stock of her life. She finds herself staying with a friend in Cornwall but when she comes across the mystery of a missing girl called Emily over two hundred years ago in that very part of Cornwall she is intrigued. She starts looking into Emily Moon and what happened to her, but in doing so she finds herself getting dragged further into the deadly waters that are smugglers and history as certain things don't stay buried forever and soon Phoebe realises that she may just be in danger.
The Smuggler's Daughter is a brilliant historical mystery with a 21st-century twist, even though the characters are brilliantly portrayed and you instantly feel invested in following their stories the real scene steeler is the setting; the Cornish coast. The author's rich and vivid descriptions of the area past and present are breathtaking, you can almost smell the sea.
I enjoyed flitting back and forth between the past and the present, it was really interesting watching the two stories entwine together, it's very cleverly written how these two women's lives merge into one. I really enjoyed this book, it's dramatic and entertaining and keep you turning the pages.
The Smuggler's Daughter is n engaging and atmospheric historical mystery, which looks at how events of the past can impact the future.
This book tells the story of two women; Emily in 1799 and Phoebe in the present day. Emily, lives in a little inn on the coast of Cornwall, after her father's murder her mother decides the only relationship she needs or wants is that of a bottle. Emily finds herself in a precarious position, she witnessed the murder of her father by the smugglers who are currently using their cliff top as a way to send out secret signals, which is the reason why her father was silenced and now her mother has decided to keep quiet while drinking her way through all of the booze in Cornwall it is only Emily who knows the truth and only her who wants vengeance for her father's death. She wants the answer to her father's death, why did they kill him? But will her wanting the truth and wanting her fathers killer brought to justice mean trouble for Emily?
Phoebe is currently working in the police and after an incredibly hard case involving a missing girl which has pushed her to places, she would have prefered not to go. Phoebe's darkened mind into even murkier waters, she know for the sake of her mental health she needs to take a breather and take a stock of her life. She finds herself staying with a friend in Cornwall but when she comes across the mystery of a missing girl called Emily over two hundred years ago in that very part of Cornwall she is intrigued. She starts looking into Emily Moon and what happened to her, but in doing so she finds herself getting dragged further into the deadly waters that are smugglers and history as certain things don't stay buried forever and soon Phoebe realises that she may just be in danger.
The Smuggler's Daughter is a brilliant historical mystery with a 21st-century twist, even though the characters are brilliantly portrayed and you instantly feel invested in following their stories the real scene steeler is the setting; the Cornish coast. The author's rich and vivid descriptions of the area past and present are breathtaking, you can almost smell the sea.
I enjoyed flitting back and forth between the past and the present, it was really interesting watching the two stories entwine together, it's very cleverly written how these two women's lives merge into one. I really enjoyed this book, it's dramatic and entertaining and keep you turning the pages.
The Smuggler's Daughter is n engaging and atmospheric historical mystery, which looks at how events of the past can impact the future.
May 28, 2021
Having loved a couple of Kerry's previous books, I just knew that I wanted to read her next one and so glad that I did. This story literally grabbed a hold of me and sucked me in. I was gripped and sitting on the edge of my seat with ever chapter, right to the very end.
It didn't take me long to be drawn into the stories of both Emily/Arthur back in 1799 and that of Phoebe in present day, I was captivated right from the first few chapters. I loved how the story went back and forth from 1799 to present day which was done so seamlessly. I especially loved the historical/crime element as I learnt a few things that I never even knew, such as the whole smuggler rink, was very insightful.
It was highly captivating, dramatic and emotional read in places, I literally could not turn the pages fast enough, with wanting to find out what happens next and as to how it would all end.
I thought the story was brilliantly well written and the characters are all so very well portrayed and believable.
I just loved loved reading this story and how it all came together.
It didn't take me long to be drawn into the stories of both Emily/Arthur back in 1799 and that of Phoebe in present day, I was captivated right from the first few chapters. I loved how the story went back and forth from 1799 to present day which was done so seamlessly. I especially loved the historical/crime element as I learnt a few things that I never even knew, such as the whole smuggler rink, was very insightful.
It was highly captivating, dramatic and emotional read in places, I literally could not turn the pages fast enough, with wanting to find out what happens next and as to how it would all end.
I thought the story was brilliantly well written and the characters are all so very well portrayed and believable.
I just loved loved reading this story and how it all came together.
October 4, 2021
Good plot, but the writing needs work.
When a book shifts back and forth in time, the author has some added challenges. In this case, it was easy to follow the two storylines, but the voice of the young woman in the late 1700s sounded too much like a contemporary character. A woman of that earlier time would not have gone for walks alone at night with a young man, and a minister’s son would have shown more decorum. The characters of that time would have had a different vocabulary, phrasing, etc.
When a book shifts back and forth in time, the author has some added challenges. In this case, it was easy to follow the two storylines, but the voice of the young woman in the late 1700s sounded too much like a contemporary character. A woman of that earlier time would not have gone for walks alone at night with a young man, and a minister’s son would have shown more decorum. The characters of that time would have had a different vocabulary, phrasing, etc.
January 1, 2021
What I liked the most about this story was the police officer second guessing her intuition to later being validated by them. Women know when things are wrong, but we somehow think they aren’t reality and just pretend they aren’t facts. I wish more women would trust their instincts and believe in themselves.
April 14, 2021
I’m not normally a big fan of romantic suspense, but I do usually like the “parallel stories in different times” theme. So I was happy to receive an advance review copy of Kerry Barrett’s The Smuggler’s Daughter, which has two intertwined storylines – separated in time, but both revolving around the same pub on the coast of Cornwall.
In the long-ago story, Emily Moon is the daughter of the pub owner, who is being pressured to allow smugglers to use his pub as a storehouse. Emily has a speaking impairment which makes it difficult for her to communicate, but after she witnesses her father’s murder, she has to do something. Meanwhile, in the present, Phoebe Bellingham is a DS with a traumatic case in her recent past. So when her childhood best friend could use some help at the pub, Phoebe sees a good chance to get away and get a bit of space to work through her career issues. While in Cornwall she becomes fascinated by the bits-and-pieces that are still told of Emily’s story, and tries to figure out what really happened. But it also turns out that the pub is still an attractive spot for smugglers, and Phoebe finds she can’t leave her professional life behind after all.
Barrett does a good job of moving smoothly between the two periods, and although there isn’t really a lot of mystery to either story, I still found myself reading late into the night. Since this is romantic suspense, Emily and Phoebe each have a potential romantic interest, but I won’t say much more on that topic to avoid spoilers. But Barrett also doesn’t ignore reality – she doesn’t hide that life could be harsh, both in Emily’s time and today.
All-in-all, I surprised myself by how much I enjoyed this book, and I will now keep an eye out for some of Barrett’s other books. Please note that I tend to try to fight “star-flation” a bit, and so I don’t give many 5-star reviews, maybe only one in thirty or forty books that I read. What that means is that the 4-star rating I’m giving The Smuggler’s Daughter is a solid “read” recommendation. And my thanks to HQ Digital for the advance review copy!
In the long-ago story, Emily Moon is the daughter of the pub owner, who is being pressured to allow smugglers to use his pub as a storehouse. Emily has a speaking impairment which makes it difficult for her to communicate, but after she witnesses her father’s murder, she has to do something. Meanwhile, in the present, Phoebe Bellingham is a DS with a traumatic case in her recent past. So when her childhood best friend could use some help at the pub, Phoebe sees a good chance to get away and get a bit of space to work through her career issues. While in Cornwall she becomes fascinated by the bits-and-pieces that are still told of Emily’s story, and tries to figure out what really happened. But it also turns out that the pub is still an attractive spot for smugglers, and Phoebe finds she can’t leave her professional life behind after all.
Barrett does a good job of moving smoothly between the two periods, and although there isn’t really a lot of mystery to either story, I still found myself reading late into the night. Since this is romantic suspense, Emily and Phoebe each have a potential romantic interest, but I won’t say much more on that topic to avoid spoilers. But Barrett also doesn’t ignore reality – she doesn’t hide that life could be harsh, both in Emily’s time and today.
All-in-all, I surprised myself by how much I enjoyed this book, and I will now keep an eye out for some of Barrett’s other books. Please note that I tend to try to fight “star-flation” a bit, and so I don’t give many 5-star reviews, maybe only one in thirty or forty books that I read. What that means is that the 4-star rating I’m giving The Smuggler’s Daughter is a solid “read” recommendation. And my thanks to HQ Digital for the advance review copy!
March 27, 2021
3.5 stars
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The Smuggler’s Daughter is a dual-timeline mystery, and while I was a bit nervous about how I’d fare with it upon noting how it was structured, with both being in first-person (I’ve been known to forget whose head I’m in even with headings), since I got into the rhythm of it. And the two voices are fairly distinct, with Emily’s subtly reflecting her time period.
Ultimately , I did grasp onto Emily more, and that was likely in part due to the fact that she is what we today would consider to be autistic. I could empathize with how she‘s viewed differently by the townsfolk due to this, and provides a healthy reminder of why I’m glad to have been born in the present, even if that still isn’t without its own challenges for neurodiverse folks.
But I did still like Phoebe’s story to an extent, even if I wasn’t as personally invested in it. As an investigator, I liked how she applied her skills to looking into the mysterious goings-on of the Moon Inn (which serves as the setting connection), including a thread that ties into finding out what happened to Emily when she disappeared after she made some discoveries in relation to her father’s death and the local smuggling activities. I did admittedly gloss over a bit more in her chapters, wanting to get back to Emily.
While I didn’t feel like this book was as balanced in sucking me in to both character arcs as I desire with dual-timeline novels, I still enjoyed this one a solid amount, even if more for the historical elements. It offers a lot of familiar elements (the atmospheric Cornwall setting, a la the novels of Daphne du Maurier), with a fresh twist, and should satisfy fans of historical fiction who also like a bit of mystery.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The Smuggler’s Daughter is a dual-timeline mystery, and while I was a bit nervous about how I’d fare with it upon noting how it was structured, with both being in first-person (I’ve been known to forget whose head I’m in even with headings), since I got into the rhythm of it. And the two voices are fairly distinct, with Emily’s subtly reflecting her time period.
Ultimately , I did grasp onto Emily more, and that was likely in part due to the fact that she is what we today would consider to be autistic. I could empathize with how she‘s viewed differently by the townsfolk due to this, and provides a healthy reminder of why I’m glad to have been born in the present, even if that still isn’t without its own challenges for neurodiverse folks.
But I did still like Phoebe’s story to an extent, even if I wasn’t as personally invested in it. As an investigator, I liked how she applied her skills to looking into the mysterious goings-on of the Moon Inn (which serves as the setting connection), including a thread that ties into finding out what happened to Emily when she disappeared after she made some discoveries in relation to her father’s death and the local smuggling activities. I did admittedly gloss over a bit more in her chapters, wanting to get back to Emily.
While I didn’t feel like this book was as balanced in sucking me in to both character arcs as I desire with dual-timeline novels, I still enjoyed this one a solid amount, even if more for the historical elements. It offers a lot of familiar elements (the atmospheric Cornwall setting, a la the novels of Daphne du Maurier), with a fresh twist, and should satisfy fans of historical fiction who also like a bit of mystery.
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