"Great Dual Timeline Novel"
The Smuggler's Daughter
By: Kerry Barrett
Genres: Mystery Private Eye | Fiction
Posted: April 15, 2021
THE SMUGGLER'S DAUGHTER by Kerry Barrett is a dual timeline novel that follows two women who find themselves involved in a smuggling ring in Cornwall, England; one in the early 1800s and one present day.
Emily’s parents own The Ship Inn, a pub that sits on the cliffs of the sea on the outskirts of Kirrinporth. Emily is different from everyone around her. She has trouble reading body language and she struggles to express herself verbally, so she instead expresses herself through her drawings. When Emily witnesses her father’s murder, she tries to inform her mother of his death, but can’t get the words to come. As a result, she enlists the help of her only friend, Arthur, to help uncover the mystery behind her father's murder. When they discover his death was a result of her dad refusing to assist a smuggler, they join forces to obtain justice.
Phoebe is a police officer from London on a leave of absence following a bad outcome of a case in which she was involved. Her best friend, Olivia, invites Phoebe to accompany her to Cornwall for the summer in an effort to bring Phoebe out of the funk she has found herself in. Olivia has been hired to transition a pub called The Moon Girl, the same pub that had been previously called The Ship Inn. When Phoebe hers the history surrounding the pub, she involves herself in solving the centuries-old case. However, she soon discovers that the smuggling history of the pub may not be just a thing of the past.
I love the connections the author painted between the past and present in THE SMUGGLER'S DAUGHTER. The similarities between the two main characters and the crimes were a definite asset to the story. I am typically not a fan of dual timeline novels as I sometimes find them hard to follow. That was not the case with this book. In fact, the dual timeline approach worked very well. Kerry Barrett made the transitions very smooth.
The descriptions painted by the author’s words of the setting were very well done. I could almost imagine myself sitting at the pub looking out onto the water. While there is some vulgar language throughout this book, I recommend this book to readers looking for a good mystery.
Book Summary
‘I loved this book! I was hooked from the start… I devoured this.’ NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars
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.
Readers LOVE The Smuggler’s Daughter!
‘Gripping and unputdownable… A brilliantly told story and one I keep thinking about since I finished reading it.’ NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars
‘Creepy, atmospheric and gripping, a really great read.’ NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars
‘Ticked all of the boxes for me… One of those books that draws you in straight away… I found it difficult to put down.’ NetGalley reviewer
‘Atmospheric and gothic… Gives you the odd shiver up your spine… A really enjoyable read.’ NetGalley reviewer
‘An intriguing story full of adventure, imaginative characters, history, and beautiful Cornwall scenes.’ NetGalley reviewer
‘I could literally hear and smell the waves crashing on the rocks… Kept me gripped throughout… Twists along the way.’ Yeah Lifestyle
Read an Excerpt
by: Kerry Barrett
HQ Digital
April 1, 2021
On Sale: April 6, 2021
Featuring:
384 pages
ISBN: 0008430160
EAN: 9780008430160
Kindle: B08C9FKJFG
Paperback / e-Book