The Women of Pearl Island - by Polly Crosby (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

"A luminous and beautiful novel that gently lures the reader into a captivating story with a mystery at its heart." - Jennifer Saint, bestselling author of Ariadne

Set on a secluded island off the British coast, The Women of Pearl Island is a moving and evocative story of family secrets, natural wonders and a mystery spanning decades.

When Tartelin answers an ad for a personal assistant, she doesn't know what to expect from her new employer, Marianne, an eccentric elderly woman. Marianne lives on a remote island that her family has owned for generations, and for decades her only companions have been butterflies and tightly held memories of her family.

But there are some memories Marianne would rather forget, such as when the island was commandeered by the British government during WWII. Now, if Marianne can trust Tartelin with her family's story, she might finally be able to face the long-buried secrets of her past that have kept her isolated for far too long.

Review Quotes

"The Women of Pearl Island is a luminous and beautiful novel that gently lures the reader into a captivating story with a mystery at its heart. Polly Crosby expertly weaves together the present and historical strands of the two women who seek solace on a wild, strange island, creating a powerful and haunting atmosphere. The slow unravelling of secrets throughout the novel was utterly absorbing and emotional." - Jennifer Saint, bestselling author of Ariadne

"Like a surreal cabinet of curiosities - haunting, eerie, evocative." - Bridget Collins, author of The Binding

"Polly Crosby whips up a lush, mythical world in this dream-like novel set on a small island . . . But what's so impressive is the layered richness of Crosby's imagination, realised beautifully in vivid writing. A book worm's treat!" - Eve Chase, author of The Glass House

"A beautifully written tale of butterflies, secrets and silk." - Sonia Velton, author of Blackberry and Wild Rose

"Mysterious and suspenseful, The Women of Pearl Island is a story of visceral beauty and the transformations life undergoes to survive. Crosby writes with all the intricate and entrancing artistry of a butterfly's wings." - A. J. Gnuse, author of The Girl in the Walls

"Dreamy image after image, The Unravelling is like a series of beautiful paintings." - Sara Sheridan, author of The Fair Botanists

"Polly Crosby is a skilled storyteller, drawing the reader in with a fascinating tale that spools out across two timelines, leading to a dramatic and satisfying finale. She brings the setting of the island to life with weird and wonderful detail that will keep you enthralled." - Elizabeth Lee, author of Cunning Women

"Utterly transporting. Polly Crosby plunges us into a hauntingly beautiful landscape with complex and compelling characters, luring us in with her original plot and her elegant prose. A wonderful read." - Annabel Abbs, author of Frieda: The Original Lady Chatterley