A review by madamelacy
Frenchman's Creek by Daphne du Maurier

adventurous dark funny informative mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The story is primarily set in 17th Century Cornwall.  

There were a lot of nautical terms in the book which I didn’t understand, but the descriptions of the natural world were beautiful. 

Dona, dissatisfied with her life and her marriage retreats to Cornwall with her children and their nursemaid. She soon meets a Breton pirate and joins him in his escapades, jeopardising her life and her family. 

Dona’s character was well-developed and I had a lot of sympathy for her living within society’s constraints when she was clearly a bit of a free spirit. I personally found it a bit hard to like her because she was a truly terrible mother! However her passionate romance with the Frenchman did make for a gripping read.  The Pirate was a hot, French, bad boy who could cook … what’s not to love?!?

Good, clean romp of a book. 

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