The Coral Bride

Description

When an abandoned lobster trawler is found adrift off the coast of Quebec's Gaspe Peninsula, DS Joaquin Morales begins a straightforward search for the boat's missing captain, Angel Roberts - a rare female in a male-dominated world. But Morales finds himself blocked at every turn - by his police colleagues, by fisheries bureaucrats, and by his grown-up son, who has turned up at his door with a host of his own personal problems. When Angel's body is finally discovered, it's clear something very sinister is afoot, and Morales and his son are pulled into murky, dangerous waters, where old resentments run deep. Exquisitely written, with Bouchard's trademark lyrical prose, The Coral Bride evokes the power of the sea on the communities who depend on it, the never-ending struggle between the generations, and an extraordinary mystery at the heart of both.

Ten years or so ago, Roxanne Bouchard decided it was time she found her sea legs. So she learned to sail, first on the St Lawrence River, before taking to the open waters off the Gaspe Peninsula. The local fishermen soon invited her aboard to reel in their lobster nets, and Roxanne saw for herself that the sunrise over Bonaventure never lies. Her fifth novel (first translated into English) We Were the Salt of the Sea was published in 2018 to resounding critical acclaim, sure to be followed by its sequel, The Coral Bride. She lives in Quebec.

"A wonderfully atmospheric novel . . . I couldn't put this book down." --Gill Paul, author, The Secret Wife "An elegant crime novel that deserves to be a tremendous success." --William Ryan, author, The HolyThief "I was quite bewitched at times by the language and imagery the author employs. A very satisfying read, and recommended for those who like their crime fiction with a more literary edge." --Raven Crime Reads "Morales' determination to get a result in difficult circumstances shows him to be a character worth following." --Crime Review "Refreshingly different, unpredictable, yet deeply rich and touching, it became a part of me." --LoveReading "The translation from French has retained a dreamily poetic cast to the language." --Sunday Times Crime Club