Book Review: The Coral Bride by Roxanne Bouchard

Being beside the sea would be so peaceful not… but not if it’s in an area where the fishing community has rules of its own.

Goodreads Blurb

The Coral Bride by Roxanne Bouchard

When an abandoned lobster trawler is found adrift off the coast of Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula, DS Joaquin Moralès begins a straightforward search for the boat’s missing captain, Angel Roberts – a rare female in a male-dominated world. But Moralès 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 Moralès and son are pulled into murky, dangerous waters, where old resentments run deep.

Review

The first thing that struck me about The Coral Bride was how beautifully it was written. It has a lyrical prose that even made Angel’s death scene a work of art. Considering we never meet Angel alive, the amount of empathy I had for Angel as she died, simply through the writing within this scene, was immense. Thankfully, the rest of the book isn’t as morbid and the author does an excellent job bringing the stunning scenery Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula to life.

Despite the wonderful descriptions, I was sceptical as to how much I would enjoy The Coral Bride. The setting of a small fishing town was not familiar to me and I wasn’t sure how I would connect with it. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised just how engrossed I got in this book. I found the fishing profession very interesting, especially the politics that comes with it, and even more so how difficult it is for a woman to succeed in a male-dominated world.

I will admit that I found myself at times skimming the sections focused on Sebastian, Moralès’ son. However, I will also admit that it was a rather pleasant side story, exploring their father-son relationship, and it added to my perception of Moralès as a sensitive soul. Add all these points together and I found The Coral Bride an enjoyable read.

The Coral Bride by Roxanne Bouchard is out now.

I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.