The Lighthouse Keeper’s Daughter

‘Compelling… I can’t recommend this one highly enough.’ Gill Paul, bestselling author of The Secret Wife

‘Exquisite… a clear head and shoulders above the rest’ Sunday Independent

‘A splendid read… Not to be missed.’ Kate Quinn ( New York Times Bestselling Author of The Alice Network)

1838: when a terrible storm blows up off the Northumberland coast, Grace Darling, the lighthouse-keeper’s daughter, knows there is little chance of survival for the passengers on the small ship battling the waves. But her actions set in motion an incredible feat of bravery that echoes down the century.
1938: when nineteen-year-old Matilda Emmerson sails across the Atlantic to New England, she faces an uncertain future. Staying with her reclusive relative, Harriet Flaherty, a lighthouse keeper on Rhode Island, Matilda discovers a discarded portrait that opens a window on to a secret that will change her life forever.

Reviews

‘Atmospheric’ My Weekly

‘Shines a brilliant light on female courage and endurance…A splendid read’ Kate Quinn, New York Times Bestselling Author of The Alice Network

‘This exquisite, thoroughly researched book places her a clear head and shoulders above the rest.’ Sunday Independent

‘A compelling read, the best kind of historical fiction.’ Portobello Book Blog

‘So absorbing, I couldn’t put it down.’ Book Chat

Praise for Hazel Gaynor:

‘This is a gorgeous, uplifting, magical book that will have you hooked from the start.’ Gill Paul author of The Secret Wife

‘Peopled with unforgettable characters…Once begun, I dare you to put it down.’ Kathleen Tessaro, author of The Perfume Collector

‘Beautiful, heart-wrenching yet life affirming – I loved it.’ Fionnuala Kearney, author of You, Me and Other People

‘Hazel delivers a cast of strong, courageous women for readers to fall in love with.’ writing.ie

‘Her pages pulse with luxurious language and fine detail… an emotive and accessible read' Gloss Magazine

‘Gorgeously written’ Irish Independent

‘Based on the real life of Grace Darling and two fierce storms, Gaynor’s tale is both heartbreaking and captivating.’ Historical Novel Society

About the author

Hazel Gaynor is an award-winning, New York Times, USA Today, Irish Times and internationally bestselling author known for her historical novels which explore the defining events of the 20th century. A debut author recipient of the 2015 RNA Historical Novel of the Year award, her work has since been shortlisted for the 2019 HWA Gold Crown Award, the 2020 RNA Awards, and the Irish Book Awards in 2017, 2020 and 2023. THE BIRD IN THE BAMBOO CAGE was a bestseller in the USA and her most recent novel, THE LAST LIFEBOAT, was a Times of London historical novel of the month and a 2024 Audie winner for Best Fiction Narrator. Hazel's next novel, BEFORE DOROTHY, will be published in June 2025. Her co-written historical novels with Heather Webb have all been published to critical acclaim. Their latest collaboration, CHRISTMAS WITH THE QUEEN, will be published in November 2024. Her work has been translated into 20 languages in 27 territories to date. She lives in Ireland with her family.