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Kimberley Sun
The remote town of Broome, the desert and the Kimberley coast - Australia's last frontier and a land of ancient beauty. Lily Barton, now 53, is beautiful, adventurous and looking for a life change. Sami, her daughter, is driving alone through the outback to finally, reluctantly confront her family roots. Together they are swept into a world where legends, myths and reality converge. They find that everyone they meet has a story to tell, from Farouz, the son of an Afghan camel driver, to Bobby, the Chinese-Aboriginal man who is tangled up in the murder of a German tourist. And who is the mysterious artist hiding in the desert? All have a secret and a story to share as each finds their place under the Kimberley Sun.
603 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2002
108 people are currently reading
303 people want to read
About the author
Di Morrissey
77 books379 followersDi Morrissey (born 18 March 1943 in Wingham, New South Wales) is one of Australia's most popular female novelists. She grew up in the remote surrounds of Pittwater, north of Sydney, Australia.
Growing up she counted famous Australian actor Chips Rafferty as a close mentor and friend who helped provide for her and her mother after the death of her father as a child, sending them overseas to California to live with family.
In her later years, Di went on to become a journalist on London's Fleet Street, and worked for CBS in Honolulu, where she lived with her husband who was in the foreign service, and even had a small role in the series Hawaii Five-0, a guest role in season three, episode seven, 1970 starring as 'Alicia Anderson'.
After moving back to Australia, Di published her first book 'Heart of the Dreaming' which instantly became a bestseller. Since then Di has published another 17 bestsellers, her latest being 'The Silent Country'.
Growing up she counted famous Australian actor Chips Rafferty as a close mentor and friend who helped provide for her and her mother after the death of her father as a child, sending them overseas to California to live with family.
In her later years, Di went on to become a journalist on London's Fleet Street, and worked for CBS in Honolulu, where she lived with her husband who was in the foreign service, and even had a small role in the series Hawaii Five-0, a guest role in season three, episode seven, 1970 starring as 'Alicia Anderson'.
After moving back to Australia, Di published her first book 'Heart of the Dreaming' which instantly became a bestseller. Since then Di has published another 17 bestsellers, her latest being 'The Silent Country'.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
January 31, 2023
Tears Of The Moon was a magnificent story focusing on two different timelines, 1893 and 1995, featuring intriguing characters and the pearling industry in Broome, it's sequel Kimberley Sun is not as striking but still thoroughly enjoyable and wraps up Lily and her daughter Sami's adventures in the outback, and Sami finally confronting her family's Aboriginal roots.
February 18, 2019
This is the sequel to Tears of the Moon, which I unfortunately read over 2 years ago, and can’t remember a lot of! I'm not sure why I left it so long to read this one, and it doesn’t really matter, and didn’t affect my enjoyment of the story (obviously - I gave it 5★!), but I wished I could have remembered the first one better - and even when I flipped through the book again, it all looked more complicated than I recalled, with characters I couldn’t even remember!
But I still really loved this one - the author’s descriptions of the Kimberley, and the town of Broome are amazing, I didn’t find that the storyline was predictable, there’s an element of romance but it isn’t overdone. There is a strong indigenous element, and I liked her exploration of family and stories and identity. It was all just wonderful! This is the first Di Morrissey I’ve read in almost 2 years - I’m not sure why I didn’t read any of her works last year, but she’s firmly back on my radar as a favourite author!
But I still really loved this one - the author’s descriptions of the Kimberley, and the town of Broome are amazing, I didn’t find that the storyline was predictable, there’s an element of romance but it isn’t overdone. There is a strong indigenous element, and I liked her exploration of family and stories and identity. It was all just wonderful! This is the first Di Morrissey I’ve read in almost 2 years - I’m not sure why I didn’t read any of her works last year, but she’s firmly back on my radar as a favourite author!
July 27, 2015
Di Morrissey is my new favorite author. This was the continuing saga from Tears of the Moon. I'm so sad that it's over but I'm ready to start on the next book. I just haven't chosen it yet. Pearling, Australia, the wilds, history, family, strong women...it has it all!
October 13, 2021
I haven’t reviewed all of this author’s books. I enjoyed her earlier books, but have decided not to read her news ones.
December 30, 2022
I finished this because I needed resolution to all the ill fitting loose threads that were bumbling along side each other.
The author was recommended to me by someone working in a book store somewhere along my journey. I will not be reading any more by this particular author. I found myself rolling my eyes frequently, everyone was simply gorgeous, talented and about to be at the top of their game. I was cringing at the constant inference that it was these beautiful people who were life’s winners. Yes there was token diversity that was at the heart of stories plot. For me personally none of the first nation content rang true, it just didn’t feel authentic. Sadly it felt tokenistic and attempts and comodofying suffering. Suffering that is clearly not at all understood by Di Morrissey.
The unwritten vibe screamed, look at me I care about the poor sad marginalized in Australia I really do……. But we the white privileged are still better.
I’m pleased to report the romantic interests all worked out as expected.
When completed I put it in the bin, it did not merit generosity of me passing it on for another's reading pleasure.
The author was recommended to me by someone working in a book store somewhere along my journey. I will not be reading any more by this particular author. I found myself rolling my eyes frequently, everyone was simply gorgeous, talented and about to be at the top of their game. I was cringing at the constant inference that it was these beautiful people who were life’s winners. Yes there was token diversity that was at the heart of stories plot. For me personally none of the first nation content rang true, it just didn’t feel authentic. Sadly it felt tokenistic and attempts and comodofying suffering. Suffering that is clearly not at all understood by Di Morrissey.
The unwritten vibe screamed, look at me I care about the poor sad marginalized in Australia I really do……. But we the white privileged are still better.
I’m pleased to report the romantic interests all worked out as expected.
When completed I put it in the bin, it did not merit generosity of me passing it on for another's reading pleasure.
October 7, 2016
I can't say I enjoyed this book as it felt very disjointed. It was mostly aboriginal history and a few random things thrown in like peal farming in WA. A murder and an illegal immigrant some romance. Oh and don't forget the daughter who throws tantrums out of the blue. All that plus more random stuff that just did not fit together for me.
July 1, 2016
A great read, but not as much WOW factor as Tears of the Moon.
June 16, 2022
An entertaining and well written novel with an intricate plot that is extremely enjoyable to read. The Kimberley region around Broome is evocatively described and a lot of research into pearling and life in Broome makes the book authentic. Having been to Broome, I recognized many place names and this added to my enjoyment of the book.
December 5, 2016
An ok sequel to 'Tears of the Moon' but not nearly as engaging. A smattering of Aboriginal history but it rambled on a little too much for me. Sami, the daughter was a simpering, unbelievable character who randomly attached herself to people she'd only just met. It felt a little erratic, switching between scenarios and characters without really exploring motives thoroughly enough.
I love the narrator Kate Hood and she was the main reason I carried on until the end.
I love the narrator Kate Hood and she was the main reason I carried on until the end.
January 29, 2014
I have to admit I am disappointed with this one from Di Morrissey. It was really slow to get going and I did not really feel it had my attention until just under 1/2 way through. Not a gripping novel more a rambling book very rich in Aboriginal history and certainly visually rich.
October 21, 2017
I didn’t like this book anywhere near as much as the first book in this series. Sami really annoyed me in parts.
April 22, 2018
A really great continuation of the last book, but just not as much a page turner. Enjoyed reading this but was a little disjointed in some sections making it a slower read.
February 11, 2024
Je me souviens encore aisément du sentiment d’évasion et de voyage lorsque je découvrais la plume de Di Morrissey et sa précédente œuvre, Perles de Lune. Alors quand j’ai reçu sa suite, L’Appel de la Terre sauvage, pouvant être lue indépendamment, je m’attendais à revivre les mêmes émotions et le même enchantement. Et quand bien même l’évasion à de nouveau été au rendez-vous, je ne ressors pas aussi convaincu que précédemment.
La faute à une orientation quelque peu trop dramatique avec tous ces secrets et autres intrigues se dévoilant au rythme de ces derniers, finissant par ne former qu’une seule et centrale intrigue. Néanmoins et l’intérêt de ces lectures n’étant pas la consistance du récit mais bien davantage la plume de l’auteure, je ne peux nier avoir ressenti un réel intérêt quant au style toujours aussi visuel de la romancière qui continue à sublimer l’Australie et ses contrées sauvages. Avec efficacité et style, cette dernière dévoile de merveilleux paysages le tout accompagné d’une mystérieuse atmosphère liée au coutumes et autres légendes locales.
Un folklore parfaitement représenté par la présence d’aborigènes permettant également à celle-ci de mettre en valeur de touchantes et fortes valeurs à travers les différents destins esquissés à travers son récit choral et familial. Lily se dévoile ainsi toujours aussi plaisante et compatissante à retrouver ainsi qu’à suivre dans la continuité de sa quête personnelle, cette fois-ci en compagnie de Sami, sa descendance qui permet à Di Morrissey de passer le flambeau avec tendresse, douceur et parfois poésie. J’apprécie les romans ou les sentiments familiaux mais également d’appartenances sont mis à l’honneur comme ce fut le cas ici là. Ces sentiments rythment grandement l’intrigue même si ce denier se révèle plus inégal que précédemment. En effet et malgré sa même densité, il est vrai que certaines longueurs se sont parfois fait ressentir.
C’est pourquoi et malgré des promesses de voyages et d’évasion plus que tenues et enchanteresses. Je ne ressors pas aussi touché que lors de ma précédente lecture. La faute à une orientation parfois trop mélodramatique malgré la sensibilité des sentiments et des valeurs esquissées. Néanmoins et comme à l’accoutumée, la plume de l’auteure se dévoile toujours aussi efficace que dépaysante.
Cette lecture a été réalisée à l’occasion de mon partenariat avec les Editions de L’Archipel.
La faute à une orientation quelque peu trop dramatique avec tous ces secrets et autres intrigues se dévoilant au rythme de ces derniers, finissant par ne former qu’une seule et centrale intrigue. Néanmoins et l’intérêt de ces lectures n’étant pas la consistance du récit mais bien davantage la plume de l’auteure, je ne peux nier avoir ressenti un réel intérêt quant au style toujours aussi visuel de la romancière qui continue à sublimer l’Australie et ses contrées sauvages. Avec efficacité et style, cette dernière dévoile de merveilleux paysages le tout accompagné d’une mystérieuse atmosphère liée au coutumes et autres légendes locales.
Un folklore parfaitement représenté par la présence d’aborigènes permettant également à celle-ci de mettre en valeur de touchantes et fortes valeurs à travers les différents destins esquissés à travers son récit choral et familial. Lily se dévoile ainsi toujours aussi plaisante et compatissante à retrouver ainsi qu’à suivre dans la continuité de sa quête personnelle, cette fois-ci en compagnie de Sami, sa descendance qui permet à Di Morrissey de passer le flambeau avec tendresse, douceur et parfois poésie. J’apprécie les romans ou les sentiments familiaux mais également d’appartenances sont mis à l’honneur comme ce fut le cas ici là. Ces sentiments rythment grandement l’intrigue même si ce denier se révèle plus inégal que précédemment. En effet et malgré sa même densité, il est vrai que certaines longueurs se sont parfois fait ressentir.
C’est pourquoi et malgré des promesses de voyages et d’évasion plus que tenues et enchanteresses. Je ne ressors pas aussi touché que lors de ma précédente lecture. La faute à une orientation parfois trop mélodramatique malgré la sensibilité des sentiments et des valeurs esquissées. Néanmoins et comme à l’accoutumée, la plume de l’auteure se dévoile toujours aussi efficace que dépaysante.
Cette lecture a été réalisée à l’occasion de mon partenariat avec les Editions de L’Archipel.
September 3, 2021
I’ve never read a Di Morrissey book before. I picked this one up by chance on a cafe book swap shelf. I was pleasantly surprised, as I wasn’t expecting to enjoy the book as much as I did.
It really seems like Morrissey wanted to cover alot of themes in the novel, which I wasn’t exactly against, but It did feel a bit ‘all over the place’ and unfinished at times..
For example, I really wanted a better explanation of the murder and the man responsible. The ending felt a little rushed.
With that aside, I simply loved the way that Morrissey describes Broome.
The woman should have been a travel writer!
The read took longer than usual, because I was constantly putting down the book to google images of Cable beach, or dinosaur fossils, or Broome pearls.
As soon as Covid permits, I’m packing my bag. Future holiday planned!
It really seems like Morrissey wanted to cover alot of themes in the novel, which I wasn’t exactly against, but It did feel a bit ‘all over the place’ and unfinished at times..
For example, I really wanted a better explanation of the murder and the man responsible. The ending felt a little rushed.
With that aside, I simply loved the way that Morrissey describes Broome.
The woman should have been a travel writer!
The read took longer than usual, because I was constantly putting down the book to google images of Cable beach, or dinosaur fossils, or Broome pearls.
As soon as Covid permits, I’m packing my bag. Future holiday planned!
December 27, 2023
As a sequel to Tears of the Moon (which is absolutely LOVED), Kimberley Sun definitely doesn’t live up to the adventurous infatuation felt in the first book, but is still a good read. Like the first book, the mysterious yet magical setting in Broome, and equally the influence of pearling on Lily and her newly profound connection to her history is encapsulating. Sami’s personal journey trying to accept her family’s history is interesting, as she certainly doesn’t feel the connection or closeness that Lily does. The journey takes you through the deep Outback, Pauline’s jewellery shop, Rosie’s art gallery and to a remote Aboriginal community, which all play a part in linking Lily and Sami to their history, and bringing them closer to each other.
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November 2, 2022Kimberley Sun is the sequel to Di Morrissey’s Tears of the Moon. We follow Lily Barton as she finds her place amongst her lost family history in Western Australia’s Kimberley region. As she dares to contemplate the shape of a new life in Broome, she must also consider the impact of her direction on her reluctant daughter Sami. When Sami joins her mother in Western Australia, the pair work at reconciling their differences, only to become embroiled in the mysterious death of a German traveller. In navigating their family history, new relationships and new opportunities, they stumble upon a curious artefact that shines a light on the mystery death.
November 24, 2024
It took me a while to complete the book as there were stories within stories. So many characters to get your head around. Not a page turner for me, not that I expected it to be. I wish I read the back section ' a note from Di' first.
The mother daughter relationship dominated the overall theme, while at the same time story flowing into many directions. Various cultures were explored . The indigenous people and their ways of life, including the strong spiritual focus as both mother and daughter explored their own backgrounds. ( A theme in many of Di's books) Makes me keen to explore my own background further, great grandparents and further back.
The mother daughter relationship dominated the overall theme, while at the same time story flowing into many directions. Various cultures were explored . The indigenous people and their ways of life, including the strong spiritual focus as both mother and daughter explored their own backgrounds. ( A theme in many of Di's books) Makes me keen to explore my own background further, great grandparents and further back.
October 17, 2025
I thought I'd read this book back when it was first released. All these years later, in revisiting it, it seemed like I'd come to it for the first time. I honestly couldn't remember the story and certainly didn't remember enjoying it as much as I did this time around. Continuing the story from Tears of The Moon, my all-time favourite Di Morrissey book, and one that sent me off to Broome for a few trips, Kimberley Sun is set some years after that earlier book. The pearling industry is still a key factor, as is the colourful, multicultural mix that is Broome's native population. While Kimberley Sun wasn't previous on my list of favourite Di Morrissey books, it certainly is now.
May 9, 2017
What an absolute rubbish of a book, total wastage of my time.
Most probably the author Di Morrissey was pressured by her publisher to write a sequel to her amazing book "Tears of the moon" and the result has been awful.
There is simply no story in this book. The whole book is a monotonous repetition of the main character Lily's plans to start a pearl farming business and her daughter Samantha's inner conflicts with some random aboriginal and Afghan refugee stuff.
The only thing that I enjoyed in this book was the prologue.
Most probably the author Di Morrissey was pressured by her publisher to write a sequel to her amazing book "Tears of the moon" and the result has been awful.
There is simply no story in this book. The whole book is a monotonous repetition of the main character Lily's plans to start a pearl farming business and her daughter Samantha's inner conflicts with some random aboriginal and Afghan refugee stuff.
The only thing that I enjoyed in this book was the prologue.
April 30, 2018
This is the first time I've ready a Di Morrissey book; never again. I managed to get about 80 pages in before giving up. Her sentence structuring is like that of an 8 year old. The flow of the story line is disjointed and has no continuity. Characters are introduced at random and offer nothing to the story, seemingly their only purpose being a bit of name-dropping. How Morrissey has managed to amass a following is beyond me.
May 27, 2023
While Kimberley Sun doesn’t quite live up to Tears of the Moon, it was still another enjoyable story. The descriptions really give a sense of place, and I liked the characters and going on the journey with Lily.
My disappointment is that the murder mystery was more or less glossed over and a lot of unanswered questions remain. I was expecting it to play more of a role in the story.
My disappointment is that the murder mystery was more or less glossed over and a lot of unanswered questions remain. I was expecting it to play more of a role in the story.
April 17, 2018
There is so much I did not like in this book. Broome is the most unusual city I know but nothing as it is described in this book. If anyone would visit he town expecting to see a life described by the book, there would be disappointment only.
Fortunately though Broome does have its own magic and it's worth a trip...
Fortunately though Broome does have its own magic and it's worth a trip...
April 16, 2020
This book is so boring ! It's not anywhere near as good as it's first book Tears of The Moon which I loved.
Sami is so snooty and thinks she's better than everyone else especially the indigenous and doesn't have much faith in her mother. She treats her mother pretty poorly.
Nothing happens in this book. Truly nothing. Don't waste your time with this one.
Sami is so snooty and thinks she's better than everyone else especially the indigenous and doesn't have much faith in her mother. She treats her mother pretty poorly.
Nothing happens in this book. Truly nothing. Don't waste your time with this one.
May 4, 2024
I read Tears of the Moon about six years ago and really liked it. I knew there was a follow up book but finding books by this author in the United States is not easy.
This part of Australia sounds beautiful and the story was very interesting. With a blend of mystery and folklore of Islam and the aborigines thrown in.
This part of Australia sounds beautiful and the story was very interesting. With a blend of mystery and folklore of Islam and the aborigines thrown in.
December 11, 2018
KIMBERLEY SUN is the 3rd of the trilogy. I absolutely LOVE IT. Again, I didn’t want this book to end. What an amazing book. I loved learning more about the Aboriginal Dreaming Stories & their Culture.
Thank you Di Morrissey, for another WONDERFUL BOOK
Thank you Di Morrissey, for another WONDERFUL BOOK
September 27, 2019
This is the second book in Di Morrissey's trilogy about Broome.
Enjoyed it, but not quite as much as the first one, still educational for me, even made went want to visit Broome to see if all the places mentioned are still there.
Enjoyed it, but not quite as much as the first one, still educational for me, even made went want to visit Broome to see if all the places mentioned are still there.
August 23, 2021
A book so well written it provokes so many emotions in the reader. You might feel like asking yourself where did I come from, what are my stories. Or just enjoy the book for the pleasure you got out of their stories. If you let it could open your eyes.
November 26, 2024
Nice continuation of ‘Tears of the Moon’ but relies on the reader’s memory to connect the people & stories. A little thin on solid story bridges. No clear understanding of Lilies Sydney life before Broome.
Not as intriguing as TOTM & storyline a bit predictable
Not as intriguing as TOTM & storyline a bit predictable
May 24, 2019
This was such a disappointment, after reading tears of the moon, which I loved.
September 12, 2019
I loved this novel. The characters, topics raised, the magic of the setting have all remained with me in the weeks after finishing it. One of Di Morrissey’s best novels to date.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews