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The Pearl Thief

(Code Name Verity #1)

Elizabeth Wein (Goodreads Author)

3.73 · Rating details · 5,327 ratings · 964 reviews

Before Verity…there was Julie.

When fifteen-year-old Julia Beaufort-Stuart wakes up in the hospital, she knows the lazy summer break she’d imagined won’t be exactly like she anticipated. And once she returns to her grandfather’s estate, a bit banged up but alive, she begins to realize that her injury might not have been an accident. One of her family’s employees is missing, ...more

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Hardcover, 326 pages

Published May 2nd 2017 by Disney-Hyperion

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· 5,327 ratings · 964 reviews

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Jan 24, 2017 Hailey (Hailey in Bookland) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, mystery-thriller-paranormal, owned

I enjoyed this, not quite as much as CNV, but I still really enjoyed it! It was awesome to get some backstory on Julie, she's such an interesting character. Overall a great read! ...more

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Sep 21, 2016 C.G. Drews rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, historical-fiction, read-2017

Okay WOW this was so fantastic and my heart is so full of love for this beautiful story right now!! I absolutely adored Code Name Verity, so when I heard there was going to be a prequel about Julie, I just about lost my left sock in excitement. I am SO PLEASED!! Although fair warning: this is literally nothing like CNV. It is more like a whimsical Scottish frolic and romp in the 1930s when Julie was 15 and caught up in her family's estate that includes castles, pearls, and the occasional dead m ...more

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Feb 01, 2017 Dannii Elle rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mysterious-miasmas, historical-highness

You can find my full review on United by Pop.

Set in 1930s Britain, this focuses on Lady Julia’s return to her grandparents regal home, in the summer of her fifteenth year. However, she isn’t here for a holiday. With the death of her grandfather and the accumulation of a lifetime of debt, the house is to be sold and converted into a school. Julia is to assist her family in organising their ancestral belongings and heirlooms. Further troubles are heaped on this broken family when Julia is struck b ...more

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Nov 27, 2016 Monica Edinger rated it it was amazing

My blog review:

Elizabeth Wein's books offer so much. The worlds she creates are remarkable in their textures; whether they are set in actual historical pasts or fantasy historical pasts, they are rich with touches large and small that bring the worlds alive for readers. She does something similar with characters, making them complex, flawed, and vivid whether they are the ones we care deeply about, those that terrify us, or simply those a bit more on the fringe of the story. All of them feel ful My blog review:

Elizabeth Wein's books offer so much. The worlds she creates are remarkable in their textures; whether they are set in actual historical pasts or fantasy historical pasts, they are rich with touches large and small that bring the worlds alive for readers. She does something similar with characters, making them complex, flawed, and vivid whether they are the ones we care deeply about, those that terrify us, or simply those a bit more on the fringe of the story. All of them feel fully rounded, ones we readers inhabit fully as we read. Then there is plot --- Wein is a master at creating complex, driving, tangled, twisty, and unpredictable plots. Lastly, there is emotion, and not just for the characters --- these are books that set readers' hearts pounding, produce gasps of astonishment, smiles at the wit, and tears of joy and sadness.

Among Wein's works are two novels set during Word War II: the jaw-dropping, gasp-inducing Code Name Verity and the equally dramatic and heartrending Rose Under Fire. Now we have The Pearl Thief, a prequel to Code Name Verity, featuring a much younger Julie. I admit I was a bit wary starting the novel, wondering if Wein was pushing too far with the same characters , but I needed have worried. This work is marvelous, as fully realized in all its facets as all the others. While the book isn't out for a while yet, I wanted to get my thoughts down now (in a spoiler free way of course) so as not to have them drift away and to, hopefully, excite those of you waiting for it.

It is 1938 as the story begins and we meet fifteen-year-old Julie heading home to her family's Scottish estate from her Swiss boarding school for the summer. The death of her grandfather and the need to pay off his extensive debt has meant that the estate has been sold and is being turned into a school. And so Julie's return is bittersweet, her family occupying a few rooms of the place temporarily until they move out for good. Shortly after her arrival she lands in the hospital, having been hit on the head by an unknown assailant and then saved by local Travelers. Things and people go missing, mysteries pile up and Julie, her brother Jamie, and the Traveler siblings Euan and Ellen try to get to the bottom of it all.

While it has some of the delicious attributes of a cosy mystery, this is far more rich, a highly complex narrative featuring Julie's coming-of-age (emotionally, sexually, and intellectually), the unpacking of family histories (Julie's and the Travelers), direct presentations of period prejudices, all within a riveting plot full of Wein's trademark twists and turns. As in her previous books, Wein creates a rich past world, fascinating characters, dramatic scenes, and great emotional depth. While it is not necessary to have any familiarity with Code Name Verity, those who have it will enjoy the younger Julie, observing her developing into the young woman that she is later on. Finally, in addition to everything else, Wein is just a wonderful wordsmith. I love her sentences, her dry wit. Say this brief bit on page 47.

Mother got up again, with an air of determination.

"Perhaps I'm a witness!" I said relishing the idea.

No one else relished it.

The Pearl Thief is a complete delight. Highly recommended.

...more

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Nov 25, 2017 CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: bisexual, young-adult, fiction, queer, mystery-thriller, historical

Unfortunately a disappointing read in the end. I was fascinated by some of the historical material and loved learning about Scottish Travellers and river mussel pearls which kept my interest in the early parts of the novel. But the characters and the narrative itself fell flat. I never felt emotionally invested in any of the characters nor did the central mystery add any tension. No one really came alive; in fact the place felt more alive than the people. I wonder if others' glowing reviews of t ...more

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May 22, 2017 Ashley Marie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: histfic-british, lgbtqiap

Finished last night and dove straight back into Code Name Verity.

I picked up this book without knowing much about it. Yes, there's the blurb, but I didn't really pay attention to that. I just knew I adored Code Name Verity and as this was a prequel to that special book, I was reading it regardless (and hopefully loving it too). As it happens, I did love it. But it certainly wasn't what I was expecting.

I love the Pearl Thief for the innate Scottishness that infuses every page. I love it for the v ...more

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Nov 17, 2020 Deacon Tom F rated it liked it · review of another edition

I planned falling in love with this book—just didn’t happen.

The plot seemed circuitous until the very ending. Additionally, does a girl of that age really have this much freedom?

The confusing part is that Elizabeth Wien clearly researched it very well. The section on river pearls and the Scotch lifestyle were strong points.

The Characters seem to be well rounded especially, the main character, Julie in her coming of age experience, was very impressive. The rest were questionable and if nothing ...more

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Jun 14, 2017 Shomeret rated it it was amazing

Shelves: my-reviews, mystery-thriller, historical-fiction, young-adult

The main reason why I wanted to read The Pearl Thief is because British Travellers are prominent in the plot. Travellers are often confused with the Romani who are now believed to have originated in India. Travellers are native to Britain. They were also called Tinkers because they mended pots and kettles, but the term Tinker was used as an insult. I was astonished to read in this book that Tinker Bell was given that name to show that she was "a low class fairy". James Barrie, the creator of Tin ...more

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Apr 04, 2017 Dianne rated it really liked it

She was coming home, not for a visit, but to help liquidate her deceased grandfather’s estate. The debt collectors were at the door and the house was to become a school. Fifteen-year-old Julia must be part of the dismantling of lifetimes of accumulated family treasures and heirlooms, but an attack by a shadowy figure leaves her comatose, awaking a victim of amnesia. She is only alive because of two young Travelers.

When things go missing, the Travelers are accused and now it is up to Julia, her ...more

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Apr 03, 2017 Sarah Laurence rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-fiction, historical-fiction, mystery

Code Name Verity fans will be overjoyed to learn that Elizabeth Wein has written a brilliant prequel to her bestseller spy thriller. The Pearl Thief is set in 1938 Scotland, where 15-year-old Julie is spending one final summer on her deceased grandfather's estate. This parlor mystery is far more innocent and sweet than Wein's World War II novels. The Pearl Thief reads like an Agatha Christie mystery for young teens, but the gorgeous writing, Shakespearean themes, and historical details would app Code Name Verity fans will be overjoyed to learn that Elizabeth Wein has written a brilliant prequel to her bestseller spy thriller. The Pearl Thief is set in 1938 Scotland, where 15-year-old Julie is spending one final summer on her deceased grandfather's estate. This parlor mystery is far more innocent and sweet than Wein's World War II novels. The Pearl Thief reads like an Agatha Christie mystery for young teens, but the gorgeous writing, Shakespearean themes, and historical details would appeal to adult readers too.

Due to the 1930's British setting, The Pearl Thief reminded me of a favorite classic, I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith. Once again we have a formerly wealthy family living on an estate with a crumbling castle, which mirrors their reversal of fortune. There's a clash between teen-idealized romance and the carnal desires of adults. The lyrical writing style and bucolic setting are similar, but it's the eloquent girl protagonist, who yearns for a grander life, that makes these books unforgettable.

The Pearl Thief's central plot is a missing man mystery. Police dredge the river for a body when a museum scholar, hired to catalogue the grandfather's treasures for auction, vanishes while digging for pearls. Julie was the last to see the scholar alive, but she was hit on the head and can't remember what happened. Having devoured many mysteries as a teen, I guessed the main culprit in the early chapters. That didn't spoil the story because most of the suspense comes from worrying if Julie will string the clues together in time and act sensibly.

Julie has trouble controlling her impulses, leading to risky behavior. She's a beautiful girl full of dualities: revelling in silk ballgowns and rare river pearls but also envious of her brothers' freedom. Once her hair is cut short, Julie tries on gender identities playfully like Shakespearean costumes. The bisexual undertones in Code Name Verity are further explored in this progressive prequel while still adhering to the conservative morality of the time period and of her aristocratic class. The most controversial part of The Pearl Thief is Julie's crush on a middle aged man, who encourages her flirtations.

Rebellious Julie bulks against societal norms to befriend a deaf librarian with facial deformities and a family of Travellers. She has to overcome her own prejudices to earn their trust. Wein makes all her characters realistically flawed: the Travellers and the deaf woman are also prejudiced against each other. No one is perfect, but characters can learn from their mistakes and change.

Over the course of The Pearl Thief, Julie grows into the young woman who will become the spy Verity. This delightful prequel feels like it was written first, and the books could be read in either order. I appreciate Code Name Verity all the more for understanding the backstory, and I hope Elizabeth Wein writes another Julie novel. Julie/Verity is one of my favorite YA heroines.

Reviewer's Disclosure: Since I've reviewed other novels by Elizabeth Wein, Disney Hyperion USA offered me the ARC of The Pearl Thief. The digital galley had formatting errors, making it unreadable, so I requested a print galley from Bloomsbury UK (I'm on sabbatical in England.) Borrowing a clue from the mystery, the Bloomsbury galley came with (fake) pearls in the envelope! Elizabeth Wein is a blog buddy and my favorite historical YA author. One of her editors, Kate Egan, is a friend of mine too.

Full Review posted on my blog for Barrie Summy's Book Review Club: http://blog.sarahlaurence.com/2017/04... ...more

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Apr 30, 2017 Moray Teale rated it did not like it · review of another edition

I received a free advance copy of The Pearl Thief through Netgalley in return for a (brutally) honest review.

Vintage mysteries are one of my favourite genres when I need entertaining escapism, I like a quirky amateur detective and a case that's all about the puzzle rather than the crime itself. It's a simple formula but it is difficult to get right and The Pearl Thief fails on several levels. The setting is Scotland, it's impossible to miss it with the superabundance of dialect words and phrases I received a free advance copy of The Pearl Thief through Netgalley in return for a (brutally) honest review.

Vintage mysteries are one of my favourite genres when I need entertaining escapism, I like a quirky amateur detective and a case that's all about the puzzle rather than the crime itself. It's a simple formula but it is difficult to get right and The Pearl Thief fails on several levels. The setting is Scotland, it's impossible to miss it with the superabundance of dialect words and phrases. It's so overwhelming at times that it's simply trying too hard, desperate to remind you at each turn that this is Scotland, with all the semi-mythical associations that go along with it. The time period is less easy to pin down, vaguely interwar, perhaps? 1920s? 1930s? It was never made clear.

My real bug-bear with this one was the characters. Retro crime, even the best of Golden Age crime, isn't known for the depth of its characters. They mainly play to type, representing broad categories of society in quite predictable ways with the eccentric detective perhaps breaking mould a little with his or her particular foibles. It's an established form, comforting in its way to those who enjoy the genre, however this does not remove all restraints on characters, they may not be particularly complex but there needs to be some element of credibility. Julie just did not. She's a thoroughly modern girl transposed onto a past time without any consideration for how her background and her surrounding would have shaped her character. There's a desperate need for diversity in literature but to simplify the experience of bisexuality in this way without any acknowledgement of the uncertainty or difficulties surrounding this issue is a disservice. Sexuality, and particularly sexuality for women in any form, is not easy now, for Julie to accept it so blithely in the early twentieth century is ridiculous. Which brings me to the issue of her age. Julie is supposed to be fifteen and yet not a thing throws her, she is utterly self-possessed, so self-possessed that the way she responds to several events would be a stretch for an experienced adult, let alone a sheltered, upper-class, boarding school educated teenage girl.

Julie aside, the plot would be difficult for any character support. The amnesia trope is never a good move unless you make the effort to subvert expectations, it really is only one step above the "it was all a dream" resolution. It's simply lazy writing because it provides a mystery without requiring any effort and those sudden flashbacks are an easy route to clues that would be otherwise meaningless. The fact that Julie's amnesia apparently stems from a head injury that left her unconscious for several DAYS and yet she manifests no other symptoms of concussion (except when she feigns them) is a medical miracle. With this spurious base the story lost any hold on me that it might have had, it is almost unbearably slow and totally lacking in tension. I found myself having to think carefully in order to remember what the mystery actually was, I certainly couldn't bring myself to care. ...more

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Jun 09, 2017 Valerie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

@ELIZABETH WEIN: I WILL PAY YOU TO KEEP WRITING PREQUELS ABOUT JULIE

i'm going to miss adventuring with julie soooo much!!! also spoiler but (view spoiler) honestly makes me want to sob and now i am just really hankering to throw my tbr pile out the window and just reread code name verity and have a good cry ...more

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Mar 06, 2017 Elena rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc, historical, reviewed, young-adult, lgbtqia, mystery

I was surprised and a smidge trepidatious to learn that this was a prequel to the much-beloved Code Name Verity, but this works surprisingly well as a stand-alone, as an entry to the loosely connected Code Name Verity series, or as a treat for those who've already read and loved Verity.

In this book, we meet 15-year-old Julie, who goes on to become the heroine of Code Name Verity. But in these more innocent pre-war years, Julie's concerns are focused on her family estate in Scotland, where her fa I was surprised and a smidge trepidatious to learn that this was a prequel to the much-beloved Code Name Verity, but this works surprisingly well as a stand-alone, as an entry to the loosely connected Code Name Verity series, or as a treat for those who've already read and loved Verity.

In this book, we meet 15-year-old Julie, who goes on to become the heroine of Code Name Verity. But in these more innocent pre-war years, Julie's concerns are focused on her family estate in Scotland, where her family is being ousted due to her deceased grandfather's severe debt. The estate is being converted to a boys' school, and over Julie's summer break from boarding school she and her family are tasked with clearing out generations' worth of her family's things while sharing the house with a slew of workmen. Almost immediately Julie is hit on the head, and she wakes up two days later amid some very dramatic and mysterious goings-on involving pearls, a love affair, her grandfather's collection of historical artifacts, a missing person, and a family of local Travellers. Theories, accusations, and prejudices abound as the town bumbles toward solving this tangled mystery.

I saw another reviewer refer to this as an Agatha Christie-esque house mystery, and I'd agree with that. While Code Name Verity was brutal and brilliant and heart-wrenching, this is a much quieter story from a more innocent time in Julie's life that provides more room for character exploration. I really enjoyed getting to know Julie before she became Verity, without the distancing lens of Verity's unreliable narration. Her daring, confident, and prideful character is shown in development here, and Wein did a great job of writing Julie in the middle of her journey toward the more worldly spy we come to know later.

I especially liked the exploration of Julie's sexuality, something that was a bit ambiguous in Code Name Verity due to the nature of that book's framing mechanism. (Everyone who said Julie was obviously queer: You are vindicated!) Julie herself is still exploring in this book, but she does so with a sort of "I am who I am and the world will bow before me regardless" arrogance that I had to smile at. Julie is not one to berate herself for her feelings, whatever they may be, and that was a nice change of pace from many of the LGBT characters who appear in historical YA.

This is a very well-written country mystery for young adults that works as well as a stand-alone as it does an exploration into the earlier life of a beloved character. If you haven't yet read Code Name Verity, you could easily start here, and in fact I would recommend it. I'm actually thinking about rereading Code Name Verity now that I have more insight into Julie's character and history--I think it would change my reading experience of that book for the better.

Thanks to Disney-Hyperion and NetGalley for providing a review copy. ...more

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Dec 15, 2017 Ace rated it really liked it

4 stars
⛤⛤⛤⛤
Back in March 2016, I shelved a book called Code Name Verity. I cannot for the life of me remember why I shelved it into my TBR, but it's been sitting there patiently waiting to be the book of the day. The team at The Morning News then put a book called The Pearl Thief (Code Name Verity #0.5) onto the longlist for the Tournament of Books for 2018. I thought, oh hang on that rings a bell. My library had a copy of this on audiobook, so with nothing to lose, I downloaded it and started l ...more

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Jul 20, 2016 Elevetha rated it did not like it

Shelves: nothing-special-here, a-new-cup-of-tea-please, once-is-enough, character-hate, failure-to-care, craptastic-review, love-polygons-of-doom, oh-hell-no, of-course-i-ya, shaving-cream

Things I hated aside, I honestly didn't care for this much. The mystery was dull, and it didn't work very well at all as a prequel for Code Name Verity. Julie didn't feel like Julie and the whole tone felt off.

Now for the hate.

The romances. Julie is attracted to and makes out with

A. an older man
B. a girl
C. the girl's brother.

How about no.

It was just weird and badly written. 10/10 would not recommend. ...more

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Sep 27, 2017 meeners rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ya

as should be abundantly clear by my GR reviews, e. wein is one of my favorite living authors; i don't think a single one of her books has ever failed to delight. given that, you'd think i'd have read and reviewed this straight away - but because she is one of my favorite authors, i wanted to wait until i had a free weekend to just read. i don't know what i was thinking; weekends haven't worked like that for me in a depressingly long time! eventually i realized how stupid i was being and moved th as should be abundantly clear by my GR reviews, e. wein is one of my favorite living authors; i don't think a single one of her books has ever failed to delight. given that, you'd think i'd have read and reviewed this straight away - but because she is one of my favorite authors, i wanted to wait until i had a free weekend to just read. i don't know what i was thinking; weekends haven't worked like that for me in a depressingly long time! eventually i realized how stupid i was being and moved this book to my regular night-time reading pile, but i still find myself with the problem of time (this time of writing - or at least, of the non-work-related kind). so, sadly, this probably won't be the review this book deserves - but i want to force at least some of my thoughts on (digital) paper, however scattered, so i can return to them later.

you don't need to read code name verity to understand and enjoy the pearl thief, but i think the majority of readers (myself included) will have most likely come to the latter with the former in mind. just in case, though, spoilers about CNV in the cut below...

(view spoiler)

aside from the connections to CNV, though, there's so much to enjoy in the pearl thief - julie's wonderfully vivid narrative voice, the way the scottish setting is so fully and lovingly realized, the cast of supporting characters (jamie!), julie's explorations of her sexuality, and so on. it's a book that bolsters and delights and questions and makes you question in turn. like falling in love; like discovering your best friend. ...more

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May 02, 2017 Forever Young Adult added it

Shelves: reviewed-by-jennie, historical-fiction

Graded By: Jennie
Cover Story: Go On, Take The Money and Run
BFF Charm: Yay!
Swoonworthy Scale: 6
Talky Talk: I Capture the Castle
Bonus Factors: Crumbling Aristocracy, Sweet Ride, History’s Mysteries
Relationship Status: It’s Like Being In Love, Discovering Your Best Friend

Read the full book report here. ...more

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May 14, 2017 Megan (thebookishtwins) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, netgalley, bisexual-mc, own, lgbtqia, not-in-usa-or-american-protaganist, f-f-romance, ukya, reviewed, 2017-releases

I received this free from the publisher via NetGalley

Before Verity, and before Queenie, there was Julie Beaufort-Stuart. It’s 1938 and Julie Beaufort-Stuart is heading back to her family’s ancestral home, the Strathfearn estate, in Perthshire. Her grandfather’s death and debts have led to the forced sale of the estate, all the belongings, and Julie’s childhood goes with it. But not just that, the McEwens family, a Scottish Traveller family, have been a part of the landscape for as long as Julie I received this free from the publisher via NetGalley

Before Verity, and before Queenie, there was Julie Beaufort-Stuart. It’s 1938 and Julie Beaufort-Stuart is heading back to her family’s ancestral home, the Strathfearn estate, in Perthshire. Her grandfather’s death and debts have led to the forced sale of the estate, all the belongings, and Julie’s childhood goes with it. But not just that, the McEwens family, a Scottish Traveller family, have been a part of the landscape for as long as Julie remembers. Their families and the estate go back generations. However, a man is missing and presumed murdered, and it’s the McEwens, who are loathed by all but her family, that are assumed to be the culprits. But Julie is determined to prove her friends innocent, as well as figuring out where her family’s missing pearls have gone…

The Pearl Thief is a prequel to Code Name Verity, but it can be read completely separate from Code Name Verity as both a stand-alone or as an introduction to Verity. I also appreciated the different setting and atmosphere.

Anyway, I LOVED The Pearl Thief. I loved that we got to see Julie in a completely different setting and light. We got to see her without all her trauma and pain. We got to see how she became that brilliant and angry Scotswoman we all fell in love with in Code Name Verity. We finally saw how she became Queenie, a nickname given to her by Ellen, the stubborn and passionate Scottish traveller who initially clashes with Julie, but they slowly grow feelings for each other.

Most people who follow me already know I’m a huge fan of Code Name Verity and Julie Beaufort-Stuart. Her compelling narrative, her cleverness and wit, her stubbornness and anger, and her love and her passion. We see all of this in The Pearl Thief, which is what made it a gripping read. We see Julie develop a lot in The Pearl Thief, we see her learning how to utilise her intelligence, and we see her finding her skill for manipulation, we see her develop new friendships and overcome prejudices. It really does help you appreciate the Verity we knew in Code Name Verity as we see her backstory. I also loved Ellen. She was passionate about archaeology and history, smart and ambitious, and persevered in the face of the hate she received. I enjoyed the insight into both Julie and Ellen’s family histories and how their families go back for generations.

The word bisexual isn’t featured, but Julie does show an interest in both men and women, and her primary love interest is a girl. I loved the exploration of Julie and her sexuality, which is only shown in subtext in Code Name Verity, but also I loved seeing this exploration while also bearing in mind the conservative societal and familial morals and norms of the time period.

Fans of Code Name Verity will no doubt love The Pearl Thief. We get more of an insight and backstory into our beloved Julie and how she became the woman we know and love. ...more

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Jan 31, 2019 Leona Petrovic rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, books-i-own

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Apr 12, 2019 Kathryn rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: added-because-part-of-series, audiobooks, reading-list-2019, fiction, 4-stars, aty-2019, ps-2019

Not quite as good as Code Name Verity or Rose Under Fire, but still a great story. And like the other two, I listened to this as an audiobook and the narration was wonderful!! I think it added to the story!

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Sep 12, 2018 Book Concierge rated it liked it

Shelves: audio, coming-of-age, historical-fiction, mystery, concierge, library, series, social-commentary, strong-women, nature

Book on CD performed by Maggie Service
3.5***

15-year-old Julia-Beaufort Stuart comes home from finishing school for one final summer at the family’s ancestral home: Strathfearn House. She has many fond memories of time spent with her older brothers, Sandy and Jamie, and especially with her grandfather, the recently deceased Earl of Strathfearn. Now the property has been sold and is being converted into a school for boys. The construction workers have pretty much taken over the house and grounds, Book on CD performed by Maggie Service
3.5***

15-year-old Julia-Beaufort Stuart comes home from finishing school for one final summer at the family’s ancestral home: Strathfearn House. She has many fond memories of time spent with her older brothers, Sandy and Jamie, and especially with her grandfather, the recently deceased Earl of Strathfearn. Now the property has been sold and is being converted into a school for boys. The construction workers have pretty much taken over the house and grounds, with the family ensconced in a few upstairs rooms, and the morning room. But a chance encounter by the river, will result in charges of murder and theft.

This is a prequel of sorts to Wein’s Code Name Verity , giving readers a little background on the character of Julia. It’s a good mystery and coming-of-age tale set in 1938 in the Scottish Highlands.

Julia is awakening to the pleasures of love, and she has two somewhat competing crushes. The construction manager, Francis Dunbar, is obviously forbidden. He is “much” older (in his 30s), and has no idea that she’s only fifteen, and she’s rather forward in showing her attraction (at least in private). Then there’s the enigmatic Ellen McEwen. She and her brother Euan are members of a family of Travelers who have worked seasonally on the Strathfearn estate for generations. Ellen is confident, bold, accomplished and angry. But she also immensely attractive to Julia.

The plot focuses on the estates treasure trove of ancient artifacts, including Bronze-age spear points, centuries-old hand-crafted items, and a jar full of Scottish river pearls, some purportedly once belonging to Mary Queen of Scots. When the archeologist hired to inventory the collection goes missing, at about the same time that Julia is found near the river with her head bashed by an unknown solid object, the local officials are quick to suspect the Travelers. Julia is certain they had nothing to do with either event, but she really cannot remember how she came to be injured.

I thought Wein did a good job of moving the plot forward and keeping the reader guessing. There are plenty of suspects and certain bits of evidence point first in one direction and then in another. I figured it out barely ahead of Julia. I was a little disappointed in how the final act played out, but still thoroughly enjoyed the novel.

There are several really good supporting characters in the book. Librarian Mary Kinnaird stands out for her dedication as the curator of the library’s collections, and her accomplishments despite her disabilities. Born with Treacher Collins Syndrome, her facial features are distorted, and she has some hearing loss, but she’s a fierce defender and stands her ground more than once. Julia’s nanny, Solange, who is also the French companion of Julia’s grandmother, stands out as well; although, she is a bit weepy and prone to hysteria. And on the other side of the coin, Sergeant Angus Henderson, the water bailiff, is a power-drunk bully who goes toe-to-toe with Julia one time too many.

The author’s note at the end of the novel gives additional historical information about Travelers as well as Scottish river pearls. Very interesting and makes me want to read more.

Maggie Service does a marvelous job voicing the audiobook. She sets a great pace, and brings Julia, Ellen, Euan and Jamie to life.

...more

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Jan 12, 2017 Emily rated it it was ok

HOW DID I NOT KNOW THERE WAS GOING TO BE A PREQUEL AHHH IM SO EXCITED

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Oct 18, 2017 Pocket Full of Pages rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: on-our-shelf

“The wave of memory had submerged me for a whole minute, while I’d just sat staring and let it all come flooding back”.

We received a copy of this novel from Bloomsbury Australia in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, Bloomsbury!

We were just so excited to read ‘The Pearl Thief’ when it arrived in the mail, which was such a lovely surprise! We have been wanting to read ‘Code Named Verity’ for a while now which we can’t wait to pick up! When reading this prequel story, we weren’t sure what to “The wave of memory had submerged me for a whole minute, while I’d just sat staring and let it all come flooding back”.

We received a copy of this novel from Bloomsbury Australia in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, Bloomsbury!

We were just so excited to read ‘The Pearl Thief’ when it arrived in the mail, which was such a lovely surprise! We have been wanting to read ‘Code Named Verity’ for a while now which we can’t wait to pick up! When reading this prequel story, we weren’t sure what to expect due to all the hype around the author. Although we were a little disappointed with the world we still did enjoy this read.

The Pearl Thief follows Julia Beaufort-Stuart a fifteen-year-old girl who wakes up in hospital desperately trying to fill in the gaps for the events/ points in time which she can’t remember. As she retraces her footsteps she meets new people who are similar in age called Ellen and Euan. The two take her on an adventure of a lifetime where she discovers the price of which people pay, herself and the truth behind her country town.

We aren’t entirely sure if we enjoyed Julia as the main protagonist. Although we really did love when she found the voice to stand up for others. However, we also felt as though she was a little immature at times.

We did really enjoy the character of Ellen though. She was strong-minded and let everyone know exactly what she believed in. We just wish we got to know Euan a bit better as his character was a little distant in the story-line.

We also enjoyed the romance aspects that were included in the plot. We were quite surprised to find a different relationship building, especially in this historical fiction novel 😊.

The mystery aspects of the novel were enjoyable and we did find ourselves coming to all different types of strange conclusions! A link to finding/ looking for pearls definitely added to the novels spark.

Overall, The Pearl Thief was an enjoyable read. It explored a time where people found it hard to stand up for what they believed in, however, family, friends and believing in each other were definitely some of our favourite themes which were covered within the novel. The friendship building was just beautiful!

Book Rating: 3/5 Stars. ...more

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Mar 19, 2017 Lizz rated it really liked it

Shelves: lgbtqia-characters, read-in-2017, xyoung-adult

Oh, how I adored this book.

First things first: thanks to my coworker Tory for grabbing an ARC for me at ALA Midwinter. I'd forgotten this book was even coming out and she presented it to me one evening at work with no fanfare whatsoever and I think I may have scared her a bit with my enthusiasm. Thanks, Tory.

(Okay, from here on this review has SPOILERS for CODE NAME VERITY. If there are spoilers for Pearl Thief, they'll be at the end and I'll put a line before them so you can stop if you need t ...more

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Jul 11, 2018 Katie Hanna rated it really liked it

*Scottish pride intensifies*

Y'all, I loved this book. I mean?? 1920s Scotland?? Proud aristocrats sitting in the ruins of their ancient land-holdings?? Class and race prejudice??? Bagpipes??? Tam-o'-shanters???Murder???? PEARLS???? WHAT IS THERE NOT TO LIKE HERE?!

Also, the descriptions were beautiful. I'm just sayin'. And Julie is such a fun, flirty, spunky heroine--definitely a realistic teenage girl, so A++ for that. *nods* (view spoiler) ...more

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Jul 01, 2017 Elizabeth ♛Smart Girls Love Trashy Books♛ rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, romance, girls-in-pretty-dresses, western-europe, yuri-lesbian, royalty-nobility, siblings, historical-fiction, mystery, great-depression

-POTENTIAL SPOILERS-

Around this time last year, maybe a little bit earlier, I read Elizabeth Wein's newest book at that time, Black Dove, White Raven. Much like her previous two books, I really enjoyed it. So I knew I would go into this book liking it too.

At first I was a bit confused about who Julie was supposed to be. I didn't remember her from Code Name Verity, even though I have read it. I then looked it up and found out SHE'S supposed to be Verity. Alright then.

Anyway, much like her othe -POTENTIAL SPOILERS-

Around this time last year, maybe a little bit earlier, I read Elizabeth Wein's newest book at that time, Black Dove, White Raven. Much like her previous two books, I really enjoyed it. So I knew I would go into this book liking it too.

At first I was a bit confused about who Julie was supposed to be. I didn't remember her from Code Name Verity, even though I have read it. I then looked it up and found out SHE'S supposed to be Verity. Alright then.

Anyway, much like her other books, I really loved this one. It was a huge change of pace from her others, which all focus on flying in some way, but in this one, it doesn't really focus on airplanes, which honestly kinda disappointed me. I was hoping we would have a scene of Julie learning how to fly or deciding she wanted to become a pilot, but none of that was really in this book.

I did like seeing her spend her summer in Scotland and all of the interesting people and things she comes across, and how most of the characters are portrayed as being flawed; everyone has their own prejudices to get over.

As usual, I liked Elizabeth Wein's writing style. One of the main reasons why I liked Julie in Code Name Verity was because of how snarky she was, despite the danger she was in. While Julie here is a bit younger and thus more innocent, she's still got some snark in here, and she's also really impulsive. Sometimes she does make rash decisions.

I also liked the mystery aspect of this. While not being a fan of mysteries in general, I do tend to lean more toward historical mysteries, and I think this is one that was really well done.

I also liked how there were a lot of references to Code Name Verity in this, such as where Julie got her nickname of 'Queenie' from. That was honestly a really cute part of the book.

Is it just me, or is that cover really pretty? It sparkled under the lights and I could even see my reflection in it!

Honestly this book makes me want to read Code Name Verity again. Now I want to know if we'll ever get a book about Maddie?
...more

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Feb 24, 2017 Kristin rated it it was amazing

Shelves: friendship, historical-fiction, mystery, read-in-2017, ya, relationships, identity, best-of-2017

Completely different from Code Name Verity, but it still employs the same elements in many ways. By no means a show stopper, but it tells a realistic story of a teenage girl coming into her own. I can absolutely see how Julie the 15-year-old grows up to become a spy. Here she's just a greener version of that person - courageous, privileged, a little thoughtless, in love with being in love, and totally mercenary. In fact the mercenary side of her was nearly as enjoyable as the stuff that reminded ...more

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Dec 30, 2016 Tamsyn rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical-fiction, travel-multicultural, youngadult, best-of-the-year, mystery

It was wonderful to be reunited with Julie, one of my favorite characters of recent years, in this prequel to Code Name Verity. Elizabeth Wein gives her such an appealing voice as well as creating a new cast of interesting characters that I loved this one. Didn't want it to end. Bonus that without a war backdrop it could be a mystery linked with local history and a glimpse into the life of an old Scottish family, and none of the horrors that were WWII. Now I will need to read her earlier books w ...more

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Mar 28, 2017 Clay rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult

As a formation story--Julia's--for Wein's genius, riveting Code Name Verity, this is quieter stunner which deepens the first, makes it the more poignant, (if such a thing is possible).

Read alone or first, I don't think The Pearl Thief would have had the same power over me, but it's a beautifully written coming-of-age story and a solid mystery, where the highborn Julia returns home pre-war and draws strength, character, and courage from her family, community, and Traveller friends for the shatte ...more

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May 03, 2017 Marie rated it it was amazing

july 2017: i absolutely adored it, it's the perfect light summer historical scottish mystery with sensational young teenagers going around living The Life (and being alive). it gives even more depth to julie's character and makes you want a CNV #0,5...

to be noted, the Traveller, the scottish setting and the pearls mystery were well researched by EW and it's not such a common effort in YA.

may 2017: CHEWIE WE'RE HOME!!!!! imagine all the julie x jamie!!!!! ...more

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About Elizabeth Wein

Elizabeth Wein

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Paste Magazine has listed Code Name Verity as the best YA novel of the 2010 decade! The full list is here:

https://www.pastemagazine.com/article...
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Quotes from The Pearl Thief

“I love the story of a thing. I love a thing for what it means a thousand times more than for what it's worth.” — 12 likes

“That is a terrifically intimate thing, you know? Letting a stranger light your cigarette. Leaning forward so he can hold a flame to your lips. Pausing to breathe in before you pull back again.” — 11 likes

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