My thanks to Pan Macmillan Mantle for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Ghost Ship’ by Kate Mosse.

This is Book 3 in her Joubert Family Chronicles, that are inspired by the Huguenot diaspora. It follows on from ‘The Burning Chamber’ (2018) and ‘The City of Tears’ (2021).

Mosse opens the novel with a brief historical note that places the events of this and the previous novels in context and follows with a list of Principal Characters. I would advise that given the ongoing plot that it is best to read the books in order.

The main plot focuses on Louise Reydon-Joubert, first introduced as an 8-year-old child in the Epilogue of ‘The City of Tears’.

After a dramatic Prologue where in 1621, Louise, Commander of the Ghost Ship, is about to be hanged, the novel returns to Paris in 1610, where Marguerite (Minou) Reydon-Joubert has briefly returned with her granddaughter, Louise. Then King Henri of Navarre is assassinated and they are forced to flee Paris before there is a recurrence of violence against Huguenots like themselves.

In 1620, following a miscarriage of justice, Louise leaves Amsterdam on her merchant ship, the Old Moon, and eventually becomes its captain. Later, she and her crew begin to hunt down the pirates sailing the Barbary Coast to liberate those enslaved during their raids. Their ship is by then known to many as the Ghost Ship.

The novel also follows the journey of Guillaume (Gilles) Barenton. At a young age her mother had forced the girl to assume the identity of her recently deceased twin brother in order to take up a position at his uncle’s wine shop. Gilles eventually meets Louise, who is involved in the wine trade. Louise takes him with her when she leaves Amsterdam on the Old Moon as her secretary, though they quickly become much more to each other. Yet given the times, they are forced to keep their love a secret.

I enjoy nautical tales set in sailing ships on the high seas and was delighted by this aspect of ‘The Ghost Ship’, especially as the central love story was inspired by the eighteenth-century female pirates, Anne Bonny and Mary Read.

Kate Mosse is one of my favourite authors. She is a superb storyteller, who always draws me quickly into the lives of her characters. The quality of her writing is excellent and is always backed up by her impeccable research into the historical period.

Overall, ‘The Ghost Ship’ was one of my most anticipated historical novels of the year and I found it excellent from start to finish. I certainly will be looking forward to whatever is next in the Joubert Family Chronicles.

I am happy to recommend this novel and the series as a whole.

The Ghost Ship is the third novel in the Joubert Family Chronicles.
Louise Reydon-Joubert, breaks with tradition and becomes “notorious she-captain” of the Old Moon ship when the captain is murdered.
While her and her crew are hunting for pirates they come across a mysterious ghost ship, silently floating around the Barbary coast with only one survivor, a slave who they offer safety to.
Louise is inspired and her new mission is “commander of the Ghost Ship.
A sweeping novel of adventure on the high seas, with strong female characters, with strong female characters, defiant women in a dominant man’s world.
It’s all about chances “pick a card any card”
Well researched in 17th century European shipping trade and you will never look at Tenerife as a fab holiday destination again.
Thanks @katemosse @panmacmillan & @netgalley for the eARC

Kate Mosse has to be one of the biggest advocates of female authors worldwide but she is also one of our best historical authors.

The Ghost Ship is the third in her series of novels featuring the Jouberts. Now before you say ‘I haven’t read the other two’ fear not, it was definitely not necessary.

A strong family with a rich heritage Louise Joubert appeared to be the last. She was wealthy, intelligent, independent and after reading this book one of my all time favourite heroines.

Mosse portrayed a woman who lived in a man’s world, land the place she so disliked, her ship and the open seas her home, her comfort. Respected by those she worked with, hated by those who felt threatened, Mosse had created one hell of a woman.
Yes, she was strong, brave, but Mosse didn’t let Louise lose her femininity, a sense of vulnerability, the occasional lapse in confidence. It was her right hand person, her lover, Gilles, who Mosse used beautifully to bring out Louise’s more genteel side.

They were a formidable team as they waged battle against pirates freeing their human cargo destined for slavery. Her crew were full of misfits, their loyalty and ingenuity in the tightest spots provided pure drama that you couldn’t help but admire.

When the worst happened and Louise found herself cornered by those who despised her, her life in danger, the loyal Giles stepped up.

Mosse showed a person steadfast in their determination to put his Captain back on board her ship. It was a tense, nail biting race against time that saw the furtive turning of pages at great speed to get it the end and hope for a happy conclusion.

The historical detail was superb, the sense of time and place beautifully captured. I didn’t want to use the word swashbuckling, but you can’t not when your imagination runs wild, images of ships on the big seas battling it out to come out victorious.
A fantastic novel and long life Louise Joubert piratess of her time.

'The Ghost Ship' by Kate Mosse is the third book in the Burning Chambers series. Set in the 1600's it focuses on women doing things that would ordinarily be expected of a man, either by circumstance, financial backing or through standing in for male siblings. Louise Reydon Joubert, ends up captaining a vessel that hunts pirates and frees the sailors they have enslaved. Her lover Gilles Barenton is not what they seem. However, when they and their crew risk being captured, they may be hanged for their crimes.

Mosse is a very thorough researcher and this novel is packed full of period detail. The premise of the novel is really strong and Mosse is adept at creating a great sense of a place. However, for some reason it didn't work for me. This might partly be because I haven't read the others books in the series, but I found the novel a bit slow, some aspects of it confusing. I expected much more of it to be set on board ship and ultimately I didn't get the pay off I hoped for. Nonetheless this is a very well written novel and judging by other reviews I am probably in the minority.

The Ghost Ship’ is an evocative read that sweeps you along with its rich historical details and beautiful writing. This is the third book in the ‘Burning Chambers’ series that follows the Reydon-Joubert family but it absolutely can be read as a stand-alone story. I have been a huge fan of Kate Mosse’s books and this was a welcome return to the series. It did not disappoint!

The Barbary Coast 1621, a mysterious vessel floats silently on the water. It is only known as the Ghost Ship and for months it has hunted down pirate ships to liberate the slaves taken by the corsairs. Manned by a courageous crew it is a society in itself and doesn't hold to the same rigid societal expectations. A sweeping story that starts in 1610 Paris, to Amsterdam, La Rochelle and the Canaries. The Ghost Ship is a tale of piracy, adventure and buccaneering and a sweeping tale of love…

The main protagonist is Louise Reydon-Joubert and the book opens just as she is receiving her inheritance from her father. This is a day she has longed for as she wants her independence and live life on her terms. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about her adventures and was swept away in the love story with Gilles. I will be honest I hadn't read the blurb before picking this book up as you know you are guaranteed a brilliant read from Kate Mosse but this wasn't what I was expecting at all! It was so much more… I loved the history behind the early female pirates and learning more about this era! Kate has the ability to drop historical nuggets into the prose without you noticing or becoming bogged down in overly descriptive terms. It makes the chapters and narrative flow easily and gives an authentic feel to the book.

This was a real page-turner and I devoured it in a few days! I thoroughly recommend this one. Let me know if you pick it up.

This is the third instalment of The Burning Chambers series - set in the early 17th century France, Amsterdam and the Canary Islands. It follows the fortunes of Louise Reydon-Joubert - Minou and Piet’s granddaughter.

Louise, from an early age, has wanted to captain her own ship - once she gained her inheritance at 25 she bought her own ship but was not able to take control until fleeing La Rochelle after the death of Gilles’ mother. After the death of the captain Louise takes on the captaincy and the chance encounter with a slaver’s ship changes her focus. Working together she and Gilles plan how to disrupt the slavers’ trade around the Canary Islands.

However her success brings its own difficulties and she is betrayed and hunted down.

A fascinating read - it felt very real.

I was just a tad frustrated by the ending - but maybe that was just me!

Third book in the Burning Chambers series. We continue to follow Minou and Piet as they continue their life in Amsterdam alongside their family. There is more focus on Alis, Minou’s sister, whom I adored. Most of the book is devoted to Louise, Marta’s daughter, Minou and Piet’s granddaughter - we learn more of her history, her travels and her life. Louise is a courageous and headstrong woman and I also adored her character.
This series is amazing, running through the later part of the 1500’s and the early 1600’s, we learn of France and her troubled history between the Huguenots and Catholics - a theme running through all of the books, as well as the Joubert family.
Well written, engaging and enthralling. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

It was quite a while since I’d read The Burning Chamber’s and I realised I had The City of Tears on my tbr pile! I decided to read the books in order although The Ghost Ship works well as a standalone. A great tale of a very unusual woman defying the accepted norms of society. As usual Kate Mosse has delivered a great historical read

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for this ARCI’m

I loved this historical book. It's been awhile since I've read any of Kate's books and I really got into this one. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

This is the third book in The Joubert Family Chronicles.
Set in 1621 it is the story of Louise Reydon-Joubert, a female ships captain and owner of the Ghost Ship.
It sweeps you from France to Amsterdam and the barbary coast.
It is the story of a strong defiant women in a mans world.

I love a Kate Mosse book! I've read all in this series. But I felt like Louise didn't really fit the role of Captain. It was like the author wanted to write about female captains and shoved Louise into that role. I did love the descriptions of the era, though. Mosse does that sort of thing brilliantly.

In 1610 Louise Joubert isn't the stereotypical woman you expect to see on the streets of Paris. Happier to be on the sea than on land, she's frustrated by the limits expected of women around her. But on receiving an inheritance she buys a ship from her aunt and embarks on a voyage, but unexpectedly ends up being the captain as well as the owner, earning herself the reputation as La Capitana of the ghost ship, a mysterious ship terrorising pirates.
This is yet another epic novel by Kate Mosse,the mistress of historical fiction. This is the 3rd in her Joubert/The Burning Chambers series but easy to be read as a standalone. I loved everything about it, Kate brings history to life and makes you feel that you're on the ship with Louise and her crew

Although I’ve read some of Kate Mosse’s previous books I’ve not read any of this series. I was able to read easily as a stand alone novel. Set in the early 17th century in France, Amsterdam and the Canary Islands, the historical aspect are well researched and provided a backdrop to the action. I’m familiar with modern Amsterdam and the Canaries; the trading history of the Netherlands is well known but less so that of the Canary Islands and the piracy involved. I found this very interesting. The book demonstrates the difference wealth makes to the lives of the women. Louisa with her inheritance is able to become the Capitana but Gilles life choices are constrained by poverty. Fast paced and well written, I highly recommend this book.

Kate Moses never disappoints and her latest book is another winner. An epic historical tale of adventure, love and a ship captained by a woman there is plenty here to keep you engrossed.

I'll never pass up a Kate Mosse book and I have invested a lot of time in reading this series, so I was happy to be able to read the concluding book in the Burning Chambers trilogy, "The Ghost Ship". The book is ambitious, epic, and possibly a bit much for me. I really enjoyed the first in the series, the second a little bit less and this one a little bit less too. I really like the scenes and parts set in France but the book moved from France, to Amsterdam and onto the High Seas. I struggled to remember the characters from the previous books, and in this book are even more descendants. There is nothing wrong in the structure or the storytelling, it's just epic!

The Ghost Ship by Kate Mosse
This book is the 3rd in The Burning Chambers series and focuses on the life of Louise Piet and Minou’s Granddaughter. It continues the story of the Huguenot family the Reydon-Joubert. The story begins in Amsterdam and is a fascinating tale which travels to France and the Canary Islands. It is a swashbuckling tale of a powerful woman and her adventures aboard a ship which she has purchased with her inheritance.
It is also the story of a young girl who is badly treated by her mother and forced to take on her dead brother’s identity in order to inherit form her wealthy uncle. It focuses on a secret romance which cannot be revealed to anyone and at its heart is a strong woman trying to make her way in a society where men hold all the power. I loved the way in which the novel ended allowing us to hold out hope that there might be a 4th novel in the series focusing on yet another woman from the Reydon- Joubert family. I have seen two versions of the cover one of which is fantastic and will draw the reader’s eye in any bookshop. The book would work effectively as a standalone but the depth of understanding is increased by reading the two earlier novels. I will definitely be recommending this novel to my various book groups. I would like to thank the author, the publishers and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Let’s be clear that anything Kate writes will go into my celebrated piles – she is on point when it comes to research and bringing a version of the past to life. This is the third in the Joubert Family Chronicles, preceded by The City of Tears, which is also excellent. It is 1621 and a mysterious vessely floats on the water. Captained by Louise Reydon-Joubert (yep, a woman), she and her crew have been pirate hunting, hoping to liberate those enslaved. But when push comes to shove – and the ship is falling apart through attack – Louise masquerades as a loved one to ensure she’s safe… and not just her, her lover. They dare not risk exposure (all will be revealed) and if they’re caught, well, it doesn’t look good. Allow yourself to be swept away through Kate’s meticulous research; this is historical fiction at its very, very best.

I received a copy of the book for a free and unbiased opinion.
Kate Mosse is fast becoming one of my favourite authors and The Ghost Ship doesn’t disappoint. While the book is the third in the trilogy, it can easily be read as a standalone, in fact the blurb may make this seem like it is a standalone book rather than part of a series. Louise Joubert is a heroine out of her time who becomes a female captain, rescuer of slaves ( or pirate) and murderer. The book follows her story from when she is about to receive her inheritance, her attempts to live a respectable life to her complicated attraction to Gillies which transforms her life.
Gilles also a man out of keeping with the times with a secret that could be deadly for Louise and himself.
The plot moves from the chaos of Paris to the conservative town of Amsterdam and becomes a fast-paced naval adventure when Louise and Gile takes to the seas around the North Coast of Africa. The book is rich with historical detail especially the impact of the slave trade.
The book also continues Minou and Piet- they are now Grandparents and guardians to Louise, Marta’s, and Vidal’s child. The Vidal family’s fate continues intertwine with Joubert making this a much more intergenerational tale of intrigue and revenge.
The persecution of the Huguenots plays less of a role in this book but rears its ugly head again towards the end forcing the Joubert family to seek refuge elsewhere. I can’t wait to read the next book after that ending.
Content Warning
Refences to sexual assault, child abuse, slavery

I gave this book a chance as I absolutely loved Kate Mosse’s first trilogy. Unfortunately I think her storytelling has gone downhill and I found this novel to be unfulfilling. The historic detail is very well described but I found the characters and the storyline a little thin.

As usual with Kate Mosse, the research for this book was obviously thorough and well applied. However, I found it rather slow going and even the ending did not satisfy as a great story. Louise, as the captain of the ship, did not ring true to me. Great to have such a heroin, but I felt that the circumstance and tales emerging were so unrealistic that it felt on the verge of a spoof novel.
I hadn’t realised that this was the third in a series about the Joubert family. Perhaps reading the previous ones first would improve the experience of this book.