Frenchman's CreekFrenchman's Creek
Score Classic
What it's about
Lady Dona St. Columb is bored with the silly, dissolute court of King Charles II in London. She escapes with her children to her husband's empty house in Cornwall, where she discovers that a French pirate has been anchoring his ship in the secret creek below. Instead of turning him in, she falls in love, and joins his raids.
Why it's worth reading
It hit #1 on the New York Times list. It's du Maurier's most romantic adventure.
You'll love it if you liked
Rebecca
The Scapegoat
OutlanderGood to know
It's short and light. There's a violent scene near the end.
By the numbers
- Readers43 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller26 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous, Gripping, Moving
More by Daphne du Maurier
Rebecca
My Cousin RachelThe Scapegoat
The House on the StrandIf you like this, read next
An American Tragedy
The Woman in White
The Postman Always Rings Twice
Scruples
Bel Canto
Motherless BrooklynExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Frenchman's Creek worth reading?
Yes. It hit #1 on the New York Times list. It ranks #2,265 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 61.1 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Frenchman's Creek about?
Lady Dona St. Columb is bored with the silly, dissolute court of King Charles II in London. She escapes with her children to her husband's empty house in Cornwall, where she discovers that a French pirate has been anchoring his ship in the secret creek below. Instead of turning him in, she falls in love, and joins his raids.
How long does it take to read Frenchman's Creek?
About 6 hours (247 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Frenchman's Creek?
If you liked it, try Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, The Scapegoat by Daphne du Maurier or Outlander by Diana Gabaldon.