You have to give credit to the author for turning a very ordinary story about two female fossil hunters in the early nineteenth century into something very enjoyable. I liked how quickly the story was set up, with Elizabeth Philpot and her sisters arriving in Lyme Regis. Then her alternating chapters with Mary Anning, a local girl, worked really well. Mary's blunt language contrasted with that of middle class Elizabeth. We always know who is narrating without being told.
The descriptions of Lyme and the lives of the women were excellent. About half way through, the book changes into something different with the arrival of Colonel Birch. I thought we were in for more of a soap opera, but Chevalier keeps the narrative moving. I wondered if the story might peter out at the end, but instead we get an exciting and surprising conclusion. The author can write dialogue superbly well, and fortunately we get lots. So it was the writing that made this such a satisfying read when, for me, there was so little plot.
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