The perfect reading list for your Cornish retreat
With its natural beauty & varied landscape, Cornwall has featured in many books. Whether you're curled up in your room or taking your book to the beach, these titles bring the spirit of Cornwall to life. Here's our must-read Cornish fiction starter pack:
Rebecca – Daphne du Maurier
Set near Fowey / Inspired by Menabilly House - Atmospheric, brooding, unforgettable. This gothic classic follows a young bride haunted by her husband's past & by the looming presence of “Rebecca.” The Cornwall setting is a character in its own right, & a perfect entry point into du Maurier’s rich body of work.
Perfect for: Rainy afternoons, with tea & a blanket.
The Shell Seekers – Rosamunde Pilcher
Set in Truro & the Cornish coast - This heartwarming, multi-generational saga centres on Penelope Keeling, her family secrets, & her love for Cornwall. It's gentle, romantic, & deeply nostalgic—a classic comfort read.
Perfect for: Slow mornings with coffee & croissants.
Frenchman’s Creek – Daphne du Maurier
Set on the Helford River - A historical romance laced with adventure, this tale of an aristocratic woman & a French pirate hiding along the Cornish coast is swashbuckling escapism at its best.
Perfect for: A sunny day trip to Frenchman’s Creek—book in hand.
This Wild, Wild Country – Inga Vesper (2024)
Set in & around Truro - A recent addition to the Cornish fiction scene, this gripping mystery blends rich characterisation with dark secrets. Atmospheric & suspenseful, it offers a modern twist on Cornwall’s literary tradition.
Perfect for: Fans of Broadchurch, cold-case thrillers, & intelligent suspense.
A Cornish Summer – Catherine Alliott
Set in a fictional coastal village near Truro - Light, sharp, & full of sunlit social tension. A painter returns to Cornwall for a summer escape, only to find herself embroiled in family drama & romantic entanglements. Easy, witty reading with stunning scenery as the backdrop.
Perfect for: Poolside or beachside with rosé in hand.
Coming Home – Rosamunde Pilcher
Set across Cornwall, including Truro & Penzance - An epic wartime novel full of emotional depth, this is Pilcher at her most ambitious. It’s a long but rewarding journey through family, love, & the bonds that tie us to place.
Perfect for: Longer stays or a holiday re-read tradition.
Enys Men (Screenplay) – Mark Jenkin
Set on the Cornish coast & moorland - If you’re into eerie atmosphere & experimental storytelling, the screenplay for this Cornish indie film makes for fascinating reading. Haunting, sparse, & uniquely rooted in place—it captures a side of Cornwall rarely seen in fiction.
Perfect for: Lovers of the weird, wild, & wonderful.
Where to Find These Books
- Waterstones Truro – A well-stocked selection of Cornish fiction, new releases & signed copies
- The Falmouth Bookseller – Independent & full of character, just like the books it sells
- Bookmark in Fowey – A du Maurier pilgrimage spot & must-visit for book lovers
Read & visit
Read The Shell Seekers → Explore Truro’s Lemon Street & cathedral close
Read Frenchman’s Creek → Visit Helford Passage
Read Rebecca → Wander Fowey & Menabilly woods