The Cartographer’s Secret by Tea Cooper (TLC Book Tour)

 What is your favorite historical mystery novel?

 Clear off your calendar as once you pick up The Cartographer’s Secret, you won’t want to put it down.   This duel narrative novel is set in Australia.  On a ranch in the Hunter Valley in 1880, Evie Ludgrove is going through a lot of changes at home with her mother’s death and her sister’s marriage.  She shares her father’s obsession with discovering the fate of the famed Australian explorer, Dr. Ludwig Leichhardt.  She leaves one day to research a clue and is never seen again.  What happened to Evie?

 In 1911, Letitia Rawlings feels confined by the life that her mom wants for her in Sydney.  After her brother’s tragic death, she takes his specially outfitted Model T Ford on an adventure to Yellow Rock in the Hunter’s Valley to let her great aunt Olivia to know of his passing.  Once there, Letitia discovers family secrets and feels herself pulled into the mystery of Evie.  Will she discover what happened to Evie and will she determine how to move forward in life herself?

 I couldn’t put this book down.  I loved the mystery of Dr. Ludwig Leichhardt.  I had had never heard of this particular piece of Australian history and was intrigued to learn in the author’s note at the end that it was a true story!  I was equally if not more intrigued by the disappearance of Evie.  What happened to her when she left for a seemingly short trip to investigate some clues?  I couldn’t stop reading as I really wanted to know!  The story had a riveting plot.

 The book also had great characters.  In particular, I loved the characters of Lettie and Great-Aunt Olivia. They were both head strong women who made their own way in a man’s world.  I in particular loved Lettie driving her Model T around and impressing everyone as she repaired it herself.

 I was also fascinated by Evie’s beautiful map that she made herself. 

After a summer internship of surveying back in the day, I was intrigued by the brief talks about surveying and mapmaking. While the map is not in the book, the afterword has a link for a place to look at maps that inspired the author.

 Overall, The Cartographer’s Secret is a riveting historical mystery novel that you won’t be able to put down!!

 Book Source:  Review copy from Harper Muse as part of the TLC Book Tour.  Thank-you!  I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.