The Naturalist’s Daughter by Tea Cooper (Austenprose PR Book Tour)

 

Title: The Naturalist’s Daughter

Author:  Tea Cooper

Narrated by:  Corinne Davies

Publisher: Harper Muse

Length: Approximately 13 hours and 37 minutes

Source: Thank you @tea_cooper @harpermusebooks @austenprose for the physical review copy and @netgalley for the audiobook review copy.

What is your favorite animal to watch in the wild?  While I was in college, I loved watching beavers swim in an area that was along the bike bath I used. 

In 1808 Agnes Bank, Australia, Rose Winton works with her father, Charles on his research on the platypus.  This research is groundbreaking.  After he is involved in an accident, Rose sets off to present his findings to the Royal Society in England.  Why did her mission ultimately fail?  Wha family secrets will she discover?

In 1908 Sydney, Tamsin Alleyn, is sent to retrieve an old sketchbook that was donated to the library by a recently deceased elderly lady.  Tamsin discovers that the sketchbook is very valuable and provides clues to a mystery from the past.  What has she discovered?

·       This review was supposed to be posted last week but was delayed by numerous technical problems.

·       This was a dual narrative novel.  I liked both timelines.  At first, I was engaged by the 1808 timelines the most, but then I was caught up in the 1908 story.  They both tied up nicely at the end.

·       I loved the STEM tie in with the research on the platypus and trying to get the Royal Society to believe that such a creature existed.  It was fascinating.

·       This historical fiction story had a few gasp out loud moments from me, and it had some suspense and Gothic elements in the last half of the novel.  It made it a very enjoyable read for me, that completely captured my imagination.

·       I loved the sweet romance that occurred in both timeless.

·       The characters were believable and relatable.  I enjoyed their journey and really wanted to know more about them.

·       I love that “Jamaica Inn” was mentioned as well as that it served pasties.  This seemed like a good Easter egg for author Daphne Du Maurier’s classic novel, Jamaica Inn.  Jamaica Inn is a real inn that can be found in Cornwall, England.

·       I always find the history of the convict ships to Australia to be fascinating.

·       This was an intriguing audiobook.  I didn’t want to stop listening!

·       I was disappointed to find out in the author’s note that Charles and Rose Winton were fictional characters.  They were so believably real throughout the novel.  There was real history mixed into the story.

The Naturalist’s Daughter by Tea Cooper was a fascinating and unique historical tale with great characters, STEM elements, and suspense.  This is another highly recommended book from me!

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Two fearless women—living a century apart—find themselves entangled in the mystery surrounding the biggest scientific controversy of the nineteenth century: the classification of the platypus.

1808 Agnes Banks, NSW

Rose Winton wants nothing more than to work with her father, eminent naturalist Charles Winton, on his groundbreaking study of the platypus. Not only does she love him with all her heart but the discoveries they have made could turn the scientific world on its head. When Charles is unable to make the long sea journey to present his findings to the prestigious Royal Society in England, Rose must venture forth in his stead. What she discovers will forever alter the course of scientific history.

1908 Sydney, NSW

Tamsin Alleyn has been given a mission: travel to the Hunter Valley and retrieve an old sketchbook of debatable value, gifted to the Public Library by a recluse. But when she gets there, she finds there is more to the book than meets the eye, and more than one interested party. Shaw Everdene, a young antiquarian bookseller and lawyer, seems to have his own agenda when it comes to the book. Determined to uncover the book's true origin, Tamsin agrees to join forces with him.

The deeper they delve, the more intricate the mystery of the book's authorship becomes. As the lives of two women a century apart converge, discoveries emerge from the past with far-reaching consequences in this riveting tale of courage and discovery.

AUTHOR BIO

Tea Cooper is an established Australian author of historical fiction. In a past life, she was a teacher, a journalist, and a farmer. These days she haunts museums and indulges her passion for storytelling. She is the internationally bestselling author of several novels, including The Naturalist’s Daughter; the USA TODAY bestselling The Woman in the Green Dress; The Girl in the Painting, The Cartographer's Secret, winner of the prestigious Daphne du Maurier Award; and The Fossil Hunter.

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.