The Fossil Hunter by Tea Cooper was an enjoyable read. It moved along at a pretty good pace and bounced between two timelines. While the two stories do intersect and have a great bearing upon the other, it takes a while to get to that point. Knowing Cooper often writes this way, I didn’t mind waiting to see how it all came together. I love the focus on science, paleontology, and women pursuing passions ahead of their time. I think the story and characters were well written. While Sam was hard to figure out at times, I love how he supported P.J. and became her biggest fan. P.J. was determined to get to the end of the mystery and was willing to work hard to get there. I appreciated her tenacity and refusal to quit. Mellie’s character was not quite as intriguing to me, but I loved her imagination and Anthea’s willingness to foster her inquisitive mind. The last few pages made the entire story worth the process. Hang on through the questions and you will get there! I happily recommend this book to others.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

Oh how I wanted to love this one so much. I love dinosaurs and Mary Anning and pioneers of palaeontology… But unfortunately nothing in this story really grabbed me. It took about 100 pages for anything of interest to actually get going and I think my mind might have checked out by then because the latter part of the story was pretty cool, but I just didn’t care as much as I wanted. I didn’t feel as connected with the characters as I typically do in books, which is disappointing, especially in a nearly 400 page book. This had so much potential and it fell flat for me. I’m sure it’s a fine enough book but the writing did not work for me. Though, clearly a lot of research was put into it and I really appreciate that. It felt authentic. The historical notes were fascinating!

Tea Cooper is one of the few current day foreign authors whose work I follow. She is an established Australian author of clean, historical fiction. I have truly enjoyed each of her books that I have read, and I was happy to receive a complimentary copy of The Fossil Hunter from Harper Muse via NetGalley without obligation. It is a pleasure to share my opinions with other fans of historical fiction.

While I am not a fan of Darwin, The Fossil Hunter did not delve deeply enough into his work to tarnish my enjoyment of the book. The unanswered questions about the fossils found as well as those possibly still hidden in Bow Wow Gorge were compelling, but even more so were the questions regarding the fate of the fictional Anthea Winstanley and her adopted daughter Mellie Vale. The role of Providence in the story was also something to mull over. Tea Cooper's writing style is relaxed, yet builds the tension required for full engagement with a story. As an American, I love the glimpses into Australian culture and vocabulary. Cooper has done a wonderful job balancing and connecting the two timelines separated by about seventy years. I highly recommend The Fossil Hunter.

The Fossil Hunter by Tea Cooper is a wonderful dual timeline historical fiction that I thoroughly enjoyed.

I have been a fan of Ms. Cooper for a while now, and I am really glad I was able to read this book from her as well.

This book that weaves between 1847 in Australia and 1919 literally has it all: history, mystery, suspense, romance, and is just so unique and engaging.

The female characters from both time periods are all complex, intriguing, and I loved their respective quests for knowledge and unearthing the truth. The way the author was able to not only craft these personalities, but also to interweave their stories together is impressive.

One can obviously see the the extensive research and passion the author has placed into this book in her wonderful descriptions of the landscapes, surroundings, and the archeological aspects.

My special favorite was the 1847 timeline. For some reason, I was really drawn to Mellie and Anthea. PJ was great as well, but I really loved the “past” timeline.

Another home run by Ms. Cooper.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Harper Muse for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 8/9/22.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-fossil-hunter-tea-cooper/1139398394?ean=9781400237968&bvnotificationId=2e44b46c-17d9-11ed-9742-0a26cf6d9fad&bvmessageType=REVIEW_APPROVED&bvrecipientDomain=hotmail.com#review/215089879

I'm fascinated by palaeontology and fossils and the blurb attracted me.
I liked the part about fossils but I didn't care for the characters and the story fell flat.
Not my cup of tea
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I absolutely adored Tea Cooper's The Fossil Hunter. The author gives the readers a wonderful dual timeline story that centers around an amateur paleontologist. Whthe plot is centered around fossil hunting, this is mostly a story of the invisible scars that can haunt one for years. I loved the many twists, some expected, some unexpected that filled this story of long buried secrets that would come to light 80 years later. The descriptive prose of the Australian outback grabbed this Kansas girl's attention as Ms. Cooper masterfully weaved scientific fact and historical detail into a brilliant tapestry that will capture the reader's imagination.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from the author/ publisher through Netgalley. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is my second Tea Cooper book and I need to make an effort to read all of them. She has an amazing way of setting up a story, that builds and builds. Giving a little information at a time until you are dying to know what exactly is going on and why. Her characters are richly detailed and all have a fascinating backstory. You will either love them or truly despise them. I love the Australian setting and the delicate details that pull you into the book. You can feel the cool rush of the air, smell the fresh smell of flowers as they float across the air, and experience the panic and fear that the characters are going through. I knew I had to read this book. A fossil hunter, the Australian setting, a dual timeline, and the mention of Mary Anning makes for an incredible read that you need to dive into.

Mellie has already been through hell and back in her short 12 years of life. Her mother and brother drowned, and her father has left her. The local doctor and his family have brought her in. Their children and staffs constant heckling is making life miserable for her. When the girls and Mellie travel to Bow Wow to visit Aunt Anthea, all that changes for Mellie. Her shoulders lift and she is filled with purpose again. She is in the search for dragon scales, and no one can convince her otherwise.

PJ drove ambulances in Europe during the war. Her and her friend Sam are traveling to Australia to check on her father. She is also dying to see her home again. Her brothers were killed in the war and she is looking for a connection to them. When she remembers their love for fossils and their many fossil hunting trips to Bow Wow. Leads PJ and Sam down a fascinating path of discovery. These two stories weave together make for one fantastic read. Full of secrets and the uncovering of the truth. Thank you to Tea Cooper, Harper Muse, and TLC Book Tours for gifting me this fascinating tale.

After serving as an ambulance driver during the war to end all wars, P.J. Martindale arrives home with her fiancé. But her two brothers did not make it home. Determined to memorialize her brothers and repair the rift with her father, P.J. heads for the place that her brothers had hunted fossils. It also happens to be the place Anthea Winstanley discovered fossils that ended up in a London museum. P.J. finds bones in the very place that the fossils were found. That is just one of several mysteries to be worked out. What are these bones? What happened to Anthea Winstanley? What happened to P.J.’s brothers before they joined the army? And why is her father so angry with her?

The Fossil Hunter is dual timeline story. The 1847 timeline details some of the events Winstanley’s life along with the young girl she took in. The girl, Mellie, is the most interesting viewpoint due to her troubled past, her young age and her eventual obsession with fossil hunting.

The 1919 timeline is P.J.’s story. At 72 years apart, the two sets of events appear to have little in common. What ties them together is fascination with fossils.

This is a lovely story about family, secrets and the decisions people make when calamity strikes. While the ending was, in some part, predictable, I enjoyed the unfolding of the various mysteries. The Fossil Hunter is for readers of historical fiction who like to help the characters solve a mystery.

Through NetGalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book. My review is my honest opinion.

An intriguing interesting and educational dual time line novel is always a treat. Add in the Australian setting and fossils and then well, it makes for a very good read. Set in 1847 and 1919, it's about more than the fossils, though, because there's also a mystery. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC, For fans of historical fiction.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
The Fossil Hunter has an intriguing premise, but ultimately, I’m not sure it fully came together for me. It wants to be a dual-timeline historical mystery, but it ultimately fails to capture the suspense of what I love about the best ones I’ve read.
The 1847 timeline is super interesting, even though I’m not into paleontology. I know a bit about Mary Anning (although not a ton), and I love how that came alive in Anthea’s character. And even observing her through Mellie, a third party, made the story worthwhile.
But the 1919 timeline was quite flat for me, apart from some of the tertiary details about the aftermath of war and the impact of the Spanish flu pandemic. didn’t really care for Penelope, and she has this godawful romance that made me cringe. It redeemed itself slightly by the end once the connection between the two timelines came to fruition, I’d have much preferred to see Mellie and Anthea fleshed out, with a sequential focus on “after,” in a traditional historical fiction sense, since there was pretty much no suspense.
While I didn’t care for this one, there are some elements I did like, and would somewhat recommend it for the 1847 timeline alone. And there’s also a chance the book simply didn’t gel with me, and it will work better for you if you’re interested in the subject matter and/or you really like multi-timeline stories.

Like an archeological dig, the author reveals layer after layer until the bare bones. Two timelines, 1847 and 1919, become intertwined with the Bow Wow Gorge in Australia. 1847: 12yo Mellie Vale wants to find dragons and family. 1919: Penelope (PJ) longs to connect with her dead brothers and their passion for fossils. With a legend of a mythical creature and missing girls, Penelope tries to piece together the past with her fiancé Sam. And like a perfectly arranged skeleton—everything is connected.

I loved how the story included mentions of early female paleontologists Mary Anning and Elizabeth Philpot! It was also fascinating to learn about the Spanish Flu was viewed at that time in Australia (1919). I was glued by the structure of the story and dual timelines. A wonderful read that would be great for a book club.

The Fossil Hunter, by Tea Cooper, will take you on an adventure in Australia just after the end of WWI. It is a dual timeline historical mystery romance that will have the reader on the edge of her seat. In the 1840s in Bow Wow Gorge, a group of girls will hunt for fossils with Nathan. Millie will tear at your heart because she has gone thorough more than any 12 year should. Anthea takes Millie under her wing and gives her a home, but why do they suddenly disappear.

P.J. has been an ambulance driver in France. She and Sam, an American ambulance driver, have formed a close relationship. When Sam proposes, they go to Australia to ask her dad's permission, but he blames P.J. for her two brothers' deaths in the way. As P.J. gets more involved in what went on in Bow Wow Gorge, will she lose Sam? Will they solve the mystery of what happened over seventy years ago in that Gorge?

The Fossil Hunter is a page turner that is an enjoyable read. I was allowed to read an ARC on #NetGalley.

What a unique and amazing historical fiction novel! I'm instantly transported home to Kansas, where we'd spend hours digging for fossils just like the intrepid women in this story! Having only founds shells myself, I can only imagine the surprise and joy of finding a treasure like dinosaur bones while "hunting for dragons".

Imagine a day when few women had the independence to do what most thought of as men's work. Imagine being told your brain was too flighty for scientific discovery! And not getting credit where credit is due!

The winding and intertwining timelines were a delight. And a tantalizing, dark mystery as well! Well-researched and full of geographic and geologic detail, this book should be at the top of the list for historical fiction fans!

"Only at Bow Wow, beneath the dense canopy of the trees, did Althea find peace. The place where the layers of life reached back to the beginning of time, before a single human had walked the land, before the earth solidified. From the towering sandstone cliffs to the meandering gorge, the landscape had slowly revealed its secrets." (43)

Book received for free through NetGalley

I absolutely loved this book from the characters, the Australian scenery, and the entire storyline. I truly felt for the characters and although I started guessing what may have happened I truly enjoyed following along with their story.

Tea Cooper is one of those rare authors that take a truly original story and imbue it with the most beautiful, lyrical writing that it feels like you are swept away into another time, yet also reading poetry. I liked the originality of this story, and really enjoyed the plot and characters. I didn't want it to end, and will definitely be reading it again!

NOT BAD, JUST FORGETTABLE

Actual rating: 2.5

In all honesty, this was just not my cup of tea. While I didn't actually dislike it, I didn't like it either. It was just sort of meh. And I am sad to say, that I will soon forget even having read this.

👍 What I Liked 👍

Setting: I have long been fascinated by Mary Anning and her fossils. Recently I even went to Lyme Regis to walk in her footsteps. So I liked reading about another female fossil hunter.

👎 What I Disliked 👎

Timelines: This story is told from dual timelines, one in the 19th century and one in 1919 straight after the Great War. In my opinion, the 1919 timeline was a weak spot for the story. It didn't bring much to the overall plot and I found myself wishing it was over more often than not. A lot of it also had to do with the characters in this timeline.

PJ: Our main character in the 1919 timeline, PJ was a mystery to me. I especially didn't understand her motivation in wanting to learn more about this mysterious female fossil hunter that she only just learnt existed. I just didn't understand why it mattered that much to her and it made me dislike her as a character.

Sam: Sam, PJ's fiance, didn't appeal to me either. I had a hard time pinning him down and understanding his character. He felt sketchy and several times I felt like he was gaslighting PJ and being very inconsiderate to her feelings and needs.

The Australian Bow Wow Gorge is a fossil hunter's haven. Full of treasures yet to be discovered and secrets that have been protected by local legend for decades.
This split time fiction features two female fossil hunters...one is looking for Australia's first ichthyosaur and the other is looking to give a legacy to her deceased brothers.
While this story did not captivate me the same as The Cartographer's Secret, I still found it enjoyable. The past storyline was a bit more interesting to me, but as always I enjoyed how the author weaved the threads of the past and the present together. Creating a mysterious link between the two timelines and a desire for me to read on and discover how all the pieces fit together. Her descriptions of life in Australia were vivid and enchanting. I also learned quite a bit about palentology and fossils! There were a couple instances of language, but other than that clean fiction.


Thank you Harper Muse and Net Galley for the free DRC of this book. The opinions expressed here are my own.

The Fossil Hunter is probably one of the hardest books I've ever had to review before if I'm being honest. While I'd read and loved The Girl in the Painting by this author and was expecting to end up feeling the same about this one, it didn't end up being anything like what I was expecting, and I really struggled to connect with either the characters or the story in either timeline.

I would say overall that I enjoyed the 1847 timeline a lot more than the one happening in 1912, but I can't truly say that I loved either. A lot of the story is devoted to history, and paleontology and not as much to suspense as I was initially expecting. There isn't truly as much of a connection between the two timelines as I was prepared for, and I felt that it made the story that much harder to muddle through.

A lot of the questions raised were never really answered in a way that satisfied me, and I was left at the end of the story wondering why certain things happened in the first place, as no reasonable explanation was ever truly given.

I found Sam's character in 1912 to be utterly obnoxious, and his horrid treatment of Penelope grated on my nerves right from the opening chapters. I couldn't remotely root for their romance, and everything about their relationship screamed toxicity.

I ended up not really enjoying the mystery, the romance, or the majority of the characters, and the few parts I did enjoy, like the historical components and a couple of the characters, were not enough to salvage this one for me unfortunately, and I ended up feeling pretty negative towards it at the end.

I would personally recommend The Girl in the Painting over this one, and I'm not sure if I'd rush out to read another book by this author again or not.

Final Rating: 2/5.

Thanks so much to Harper Muse for allowing me to advance read and review this one!

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher (Harper Muse) via NetGalley. I was not required to give a positive review. This is my honest review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

An enjoyable read set in Australia, a place I know well. The duel timeline, 1847 and 1919, engaging characters, and fascinating descriptions of the real historical paleontological digs undertaken in the Bow Wow Gorge, kept me interested. It sent a strong message about the role of women in society, and how facts can—and usually are— distorted with time. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and Harper Muse for providing this digital galley.

This book takes place in Australia and involves hunting for fossils. That was all I needed for this book to grab my attention.
It’s told in alternating story lines. It took me several chapters to get a sense of what was going on. It has a nice little mystery that has PJ and Sam busy.
This is my second book by this author and won’t be my last
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy