My rating:

Plot: 5 out of 5 stars
Writing: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Character development: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Recommended for readers of:

Historical fiction



Review:

This is a beautifully written story full of intrigue with the right amount of suspense and mystery. The book captivates you from the moment you start reading. The plot is written over a dual time line both set in New South Wales one in 1868 and the other in 1922. The story sheds a light on the dark exploitation's of forced adoption and baby farming which was common at the time. The other sub plot that is nicely interwoven in the story is the discovery and arrival of the Monarch butterfly in Australia

Overall a mesmerising story, that flows well, the writing is vivid and captivating.The characters are well depicted which made them likable and interesting. The book explores some interesting historical subjects.

Review copy provided through Netgalley at no cost to me

First of all, I love the cover. It is true what they say that a picture is worth a thousand words and this one is gorgeous with the girl and butterflies. It is intriguing, mysterious and mesmerising in its beauty and where the story begins for me. And wow, what a story! I was drawn in from the first page of narration but just before that, we are given two beautiful drawings of the locations with the Landing, the rivers, Maitland, Morpeth and Ash Island. These help us visualise the importance of the settings and provide a clear vision of where everything begins.

The story starts in 1922 with Miss Verity Binks who is a writer for The Arrow newspaper. She is called in to the office of her boss Mr Bailey. Quickly we know her life is about to change. The soldiers are back from the war and her job now is being given to one of the men who have returned. Mr Bailey makes his case clear that he has no other option but let her go, even though she is very good at her job. His only offering is that he can pay her stringers’ rates for a few articles. And he promises to help where he can for he says it’s the ‘least I can do for the daughter of one of our heroes, never mind the promise I made Sid.’ This loss is her first challenge and we know there will be more to come. She also deals with the perception of what women were to be at that time—dependant on a husband. But she is not one to entertain convention and of course we know she is about to set her own course, rather than be dictated by society’s current rules. Once again, Tea gives us a potentially strong determined woman who aims to change the course of events that befall her.

I felt very at ease with the writing—so smooth like the flow of a river. Back and forth we venture between two timelines of 1922 and 1868 where a mystery begins and continues into the later timeline. A family story that is filled with many twists and turns and unexpected directions and surprises. This is one complex page turner with lots to keep you on your toes. So many intriguing details and mysterious elements flutter around its core. Including the spotting of a rare butterfly. Tea fleshes out through her characters and plot, powerful historical events that span such topics of women losing their jobs after the war, baby farming and coverups of illegal activities behind facades of class/position. There is also the display of abusive treatment to women who became pregnant out of wedlock. Family names, stolen children and pay offs—are all part of the fabric of this fascinating and, at times, heartbreaking story.

Verity of 1922 is a very likeable and admirable character that I could sympathise with and cheer on in her quest for truth and justice. I found myself carefully watching her steps and often wondering how she was going to solve the family mysteries. Inevitably, it was destined to be an all-consuming search. She meets others on the journey she rubs the wrong way, exposes and disarms but she also finds allies who march beside her in uncovering some epic lies. Many who have much to gain (and lose) by the discoveries. Of course, there is an eventual romance, gentle and unpretentious but it is not the prime focus of Verity’s story.

As mentioned, the novel opens in 1922, but with its setting in Sydney. Other chapters take us back in time to 1868 at Morpeth with Theodora, the artist butterfly lady, who desires to be free to make her own decisions and to explore what might be out there waiting for her to grasp. She yearns to hone her skills and to pursue her passion. And then from the same time period we meet Clarrie, Verity’s Grandmother, who works for the Reverend as a ‘maid-of-all-work’. She has been with Sid (a newspaper feature writer) for three years. Theirs is a wonderful union but they have not managed to save enough to marry and she has become pregnant. She does not regret her condition but hiding her secret becomes difficult and poses many issues to come. Through her and others we learn some pretty hair raising things of what was happening in those days to unwed mothers and babies.

I found both time threads equally fascinating for one is dependent on the other. The complete story is like a beautifully laid puzzle where eventually pieces click into place. The presentation of the facts of the times felt authentic. Tea has done her research well. Her exquisite descriptions left me feeling truly transported to the locations and all the beauty that abounded in the natural world. And not to forget the butterflies, who are another piece of the fascinating story’s fabric—carrying their own message, as Theodora would say.

The Butterfly Collector is a beautifully written story and I think maybe one of my very favourites of Tea Cooper. I highly recommend this novel for historical fiction lovers. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Many thanks to HQ Fiction AU (Harper Collins Australia) and Netgalley for my review copy.

"Sometimes the darkest mystery sheds the most light."

A beautifully crafted historical fiction, featuring the combination of two real events in Australia - one a delicate, beautiful story of the potential initial sighting of the Monarch butterfly in Australia and two sisters who excelled in botanical illustrations of true artistry, the other a story of an insidious and little known chapter in Australia's history.
The dual timelines aligned perfectly. The relationships between the characters from the two timelines could have felt contrived and too coincidental, but they were melded so seamlessly that this was not the case at all. The story was intriguing until the end.

Thank you to Net Galley and Harlequin Australia HQ for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

‘My office, if you please, Miss Binks.’

Sydney, 1922. On the same day that Verity Binks loses her position at The Arrow to make way for returned servicemen, she receives an anonymous parcel containing an invitation to the Sydney Artists Masquerade Ball and a spectacular butterfly costume. Verity is curious and determined to attend. While at the ball she lands a commission to write the history of the Treadwell Foundation, a foundation which supports young women and their babies. Verity lives on her own, in a terrace house in The Rocks. Both her parents and grandparents are dead.

Morpeth, 1868. Theodora Breckenridge, still mourning the loss of her parents and brother, lives at The Landing with her three sisters and their housekeeper. Theodora would rather remain at The Landing than move to Sydney to seek a husband with her three sisters. Theodora, a gifted artist, would rather emulate the example of the Scott sisters who live nearby and who are nature illustrators. After she discovers a butterfly which has never been seen before in Australia, and with the help of her maid Clarrie, Theodora’s success seems assured. And then Clarrie’s newborn baby goes missing.

Back in Sydney, as Verity tries to investigate the work of the Treadwell foundation, she finds more questions than answers. Verity travels to Morpeth, where her grandparents Clarrie and Sid met and where her father Charlie was born.

A fascinating mystery unfolds. Verity’s research takes her into the shadowy, tragic practice of baby farming and exposes several secrets which society would prefer not to deal with. Verity also finds an unexpected family member.

I enjoyed this novel: following Verity as she uncovered unsavoury aspects of the past, as well as learning about the Monarch butterfly.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

My thanks to Net Gallery for the opportunity to read The Butterfly Collector. This is my unbiased review.

The story is set in two time periods, 1868 and 1922, and Tea Cooper really brought these historical periods alive, particularly that of 1922. However, the story is primarily that of women and it was a delight to get to know these colourful characters. The author cleverly developed a fictional story within the context of events that led to changes in Australian law. Family secrets, shameful behaviour, exploitation of the vulnerable, the inequity women, are all themes that are seamlessly brought together.

Verity is a particularly great character and I enjoyed getting to know her. However I was disappointed with the ending. It was
rather abrupt and somewhat inconsistent with Verity’s characters.

However, The Butterfly Collector was a great read, well researched and I’ll be looking for more of Tea Cooper’s novels

The Butterfly Collector by Tea Cooper

This wonderful book tells three stories in two timelines:

1922: in Sydney Australia Verity Blinks has just been fired from her job, working for a newspaper to make the job available for the servicemen that are coming back from the front after fighting World War I, she is understandably devastated. Verity arrives at her empty house that was left to her by her grandparents, Sid and Clarrie Blinks who recently died from the Spanish Flu, to find she has a delivery. An invitation to a Masquerade Ball held in Sydney Town Hall along with a beautiful butterfly costume and mask. The costume is a perfect fit and there is a fully paid ticket included. Verity has no idea who would send this to her but she is determined to attend to find the person who did and ask them why.

1868: in Morpeth, not far from Newcastle, lives Theodora Breckenridge with her three sisters they recently lost both their parents and only brother in a tragic shipwreck. They live in a grant house surrounded by beautiful gardens that are a replica of their mother’s Cornwell estate. Theodora loves to paint in the garden and one day comes upon a most unusual butterfly she writes to her friends the Scotts sisters who study butterflies to ask them if they have heard of it and they reply that this particular butterfly is only found in America and has never been see in Australia before.

1868: Clarrie and Sid are in love and want to get married but they have been saving as much as they can for a place of their own but time is running out, Clarrie is pregnant and will be having their baby very soon. Sid finds a special home for Clarrie to have the baby.

I loved reading this book. I live in Sydney and it was so interesting reading about Verity traveling on her bicycle in 1922 to the places I go to myself any day in 2022.

At first, I had no idea how these three stories could possibly relate to each other but they did and I found this a wonderful read. I loved how accurately the historical information was.

I have never read Tea Coopers books before but I cannot wait to get my hands on another one.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Harlequin Australia HQ for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

I have read all Tea Cooper’s books and love how she weaves a wonderful story set against an Australian background.
This latest book doesn’t disappoint. A story set across country NSW and Sydney during 1868 and 1922.
Verity Binks is all alone in the world her parents and beloved grandparents have died and she is living in their terrace house in the Rocks in Sydney. It is 1922 and she has lost her job at the newspaper as the returned servicemen are needing employment but she is determined to continue her writing. An unexpected parcel turns up with an invitation to attend a charity costume ball. The parcel contains the costume of a butterfly. At the ball she is approached to write a history about the Treadwell Foundation, who provide support for unmarried women and their babies, which Verity eagerly accepts.
This sets Vertity on a research trip back to Morpeth where her grandparents Clarrie and Sid met and where her father Charlie was born. The research she undertakes begins a journey of discovery about her family, her connections to the family that lived at The Landing and the sad practice of baby farming.
It is 1868 and Theodora Breckenridge is still mourning the tragic death of her parents and brother in a boating accident. She and her three sisters with their housekeeper live at The Landing. The three sisters are keen to marry but Theodora is happiest in her garden painting. One day she discovers a beautiful butterfly one she has never seen before. She is keen to discover the origins of this butterfly and enlists help from her brothers friend Redmond, whose father owns the local newspaper. Redmond asks one of his employees Sid if his soon to be wife Clarrie would be a chaperon on a days outing to Ash Island to hunt for more of the beautiful butterflies that Theodora is looking for. Clarrie has had a baby out of wedlock and is need of a job so she eagerly accepts the invitation. Her baby Charlie is being cared for by a lady that delivers and then takes care of the child for a fee. Theodora and Clarrie get on so well that she is offered a job at The Landing.
When Charlie goes missing one day Theodora, Redmond, Sid and Clarrie all chase the kidnapper.
There is so much to love about this book. The drama, the mystery, all the connections from the past coming to haunt the future; family secrets, a bit of romance and the wonderful research that has gone into making this book come alive.
I was not aware of how widespread baby farming was in Australia nor was I aware of the history of the Monarch butterfly.
A truly engrossing historical fiction read.

This novel, set in Australia touches upon a family mystery across two timelines. Theodora is a keen artist living near Morpeth in 1868 with her sisters when an unusual butterfly sighting sets her all a flutter (so to speak). Along with her maid Clarrie she documents and paints her impressions of the visitor, hoping for recognition in the scientific world.
Meanwhile in 1922 Sydney, Verity, a budding journalist is sent a butterfly costume and an invite to the Sydney Artists’ Ball. She meets a mysterious philanthropist who engages her to write an article about the Treadwell Foundation which provides support for unmarried mothers and their babies. What she discovers along the way is a revelation uncovering a seedy, unlawful practice that touches close to home.
The characters are likeable and the stories unfold at a reasonable pace. The historical background
is fascinating and kept me interested until the final flourish. Thanks to NetGalley for the preview copy.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Many thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for this opportunity.

This is a glorious read, one of intrigue, history, loss, love, deception and cruelty.

1922; Verity Banks has walked into her place of work only to be informed that her journalist position has been terminated. Like so many women after the war, positions that they had been so urgently needed for became redundant in order for returning male soldiers to take up the positions. Verity is bereft and makes her way to the home of her grandparents, both now deceased. The house has been left to her but her loss of work has impacted on her morale. Surprising her, her neighbour informs her that a parcel has arrived for her. On opening the parcel an invitation to the Sydney Artists' Masquerade Ball has her name on it along with everything she would need to wear, a beautiful butterfly costume and mask. The wonder of it; who would send her such an invitation?

Going back in time to 1868 the author introduces two women from completely different walks of life that will through events of necessity collide. One, of a young woman Carrie, who has been working as housekeeper for the local Vicar of Morpeth and who has been stepping out with a young man, Sid, a printer's compositor. They plan to marry but with Carrie's unexpected pregnancy the need is all the more urgent which is made even worse when the Vicar sacks her because of her condition. Fortunately Sid is an honourable young man and arrangements are made for Carrie to stay at the midwife's house, however this is only temporary and other arrangements will have to be made. As it so happens another young woman, one of a different nature to her sisters, not interested in the normal female delights of this era, rather one with a love of the natural world and who in the past had become acquainted with two sisters, accredited naturalists and artists has decided to stay at home rather than trip down to Sydney for social events and fashion hunting. Theodora has spotted an unusual butterfly, her unskilled drawing had been sent to the Scott sisters for which she receives a reply and to which she understands she must find the colony and take a specimen for her to receive any recognition of the butterfly not ever seen before in Australia. The era is one where women such as Theodora and her social standing are overprotected and controlled which presents a problem for her with her sisters going away. Carrie becomes the chaperone for Theodora to venture out with Redman, a longtime male friend who can take her to the island where she believes there maybe a colony of these unusual butterflies. Theodora makes a connection with Carrie who shares her enthusiasm and makes arrangements for her to be a maid and help to their housekeeper, cook.This is not entirely ideal for Carrie as a live-in giving her only small opportunities to see her new baby, a son, leaving him in nursery care with Sid monitoring when he can. The door of destitution is always open leaving Carrie no choice but to accept her situation. It's during this time where things start to go pear shaped and it's only through Theodora's assistance that gives Carrie and Sid the means to save their baby.🦋

Forward to 1922, Verity attends the Masquerade Ball, a charity event for which she is sought after to write an article. Her old boss has indicated that he would publish articles of such nature for her.

Verity's pursuit in determining who sent her the butterfly outfit leads her investigations way beyond her imagination, one that will take her to the plight of unmarried mothers, her father's own history and to look further into the past to the era of her grandparents, Carrie's and Sid's, Theodora's family and Sid's Morpeth Want newspaper boss as well as to criminal activity.

It’s the end of WWII and working women are now being let go so the returned servicemen can have their jobs.

Verity and Sadie have just been given a week’s pay in lieu of notice. Mr Bailey has told Verity he will pay for stringers on anything interesting.

A parcel arrives! An invitation to the Sydney Artists Masquerade Ball – paid in full, a week’s wages to Verity. Accompanied by a black dress in expensive material, nothing like she’d ever seen. It can’t be a mistake; her name is on the envelope.

A beautifully written and interesting story combining historical fiction with the present-day construal of events. A very clever narration.

This is my first time reading Tea Cooper and I will definitely read more.

A blend of fact and fiction, this book is set in two timezones - 1868 and 1922. - but does not confuse. An enjoyable read with subtle romance, intrigue, historical facts and a touch of feminism too The Butterfly Collector tells the tale of a redundant reporter determined to uncover the facts and, in the process, learn more about her family. You will be angry, frustrated, supportive and even hold your breath at one point. And you'll learn more about butterflies, baby farming and Australian history along the way. There's something for everyone in this novel. An enjoyable read.

I finished reading this book but I did not find it to be a great read.

It is a mixture of fact and fiction set in the Hunter Valley region. It is a story about two families, spanning the 1860s through to the 1920s. Verity Binks, who has an enquiring mind, is an aspiring journalist who loses her job early on in the story. She is adamant that she will find out the truth about what really happened to her family.

We read about the Scott sisters and Ash Island. Whilst this book has the many elements of romance, drama, and mystery with a backdrop of the story of the Monarch butterfly and the despicable taking of babies from their mothers without consent and then those babies being traded in, I felt that it somehow fell flat and petered out.

Thanks to netgalley for the ARC in exchange for a frank review.

A fantastic blend of fact and fiction that touches on a couple of elements within Australian history. To say too much would be to ruin the story.

A lovely offering by Tea Cooper.

Thank you to @Netgalley and @harlequinaus for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I must say I am a huge fan of Tea Cooper novels and this one didn't disappoint.

The story of Theodora Breckenridge, a woman in mourning in a time (1868) when women were discouraged from having their own lives and when the thing to do was find a husband. But Theodora just wanted to work on her art work and this is were the story really begins.

And as this is a dual timeline story we move to Sydney in the 1920's where Verity Binks receives an invitation to a ball where her life changes as she digs up mysteries from the past.

This is a wonderful story about Australian History which is something we don't see enough of and it is so well written and researched you feel as if you are there within the book. The setting is wonderful, the story brings to life what life was like in past times and the mystery kept me enthralled and kept me reading.

Anther great book by Tea Cooper.

I think this is my favourite Tea Cooper book so far, although The Woman in the Green Dress is also a hot favourite.
In this latest offering Verity is caught up in a mystery when a ticket and costume for the artists ball are anonymously delivered to her home. At the ball she is consigned to write a favourable article for the Treadwell Foundation. Her research raises questions and she travels to Morpeth seeking answers.

The trail leads back in time to her grandparents past in Morpeth and Sydney.
With a cast of characters both likeable and despicable, the tale weaves back and forth between 1868 and 1922..

If you like historical fiction woven around historical facts with likeable heroines, this could be a great read for you.
Throw in some romance and you have a winner.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to preview this book, my first time using NetGalley and also first time reading a book by Tea Cooper. I enjoyed The Butterfly Collector for the Australian history, the imagery, the butterfly story and the information on a subject I'd never given much thought to, baby farming. The story was from two different time zones and perspectives and worked quite well I thought. The characters were well drawn but some more nuanced than others. I found the story built well but felt a bit let down at the conclusion for some reason, I would have liked a bit more of something but not sure what! I will definitely read more of Tea Cooper's works now that I've found her. A good read for those who enjoy Australian history and family intrigue.

I really enjoyed The Butterfly Collector. A great mix of fact and fiction as well as a beautifully constructed story. Spanning sixty years, the fascinating history of not only the Monarch Butterfly, but of babies born out of wedlock and the business of newspapers the story moves between two specific time periods, the 1860s and the 1920s, with cleverly linked and intertwined family histories. Very readable, it drove me to find out more about Ash Island and the Scott sisters. Fascinating women all the more so because they existed. Tea Cooper writes so well to capture the real beauty of the Hunter and the once thriving towns. Sweet details such as the local newspapers name encompassing all the news you could want just add to the charm of the book. Such an engaging story that starts with a young stenographer’s sacking to provide jobs for returned servicemen that morphs into the mystery of an invitation to the Sydney Arts Ball with the Monarch costume sent for her to wear is all that it promises. Verity Binks is an entirely believable character with her strengths, her impatience and her strong desire to fight wrongs. Thanks to netgalley for the copy to review.

This is a book packed with detail, but it possibly tried to pack in too much. As historical fiction, it's fine - but fine is about all I can honestly say. It was interesting, in parts, and well researched; but some threads of the story got lost and kind of petered out, while other parts were often repeated. The two stories around the butterfly discovery and the baby farming were both individually intriguing, though I felt like they both could've been their own stories to do them justice.

All the character connections and "twists" were fairly obvious, but this isn't always a bad thing. Sometimes comfort reading, without any huge surprises, is just what we need. I felt like I might have connected more with the story if I was from Sydney - I couldn't really figure out the geographical anchorings, even though they were often described in detail, but perhaps a physical copy of the book might have a map to help the reader out. Finishing the book, I didn't really feel the main plot or most memorable moments were about "the Butterfly Collector" at all, and by the end it felt like the story was somewhat rushed to its conclusion. Overall, it wasn't a bad read by any stretch, but I was left wanting something grittier and more plausibly fulfilling.

I loved the book. Tea Cooper has skilfully and elegantly interwoven fact and fiction to explore the story of several fictional families with the discovery and recording of Australian butterflies by the renowned Scott sisters in NSW in the late nineteenth century the Author then adds a twist with one family’s terrifying encounter with a notorious baby farmer. The story is told through the eyes of two members of the same family separated by 50 odd years. Fact and fiction have been so skilfully blended that it’s difficult to tell them apart. The social attitudes of the overtly male-oriented society of the times are also exposed to our modern eyes with all its discrimination and patronising attitude to women that we find difficult to understand today. The story of the discovery and recording of Australian butterflies has been well researched as have the notorious baby farmers that plagued Australia during that time. Tea Cooper has displayed the solid research and storytelling ability of Coleen McCullough with the skill of Kate Morton of seamlessly segueing between the years.

An enjoyable historical mystery with dual timelines following two Australian women, one aiming to be a scientist/illustrator of butterflies in the 1860s and the other a would-be reporter in the 1920s. The plot tackled the dark side of historical trade in babies born out of wedlock and also brought out how difficult it was for women to pursue careers.. The best parts of the book are the descriptions of the landscape and butterflies.