Tea Cooper delivers a well researched, dual timeline historical fiction novel that focusing on a unique topic that distinguishes it from other historical fiction I’ve read. That topic, however, is probably not the one you’re expecting based off the book title and cover.

This is first and foremost historical fiction, with a bit of mystery and teeny tiny dash of romance. It is written for fans of the hist. fix. genre over mystery readers. While the mystery aspect is interesting enough, expect some coincidental and serendipitous findings more than seeking out clues and spotting red herrings.

The story is told in multiple POVs in two different years, the majority of the narration coming from Theodora and Clarrie in 1868 and Verity in the 1922. Theodora’s butterfly discovery starts off her story, it quickly becomes more of a vague side plot with the main focus (in both eras) shifting to the practice of baby farming.

What I Liked:

As seen in the historical note, this was a very well researched novel. Her description of the streets and surrounding of Sydney and Morpeth were well written.

I always enjoy having fact mixed with my fiction and it was interesting to learn about topics I wouldn’t normally research. It feels good to actually have learned something new while still enjoying a fictitious novel.

Multiple POVs allow the reader to get into the head of multiple characters, adding dimension to the story.

While the history and truth of baby farming is sad, the author dealt with the topic well and it was discussed in a way that added intrigue and interest to the plot without making it too disturbing.

The book was very clean in sexual content and language (details below)

Then ending was mostly satisfying, though I would’ve liked to have seen more details of the end of the the 1868 time line (more on that below)

The cover is BEAUTIFUL.

What I Didn’t Love:

While things pick up quite a bit with twists and turns towards the end of the book, the beginning was a bit slow to get through. I was intrigued just enough to keep reading, but enough were I was in a great hurry to find out how things end until I got to about the 70% mark.

That being said, there’s potential for confusion to keep the characters and their connections all straight. If you’re a fast reader perhaps you’ll do better than I did, but when I came back to reading after putting the book down for several days to a week, it would take me a moment to get my bearings again in the story.

While the topic discussed was interesting enough, I feel the title and cover (as beautiful as it is) are a bit misleading as the butterfly topic is not the central plot point.

The 1868 time line ends in height if action, and we find out what happen to the characters in the 1922 time line told after the fact. While this is not necessarily bad, I personally think “seeing” the closing events from those characters POV would’ve been much more exciting.

Bottom line: As for the author, I enjoy her writing style and would try her again, even though this particular book was just OK for me. Fans of historical fiction will enjoy Tea Cooper’s well researched writing. Avid mystery readers may want to look elsewhere.

Trigger/Content warnings:
Overall, a very clean book.

Sex: No sex and, now that I think of it, I don’t even remember a kiss (except for maybe a few kisses in the cheek.) However, a big topic in the story is about what happens to women who get pregnant out of wedlock and their babies. One of the important characters in the book is one of these women.

Language: a couple uses of d and h, nothing more that I can recall.

No supernatural of paranormal content.

Violence: There is a physical altercation towards the end of the book, but nothing too disturbing or graphic.

Other: Mention of babies dying and/or being disposed of during baby farming practices. It’s mentioned more than describe, again, nothing too disturbing or graphic, but it’s there.
Also, if you really love butterflies you may actually dislike this book, as some of the specimens are caught and pinned to be displayed and copied in artwork.

This is my second Tea Cooper novel and definitely not my last. With two strong women protagonists and a dual timeline story that twists and turns, as well as a heartbreaking social issue, I could not stop reading.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

A good historical novel featuring two great female characters and a double timeline.
Great storytelling and vivid historical background.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This story was engrossing to me and a wonderful piece of historical fiction.
I loved the info on Monarchs and the setting. I felt this was a good read .
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review the book

This book seemed kind of disjointed to me. It was a split time at first that focused on butterflies, then the second half was about baby-snatching. I had a hard time getting invested in the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for a complimentary copy of The Butterfly Collector. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. This is the first book I have read by Tea Cooper, and I thoroughly enjoyed this well written novel. This historical mystery covers two timelines, one set in Morpeth in 1868 and the other in Sydney in 1922. Being a lover of Monarch butterflies, I was total engrossed by the discovery of the first sighting of the Monarch butterfly in 1868. I was also intrigued with the storyline a missing baby brings which is where the mystery begins. This all comes together, in 1922, when a prominent female character, Verity, is thrown into the mystery that expands 54 years and intertwines the two timelines.

Told in alternating chapters in dual timelines, this story follows three young women with very different backgrounds whose stories eventually connect revealing long kept family secrets. Each chapter is headed by the date and location easily placing the reader in the timeline with each character.

In 1922 Sydney, the men have returned from war leaving Verity without the job that she loves writing for The Arrow following in her grandfather Sid’s footsteps just as she discovers a career-making story. I found Verity to be a tenacious young woman and an ambitious writer though at times she was too trusting of others and made rash decisions that she sometimes came to regret. I enjoyed her storyline as she followed the clues given to her from the anonymous costume reminiscent of a Monarch butterfly and the article she is commissioned to write about the Treadwell Foundation to acquire new sponsors for their philanthropic endeavors to assist young women in the family way to the suspicions her investigation uncovers and the subsequent connection to her own family.

The alternating storylines follow two women in 1868 Morpeth. Clarrie works for the local reverend but finds herself out of a job when she reveals she is going to have a baby with her man Sid, though they are not yet married. While looking for a new position, Clarrie stays with a local midwife who agrees to look after her and the baby in exchange for labor and payment from Sid’s meager paycheck from the local newspaper and other odd jobs. Clarrie is a hard worker and a determined and loving mother, though she does defer to Sid at times against her instincts. The other storyline follows Theodora who stays behind when her aunt and sister journey to Sidney to look for an elusive butterfly and work on her artistic endeavors. She hires Clarrie as a chaperone and to help around the home and while instrumental in the search for Clarrie’s son when he is kidnapped, I often found myself wishing for more of her story about the elusive Monarchs.

Recommended to historical fiction readers interested in the horrors of baby farming and not for the butterflies.

this. was. so. boring. I would try to start this and everytime I would fall asleep before finishing a page, I could not get into this.

This wasn’t a bad book but it wasn’t what I had expected, the title and the blurb are a little misleading.

We have two timelines, one in 1868 when Clarrie and Sid try to make ends meet and Theodora paints butterflies. The other in 1922 when Verity gets an invitation for a masquerade ball with a beautiful butterfly costume attached to it, and proceeds to investigate the mystery surrounding the Treadwell Foundation.

This book started off very slow and it took me a while to get invested. The overall pacing felt uneven, the buildup was dragging and some things mentioned in the blurb didn’t happen until about 75% in(!), which was very confusing.

The last ~25%, when the mystery was unraveling were good and I liked the mystery itself. It’s an important topic and the way the characters were all affected by it worked well.

The thing is, however, that the mystery had nothing to do with butterflies; butterflies were just a distracting subplot that didn’t even get a decent closure. I guess it was supposed to tie the story together but it felt contrived and unnecessary.

3,5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you NetGalley and Tea Cooper for the ARC of this book. I will add to my review once the book is published.

I did struggle with the amount of characters and jumping from the past to the present. There are multiple characters that are intertwined, but it is a matter to figuring it out. The pieces don't fully fit together until the end of the book. It does bring to light the unfortunate events of baby farming from years ago.

I really enjoyed the information regarding butterflies. Makes me want to paint.

The Butterfly Collector by Tea Cooper is a captivating novel that seamlessly weaves together two timelines, taking readers on a journey through 19th-century Morpeth and 1922 Sydney, Australia. Theodora Breckenridge, a budding botanical illustrator, and Verity Binks, an aspiring journalist, are the central characters in these distinct yet interconnected stories. Cooper's meticulous research and vivid descriptions breathe life into the historical backdrop, making it a compelling read. While the character development is commendable, some relationships could have been explored further. Despite a somewhat ambiguous ending, The Butterfly Collector is a must-read for those who appreciate a blend of history, mystery, and intricate human connections, showcasing Tea Cooper's storytelling prowess and her ability to transport readers to another era.

The Butterfly Collector is a historical fiction novel set in two separate timelines set in 1868 Morpeth and 1922 Sydney. The story started off with intrigue and mystery and pulled me in. The historical details and setting were definitely my favorite aspects of the novel. The author introduced some interesting characters, Verity, Clarrie, Sid, and Theodora were the most memorable for me. However I didn't feel invested in their stories and found myself losing interest. The pacing was a bit slow and the prose a bit repetitive. Historical fiction and mystery are two of my favorite genres, which is why I had such high hopes for this novel. Unfortunately, this book fell short for me.

I absolutely loved this book. 2 timelines connected by 2 women. The story line is based loosely on truth and was a fascinating read. Loved the main characters and couldn’t put it down. Glad women have more rights today

You begin this read thinking it is all about butterflies and gardens. . .it is much more, deeper and darker.

Two timelines, two places in Australia: 1868, in Morpeth, and 1922 in Sydney. Stay with it, and you'll find where they tie together, and what the missing pieces are to this well-told tale. Inspired by actual happenings, the author has created a spell-binding weave of two disparate stories that intersect, creating a worthy read.

Verity Binks reminded me of Nellie Bly, and she has the journalistic chops to follow the story back 3 generations to get to the heart of the solve.

*A sincere thank you to Tea Cooper, Harper Muse, and NetGalley for a free ARC to read and review*
#TheButterflyCollector #NetGalley

Fascinating story of two very independent, strong women. I could not put this down. I loved the descriptive writing, the settings and the mystery in two different time frames. Must read more of this author.

Beautifully written historical fiction. Blending two time frames and two families with a common denominator as a mystery unfolds. Just as a butterfly unfolds its wings so you can see the full colors. I have really enjoyed participating in the discovery. The characters are interesting. The story drew me right in. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was a beautifully written story! It has the perfect mix of history, intrigue, and a touch of romance. The characters and setting are enthralling and well written. I would recommend this for any historical fiction fans!

I enjoy historical fiction, especially books set in the 1800s as this one mostly is. It is well written with believable and sympathetic characters. The descriptions of the local Australian landscape, flora and fauna, are rich and precise. An unexpected plot twist at the end was well done. All this said, I would have enjoyed this book 30% more if it were 30% shorter. It was intriguing enough that I wanted to finish it, but I wanted the end to come sooner so that I could move on to another book. Had the book been shorter, I probably would have given it 5 starts instead of 4. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Set in 1922 and 1868 in Australia, this multi~generational novel centers around the historic practice of baby farming but also explores the social injustices to unmarried pregnant women, social/class hierarchy and post war effects on women’s employment. The practice of baby farming I was not overly familiar with so it was a fascinating back drop to a fictional story. The natural imagery of the novel was wonderful. Lives inter~twine as the secrets of the past are exposed throughout the twists and turns of the plot.

Thank you to Net Galley and Harper Muse for the chance to read and review this book. The opinions expressed are my own.,
I have read all of Tea Cooper's books, and this is one of her best. This is a historical mystery that takes place in Australia. It is told through two timelines-late 1800's and early 1900's. The first timeline involves Theodora Breckenridge, who discovers a butterfly that has never been seen in the area where she lives. Things are going along great, until her companion's baby is reported missing. The later timeline is about a journalist named Verity Binks who becomes involved in solving a 50-year mystery concerning missing babies. The author does a great job tying these stories together. The plot moved along quickly and kept my attention. Tea Cooper will continue to be one of my favorite authors.