Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the chance to listen to this audiobook narrated by Emily Barrett.

The Butterfly Collector by Tea Cooper is a historical novel with a dual timeline told from multiple perspectives. The story has a heavy focus on the "baby farming" issue that was often a problem during this time period (late 1800s). The story contains drama, love, and friendship. It is an engaging novel that, although slow to get moving, really got me interested by about a quarter through.

In retrospect, I probably wouldn't listen to an audiobook written by Tea Cooper again as I felt it made it a little harder to transition between timelines compared to when I've read her other novels.
I also wouldn't seek out this narrator again as personally I felt her tone of voice changes and pace of reading changes distracted from the story as there were times I was lost as to who was meant to be speaking.

Over the years, I have gotten to read several books by Tea Cooper. Although The Butterfly Collector was not one of my favorite books that she has written I did enjoy it. The beginning was a little confusing for me as there were so many characters and a duel timeline to keep track of. Once I started to progress through the story it started getting easier to understand the relationships between the characters. The Butterfly Collector took place in Morpeth, Australia in 1868 and in Sydney, Australia in 1922. There were two strong female protagonists who were ambitious, independent and quite capable in their own ways. I listened to the audiobook that was well narrated by Emily Barrett. One of the main topics Tea Cooper explored in this book was “baby farming” in Australia during the 1800 and 1900’s. She also touched upon the discovery of the migration of Monarch butterflies to Australia.

In 1868, the Breckenridge family suffered a devastating tragedy. The parents and young brother of Theodora and her two sisters were killed in a shipping accident. Theodora and her sisters continued to live at the family’s estate. Theodora was quite different from her sisters. While her sisters were interested in traveling to Sydney where they hoped to participate in the social events worthy of their standings and seek out potential husbands, Theodora was content to stay at home and pursue her artistic ambitions. Theodora’s goal was to become an illustrator of things that pertained to nature. She aspired to follow in the footsteps of the Scott sisters. Her drawings were exquisite but it was her scientific discovery of a species of butterflies foreign to Australia that would eventually make her famous. Left at the family estate while her sisters travelled to Sydney, Theodora was introduced to young woman who had recently given birth to a baby boy and was in need of a job. Theodora took an instant liking to Clarrie and hired her to work as a maid. Clarrie and Theodora formed a bond. They were determined to help each other as much as they could. Clarrie helped Theodora with her beautiful drawings and Theodora helped Clarrie earn extra time to visit her young son. When Clarrie discovered that her son had been taken from her everything changed in a blink of an eye. Who had taken Clarrie’s baby and why? Could Theodora help Clarrie get him back?

In 1922, in Sydney, Australia, many women were being forced to vacate the positions they had held while the war was being fought and hand them back to the returning soldiers. Verity Binkx, an aspiring journalist for The Arrow, was one of those women. She understood the situation but was sad to let go of her position at the paper. Her articles were just beginning to be recognized for their good content and some had even been printed. Her late grandfather, Sid, had been a well known and respected newspaper man. On the day Verity lost her job at The Arrow a strange thing happened. An anonymous package arrived at her home for her. Inside the package was an elegant butterfly costume and an invitation to the Sydney Artists Masquerade Ball. Who could have sent these to her? Verity decided to attend the ball. Perhaps she would encounter the sender at the ball. Although Verity came no closer to discovering the identity of the sender, she was offered an assignment to write about the Treadwell Foundation and the role they had played in helping young girls who found themselves unwed and pregnant over the years. As Verity conducted her research about The Treadwell Foundation throughout Australia’s history, she discovered a butterfly painting that was almost identical to the costume that had been sent to her. This discovery led Verity to do some digging in Morpeth. Would Verity be able to link the connections between the butterfly painting, Morpeth and the Treadwell Foundation? What would she discover?

The Butterfly Collector by Tea Cooper was an engaging historical mystery. As I learned about the occurrences of “baby farming “ that was so prevalent in Australia during that time period I was surprised at how many babies were taken away and sold. I really enjoyed the characters of Theodora, Verity and Clarrie. They were each strong women in their own right. The emergence and discovery of a new butterfly species in Australia was a phenomenon that I had not known about. I continue to admire Tea Cooper’s writing and enjoyed listening to this book. Even though this was not my favorite book of hers I enjoyed it and I recommend it.

Thank you to Harper Muse for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of The Butterfly Collector by Tea Cooper through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The book started a little slow for me. I did enjoy it, but it was not at all what I thought it would be about. Took a while to get into the characters and timelines, there two and they do come together and. you can pretty much guess the relationships of the characters to each timeline early on, but the how and why come much later in the book. About half way through it picked up and moved at a great pace. I would recommend this book and tell people, stick with it. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was okay. I had a hard time differentiating the voices of characters at times. I would recommend the book instead of the audio. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

"The Butterfly Collector" is a slow-burn mystery centered around two time periods, the 1860s and 1920s, both in Australia. In 1922, Verity receives an anonymous package with an invite to an exclusive ball, along with a beautiful butterfly costume. While there, she meets Mr. Treadwell, who invites her to use her journalistic skills to document the history of the Treadwell Foundation. Digging into the foundation's past reveals more than Verity bargained for.

This timeline shares the stage with Theodora and her family, in 1868. Living with her sisters, Theodora and her family are still reeling from the loss of their parents and brother. Theodora seeks solace in her art, documenting butterfly species and seeking to make her mark in the scientific community.

I found this book slow to get going, and a bit plodding overall. I'm not sure the butterfly theme worked for me, as it seemed too outside of the central plot to work; I found it more of a confusing distraction as I looked for the places where it might have importance. From a production standpoint, the audiobook was at times difficult to listen to, as there was quite a lot of narrator breathing that was audible. Both female and male characters were delivered in the narrator's natural voice, which made some of the male characters (especially the reverend) less genuine and harder to follow.

Although the storyline definitely pulled me in, I had a hard time with this one.
Two alternating timelines. Late 1800’s and 1920’s.
Two completely different sets of characters that do not seem to intersect at all.
And, not really much to do with the title of the book.
We have Clarrie and Sid, who are young (very) lovers and fall into some hard times.
And then we have Verity, a journalist, who kind of falls into a situation, and then feels the need to get to the bottom of it!

Although there were some terrific ideas in the book,I felt like it was very disjointed and I had a hard time keeping up with the storylines. I also felt like it could’ve been done in less time…but these are just MY thoughts.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #HarperMuse for an ARC of the audiobook.

3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me.

#TheButterflyCollector by #TeaCooper.

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Happy Reading!! 📖📚

First, thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to review the audio version of this book in exchange for the following review.

The narrator was well chosen and enhanced this book.

The story is set in Australia during two time periods - the late 1800s and 1922 - post WWI where the main character Verity is a young aspiring journalist who receives a mysterious invitation to a costume ball with an elaborate Monarch Butterfly costume. This leads to her investigation of the charity, a old mystery which Verity works to solve. The author uses the arrival of the Monarch Butterfly on the east coast of Australia as a timeline and backstory of some of the characters from the late 1800s.

I can see why readers enjoy this story. It was not quite my cup of tea. The background and times are well done but the story didn't feel "hefty" enough for me. Just as I was getting into 1922 and Verity's story I was pulled back to the late 1800s.

The Butterfly Collector is a historical novel set in Australia. What I found interesting is the dual timelines, set in 1868 and 1922. While you may not think they have much to do with each other, they come together to form the full story quite nicely. I thought this story was written quite well and I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook and thought the narrator told the story in a way that made the listener feel like they were there. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to listen to this book.

At first, the connection between timelines lies only in the bold colours of the monarch butterfly, but The Butterfly Collector soon becomes a double tale of mystery, deceit and good ol' investigation. It could be hard to keep all the details straight between timelines, especially as they uncovered details about the past, but it shed light on a very real, sinister part of Australian history. The audiobook, narrated by Emily Barrett, was a pleasant experience. Their voice was for the most part smooth, and easy to follow. Their character voices were distinct but not too jarring as to distract from the story.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of the audiobook in exchange for unbiased review..

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗹𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿
𝗧𝗲𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿

⭐⭐⭐⭐

While it was this gorgeous cover that initially caught my attention, it was the story within that kept me glued to these pages. This dual-timeline historical mystery is a captivating breath of fresh air. In the oversaturated hist fic genre, it's always nice to read something completely unique. And it's set in Australia, which we just don't have enough of. We initially follow two completely different different stories: Theodora's in 1868, and the Verity's in 1922. The way Cooper melds these women's journeys together is such a treat, and took me completely by surprise in the best possible way!

🎧 I listened along with the audiobook, which was beautifully narrated by Emily Barrett. There's a fairly large cast here, and Barrett managed to give a unique voice to each of the characters. Though there are two timelines, I was able to keep them seperate with the help of her narration.

Add this one to your TBR, friends!

📌 Out now!

Thank you NetGalley & @harpermusebooks for my #gifted copies
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This was a compelling story about a heart breaking truth. It is written well and combines the two storylines well in the end. One woman in search of a rare (new?) butterfly befriends a maid who's baby goes missing. I appreciated the historical accuracies and the explanation of liberties taken within the author's note. Great Historical Fiction read!

The Butterfly Collection
⭐️⭐️⭐️
I enjoyed the book at the beginning. It was really interesting. The book started to really drag & moved way to slow for me. It was very predictable. Thank you for the opportunity to read it. Sorry I wasn't really crazy about it. I've read lots of 5 stars back to back so my expectations are high.

1868, Morpeth Twenty-one year old Theodora has spent the last two years of her life in mourning over the death of her parents and brother at sea. While she grieves their loss, this time in solitude hasn't been all that dismal for her. Preferring an introverted life where she can improve upon her art, Theodora has been reveling in this time at home. Theodora finds inspiration from the well-respected Scott sisters, who are making a name for themselves as flora and fauna illustrators. At a shocking chance in the garden, she spots a butterfly that has never before been seen in Australia. This is her first opportunity to finally make a name for herself and contribute to the world of science. Through the help of her maid and friend, Theodora aims to earn the credit for her discovery.

1922, Sydney: Twenty-five year old aspiring journalist Verity Binks has just been let go from her position. Now that WWI is over and men are returning, many employers are no longer interested in keeping the woman who filled these positions while they were gone. While she's downtrodden and unsure of how to keep up payments, she suddenly receives a mysterious package. There's a beautiful monarch costume and an invitation to a coveted masquerade ball. While at the ball, she is approached by a Mr. Treadwell who wishes her to write a book on the history of the Treadwell Foundation. As Verity begins to unravel Treadwell Foundation's past, she discovers a shady background that seems to go back more than fifty years. The Treadwell foundation and family have been covering up what's been really going on, but can Verity get this information out and stop them from continuing to hide the truth?

I thought this book was interesting, but the mystery was a bit lacking for me. I knew exactly what was happening, but the book was so long that it took a while to get there. I'm not sure if reading this one would've been better than listening, but the audiobook is over 10 hours long and I listen on 1.5x speed. For that reason I went from really enjoying it to just liking it.

Verity is a would-be journalist until she loses her job to the returning soldiers. But, this does not stop her from going after a story. When she receives a costume and an invite to an esteemed ball, she jumps at the chance to write a story. However, this mysterious evening turns into much more than she bargained for.

Verity is a good character. She is determined to be a writer. And in this time period, that is a big challenge. Women are supposed to marry, have children and keep the home. This is not a part of Verity’s talents! So, I did admire her gumption!

This novel is unique in its subject matter, time period and setting. Now, I am not going to lie, I almost DNF it more than once, especially at the beginning. And it could be that I have read a few “sweet” books lately and I need a bit more action than this book offered. But it does get better, especially where the hunt for Charlie is concerned. (You will need to read this to find out!) And I did enjoy learning about the history of basically selling babies. I just don’t understand the cruelty of some people. Greed is a powerful thing!

The narrator, Emily Barrett, is not one I have listened to very often. I really enjoyed her voice and her cadence.

Need a unique historical fiction…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

I had to sit with this book for several days after finishing it to develop my thoughts on it. When I finished the book it felt underwhelming, though decently satisfying at the end. It's an interesting part of history, though not handled with as much nuance as it could. The book attempts to balance three POVs set in two different time periods. The more modern narrative works well to create intrigue around the past but the inclusion of one of the POVs in the past felt superfluous. The character's POV, which the book's title refers to, feels unneeded and more like a distraction to pad the pages than a character one needs to be in the head of. Ultimately the book feels less like it's trying to tell a compelling story that reveals true history and delves into the more cheap, salacious nature these stories can easily become. It feels truly well-intentioned as a story but not enough to recommend it when there are so many other stories about the tragic separation of unwed mothers and their babies out there.

I had a bit of a hard time getting into this book but I think that's b/c I was listening to the audio and it had so many characters and the timeline kept jumping forward and back. Once I got into the book it was great! I knew something was going to happen to Charlie at some point but kidnapping?! I love that Verity was not going to be held back and did what she needed to do to solve the mystery! This was my 1st book by Tea Cooper but will not be my last!

#TheButterflyCollector
#NetGalley

This was a really refreshing historical fiction book! I loved the setting and dual timelines. Great audiobook as well

The book had my attention for the first 25%, and it reminded me quite a bit of a Kate Morton novel. I loved the Australian setting and dual timelines.

However, after the beginning, I found the plot to be quite slow and my interest waned. Overall, this story wasn't fast paced enough for me.

Book Review
Title: The Butterfly Collector
Author: Tea Cooper
Genre: Mystery, Historical Fiction
Narrator: Emily Barrett
Length: 10 hours, 43 minutes
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The Butterfly Collector is a historical mystery written by the Australian author, Tea Cooper. The audio version was capably narrated by Emily Barrett whose youthful and breathy delivery captured just the right pace and presentation.

The story unfolds in dual time lines. Here’s the set up:

Morpeth, New South Wales, 1968 - Theodora Breckinridge, the daughter of a famous naturalist, is an aspiring nature illustrator striving to make a name for herself. Theodora discovers a species of butterfly never before seen in Australia. She appears to be at the point of a breakthrough when her maid Clarrie's baby goes missing.

Sidney, New South Wales, 1922 - As serviceman return home from the war needing employment, Verity Binks loses her job as a stenographer at the Sydney Arrow. On the same day she finds herself unemployed, Verity is surprised to receive an anonymous package containing a paid ticket to the Sydney Artists’ Masquerade Ball along with a mask and a magnificent butterfly costume. While at the ball, Verity is introduced to the esteemed Mr. Treadwell who commissions her to write the history of the Treadwell Foundation, a charity dedicated to aiding young women who find themselves in “disgrace.” As we alternate timelines, we unwind the twisty connections that lay between Theodora and Verity, decades old secrets are unraveled and painful truths are confronted.

The Butterfly Collector is a satisfying mystery unveiling tragic truths of Victorian society, politics, and women’s struggles with reproductive expectations and rights across social classes. (DM if you have concerns about triggers.) The novel is well researched, and its characters are well developed. While the ending got a bit cluttered with its final revelations, I’d recommend The Butterfly Collector to lovers of historical fiction and mystery, who wish to be transported to a different place and time.

I’d like to thank the author @Tea_Cooper, @HarperMuse and @NetGalley Audio for the gift of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Look for it! Pub Date: 28 Nov 2023

I tried several times to get into this book but it just wasn’t for me. I think it would appeal to readers who like sweet period pieces that move at a quiet pace. I think I was expecting more of a twisty mystery, that just happened to be set in a historical era and found the pace much to slow. Love the cover of this book!

I found this very difficult to stay with. I kept falling asleep and I didn’t like the storyline. I couldn’t seem to connect with either the story or the characters. It just wasn’t for me.