The Butterfly collector comes from two eras to bring together lost people. There are many historical facts that are brought up from the first to see butterflies to early era daycare miss direction and mishaps. Tea cooper has put together a long past time and reminded us of where greed can take you. This was a very well read audiobook that I enjoyed listening to, Thank you Netgalley for this time.

The Butterfly Collector
•Historical Fiction
•Mystery
I enjoyed the dual timeline in this book! It had good characters and had some twists. I had trouble following along the first time so I reset the audiobook and enjoyed second time through!
The overall storyline was nice and a good listen! I had the audiobook version and thought the narrator did great!
Thank you Harper Muse and Net galley for this Audio Arc

In a Nutshell: A historical mystery focusing on two disparate plot points: a woman with a fascination for butterflies, and a mystery concerning Treadwell Foundation and its alleged focus on “disgraced young women and their babies.” Having either of these would have been fine. But the two topics don’t mesh well, creating a disjointed effect. The title is misleading.

Story Synopsis:
1922, Sydney. Twenty-five-year-old aspiring journalist Verity Binks gets an anonymous parcel containing a gorgeous butterfly costume and an invite to a prestigious masquerade ball. There, she is approached by Mr. Treadwell to write a history of the Treadwell Foundation. While digging into its past, Verity discovers a shady mystery that seems to go back more than fifty years. Can a young journalist take down a wealthy and powerful man?
1868, Morpeth. Twenty-one-year-old Theodora is still in mourning after the death of her parents and her brother at sea. Though staying with her three sisters, she prefers being in solitude and working on her art. Her inspiration comes from her friends, the respected Scott sisters, who are making a name for themselves as nature illustrators. When she spots a butterfly that has never been seen before in Australia, she realises that she has the chance to make a name for herself in the scientific community. Hence she takes help from her friend Redmond and her maid Clarrie to locate the butterfly. Does Theodora get the credit for her discovery?
The story comes to us mostly from the third person perspectives of Verity, Theodora, and Clarrie.

Bookish Yays:
ꕤ The Australian setting and its use in the plot. While many of the place names were quite new to me, I still liked how the author described the locations, helping me to visualise them better.
ꕤ The details related to the butterfly – its unexpected presence in Australia, its habits, its description. It was awesome to read about a historical female character with an interest in lepidoptery. (I didn’t like the description of how butterflies were pinned in order to study them better. There is a repeated emphasis on how “they didn’t feel a thing”, which didn’t alleviate my discomfort. But this is more of a ME problem.)
ꕤ The details about the “baby farming” in historical Australia. It is an important topic, and highlighted well in this novel.
ꕤ While there are two unexpected romantic relationships in the novel, I appreciate how the author didn’t change focus to highlight the romance more. The attention stays on the main plot than on the sparks flying between the characters.
ꕤ The author’s note at the end, detailing the facts behind the fictional plot. I love it when historical fiction authors provide such elaborate notes about their writing choices rather than leaving readers to wonder what was real and what wasn’t.
ꕤ The above also highlights how well the author has researched the historical facts. The story has an undertone of authenticity when it comes to the factual elements.
ꕤ While I am not usually a fan of covers with “ladies with their back to the camera”, I find this one gorgeous, and apt for the butterfly collector angle of the plot, though not for the whole book.

Bookish Nays:
🐛 The title is wrong for this book. It led me to believe that the focus of the book would be on Theodora and her interest in “butterfly collection.” However, this is a relatively minor angle in the novel, and Theodora isn’t the sole main character at all. I don’t understand why the title had to focus on her; it sets absolutely wrong expectations from the story.
🐛 The link between the two timelines is quite clear almost from the start, much before the characters even discover the connection. We just have to wait for the characters to catch up to what we already know. In fact, most of the mystery isn’t a mystery to us. Better not to read this as a “historical mystery” but as a “historical drama.”
🐛 Having two historical timelines is also a little confusing in this case. Except for the characters, there isn’t much to distinguish the two timelines as both feel “historical” in the same way. Only the characters help you remember which timeline is going on.
🐛 That said, the story sometimes gets confusing, not just because of the number of characters, but because so many of them are related through blood or acquaintance. The connections across the characters is quite farfetched. Moreover, only the main characters are sketched decently. The rest are used only as and when the plot needs them to do something, so their development is somewhat hazy. One of the characters has an abrupt turnaround in behaviour TWICE!
🐛 The progress of the story is quite slow. In the first 30-40%, there is hardly anything happening. The GR blurb goes much beyond the halfway mark, and even I had to resort to writing more than the initial 10-15% in my synopsis because there’s nothing concrete in the plot at that stage. The first half is more like a backstory to Theodora’s life and Verity’s investigation, while the second half suddenly changes track and focusses more on the mystery.
🐛 The plot progress is a bit too convenient at times. There are abrupt developments to incorporate a twist. Clues come up exactly when the characters are looking for them. The motivation of the person gifting the butterfly costume was quite flimsy. I wouldn’t call all this ‘lazy writing’ because the research does indicate the hard work behind the story. But maybe the author is better at dramatic stories than mysteries.
🐛 The finale was a huge letdown. There is an extended info-dump in the penultimate chapter, filling in some of the blanks of the “mystery”. Then all of a sudden, there is an epilogue, seemingly springing out of nowhere. But even this elaborate detailing doesn’t clarify the missing gaps. There are many unanswered questions about crucial plot points, with the death of certain key characters leaving us with no explanation of their motivation except for some guesswork by those investigating the past.

🎧 The Audiobook Experience:
The audiobook, clocking at 10 hrs 43 min, is narrated by Emily Barrett. She has a lovely voice, but her narration didn’t work that well for me. She reads quite slowly, but worse for me, she has a ‘breathy’ voice. Even when I sped up the narration, I could hear her breathing, which was very distracting. Moreover, she didn’t change her pitch or tone between male and female characters, so keeping track of the speaker was tricky. One positive was that she didn’t have an overly strong Aussie accent, so understanding her was a breeze.

All in all, this was partly a case of expectations going awry. I went into the book, prepared to get a historical story about a butterfly collector. I didn’t expect a mystery that wasn’t related to butterflies at all. Though the subject of the investigation was quite serious and also based in facts, perhaps it would have been better either to have the story focus on just the mystery aspect and ignoring the butterfly-related aspects (or maybe vice versa), OR to change the title and cover to something that better suited the mystery-related elements.
This is my first book by this renowned Aussie author, and I am not dissuaded against trying more of her works after this novel. Hoping for a better experience the next time around.
Recommended with reservations to light mystery or historical drama readers as a one-time read.

2.75 stars.

My thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin Australia for the DRC, and Harper Muse for the ALC of “The Butterfly Collector”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

The Butterfly Collector is an intriguing historical fiction novel that covers two timelines in Australia. The first is set in 1860 in the town of Morpeth and follows Theodora Breckenridge who discovers a “new” butterfly never before found in Australia. She hires Clarrie, a young single mother to help her collect and catalogue the butterfly. Much of this timeline centers around Clarrie before and after she gives birth to her illegitimate son.

The second timeline is set in 1922 in Sydney and follows newspaper writer Verity Binks who recently lost her job to make room for men coming back from the Great War who need jobs. In developing her next freelance story, Verity uncovers a secret lucrative business that spans 60 years that involves baby farming, where babies of poor or single women were adopted for money- many times without their knowledge or consent.

This story is well written and expertly researched. I listened to the audiobook version of this story, narrated by Emily Barrett, who was moving and compelling. I highly recommend this audiobook!

I SO wanted to love this. I’ve been in a spot of loving historical fiction lately, and I don’t believe I’ve ever read one set in Australia before. The premise sounded very intriguing, the cover is gorgeous, but I found it very lacking, personally. Unfortunately the story just did not grip me enough from the beginning to want to continue, and I found the narrator hard to follow. No doubt Tea is a talented writer, I actually really enjoyed her style, but the subject matter was not for me.

The Butterfly Collector is a captivating historical novel that transports readers to Morpeth, New South Wales, in two distinct timelines, 1868 and 1922. The novel skillfully weaves together the lives of two remarkable women, Theodora Breckenridge and Clarrie in 1868, against the backdrop of a society marked by the rigid constraints of class and gender. Theodora is from a well to do family, mourning the loss of her parents and brother in a recent ship wreck.. She emerges as a character of depth and passion. Her fascination with the arts and nature, particularly butterflies, sets her apart from her sisters, who are solely preoccupied with securing suitable husbands. Her aspirations to follow in the footsteps of the Scott sisters, renowned nature illustrators, ignites a fervor within her to explore the world of unique butterflies and scientific discovery.

Clarrie's story, add a poignant layer to the narrative. Her struggles as an unwed mother, facing societal judgement and discrimination, reflect the harsh realities of the 1800's. The author expertly portrays Clarrie's determination to care for her child, Charlie and both Clarrie and her partner Sid, are very devoted to him. Theodora's decision to hire Clarrie as her housekeeper and assistant forges a unique bond between them, highlighting the power of female solidarity and the support women can provide each other in challenging circumstances. The addition of Maude, a scrupulous character, who assists unwed mothers, who runs a child minding business as a ruse to take advantage of these poor mothers and covertly run a baby farming business, showcases the depravity of human nature.

As the timelines intersect, the mystery surrounding baby Charlie's disappearance adds suspense and intrigue to the narrative. I found myself eager to uncover the truth and learn more about this heart-wrenching subplot.

Meanwhile, in 1922 Verity Binks, a talented journalist, finds herself at a crossroads in her career due to the prevailing gender biases of the post-war era. When she inherits her grandfather Sid's home, she is gifted a mysterious, anonymous invitation to the prestigious "Sydney Artists Masquerade Ball", complete with a stunning butterfly masquerade dress and a beautifully embossed invitation and a paid ticket. This enigmatic gift sets the stage for a thrilling and emotionally charged story. At the ball, Verity is presented with a significant commission to write a story for the Treadwell Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting disgraced unwed mothers and their babies. This commission catapults Verity into a world of secrets and scandals, as she delves into her own family's history, particularly her grandparents heartbreaking experience with the baby farming business.

The novel skillfully navigates between the 1922 timeline and flashbacks to the late 19th century, where the shocking truth about Verity's grandparents past slowly unravels. The juxtaposition of Verity's contemporary struggles with her family's hidden shame creates a compelling and emotionally charged narrative arc. The historical context surrounding baby farming and its consequences for unwed mothers add depth to the storyline and sheds light on a dark chapter in Australian history.

Verity's determination to uncover the truth and redeem her family's name is a driving force that kept me engaged throughout. The character development is strong, especially in Verity's journey of self-discovery and resilience in the face of societal challenges.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me the book to read.

"A botanical illustration of a butterfly. A missing baby. And a twisted mystery fifty years in the making."
The twist and turns if this book keep me on the edge of my seat. Just when I thought I had it all figured out more woudl reveal its self!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. I don't even know where to start with a review for this book. I absolutely loved it and how the different stories were told generations apart and then they all came together in the end. I was concerned for a bit as I was getting a little confused by the characters and which timelines they belonged to but after figuring it out, it was such a great story about doing whatever you could to find your baby when it goes missing and never ever giving up hope. I don't think my review would do this book justice so I am simply going to say you have to go out and read it. I listened to the audiobook and I highly recommend you do the same. Enjoy!!!

Dual-timeline historical fiction set in Australia... 1868, Morpeth, follows Theodora Breckenridge's scientific pursuits and 1922, Sydney, follows journalist Verity Binks' investigation into an old mystery.

I love dual-timeline historical fiction, but this one was just so hard for me to get into, I think in part because of some difficult subject matter, and in part because of the narration. I think different narrators for the different points of view would have worked much better.

Thank you to Harper Muse via NetGalley for gifting me with an ALC to review!

I’ve never listened or read this author, but am a fan of historical fiction so thought I’d try it. I got used to the narrator, but I really noticed her breathy-ness in the first few chapters.

Overall I liked the story. The main character, Verity, was likeable. This story had lots of layers to it. I liked that you learned about Verity’s grandparent’s story throughout the book too since it jumped from from the late 1860’s to 1920’s.

A story of family, friendship and the unexpected, this was an interesting listen!

The Butterfly Collector is a duel timeline historical fiction novel that follows Theodora Breckenridge, Clarrie, and Verity Binks. Both Theodora and Clarrie’s stories occur in 1868 while Verity’s is set in 1922. I found each character’s story to be compelling. I enjoy a dual timeline story that slowly unfolds why the two timelines are important to each other, and this book really hit the mark.

The synopsis describes a twisty mystery with a missing baby and a mysterious ball. There is definitely an overarching mystery, but it didn’t feel like it was a large piece of the story until after the halfway point or later. This didn’t diminish my enjoyment of the book as it does well exploring the lives of the three woman as they faced challenges and pursued goals - something I enjoy reading about with or without added mystery.

The audiobook was narrated by Emily Barrett. The performance overall created a listening experience that allowed me to become easily immersed in the story. My one critique would be that many character voices sounded similar. There was one conversation between Sid and Clarrie where it was impossible to differentiate who was talking based on voice alone.

Thank you to Harper Muse and NetGalley for an audio ARC of this book. All expressed opinions are my own.

The characters in this novel are multi-dimensional and relatable. Theodora's determination and Clarrie's resilience are portrayed with authenticity, making them characters you can't help but care deeply about. Their evolving friendship, amidst the backdrop of a high-stakes mystery, adds depth and emotional resonance to the story.

As the narrative unfolds, it becomes a mesmerizing journey of discovery, not just in the realm of science but also in the secrets and hidden truths that lie beneath the surface. The plot is skillfully paced, with each revelation and twist propelling the story forward, keeping me eagerly turning the pages.

This book is a beautifully written historical mystery that combines art, science, and suspense in a way that is both engaging and thought-provoking. Tea Cooper's storytelling prowess shines through in this novel, and I found myself completely absorbed in the world she created. If you're looking for a book that will transport you to another time and challenge your intellect while tugging at your heartstrings, this is a must-read. "The Butterfly Collector" is a testament to the power of storytelling and the enduring fascination of the natural world.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harper Muse through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you so much!

4.25
I loved how Tea Cooper interwove different historical stories into one excellent book. The history of the butterflies and those who documented the flora and fauna of Australia was a perfect backdrop to the other story line. The multiple time lines were well handled to lace them together without confusion. Seeing the difficulty women in different ages had in dealing with the need for security and supporting their lives was the base of the stories.

The beautiful cover is what first attracted my attention to this book and if you listen to the audiobook you will love the spectacular narration of Emily Barrett

Thank you to #netgalley and #harpermuse for the audio ARC of #TheButterflyCollector for my honest and independent review.

Very interesting book with well developed, likeable characters. I also really enjoyed the narration. Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A beautifully written story about two strong women, Theodora Breckenridge, and Verity Binks, taking place in Australia over two time periods – 1868 Morpeth and 1922 Sydney. Baby farming and kidnapping, the newspaper business, sighting of the first monarch butterfly in Australia, and the beginning of the women’s rights movement are all featured in this story of missing babies, and the connection to a painting of a monarch butterfly.

Thank you Harper Muse Audiobooks and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.
I would say this is average Historical Fiction. The storyline was interesting enough to keep my attention and thankfully it is not a romance.
The butterfly segments, totally uninteresting to me.
As for the narrator, she had that nice Australian voice but she did not differentiate between characters. This made it difficult to know who was speaking.

The Butterfly Collector by Tea Cooper
(Narrated by Emily Barrett)

What a twisty, well-written and interweaving Australian historical fiction.

The dual timelines happened in 1860s and 1920s, between Theodora Breckenridge who was a butterfly enthusiast and Verity Binks who was a young journalist.

While you thought there was nothing connecting between them, then you were absolutely wrong.

Theodora discovered a special species of butterfly in Australia and she had helped with her maid Clarrie in this discovering journey. Clarrie and Sid were trying to have a baby, but their newborn went missing.

On the other hand, Sid and Clarrie’s granddaughter Verity had a chance to write about Treadwell Foundation and she received a mysterious invitation to a charity event. When she was there in a butterfly costume, Verity recognized a painting there that related to her family history and some secrets.

Amazing story plot which connected two subtly storylines but turned out into a surprising story. Intriguing and keep you guessing what’s going on.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Harper Muse and Tea Cooper for that audiobook!

Format: Audiobook (10h43m)
Pub date: Nov 28, 2023

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Muse for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.


Clarrie and Sid just discovered their son has been taken, but by whom they don’t know. This young couple – she a maid and he a newspaper worker – are trying to get their life together in 1868 Morpeth, Australia, but this is set to derail everything. Their employers are determined to help them find their son and deploy their resources. More than 50 years later, their descendants reopen the investigation and discover family secrets can rock the community even decades later.

Tea Cooper delivers a striking dual timeline story in The Butterfly Collector that will play to your emotions. This novel is an ode to chaos theory, taking the reader on a decades long journey to see how one action can change the course of history. Moreover, it is an intimate historical retelling of two important events in Australian history – stolen infants and the arrival of the Monarch butterflies to the continent.

I give The Butterfly Collector 4 out of 5 stars. I appreciate the way Cooper weaves together two separate timelines that seem so independent at first. I was surprised at some of the twists later in the book and enjoyed the plot of this novel. However, some parts of the story and characters felt like they were missing details and needed to be further developed to sync with the rest of the story. I was impressed by the details Cooper included about the butterflies and other natural aspects of the area during the time. I did find it difficult to determine which character was speaking in the audiobook – the reader had distinct voices for each character, but slipped and used incorrect voices a few times. This caused me to have to pause and replay the scene to grasp the full story.

This book would be great for book clubs and individual readers alike, especially those interested in butterflies or mysteries. I would also recommend this for readers interested in Australian history – the book juxtaposes several historical events in a way that gives the readers a feel for life in those eras. With light references to death, this book may be best suited for readers over 13.

I was excited to see this book available with Netgally – the beautiful cover caught my eye immediately! Monarch butterflies have a special meaning for me and I appreciate any time a butterfly can become a character in a novel. I also appreciate Cooper’s work as an Australian historical fiction writer – so much of the historical fiction available to me and that I have read centers on American or European events. I am not as familiar with Australian history and it was nice to learn so much while I read!

The Butterfly Collector will release on November 28th – preorder your copy today!

ARC Audiobook Review
Publication Date: November 2023

Dual timeline story:
1. 1868, Morpeth, Australia. Theodora Breckenridge lost her parents and brother in an accident on the sea. She is an artist who spends most of her time keeping to herself and doing art at her family’s court side estate. Rather than finding a husband in Sydney’s society. During her many hours spent alone doing art, she discovers butterfly never seen in Australia. She wants to find all the facts and be known for the scientific discovery. Then sudden, Claire’s newborn goes missing, see what happens!

2. 1922, Sydney, Australia. Verity Binks is a journalist has been sent a package with a butterfly costume and an invitation to the Sydney Artists Masquerade Ball, anonymously, the same day she has lost her job. At the ball, she is approached and offered a commission to write the history of Treadwell Foundation. Which just so happens to be an institution that helps to support unwed young and disgraced mothers to be. Little does she know till later, there is a dark and sinister past. Can she solve the fifty year old mystery?

This was a captivating story. I loved how the timelines ended up tying together. Tea Cooper’s spin of historical events mixed into her fictional characters was flawless. I wish there was a little more concentration on the missing child. The narrator did an excellent job as well. It’s definitely worth a read or listen.

Thank you Netgalley, Harper Muse and Tea Cooper for the arc audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

The butterfly collector
By Tea Cooper
A complex blend of history and fiction, so we'll done that readers can not believe her characters are not historical figures. Dual time lines fill in the story of the family shown as the connection linchpin of the story.
Dynamic characters that go through remarkable arcs. Many hints at Australian culture and historical facts. She does indicate many aboriginal beliefs with cultural respect and understanding.