I really enjoyed The Naturalist's Daughter. Historical fiction is one of my favourite genres, and this one definitely didn't disappoint.

The story was told over dual timelines and multiple points of view. Oftentimes, I find myself invested in one POV or timeline more than another, but I didn't find that with this story. I was equally enthralled by both stories.

For me, the story was a bit slow to get started, but once the "stage was set," the book became truly fascinating. There was a mystery to this story, as the MC in our current timeline tried to authenticate the sketchbook of naturalist Charles Winton, and discover who Rose Winton was, and why Charles Winton's research on the Platypus was never accepted.

While there was a blossoming romance, with some miscommunication, I appreciated that the focus on the book really was on the women and their achievements.

I also enjoyed reading and learning more about Australia.

I would recommend this book to historical fiction fans. It was well written and very interesting!

Thank you too @tea_cooper @harpermusebooks and @austenprose for the advanced digital copy of this book.

Two compelling mysteries, two thrilling romances, & the unusual platypus all woven together to create one unputdownable read! This is my first book by Tea Cooper & I can’t wait to read more. I was immediately captivated by this historical dual timeline gothic mystery! Set one hundred years apart, two young women’s stories are connected by a notebook containing sketches of the remarkable platypus.

In 1808 Agnes Banks, NSW Australia, young Rose Winton follows her naturalist father as he documents the strange platypus. After years of correspondence with a prominent scientist, he’s invited to travel to England to share his groundbreaking scientific discovery with the Royal Society. But, when Charles is prevented from going, Rose goes in his place. Faced with shocking secrets, the mystery of her mother’s transport to Australia, & trying to convince the Royal Society to accept her father’s meticulous work, Rose finds her only ally is a handsome doctor.

In 1908 Sydney, Australia, Tamsin Alleyn enjoys working in the Public Library after the death of her parents. She’s been studying the correspondence of Charles Winton who’s believed to have been the first to document the platypus. When she’s tasked to retrieve a sketchbook rumored to belong to the naturalist, she soon finds herself embroiled in a mystery. In a race against time to prove the notebook is real, she finds herself at odds with an attractive lawyer & bibliophil who’s also interested in the notebook and trying to claim it for his client.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Part romance, part fascinating historical fiction, and part gothic mystery on the moors, this thrilling story kept me quickly turning the pages. I loved how both timelines were woven together. I’d never thought much about how controversial the platypus is & what a groundbreaking discovery it was. It was such an interesting story that I found myself googling the actual history. I enjoyed the romances in both time periods. Rose’s romance is an instant attraction & Tamlin’s is more of a rivals to lovers. The gothic mystery was surprising & I enjoyed how it fit into the story.

Highly recommend to historical fiction & mystery fans! Be advised that there are a few swearwords & a gothic mystery in the same vein as The Mysteries of Udolpho. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided. 4.5 to 5 stars!

The Naturalist’s Daughter by Tea Cooper is a dual time line novel with characters Rose Winton and Tamsin Alleyn who live 100 years apart. The story follows the fascinating process of the mystery surrounding the classification of the platypus in the characters’ lives.

This was such a wonderful book. I enjoyed the adventure, mystery, and romance. Rose and Tamsin were strong and likeable characters and I was very invested in their lives. The great debate of the platypus was so fascinating to learn about. I kept turning pages to see what would happen next.

The author has woven together a beautifully written story. The timelines move seamlessly, the characters were very engaging, and I was so engrossed in this page turning story. I highly recommend The Naturalist’s Daughter by Tea Cooper.

I was given a copy by the publisher and not required to write a positive review.

The Naturalist's Daughter is about two Australian women who have a hundred years between them but share similar curious natures and adventurous constitutions. Rose Winton grows up in Agnes Banks, NSW in 1808, assisting her naturalist father Charles Winton on his research of the platypus, sometimes referred to as mallangongs by the native inhabitants. Tamsin Alleyn is a librarian who travels from Sydney to find out if an old sketchbook may have been Charles's work. Both women must use all their courage to uncovers their respective mysteries. There is also a charming romance between Tamsin and a lawyer assisting with the estate sale the sketchbook is part of. At one point Rose travels to England and her story takes a bit of a gothic turn, but the story overall has a core of sweet wholesomeness and the quaint old-fashioned language and vivid descriptions of the past will intrigue those who enjoy historical fiction. Tea Cooper is also the author of a variety of other historical novels including The Butterfly Collector, The Fossil Hunter, The Girl in the Painting, and The Women in the Green Dress.

A dual timeline historical set against two time periods in Australian history featuring the fascinating platypus and an intrepid pair of women at the heart of the story. I read my first Tea Cooper when I reveled in her The Fossil Hunter. I saw something along much the same lines in The Naturalist’s Daughter and my instincts were bang on.

The Naturalist’s Daughter had split times a century apart both in a historical setting. I love how the author full immersed me in the historical setting and main character backgrounds of both timelines, Regency and Edwardian. I was more into the older story with Rose, but I also enjoyed Tamsin’s search. For me the true main character was the amazing platypus or Mallalong, as the Aboriginal people called it. I felt drawn to Rose and her need to fulfill her father’s dream of presenting to the Royal Society, but she was a woman in Regency London and the platypus defied animal classification so she was climbing uphill on that one because the creature was considered a hoax and some stitched together and stuffed specimen to fool the credulous. She is determined, but out of her element. Rose’s story dropped off at the good part, of course, so I had to wait and see what Tamsin uncovered when sketches appear once again and are at the heart of the mystery researcher Tamsin is determined to uncover when she comes to the Hunter Valley.

There was a lovely slow burn sweet romance and I enjoyed Tamsin’s rivalry with the lawyer also interested in the sketches and their provenance. I had my suspicions about what happened in the end and I was mostly right as there were some good hints along the way.

Again, I was thrilled to delve into Australian history and the natural history relating to the platypus. I really do need to get to Tea Cooper’s backlist at some point. Those who enjoy historical fiction with a strong slow burn romance motif are the target crowd.

This book is set between the years of 1808 and 1908 and discusses the controversial details around the platypus. Especially around how it should be classified. And about recovering the sketchbook of a naturalist who was among the first to catalog detailed anatomical drawings of the platypus. I especially love the idea around it being about a naturalist and his daughter who spent their whole lives watching a burrow and documentary their characteristics through various sketches and paintings.

And while I know this story is fictional in terms of the people, quick google searches showed me that a lot of the controversies were very accurate in terms of the characteristics of this odd animal when it was first discovered. And I learned a lot about the platypus that I never knew before, I found it very entertaining, my attention was piqued. I found myself curious to not only learn what happened to this sketchbook but to also learn more about the platypus.

I remember learning about this type of art, Naturalism, while in college, the idea of artists spending their lives dedicated around specific plants or animals, documenting them in extreme detail through sketches and paintings. So my inner artist was simply delighted, I loved following our naturalists and seeing the details describing the way they would sketch what they saw. It painted such vivid imagery in my mind.

I simply adored this book and it’s definitely got me interested to read more from Tea Cooper, seeing their other titles and how they’re also set around similar themes of art. I can’t wait to read more from them!

If you have an interest in art history, nature and historical fiction, I highly recommend this book!

"Nullius in verba - Take no one's word for it."

One of my favorite historical authors, Tea Cooper does a great job weaving history, science, and mystery into her books! I loved how Tamsin, an independent young woman in the Victorian era involved in natural history is trying to put the pieces together of a naturalist and his daughter, Agnes. The mystery surrounding the journals Agnes wrote has Tamsin journeying through Australia and Britain to learn more about her life. I was deeply intrigued by the twists and turns of Agnes's life and the secrets she works to uncover about her own family. It's fascinating learning about the natural history of the platypus and yet, so much darkness surrounds Agnes life and family! Tamsin has her battle as she works with a young bookseller named Shaw, to place this naturalist's journal into the archives of the natural history library so all may enjoy it for years to come, which is a surprising journey. Shaw is a fascinating young man of his time, owning a motorcar, something very new and exciting to this time period. I enjoyed the connection and chemistry between Tamsin and Shaw as they worked together to unravel the secrets of the past.

Genre: historical fiction, mystery
Pace: medium
Agnst level: 4/5 ( lots of twists and turns )
Triggers/tropes: natural history, naturalists, mystery, mention of rape/assault, dark family secrets, Victorian era Australia and Britain.

I found this book to be absolutely captivating, with its skillfully crafted characters, dual timelines, and historical aspects that all came together in a satisfying conclusion. The mysteries were resolved in unexpected ways, and I was kept on the edge of my seat until the very end. A truly engaging read!

I highly recommend it to historical fiction lovers, those with an interest in women and science, and Australian history.

I received a copy from Harper Muse, Austenprose PR, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

While the main characters in this book are all fictional, I enjoyed being immersed in a tale that placed me in a historical Australian scientific controversy, one that revolved around the acceptance of facts regarding the ornithorhynchus platypus. The story also addresses to a smaller degree England's sending prisoners to colonize Australia. Both stories in this dual-timeline novel work to solve the mystery surrounding former prisoner Rose Winter's heritage. It was very interesting to see how the culture of the day impacted the reasons for secrecy around Rose's family history.

I always keep an eye out for Tea Cooper's books being released in the United State. They are always very enjoyable reads with interesting themes and lots to learn about Australian history. I highly recommend The Naturalist's Daughter and am grateful to have received a complimentary copy from Harper Muse via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

4.5 stars rounded up.

Advance reader copy provided by Harper Muse and NetGalley but all opinions are my own.

A story woven over 100 years, told in a dual timeline in Australia. (NSW) Meeting Rose and her love and bravery as she prepares to present her father’s work as her world falls apart before, and after, she travels to England.

We then meet Tamsin and get to know her and her enthusiasm to keep the work of Charles Winton for all to know in the library. As she digs deeper, she learns of Charles’ life and even a bit of her own.

I genuinely wanted to enjoy this book, but it took me until I was three-quarters through to start appreciating it, which required a significant time commitment. Despite several instances where I contemplated giving up, receiving an ARC from the publisher motivated me to continue. The dual timelines and the mystery aspect were compelling, but the scientific "platypus" narrative was
not interesting. The dense scientific explanations often made the book read more like a textbook. At times, the parts set in England were hard to follow due to the unfamiliar language and terms used by the author, forcing me to guess at times. This may be a frequent issue for Americans reading historical books set in Australia or England, considering the different foods, customs, and dialects. Although the mystery and subtle romance were appealing, the remainder was tough to understand.

There have been plenty of hoax animals and artifacts in the histories of archaeological and biological discoveries. But the platypus was not one of them – no matter how skeptical scientists initially were about the creature found – and only found – on the wet eastern riverlands of Australia.

But it’s easy to understand why scientists in Britain, presented with a preserved specimen of an animal that had fur like a mammal, a bill like a duck, a poison spur like a reptile, that laid eggs like a bird but nursed its young as mammals do treated the specimen with a HUGE dose of skepticism.

Even the platypus’ early scientific name, ornithorhynchus paradoxus – paradoxical bird-snout – makes the confusion of all who observed the animal exceedingly clear.

The story in The Naturalist’s Daughter is wrapped tightly around the paradox of the platypus, both its discovery across two centuries – about the history of its first introduction to the preeminent 19th century naturalist Sir Joseph Banks and then the early 20th century discovery that perhaps the attribution for that first discovery had been misplaced in the midst of a series of tragic family secrets and devastating lies.

It’s a story that goes full circle, from young Rose Winton, a budding naturalist in her own right – or at least she would have been if she had been born either male or in a later century – and the origin story that had been hidden from her – to Tamsin Alleyn a century later, an independent young woman determined to chart her own course – a course that leads her back to a family and a history she never knew was hers.

Along the way, the story of the platypus spurs its poison and lays its eggs, from the manipulations of a wealthy family that abused, transported, lied and cheated Rose’ mother to descendants that hid her heritage and did their damndest to do it all again.

Only for the truth, at last, to make so many injustices finally come ‘round right and correct the mistakes of history in a story that combines the thrill of scientific discovery with the sins of avarice, the desperation to escape not one but two legacies that are too difficult to bear and a romance weighed down with secrets on all sides.

Escape Rating A-: Before I get to the story, I have to say that to this reader, at least, the original Australian cover does a much better job of conveying the heart of this story – which lies in the land that gave birth to the platypus – than the US cover. Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, etc., etc., etc., but the well-dressed somewhat generic figure on the US cover doesn’t ring true for either Rose or Tamsin – but the land and its creatures are definitely the heart of the thing.

The Naturalist’s Daughter, like several of the author’s other works, is a dual timeline story. In the 1808 timeline, we have Rose Winton, the titular naturalist’s daughter, as her father teaches her his craft even though she has no chance of being a professional or respected scientist. When he is struck down, she finds herself taking up as much of his mantle as the society of the time will allow.

In the 1908 portion of the story, we have Tamsin Alleyn, a young librarian and archivist who has come into contact with a sketchbook that once belonged to Charles Winton. A sketchbook of somewhat mysterious provenance – and an even more uncertain fate – that contains some sketches that the reader is already aware were drawn by Rose and not her father.

For much of the story, it seems that the sketchbook is the connecting link, but as Tamsin continues to investigate the path that the sketchbook has taken through the intervening century, it becomes clear that there is more to connect the two women than it first seemed.

Readers may find one or the other character easier to empathize with. Rose faces more danger, but Tamsin has more freedom of action. Rose is closer to the beginning of the mystery, but Tamsin is the agent who uncovers the whole of it.

Personally I found Tamsin’s story the more satisfying approach, but Rose’s story certainly has its own appeal.

The way that the two stories turn out to be the same story after all turned into a fascinating web built out of secrets and lies, told by multiple less than reliable narrators, which made it that much more fascinating and difficult to suss out the truth before the final – and imminently satisfying – conclusion.

This story is told in dual timelines in 1808 Agnes Banks and 1908 Sydney, Australia. The former timeline follows Rose, the daughter of naturalist Charles Winton, as she assists her father with his local studies of the platypus. After a platypus incident, Charles sends Rose in his stead to present his scientific research in London. The latter storyline follows Tamsin who is sent on a mission to retrieve a donation to the library where she works. Unfortunately, the heir to the estate disputes that the book was donated and wants to sell it. Tamsin must team up with her lawyer to divine the provenance and worth of the book. I switched between the eBook and the audio for this one. The audio is narrated by Corinne Davies, and she does a fantastic job with both timelines.

I found the study of the platypus in this story to be fascinating. I’m a science and nature geek. There was quite the historical controversy over the classification of the platypus, not to mention those that believed the creature was a myth and that the so-called scientists living in a “land of criminals and uneducated natives” had amalgamated various animals into one to pull off an unbelievable hoax. I’ll admit that the mobs of angry men coming after Rose in London after Winton’s presentation seemed a little melodramatic for a science convention to me.

Nevertheless, I was affronted on the part of Rose as a woman being unable to present her father’s research. There is also a whole host of issues going on with this family, since Rose finds out that her origins aren’t what she believed growing up and I really enjoyed her family storyline. She meets Julian, the brother she didn’t know she had in England, as well as falls in love with the Finneas, who was raised alongside him. Julian annoyed me from the beginning. I found Finneas a little too timid or maybe too gentlemanly. I felt like he needed to stand up to Julian more, but he eventually does the right thing, maybe. I was a little disappointed in the abrupt end to this storyline.

Alternating with the former timeline, Tamsin is researching the alleged book donated to the Public Library alongside Shaw. Shaw is working on the case at his father’s behest though he would rather pursue his own dreams of becoming an antiquarian bookseller. His father is adamant that the book be sold, not donated, and that Shaw do everything in his power to make that happen, regardless of the legality. Tamsin and Shaw uncover the truth about the book and what happened to Rose Winton after the events in London a century earlier as well as a personal connection to the story.

I really enjoyed both timelines in this book and recommend it to historical fiction lovers with an affinity for Australia. Or the platypus. LOL

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Muse for a copy provided for an honest review.

Another fascinating and thoroughly researched Téa Cooper story, The Naturalist’s Daughter is a duel timeline novel set mostly in Agnes Banks north of Sydney. This story stars two intriguing and strong women, each determined to prove that naturalist Charles Winton’s research and evidence about the Australian platypus is fact and not fiction. The first timeline features Rose Winton, a talented artist and avid student of her father Charles, a keen researcher into the lifestyle and breeding habits of the platypus. While Charles Winton is a fictional character, the way he and Rose study and document the platypus and its ability to both lay eggs and suckle its young makes for fascinating reading. Rose endeared herself to me from the start and my respect for her grew with her determination to defend Charles in the face of scorn and disbelief. In the second timeline, set in 1908, we meet Tamsin Alleyn, a researcher at the Public Library of NSW. She’s sought to have Winton’s letters to Sir Joseph Banks returned to Australia and in a curious twist, is sent to Wollombi to collect a sketchbook that has been offered to the library. Her efforts to prove the truth of the sketches and notes it contain turn into a race against time as the daughter of Mrs Quinleaven, the woman who offered it to the library, tries to claim ownership so that she can sell it. There are loads of twists in this story, which I couldn’t put down. The characters are all realistic and most are easy to empathise with. I could easily understand what was motivating each of them and was keen to see how their story would resolve itself. I was not disappointed. This story was both entertaining and informative and one I’ll look forward to reading again.

It’s 1808 and Rose Winton wants nothing more than to work with her g father on the groundbreaking study of the platypus. It’s 1908 and Tamsin Alleyn, a librarian, is asked to retrieve a sketch book that was gifted to the library only to learn that there is more than one interested party. As the debate continues of this sketchbook, the mystery becomes more complex and intriguing.

I truly never thought I’d say I really enjoyed a book about the platypus, but here I am. This was such a complicated and well developed story with diam timelines and dual POVs that enhanced the story and created great forward momentum slowly revealing the facts along the way. Also, being a genealogy buff, loved the piecing together what was known about the family history involved in the sketch book. There was no authors note in the arc, and hope that there is one in the finished copy. I did do some googling and this story does appear to be inspired by a real person rather that based on the person. Highly recommend this one for those that love historical fiction with a little mystery and little romance thrown in.

I absolutely loved this book. The writing, the characters, the dual timelines, and the history were all masterfully done.

This book gave insight into the early 1800s and 1900s as well as discoveries of the platypus. Two women, centuries apart, but each working in their own way to help the man who made many discoveries of the platypus get the recognition and to help make and preserve history. As a mystery shines throughout the novel, you slowly unfold what happened to the naturalist and his family.

This was a time in Australia that I wasn’t as familiar with prior to reading this, and I learned much of the platypus too. I appreciated how the author wove knowledge of both through the overall story, but it felt as if it were part of the story itself. I really wasn’t very familiar with the platypus and now find them fascinating.

This novel showed lives of two woman, each a century apart, yet both in historical settings. I really enjoyed following their journeys. Their strength and determination persisted throughout, which I appreciated.

The stories themselves connected beautifully in the end. I loved how they tied together, and how the mysteries were solved. I didn’t expect the ending, so it was a fun surprise, too - it’s not often that I’m thrown off course. But I was so engrossed in the story I was not prepping for, or expecting, any twists.

Really, the entire book was a great read, and I am determined to read through Tea Cooper’s backlist now.

If you’re looking for a historical fiction out of the norm, I highly recommend this one!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, received from Tea Cooper, Harper Muse Books, and Austenprose. However, all thoughts and views reflected are strictly my own opinions

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐+ Tea Cooper's The Naturalist's Daughter is a beautiful blend of history, science and, a great story. This is told as a dual timeline about two women, A sketchbook, and a platypus. This book is destined to be a favorite for lovers of historical fiction.

BOOK: THE NATURALIST'S DAUGHTER

AUTHOR: TEA COPPER

PUB DATE: 20TH AUGUST 2024

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REVIEW

Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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I loved this book, it was filled with a rich history and suspense because of the dual timelines. The book was set a 100 years apart; 1808 and 1908. I loved connecting the dots and uncovering the secrets. I just kept turning thebpage because I wanted to know what next. I loved the ending, it was everything I wanted and more. If there's anything I might add, I would have wanted to read Rose's POV in the epilogue too.

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The book was about the animal, Platypus also called Mallangong and it's first discovery. Rose worked hard to present her father, Charles Winton work and she also contributed to the study too. In a way, what Tasmin did a 100 Yeats after was similar. I liked the love interests both characters had. It add a soft edge to the book.

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However, nothing prepared me for the family secrets that were uncovered. They were totally unexpected! I loved the mentions if the aboriginals too, the book would have never been complete without them.

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This book was very good and I savored every word of it. You should definitely read it!

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One of my most anticipated novels this summer was The Naturalist’s Daughter by Tea Cooper. Though it was first published in Australia in 2017, this is its first release in the United States.

What initially drew me to this book is its focus on the platypus. In New South Wales, Australia in the early 1800s, Rose helps her father Charles in observing and understanding the platypus, with plans to formally present this information in London. But after Charles is spurred by a platypus, Rose must travel to England alone to present their groundbreaking work. A century later, in 1908, Tamsin is researching aa newly unearthed sketchbook detailing the platypus some decades before knowledge of the animal was accepted. Who made these discoveries, and why were they never acknowledged?

With two mysteries and a lot about the platypus, this is a work of historical fiction unlike any I’ve read before.

Tropes & Narrative Devices:
- Dual timeline (1819-1820; 1908)
- Third-person narration

What I Liked:
- Platypus! I’ve always loved animals and really enjoyed this opportunity to learn more about the platypus and its fascinating history. It’s such an incredible animal that defies our general understanding of mammals; it’s no wonder people were skeptical about it… though they certainly should have listened to Rose in this novel!
- Women in science. Speaking of Rose’s scientific contributions, I loved seeing a young woman taking charge in the study of animals. She was helping her father, already a naturalist himself, but her contributions were invaluable. I loved seeing how knowledgeable and committed she was in her observations of the platypus. This is especially groundbreaking considering she was doing this in the early 1800s when women weren’t thought to belong in science.
- Women’s achievements and earning greater respect. Both Rose and Tamsin face sexism for their work, being barred from participating in areas for which they’re well qualified. It’s infuriating to see them need to fight for any scrap of respect, and worse still when men still don’t give them the respect they deserve. Nonetheless, I love seeing women defy the patriarchy and forge ahead.
- Dual mysteries. Both Rose in 1820 and Tamsin in 1908 are unraveling mysteries. Rose is uncovering shocking secrets about her family, while Tamsin is trying to determine who made these incredible discoveries about the platypus, years before traits were thought to be discovered, and by an unknown woman no less. Readers, of course, know a bit more than Tamsin going in, but there’s more to be revealed.

What Didn’t Work for Me:
- Nothing, I enjoyed all of it!

Final Thoughts
The Naturalist’s Daughter is a captivating work of historical fiction that takes readers on a unique journey. If you’re interested in animals (especially the platypus), women in science, and family mysteries, this is a must-read. This is my first time reading Tea Cooper, and I’m eager to dive into more of her novels soon.

Fascinating dual time story about a Naturalist and his daughter studying the platypus in Australia in 1801. Their sketchbook documents the discovery and habits of the odd animal and this becomes the object of controversy 100 years later. There are gothic overtones in the 1900 part of the story and a mystery to be solved about the rightful owner of the historic book.
I liked the descriptions of the life of the naturalist and his family. The more recent time period was interesting because of the elements of tracking down the history of the sketchbook and the people who played a part in keeping it safe for 100 years. The way all the pieces came together was tense and exciting. The romance was sweet and the hero was trying to respect the heroine while attempting to fulfill his commitment to his employer.
Be aware this is a general market publication and has a few swear words. The writing was enjoyable and the setting was unique. The author captured the flavor of the times. It was also enjoyable because it was a story about antique books with a mystery to solve.
*I received a complimentary e copy of this title from Harper Muse via NetGalley. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*