I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love the web of connection that strings the characters together and the historical research on the mallangong/platypus.

4.5 Stars

THE NATURALIST'S DAUGHTER is a story of discover, family, perseverance, and love set mostly in Australia. One woman seeks to represent her father and his discoveries. Another seeks to prove those same discoveries years later. Both fight for their place as women in their world and society, and in a field that is predominately men. Highly recommended to historical fiction fans who are looking for a story both intriguing and heartfelt.

This is a steadily paced story that shifts from the early 1800s to the early 1900s related to the discoveries of the platypus in Australia. The shifts from one time to the other were handled fairly well. There were a few times I was really invested in what was happening and then it shifted to the other storyline, which pulled me out of the story. This wasn't often though as I found both storylines interesting. There were a few climatic moments and the story continued to build in emotional intensity as it progressed and reached towards the end, which made me want to turn the pages faster. I also really liked all the characters, Rose as she emulates and then represents someone very important to her, and then Tamsin as she fights for what she believes is right while also trying not to fall for the charming solicitor. It was honestly an enjoyable story from beginning to end, even in my frustration with some of the societal constrictions of the time, and the dishonestly, sexism, and racism of some of the people.

In the end, was it what I wished for? This was a very interesting story about a subject and premise that I haven't come across before in any of my other reading. It was well written, with fully fleshed characters, and a story that kept me engaged from start to finish. I'm planning to read this author's previous works and look forward to her next release!

Content: Clean
Source: I received a complimentary copy through Austenprose PR, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.

In 1808 Agnes Bank, Australia, Rose Winton works with her father, Charles on his research on the platypus. This research is groundbreaking. After he is involved in an accident, Rose sets off to present his findings to the Royal Society in England. Why did her mission ultimately fail? Wha family secrets will she discover?

In 1908 Sydney, Tamsin Alleyn, is sent to retrieve an old sketchbook that was donated to the library by a recently deceased elderly lady. Tamsin discovers that the sketchbook is very valuable and provides clues to a mystery from the past. What has she discovered?

• This review was supposed to be posted last week but was delayed by numerous technical problems.

• This was a dual narrative novel. I liked both timelines. At first, I was engaged by the 1808 timelines the most, but then I was caught up in the 1908 story. They both tied up nicely at the end.

• I loved the STEM tie in with the research on the platypus and trying to get the Royal Society to believe that such a creature existed. It was fascinating.

• This historical fiction story had a few gasp out loud moments from me, and it had some suspense and Gothic elements in the last half of the novel. It made it a very enjoyable read for me, that completely captured my imagination.

• I loved the sweet romance that occurred in both timeless.

• The characters were believable and relatable. I enjoyed their journey and really wanted to know more about them.

• I love that “Jamaica Inn” was mentioned as well as that it served pasties. This seemed like a good Easter egg for author Daphne Du Maurier’s classic novel, Jamaica Inn. Jamaica Inn is a real inn that can be found in Cornwall, England.

• I always find the history of the convict ships to Australia to be fascinating.

• I was disappointed to find out in the author’s note that Charles and Rose Winton were fictional characters. They were so believably real throughout the novel. There was real history mixed into the story.

The Naturalist’s Daughter by Tea Cooper was a fascinating and unique historical tale with great characters, STEM elements, and suspense. This is another highly recommended book from me!

Review of The Naturalist’s Daughter by Tea Cooper

It’s hard to go wrong with a book about the platypus, strong female characters, and a bit of mystery. Tea Cooper delivers a duel-time line historical fiction novel with elements guaranteed to delight in The Naturalist’s Daughter.

The first timeline follows Rose in the early 1800s as she learns from her father, Charles Winton, the Naturalist working to prove the existence of the Platypus to the world. The second timeline occurs a century later when Charles Winton’s notebook is found. The notebook could prove that Charles Winton was the first person to document and study the platypus. Tamsin is desperate to secure the notebook for the people of Australia and to give Charles Winton the post-humous accolades he deserves. She’s not the only one after the notebook; she’ll have to solve the mystery behind it if she wants to secure it for the library.

The Naturalist’s Daughter is for readers who enjoy atmospheric novels, family drama, and mystery. Readers may be disappointed in the level of coincidences that shape the novel’s ending. If you think you know what will happen by the end of the book, you are probably correct, but you’ll still enjoy the ride.

Thank you to Harper Muse and NetGalley for providing an ARC copy of this novel for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This is a very good book, especially if enjoy historical stories, this one takes place during two time periods, 1808 and 1908 in both Australia and England. In 1808 in Agnes Banks NSW, Rose Winton is a young girl who follows her Pa, Charles Winton, around as he studies and documents observations of what will eventually be called a Platypus, he sketches the environment they live and and their mating, birthing and feeding of their young. Her father sends reports of this finding to a mentor, Joseph Banks in London, who invites him to London to present his findings to the Society. Before he can go, he falls ill, unable to travel, he insists that Rose go in his place to present the sketchbook and his findings. In 1908, Tamsin works for the Public Library in Sydney, the library has received a letter from a woman who wants to donate a sketchbook that belonged to Charles Winton to the library. Tamsin is instructed to go to Agnes Banks and review the sketchbook to determine if it's real and if it is, bring it back to display at the library. Tamsin travels to Agnes Banks and quickly discovers that the woman who had donated the sketchbook has passed away and her daughter has hired a lawyer to sell it as soon as possible. Tamsin meets with the lawyer Shaw Everdene, who also has an interest in the sketchbook and together they try to determine if it belonged to Charles. The story goes back and forth between the two timelines and comes together very nicely at the end. I would highly recommend. Thanks to #Netgalley and #Haper Muse for the ARC.

THE NATURALIST's DAUGHTER by Tea Cooper

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery

What a lovely and interesting book! You don't have to know anything about the platypus before starting this book. But if, like me prior to reading this novel, you've never seen one before in your life and have no idea what it even looks like, it might be a good idea to do a quick Google search before delving into this book.

Anyone who enjoys dual-timeline stories with multiple twists and turns, will enjoy this book. It takes place in Australia and England, and to make this story even more authentic and historically accurate, the author employs the language used in both these historical settings and timelines, including instances reflecting the prejudices and norms of those times.

Admittedly it took me a little more than the first eight chapters to really get into the story, but soon after I was hooked and deeply invested in the lives and doings of the two main characters. I found both storylines equally interesting and was fascinated by everything I learned about one of Australia's most intriguing animals, and a lesser-known aspect of Australian history. The mystery around the sketchbook captivated my imagination and I even enjoyed the tiny bit of romance between two of the characters.

The Naturalist's Daughter is a well-written, compelling read, and refreshingly different from all the war-centered historical fiction I've been reading of late. I'm definitely going to add more of this author's books to my TBR.

Four stars from me.

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.