This is a dual point of view novel covering the lives of two strong young females with scientific minds and courageous hearts.
In 1808, Australian Rose Winton travels to London, England with intentions to present her father´s research on platypus, an exotic and mysterious animal.
In 1908, Tamsin Alleyn researches a curious notebook with some interesting information, indicating that the known history of science might miss an entry...

The story of research of platypus - and the animal itself - is incredibly interesting! I never knew about the scientific explorations ond mysteries of that time, they are so unique and interesting to learn about!
The Rose Winton story might be the one more interesting, had the authoress not go the "dark" route of unspeakable secrets and crimes. And no one never knew the truth about some of the characters and about their deeds - oh, sure.
The Tamsin Alleyn story is somewhat touching the heart, as this courageous young woman deals with the loss of her family and bonds. The themes of forgiveness, healing and learning of the deeper meanings are good.

While I would not say that this is a great book, it it is an interesting novel which can educate you and can offer you some food for thought and for soul.

The narrator was very fitting for that beautiful historical fiction audio book.
I think of it as doubly historical early 1800s and the 1900s. Often dual timelines are past and fairly present or recent. So that was a different experience I enjoyed.
It is heavy on science and study which I loved but will turn you away if you are looking for traditional women’s historical fiction.

1808 Agnes Banks, NSW. Rose Winton wants nothing more than to work with her father, eminent naturalist Charles Winton, on his groundbreaking study of the platypus. 1908 Sydney, NSW. Tamsin Alleyn has been given a mission: retrieve an old sketchbook, gifted to the Public Library by a recluse. But when she gets there, she finds there is more to the book than meets the eye. As the lives of two women a century apart converge, discoveries emerge from the past with far-reaching consequences.

Ahh, this story was pretty much what I had expected from Tea Cooper. There is just something in Tea’s writing that strikes the right balance of mystery, emotion and informational. This time, the main attraction was platypus! I learned a lot about this interesting animal from the book.

I loved seeing Rose’s admiration for her father, and her passion for a subject that was unusual for a female in her time period. Tamsin’s chapters were equally interesting, following her journey to discover the mysterious book, and subsequently herself in the process.

This story was a great escape for me, and the audiobook was narrated well. I was fully immersed till the last page.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I had never read anything from Tea Cooper but I've quickly remedied that after reading The Naturalist's Daughters. I couldn't stop talking about this book. I enthralled (hah!) my husband with all the facts I'd learned about the platypus from reading this book. The book was told in a dual timeline which worked really well for this story and I didn't connect all the dots until the end which is kudos to a well done job with the book. I was entralled by reading about the challenges women faced as would be science and naturalist enthusiasts and when I finished the book I went straight to the author's back catalog. This is in my top reads of 2024.

Tea Cooper is an exquisite historical fiction writer. Set in Australia and consisting of duel time periods, two extraordinary woman take center stage. The characters are well-drawn and the plot moves quickly with a few nice twists at the end. I loved learning about the platypus. Corinne Davies is a fabulous narrator and was brilliant at portraying each character. For fans of Kristin Hannah and Martha Hall Kelly.

I've never read anything by Tea Cooper before but I've been eyeing her book for awhile so I was super excited to receive this arc! I was HOOKED, absolutely enthralled from the get go! The story follows two different storylines in Australia, Rose in 1808 and Tamsin a hundred years later, in 1908. I loved both of these women, they were very different and their voices very distinct, but both were spunky and ahead of their times but in very realistic ways. Both are intelligent and connected through their interest in what was then a pretty unknown species, the platypus, I found all the naturalist stuff super interesting to read and there is of course a bigger mystery connecting both women and it just played out so well, I was on the edge of my frigging seat by the end. There were also small romantic subplots for both ladies that I really appreciated!

This was my second Tea Cooper book and once again it did not disappoint. She has a gift for writing dual-timeline stories in a way that keeps interest and intrigue flowing perfectly, and chooses historical fiction subjects that are widely unknown yet fun to dive into.

This story spans about 100 years, starting in 1808 in Australia and going into early 1900s England. As Rose and Tamsin’s stories are told, so is the story of the platypus and its discovery over time. Both women are advanced for their time and struggle against society and gender roles, yet I love how strong the characters are without becoming overly stated. The love stories are an added bonus, but not a focus, although I would have loved a little more interaction and relationship building there. Overall still a very good book, and especially as an audiobook. The narrator did both accents wonderfully which helps keep everything separate and flowing. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

The Naturalists Daughter is part literary fiction, all historical fiction, part mystery and part thriller.

As a budding fan of Tea Cooper, I was thrilled to listen to my second audiobook of one of her works. The Naturalist's Daughter takes place in a dual timeline. In 1808, Rose Winton, lives in the town of Agnes Banks in New South Wales, Australia, with her "Mam," a healer/herbalist * and her 'Pa' Charles Winton. Charles has spent many years observing, drawing and writing up his research on what we all know as the duck billed platypus. He has been able to dissect one that died. But mostly, he watches and learns and also considers input from their indigenous friends who have observed these creatures far longer. Charles has a sponsor in England, Sir Joseph Banks, to whom he sends updates on the platypus each year, Rose is her Pa's sidekick, becoming a talented artist as she, too sketches the natural world and their platypus subjects. She also produces drawings for her father and assists him in his work in general, a rare situation for a female child of her era.

Rose's mother is a moody, sad woman who Rose understands has suffered losses. She will not talk about her life in England. She is highly regarded for her healing skills, using herbs she grows. Unexpectedly, when Rose is a young woman, Pa is invited to speak in England at the Royal Society. He's deeply concerned about telling Mam, who will be devastated he will be gone so long or at all, but soon after he shares this information with Rose, he becomes too ill to travel. Rose heads off in his stead, carrying her sketchbook and a platypus pelt. She tumbles into a situation that is partly devastating, partly a reminder of where women fit in her world, seriously dangerous as she learns too much and ultimately resolved in a mixed fashion.

In 1908, Tamsin, a woman fortunate enough to land a job in a library in Sydney, New South Wales, with responsibility to locate original papers of various people, including the early Australian naturalist, Charles Winton is working to acquire original documents for an exhibition and the library's archives. Winton's many sketchbooks were destroyed in a fire. Tamsin is trying to secure his letters to Sir Joseph. Almost simultaneous with their arrival, Tamsin's supervisor tells her a sketchbook with anatomical drawings of platypi is to be donated to the library and … it appears to be Winton's work. Tamsin is to pick it up in person in a town a train ride away and to transport it back to Sydney if it seems to be authentic. She finds the donor has died and things are … complicated. Tamsin is thrown into a mystery, significant research and an unexpected challenger as a result.

Tea Cooper spins a complex, but totally compelling/engaging story of two women, Rose and Tamsin, who are dealing with the status of women in their time, their roots and their need to follow their own interests and passions in a time when that was not a choice for women. Several characters have experienced serious trauma, with varying impact on their growth and lives. There are some points where one must suspend disbelief more than I usually will but for this book, I did it! I highly recommend The Naturalist's Daughter and thoroughly enjoyed the narrator for this audio edition, Corinne Davies.

I SO enjoyed this audiobook- the narrator was perfect, and the accent/voices really helped with getting into the setting (Australia and London!).
I loved learning so much about the platypus, and I loved the back and forth in time while they learned more about this early naturalist.

I really enjoyed the dual timeline perspective, going back and forth from 1808 to 1908. Following the lives of two extraordinary women. The mystery surrounding the sketchbook was perfect for a cosy fall afternoon! And I loved how this was all nicely tied up in the end. I’m in love with the time period early 1900 so this fit right in.
This was a first read for me but I would love to pick up more of the earlier books soon.

The Naturalists daughter by Tea Cooper

Two women - born over a century apart both had the same goal…. To solidify the classification of the platypus.

Rose in 1808 wants to share her fathers discovery when he can no longer travel but being a woman makes it almost impossible to get anyone to listen to her.

Tamsin 1908 goes to collect a sketch book from the collection of a now deceased woman and the discovery, if found to be accurate, will be ground breaking. Trouble is, she’s not the only person with a great interest in the sketch book..

It was good! I enjoyed the book but I was so slow and it really dragged in places. The story was great, I loved the writing but the pace was so off for me I found myself forgetting whose story I was reading and had to go back.
I loved the plot and the characters were well rounded and realistic. The pace was just off for me. Had it been better, this would have been a winner.
3.75 stars

I could not complete this book. Not only are the characters flat and stereotypes, but the book is clearly a romance. I don't read romance novels (achieving romance as the point of a book is not only uninteresting but is infuriating).

I would love to read a story about the loss and rediscovery of the scientific discovery and classification of the platypus (perhaps with Maori insights as well) through the lives of two women separated by time. I am utterly uninterested in that being a plot device for a romance.

Tea Cooper is an author I always look forward to reading. When I saw that she had a new book coming out I was excited to read it. I enjoy that her writing always portrays an aspect of Australian history. Since I know very little about the history of Australia, I usually end up learning something new by reading her books. The Naturalist’s Daughter was no exception. I had little to no knowledge about the platypus before reading The Naturalist's Daughter nor knew that someone had actually devoted his life to studying its many unique characteristics. The Naturalist’s Daughter was written in a dual timeline that was separated by a hundred years. It took place in Agnes Banks, New South Wales and London, England in 1808 and in Sydney, New South Wales in 1908. During the 1908 setting, Hunter Valley, New South Wales was also an important location in the story. I really appreciated that Tea Cooper created two very strong and capable female protagonists in The Naturalist’s Daughter. It was well written and impressively researched. I really got a true feeling for life in New South Wales during both of those time periods, especially the challenges and struggles that women faced. I listened to the audiobook that was well narrated by Corinne Davies.

Rose Winton grew up in the early 1800’s in Agnes Banks, New South Wales. She had always been closer to her father than her mother. Rose adored her father who was a naturalist and had a world of patience for Rose’s unending questions. From a very young age, Rose was almost always spotted accompanying her father to the banks of the river where he spent hour upon hour observing and studying the unique characteristics of the platypus. Charles Winton, Rose’s brilliant and dedicated father, always encouraged Rose to sketch her observations of the platypus and whatever else she observed while working along side him. She had taken up the role as her father’s assistant on these occasions. The two had long conversations about what they thought, saw and understood about the platypus. Over the years, Rose had learned so much from her father about the platypus. One day, Charles shared his plans to go to London to present his findings to his mentor, Sir Joseph Banks and the Royal Society with Rose. She wanted desperately to go with her father but he made her promise that she would stay in Agnes Banks and look after her mother. Just before Charles’s departure, he became quite ill and was not going to be able to go to London but this opportunity could not be missed. Rose’s father entrusted her to take his place. After all, the only other person who knew as much about the platypus as Charles Winton was Rose. Once Rose arrived in London, she was constantly reminded how little a woman’s knowledge, opinion and ability was recognized. Rose also discovered secrets that had been hidden for decades.

Tamsin Alleyn was employed by the Mitchell Library in Sydney, New South Wales in 1908 when an elderly woman contacted the library. The woman, Tamsin learned, wanted to donate a very old sketch pad to the library that probably dated back to the 1800’s. Someone was needed to travel to Hunter Valley to authenticate that the sketches in the book were what the woman claimed them to be. Tamsin was more than willing and excited to travel to Hunter Valley to do this. If the sketches were what the woman claimed them to be, this could prove to be a very important acquisition for the library. When Tamsin arrived at the woman’s home, she learned that the woman had recently died. She found the woman’s estranged daughter at her mother’s home. Tasmin got the feeling that the daughter was more interested in what she could sell that would benefit her monetarily. The daughter did not seem distraught by her mother’s death in the least. Also present was an antiquarian bookseller and lawyer named Shaw Everdene. He was present to represent the deceased woman’s daughter in the sale of the home and its contents. Shaw would also be present when the daughter’s mother’s Will was read. Tasmin decided to trust Shaw and allow him to help her research and authenticate the sketches that the woman had wanted to donate to the library before her death. Was Shaw who he claimed to be or was he trying to profit from getting possession of the sketches? Would Shaw and Tasmin be able to gather enough evidence to authenticate the sketches? What would they discover?

In the end both timelines were flawlessly woven together and all the pieces of the puzzle were made to fit together. I enjoyed learning about the platypus and envisioning its natural environment and distinct characteristics. Both Rose and Tamsin were strong and determined women who were ahead of their times. I enjoyed the romance that developed slowly over time for both women. The description of the scenery was vivid and so easy to imagine. I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook of The Naturalist’s Daughter by Tea Cooper and highly recommend it.

Thank you to HarperCollins Focus for allowing me to listen to the audiobook The Naturalist’s Daughter by Tea Cooper through Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher Harper Muse for the ARC.

Two women, two love stories, one hundred years and one confounding scientific curiosity. I loved learning about the early discovery of the mallangong or what is known today as the platypus. Rose Winton and her Pa, Charles Winton also loved this scientific wonder just as much and wished to show the world their discoveries documented in gorgeous watercolor sketes and drawings done on the riverbanks of Agnes River, a community inland of Sydney, Australia where these mammals were discovered to live.

Charles is summoned to present his findings to the prestigious Royal Society in England but falls ill and Rose must make this cross-seas journey in his place. What she encounters and discovers will alter history.

one hundred years later, 1908 in Sydney Australia, Tamsin works at the public library. She has been studying the correspondence of Charle's Winston and believes him to be the first to document the platypus. She is asked to retrieve a sketchbook believed to be Winston's, but soon finds herself trying to solve a mystery of her own.

Cooper's book was the first I've read of hers and it was interesting in its science, her characters and their journeys. I loved how they weaved and twined their histories. The mystery was captivating, and the stories of both Rose and Tamsin had me happy to be reading both a mystery and historical fiction.

Unfortunately I had to DNF for now. I got about 34% into the story and had to put it down. It is too drawn out and a little formulaic to where I'm pretty sure I know the ending. I may try picking up again at a later time, but I have to put it down for now.

This thoroughly imagined historical fiction novel about the complexities of family and a creature that remains mysterious to this day -- the platypus -- is set in two different time periods in Australia.

I was on the fence about reading/listening to this one because I wasn't sure how interesting I'd find it, but I went ahead and requested the audiobook from NetGalley. I think I would have preferred to read it instead of listen to it, as the time period shifts were a bit hard to follow and the story felt disjointed. The ending was a bit predictable for my taste. Not a terrible read, but not my favorite.

After reading Tea Cooper’s book The Butterfly Collector, I knew I had to read The Naturalist’s Daughter when I saw it!!

I really enjoy Cooper’s voice but when I realized the book what about the discovery of the platypus I laughed. But after reading about it I learned that the platypus wasn’t just a straight forward discovery of an animal. The platypus actually brought distrust and disbelief in the world of science throughout the world.

I love the opening character’s personality. She has a great love of the nature in Australia. She has a strong bond with her father, the naturalist Charles Winton. She loves to accompany him as he documents his discoveries. When he becomes ill and isn’t able to travel to England, Rose is determined to make sure his work is represented in England so she goes on his behalf. When she arrives she is disrespected and ignored. I felt bad for Rose and was angered at the way she was treated. 1808 England was definitely a man’s world.

Fast forward to 1908 Australia. Tamsin Alleyn works at a library and is ecstatic to be in charge of collecting a sketchbook that’s been donated to the library. It may be Charles Winton’s! But as she arrives she finds out that it’s not that easy. Others are hoping to collect the sketch book as well. Including a very handsome man she is drawn to named Shaw Everdene.

What started as a straightforward book about proving the attributes of the platypus slowly turns into a dark, deep mystery! I was enthralled! It gave me Jamaica Inn ( Daphne Du Maurier) mixed with Wuthering Heights ( Emily Brontë )vibes.


Many thanks to Tea Cooper and Harper Collin’s Focus/Harper Muse for the ARC via NetGalley!!

The Naturalist’s Daughter is an intriguing historical fiction novel that covers two timelines in Australia. The first is set in 1808 in Agnes Banks, New South Wales and follows Rose Winton who travels to London when her father - the eminent naturalist Charles Winton - becomes too ill to travel himself. Her father was asked to present his findings to the prestigious Royal Society on his groundbreaking study of the platypus.

The second timeline is set in 1908 in Sydney and follows librarian Tamsin Alleyn who was asked to travel to the Agnes Banks to retrieve an old sketchbook gifted to the Public Library. When she arrives, she discovers the donor died a few days earlier. When she approaches the heir about the sketchbook, she meets a young antiquarian bookseller and lawyer who was hired to assist with the sale of the sketchbook. Without informing Tamsin of the heir’s desire to sell to the highest bidder, Shaw works with Tamsin to uncover the book's true provenance. What they uncover is an intricate mystery of how the lives of two women a century apart are intertwined.

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

Title: The Naturalist’s Daughter
Author: Tea Cooper
Narrated by: Corinne Davies
Publisher: Harper Muse
Length: Approximately 13 hours and 37 minutes
Source: Thank you @tea_cooper @harpermusebooks @austenprose for the physical review copy and @netgalley for the audiobook review copy.

What is your favorite animal to watch in the wild? While I was in college, I loved watching beavers swim in an area that was along the bike bath I used.

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.

• This was an intriguing audiobook. I didn’t want to stop listening!

• 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!

In this story we follow two timelines — Rose Wilson in 1808 and Tamsin Allen in 1908 and focuses on the sketch books of a naturalist and the understanding of the Platypus. The narrator has a beautiful voice and does well at the voices and helping to make the story more intriguing and maintain interest. I was more invested in the 1908 timeline than the 1808 setting— I enjoyed the Australian aspects of the story and the information of the Platypus was very interesting.

Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins Focus | Harper Muse for this ALC. This is my honest review.