I really enjoyed this story and the ways the two timelines intertwined. While I did figure out some things early on, it was beautiful to watch them unfold and this book had me in tears at one point. (It's a scene in the graveyard, and if you've read it you'll understand.)

These characters came to life in every scene, the situations were so vivid I frequently felt I was there, and I loved every single person I got to follow on this journey. Well, all but one. ;)

I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys heartfelt storytelling, historical stories, and books where timelines intertwine to take you on a journey/to solve a mystery. I also think anyone who really like platypuses will get a kick out of this too.

This was an amazing book! And, the way the author took the individual pieces of these peoples lives and intertwined them together? Just phenomenal!
This is a dual timeline book.

The first timeline is 1808. Rose is a young girl who’s growing up watching her Dad (Pa) while he studies the lives and habits of the platypus. He is a Naturalist. She loves to accompany him in his studies, and by doing so, actually GROWS UP with him and the platypus studies! So…she is very involved, and very enlightened. This of course was unheard of in those times. The women were not to DO any of this! She loved her Pa, and he loved his girl, ‘The daughter of his heart’! ❤️. He has a book where he captures his thoughts, as well as some drawings of his finds…

After YEARS of studies, he is finally called to present his works among the elite gentlemen who do the same. They are both soooo excited! But, ultimately, he is unable to attend…

The second timeline (in the early 1900’s) involves Tamsin, who has been assigned the task of going to get the very old sketchbook that Rose’s Dad had drawn all those years ago. The woman who had it in her possession is getting older, and wants to DONATE it to the library…so she gets in touch with Tamsin so that she can come and pick it up! Tamsin is very good at evaluating prices and giving authenticity and values to them. However, when she gets there, she finds that the house is in disarray. Things have changed. And now, Shawn, who is a solicitor/lawyer, and all around carer for the house…is there.

Ok…I’m going to leave it here. This is just an outline. There is so much more going on in this book! Well worth the read!!
And…so many intricate parts that Ms. Cooper has so nicely laid out for us, like a jigsaw puzzle, that we need to piece back together while reading!!

4 1/2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 for me, rounded up to 5!

Thanks to #NetGalley, #HarperMuse and #HarperCollinsFocus for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
***The release date is 8/20/24! ***

#TheNaturalistsDaughter by #TeaCooper and narrated beautifully by #CorinneDavies.

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Historical fiction fans will enjoy this. It takes place in 1808 and 1908 and is a fictional account of both the early discovery of the Platypus and an attempt 100 years later to give the credit to the rightful person for its discovery. There is some romance and mystery to the story as well. I'll be checking out other books by this author and purchasing this one for my library patrons.

Thank you to NetGalley for an early review copy.

This is a lovely, slow-burn, dual-timeline character study about two Australian women, one who assisted her father in documenting and studying the platypus, and another woman who was made aware of said father's sketchbook from 100 years ago.

Both Rose and Tamsin are intelligent, somewhat irreverent women trying to preserve the work of Charles Winton within the confines of women's social limitations, and the men they each fell in love with along the way. It's a tame romance, and if it weren't so infuriating, it would be funny how completely unbelievable the platypus was to stodgy British science experts.

Though the characters aren't real, the author put a lot of effort into historical accuracy concerning society from each timeline, making the plot and characters believable in a way you could imagine things having happened just like this.

Tea Cooper’s latest historical novel deals with the discovery and classification of the platypus, and the two women, one hundred years apart who helped the scientific world understand one of the most unusual mammals in existence. She focuses, again, on the unsung role of women throughout history and their contributions to science

Having read one of Cooper's works before, I knew going into this novel that she had a talent for describing and providing a verbal portrait of Australia's lands. She also had displayed a passion for the broader views of Australian history. ANd she was capable of weaving complex twists through time and paced reveals well. These things all remain true in "The Naturalist's Daughter".

After taking some breathing time to consider this book after finishing, I still can't quite place my finger on why this only partially captured me. To be honest, my interest waned here and there. This work was much more romance oriented in some parts than I had anticipated. it doesn't completely overwhelm the narrative but there is one portion of the book that the mentions of the attraction seemed a bit heavy. I don't mind it as a genre or a sub plot, but I prefer it to be a minor note in most genres where it's also thrown in. In a book like this it it can also lead to issues of miscommunication, jealousy, or fall into a game of assumptions. Generally that's not enough to leave me lukewarm on a subject. Though one section in which a character who's praised by others for how independent and unique she is debating to change her appearance because of what a man might think was a sting. If it wasn't established by another pov they liked her as it was, I admit that may have been enough to make me have a rage moment.

Perhaps it was that there were a couple of characters that seemed nearly cartoonishly maniacal in comparison to other well rounded and rooted persons. Then there were parts of some of the final twists that felt a little more distracting than was necessary. In particular there is a ceremonial aspect that didn't truly feel like they belonged. there was enough well established elements where the outcomes needed for the mystery would have still occurred.

I will say that I love how much there is an adoration for research,art, and books. It made the mystery feel more like a journalistic investigation. that is something that a good historical book seems to bring in a way no other subgenre does. This factual elements weaved in about the place and the state of science and recording were also appreciated.

There are some characters that were endearing and my guess being a step off from the largest of the reveals I did like this book. I just wasn't enamored with it. However, this second moderate to enjoyable dance with Cooper reassures me that other works by her are worth looking into.

Although the first half of this book was a little on the slow side for me, I definitely found myself enjoying the latter have, and because of that, I would recommend it with all sincerity. We follow a dual timeline which makes things slightly confusing at times, but it soon becomes easier to distinguish between the voices of our two main heroines. I did find the story of Rose from the early 19th century the more interesting of the two, but the author's way of telling it partially through the eyes of Tamsin made for a unique change of pace. I also really enjoyed the ending in which the two time lines come together in a wonderful and satisfying way. With it's descriptions of the Australian landscape as well as the bustle of London, the bit of mystery and romance, and the likability of the characters themselves; I think this book would appeal to a wide audience and is definitely worth a look.

I greatly enjoyed this original and well-paced story, and the voice artist Corinne Davies did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life.

I have not read too much historical fiction (Louis de Bernieres, Robert Harris & Margaret Cezair-Thompson) but I always like a good story. Tea Cooper created strong female characters who hold their own on the page, though the addition of the male supporting cast brought some welcome humour and romance.

{Spoilers ahead]
The romance was well done in terms of pacing, moreso for Tamsin and Shaw than Rose and Finneas (I do not think he would have been so tactile with her, we all know how a brush of the hand undid Darcy!), and I smiled as their relationships slowly blossomed. I appreciated the decision to use the language and views of the time in a bid to retain authenticity, though at points I was confused by descriptions of characters and unsure if a character was intended to be of First Nations or European descent. The book misses out on five stars as the dialogue felt a little unnatural at times, a bit too much exposition for the reader without letting is fill in the blanks. I also rolled my eyes slightly at the twist - it felt like something out of a Steig Larsson novel and seemed a bit too far-fetched for the quaint Cornish setting. I also felt that the puzzle pieces that led Tamsin to Jennifer/Rose/her inheritance fell into place a bit too easily. I would have settled for Jane being her mother or perhaps a relation to the Winton side. The link to the missionaries and the charity event she ducked out of at the start of the novel was a missed opportunity, in my opinion.

All in all, I learned a lot about platypus (plural TBD) and Australia in the early twentieth century but it never felt boring thanks to engaging characters. Would recommend!

The Naturalist's Daughter was a fascinating book. I truly enjoy learning about women in science. Don't miss this great book!