The Woman in the Green Dress

My Thoughts

Tea Cooper has delivered once again! Just like in, ‘The Naturalist’s Daughter’ (HERE), where she presented strong female historical figures, Tea’s latest tale not only provides a truly engaging story but also two fabulously strong women. I thoroughly enjoyed both dual time narratives (an admirable accomplishment in itself) and couldn’t wait to see how Tea would provide the crucial and very cleverly linked storylines as she often does.

‘The Woman in the Green Dress’, is full of good locations, well rounded characters and an engaging plot. I just love these strong female leads and both Fleur and Della once more exemplify the feminine intuitive that runs across all Tea’s books. Venturing from Sydney to the Hawkesbury, there are many aspects to this tale that make it unique: taxidermy, opals, villains, bequests, courage and love.

Both Della in 1853 and Fleur in 1919 have much to offer the reader with their courage and tenacity. Fleur’s story is courageous as she travels from England to uncover the truth behind her husband’s legacy; likewise Della, pursues the truth - admirable for both women in an age where they were viewed as secondary citizens. There are several interesting aspects here - taxidermy, plight of the first Australians, the opal industry and much more. The way Tea interweaves fact and fiction is highly commendable - rich in intriguing historical facts.

This is a clever story that will have you working to organise all the plot puzzle pieces that have been masterfully crafted by Tea. I was captivated by not only the strength and determination of the two women, but also the cast of secondary characters. Congratulations Tea on once again producing a masterfully crafted tale of mystery and intrigue that will see the reader journeying side by side with Della and Fleur as they both respectively work to uncover the truth behind, ‘The Woman in the Green Dress’.




This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Fleur Richards had married Hugh just before he was shipped back off to the war; his promises ringing in her ears of the clear blue sky, and bright sparkling stars in the best country of all – Australia. Fleur was a waitress in London and waiting for Hugh to return from the war that was now over filled her with excitement. She certainly didn’t expect to hear Hugh had died in the last days of the war; neither did she want the inheritance she learned Hugh had left her.

It was 1919 when Fleur arrived in Sydney after the long sea journey. Her arrival at the Berkeley Hotel continued her search to find all she could about Hugh; his properties that were now apparently hers, including land at a place called Mogo Creek, and The Curio Shop of Wonders – which she’d walked past and noted it was abandoned and boarded up…

1853 and Della Atterton lived on the property, Mogo Creek on the edge of the Hawkesbury River, while she tried to deal with her grief at the loss of her parents. Back in Sydney, Cordelia Atterton, her aunt, was caring for the Taxidermy shop which had been her father’s. The sudden appearance at Mogo Creek, of Captain Stefan von Richter and his sidekick, Bert, with a fantastic tale plus news from Sydney, caused her anger to spark. How dare she! Accompanying the Captain and Bert, the three set off for Sydney, unaware of the events that would soon transpire – and the danger that would accompany those events.

The Woman in the Green Dress is another breathtaking historical fiction novel by Aussie author Tea Cooper. Set in and around Sydney, the Hawkesbury River and Wiseman’s Ferry, even the train trip from Sydney to Brooklyn – all so familiar. The Historical Note at the end is fascinating, showing how fact fed fiction, with information about certain characters and places. I loved the two time frames – 1853 and 1919 – and enjoyed the descriptions of the countryside; laughing jackasses/kookaburras; even the different items in the curio shop. All in all, The Woman in the Green Dress is one I highly recommend.

With thanks to HQ Fiction via NetGalley for my uncorrected proof ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

‘The sky is higher in Australia.’

There are two timelines, with two different stories in this enthralling work of historical fiction. The earlier is in 1853, in the Hawkesbury region of New South Wales. Here, at Mogo Creek, Della Atterton works as a taxidermist, while her aunt Cordelia sells her work from the taxidermy shop that had belonged to Della’s father. Della has no desire to return to Sydney, but the arrival of Captain Stefan von Richter (on a quest of his own) raises some serious questions about the Sydney store.

In 1918 in London, just after Armistice Day, Fleur Richards learns that she has been widowed. Her Australian husband, Hugh Richards, has left her wealthy. Fleur cannot believe that Hugh is dead and wants nothing to do with his estate. But she is persuaded to travel to Australia to sort out Hugh’s affairs.

In 1919, Fleur finds herself at the Berkeley Hotel in Sydney. She and Hugh were not married for long before his death, and she is keen to learn as much about him as she can. Fleur finds that amongst the property she has apparently inherited is land at a place called Mogo Creek and an old curio shop in Hunter Street, Sydney. Fleur had walked past the shop and had noticed that it was boarded up.

Fleur’s quest for information takes her to the Hawkesbury where she finds more questions than answers. She also explores the curio shop premises, with the assistance of Kip, a young returned soldier who works for the Sydney lawyers handling Hugh’s estate. Who was Hugh? What is the mystery behind the curio shop, and where does Stefan von Richter and his quest fit into the story? As the story unfolds, new questions arise.
Fleur’s inheritance is not straightforward, but she has the strength to deal with it. And the green dress? That’s part of the mystery that Fleur will solve in a very satisfying way.

This is the second of Ms Cooper’s novels I have read and loved: count me as a fan. In an historical note at the end of the novel Ms Cooper writes that ‘The Woman in the Green Dress is a work of fiction, however in some cases fact has fed fiction.’ Fascinating.

Highly recommended to lovers of historical fiction set in Australia.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and HQ Fiction for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith