The Naturalist's Daughter

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

In 1808, Rose embarks on a journey to share her father’s groundbreaking research into the platypus. A century later, Tamsin uncovers hidden truths within the sketchbook’s pages. Together, their stories reveal a captivating tale of scientific discovery, family secrets, and the enduring power of knowledge.

This book is highly entertaining, yet also provides insights into the unique history of the platypus. I loved the characters—they’re likable. relatable, and deeply committed to sharing knowledge with the world. The author did a great job of bringing to life the dual time periods and the varied settings, while interweaving the romance and mystery plots. I enjoyed the audiobook narration.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

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.

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.

I was lucky enough to read the book first - which was fantastic! Well the audio book is even better! The voice actor did a marvelous job bringing each character to life.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* i LOVED this book!! and learned a lot about platypus lmao would buy or read again for sure, 5 out of 5 stars!

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!

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!

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.

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'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!

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.

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.