By Kelly Bridgewater
Two fearless women—living a century
apart—find themselves entangled in the mystery surrounding the biggest
scientific controversy of the nineteenth century: the classification of the
platypus.
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. Not only does she love him with all her
heart but the discoveries they have made could turn the scientific world on its
head. When Charles is unable to make the long sea journey to present his
findings to the prestigious Royal Society in England, Rose must venture forth
in his stead. What she discovers will forever alter the course of scientific
history.
1908 Sydney, NSW
Tamsin Alleyn has been given a
mission: travel to the Hunter Valley and retrieve an old sketchbook of
debatable value, 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, and more than
one interested party. Shaw Everdene, a young antiquarian bookseller and lawyer,
seems to have his own agenda when it comes to the book. Determined to uncover
the book's true origin, Tamsin agrees to join forces with him.
The deeper they delve, the more intricate the mystery of the
book's authorship becomes. As the lives of two women a century apart converge,
discoveries emerge from the past with far-reaching consequences in this
riveting tale of courage and discovery.
My Thoughts:
If readers are not familiar with Tea Cooper, I
believe it is time to start reading her novels. She writes Australian fiction
that brings the world of Australia and science together. I have adored
Elizabeth Camden who brings American history to life. Cooper does the same
thing with science discoveries in Australia. I am not a fan of science. It was
the class that I hated in school. I enjoyed the Math part of Chemistry but that
was all. However, with The Naturalist’s Daughter, Cooper uses two
different time periods, both in the past, 1808 and 1908, to show the importance
of family and the discovery of platypus. I loved how Cooper kept piling on the
mystery. Every time I think the 1908 heroine may be closer to solving the
mystery, Cooper throws in a different twist that makes me want to keep reading.
The amount of historical research involved is mind-blowing. To make the
observations realistic, Cooper had to have spent tons of time diving into the
world of what makes a platypus. From its skeleton, to its breeding process, and
the venom they have to defend themselves. The characters are three-dimensional
and lifelike. I enjoyed this story and hope Harper Muse keeps publishing her
backstories so readers can read them. Highly recommend.
I received a complimentary copy of The
Naturalist’s Daughter by Tea Cooper from Harper Muse Publishing, but the opinions
stated are all my own.
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Purchase The Naturalist’s Daughter
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