by Tea Cooper is an evocative historical mystery that weaves together two timelines set in Australia, approximately fifty years apart. Plot Overview The story alternates between two main perspectives:
Theodora Breckenridge is a talented botanical artist who discovers a species of butterfly never before seen in Australia. Her life is upended when the newborn son of her maid, Clarrie, is abducted, leading her into a dark conspiracy. Download The Butterfly Collector Tea Cooper epub
Tea Cooper is praised for her meticulous research into Australian history and lepidoptery (the study of butterflies). by Tea Cooper is an evocative historical mystery
Verity Binks is a determined young journalist who has just lost her job to a returning soldier. After receiving a mysterious invitation to a masquerade ball and a stunning butterfly costume, she begins investigating the history of a local foundation for "disgraced" women, uncovering secrets that connect back to her own family’s past. Key Themes & Highlights Tea Cooper is praised for her meticulous research
Reviewers from Criminal Element and Denise Newton Writes highlight the protagonists as intelligent and courageous women fighting for agency in male-dominated eras.
The novel explores the real and harrowing historical practice of "baby farming" in Australia, where infants were taken from vulnerable mothers and sold.