The Butterfly Collector

Publisher details

Author
Tea Cooper
Publisher
HQ Fiction
Genre
Fiction
Released
03 November, 2022
ISBN
9781867239185

The Butterfly Collector

Synopsis

What connects a botanical illustration of a butterfly with a missing baby and an enigma fifty years in the making? A twisty historical mystery from a bestselling Australian author.

1868. Morpeth. Theodora Breckenridge, still in mourning after the loss of her parents and brother at sea, is more interested in working quietly on her art at the family's country estate than she is finding a husband in Sydney society, even if her elder sister Florence has other ideas. Theodora seeks to emulate prestigious nature illustrators, the Scott sisters, who lived nearby, so she cannot believe her luck when she discovers a butterfly never before sighted in Australia. With the help of Clarrie, her maid, and her beautiful illustrations, she is poised to make a natural science discovery that will put her name on the map. Then Clarrie's new-born son goes missing and everything changes.

1922. Sydney. When would-be correspondent Verity Binks is sent an anonymous parcel containing a spectacular butterfly costume and an invitation to the Sydney Artists Masquerade Ball on the same day she loses her job at The Arrow, she is both baffled and determined to go. Her late grandfather Sid, an esteemed newspaperman, would expect no less of her. At the ball, she lands a juicy commission to write the history of the Treadwell Foundation - an institution that supports disgraced young women and their babies. But as she begins to dig, her investigation quickly leads her to an increasingly dark and complex mystery, a mystery fifty years in the making. Can she solve it? And will anyone believe her if she does?

Reviews

Your Preview Verdict: The Butterfly Collector by Tea Cooper

Review | Preview

28 November 2022

Your Preview Verdict: The Butterfly Collector by Tea Cooper

    Engrossing Historical Mystery: Read an Extract from The Butterfly Collector by Tea Cooper

    Review | Extract

    24 November 2022

    Engrossing Historical Mystery: Read an Extract from The Butterfly Collector by Tea Cooper

      Marvellous Australian Historical: Read Our Review of The Butterfly Collector by Tea Cooper

      Review | Our Review

      22 November 2022

      Marvellous Australian Historical: Read Our Review of The Butterfly Collector by Tea Cooper

        Tea Cooper
        About the author

        Tea Cooper

        Tea Cooper is an established Australian author of historical fiction. In a past life she was a teacher, a journalist, and a farmer. These days she haunts museums and indulges her passion for storytelling. She is the winner of two Daphne du Maurier Awards and the bestselling author of several novels, including The Horse Thief, The Cedar Cutter, The Currency Lass, and The Naturalist’s Daughter.

        Books by Tea Cooper

        Related articles

        Podcast: Tea Cooper on Butterflies, Teaching and Historical Fiction

        Podcast

        7 November 2022

        Podcast: Tea Cooper on Butterflies, Teaching and Historical Fiction

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          2. jamez walker says:

            The Butterfly Collector by Tea Cooper offers a beautifully layered mystery that connects past and present through art, loss, and hidden truths. The dual timelines—set in 1868 and 1922—create a compelling narrative where personal ambition, tragedy, and long-buried secrets intertwine. From Theodora’s quiet determination to make her mark in natural science to Verity’s bold pursuit of truth as a journalist, the story highlights resilience and the courage to uncover what others would rather keep hidden.

            In many ways, the novel reflects how important records, history, and documentation are in shaping outcomes—whether it’s uncovering a decades-old mystery or preserving one’s legacy. Just as Verity pieces together clues from the past, having organised and accessible records in real life can make all the difference, especially when managing important aspects like employment and finances.

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