Tea Cooper continues to create amazing historical fiction stories that are impossible to put down! This one is told through a dual timeline, providing a view of the 1860s as well as the early 1900s.

Strong female characters always make it easy for me to connect with a book, and these characters were definitely that! They are smart and headstrong. They are confident, and are impossible not to love!

I really love that this book is centered around Australia! It’s a lovely journey through so many different parts of the country. Cooper’s writing creates a real world that you can step into through the pages. You can see the goldfields, feel the sunshine, and smell the air. It’s an amazing journey!

The mystery in this story was very intriguing. I loved the different POVs and timelines that twist and weave their way together to finally give the reader the full picture of what happened. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, and I highly recommend it!

To Read or Not To Read:

I would recommend The Girl in the Painting to readers that enjoy being swept away in a historical fiction mystery rich in details and character depth!

Where to Find This Book:

The Girl in the Painting by Tea Cooper is available at these sites.

Amazon | Kindle | Goodreads

A young prodigy in need of family.

A painting that shatters a woman’s peace.

And a decades-old mystery demanding to be solved.

Australia, 1906

Orphan Jane Piper is nine years old when philanthropist siblings Michael and Elizabeth Quinn take her into their home to further her schooling. The Quinns are no strangers to hardship. Having arrived in Australia as penniless immigrants, they now care for others as lost as they once were.

Despite Jane’s mysterious past, her remarkable aptitude for mathematics takes her far over the next seven years, and her relationship with Elizabeth and Michael flourishes as she plays an increasingly prominent part in their business.

But when Elizabeth reacts in terror to an exhibition at the local gallery, Jane realizes no one knows Elizabeth after all—not even Elizabeth herself. As the past and present converge and Elizabeth’s grasp on reality loosens, Jane sets out to unravel her story before it’s too late.

From the gritty reality of the Australian goldfields to the grand institutions of Sydney, this compelling novel presents a mystery that spans continents and decades as both women finally discover a place to call home.

Just the Facts:

The Girl in the Painting by Tea Cooper
Genre: Historical Fiction
Page Count: 384 
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Pub Date: March 9, 2021

Tea Cooper is an Australian author of historical and contemporary 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.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

If you are enjoying this book tour, head to TLC Book Tours to see what other bloggers are saying! Thank you to TLC Book Tours for having me be a part of this!

I was provided a gifted copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.

View all adult book reviews
View all children’s book reviews