The Butterfly Collector by Tea Cooper is presented as a dual timeline 1868 in Morpeth and 1922 in Sydney, bringing it all together at the end. It’s a compelling story that combines scientific exploration, historical facts and hint of drama. It all begins with the discovery of the ‘wanderer’ butterfly. I particularly enjoyed the strength and compassion of the female characters of Theodora and Verity. A thoroughly great read. Thank you @Better Reading and Harper Collins Publishers for the opportunity to preview this wonderful book. Matilda, QLD, 5 Stars

Fowles wrote the novel between November 1960 and March 1962. It was adapted into an Academy Award–nominated feature film of the same name in 1965 starring Terence Stamp and Samantha Eggar.

Pryce-Jones, Alan (28 July 1963). "Obsession's Prisoners". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 19 July 2019. Verity is very proud of her position at The Arrow and her potential to ultimately become a worthy female newspaper correspondent. Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

In a Nutshell: A historical mystery focusing on two disparate plot points: a woman with a fascination for butterflies, and a mystery concerning Treadwell Foundation and its alleged focus on “disgraced young women and their babies.” Having either of these would have been fine. But the two topics don’t mesh well, creating a disjointed effect. The title is misleading. Fowles then spent four years at Oxford, where he discovered the writings of the French existentialists. In particular he admired Albert Camus and Jean-Paul Sartre, whose writings corresponded with his own ideas about conformity and the will of the individual. He received a degree in French in 1950 and began to consider a career as a writer. Congratulations Tea on once again proving your prose is up there with the best. From strong protagonists, to family drama and mystery, to the breathtaking vistas of the bush with the magnificent flight of the butterflies - I highly recommend the tale that is, The Butterfly Collector with its tale of strength and persistence.

Release

Having two historical timelines is also a little confusing in this case. Except for the characters, there isn’t much to distinguish the two timelines as both feel “historical” in the same way. Only the characters help you remember which timeline is going on. I was so sure The Collector would become a new favourite, the premise is deliciously dark and disturbing, a man obsessed with a woman, intent on kidnapping her and making her fall in love with him. However, it’s not as dark as it COULD be, in my opinion. I felt like I just wanted it to go further... but I guess that’s the horror fan in me. Ever since Grandma Clarrie and Grandpa Sid had passed, Mrs Carr had extended her role of next-door neighbour to mother hen and general busybody, but Verity couldn’t fault her—she’d provided a welcome shoulder on so many occasions. There’d been times, more than she’d like to count, when the offer of a cup of tea and a scone had saved the day. However, Mrs Carr’s habit of nipping in and out of the house rankled. Maybe the time had come to move the key to another hidey hole. ‘A parcel? Who from?’ I enjoyed the chance to read this well written and engrossing historical novel spanning 50 years. The mystery and intrigue kept me fascinated to find out the answers to many questions that were posed throughout the book to the very end. The characters were interesting and endearing and brought to attention the scandals that endured over many years, being covered up for different reasons during that time. I liked the fact that many places and Tea Cooper has done intense investigation about the events and people in Australia during both time periods and even though it’s fiction she has carefully added important facts. She explains fact vs fiction in an authors note. She also suggests books to read if you want to learn more.