Review: The Girl In The Painting

Title: The Girl In The Painting

Author: Tea Cooper

Publisher: 16th December 2019 by Harlequin Australia, HQ & MIRA

Pages: 352 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: historical fiction, mystery

My Rating: 4.5 cups

Synopsis:

For readers of The True Story of Maddie Bright, The Woman in the Green Dress and The Birdman's Wife comes this atmospheric and richly detailed Australian historical mystery from a bestselling Australian author. Maitland 1913 Miss Elizabeth Quinn is something of an institution in Maitland Town. For longer than anyone could remember she and her brother, businessman Michael, have lived in the impressive two-storey stone house next to the church. When she is discovered cowering in the corner of the exhibition gallery at the Technical College the entire town knows something strange has come to pass.

Was it the prehistoric remains or perhaps the taxidermy exhibition that had reduced the whale-boned encased pillar of society to a quivering mess? Or is there something odd about a striking painting on loan from the National Gallery?

Mathematical savant Jane Piper is determined to find out. Deposited on the doorstep of the local orphanage as a baby, she owes her life and education to the Quinns' philanthropic ventures and Elizabeth has no one else to turn to.

As the past and the present converge, Elizabeth's grip on reality loosens. Can Jane, with her logical brain and penchant for puzzles, unravel Elizabeth's story before it is too late?

Ranging from the gritty reality of the Australian goldfields to the grand institutions of Sydney, the bucolic English countryside to the charm of Maitland Town, this compelling historical mystery in the company of an eccentric and original heroine is rich with atmosphere and detail.

My Thoughts

The Girl In The Painting is another fabulous read from Tea! Here she has successfully given her readers the perfect historical mystery in a dual time narrative only separated by 50 years. Centreing around a young brother and sister’s immigration to Australia in the 1860s and then years later where they are firmly established in society. 

There are a number of narrators throughout both timelines but there is never any confusion, in fact, it assists in understanding and engaging thoroughly with each of the main players. Weaved throughout, Tea once again clearly demonstrates time and place with a sprinkling of historical details. This is wondrous Australian fiction! Tea is always so good and adding that extra dimension to her stories and on this occasion her mystery and intrigue will keep readers turning pages until the very end. 

‘I noticed there’s always a girl somewhere in each of your paintings, sometimes hardly visible, indistinct, yet always there.’

 ‘The paintings do tell a story. My story.’ 

Marigold’s gentle tone made Jane feel as though she was about to be led down a secret pathway. ‘So the girl is you?’ 

Tea is to be congratulated for presenting such an engaging and comprehensive tale. The settings both in England and Australia are authentic, particularly with the incorporation of real life events such as the orphanage fire in Liverpool and later the attempted assassination of Prince Alfred. Yet it’s the everyday cultural feel, from the streets of Sydney, to life on the goldfields that effortlessly include the reader so seamlessly. 

I thoroughly enjoyed The Girl In The Painting with the combination of historical detail and well thought out intrigue. I highly encourage all historical fiction fans to take a trip back in time and immerse yourself for a while in the lives of Elizabeth and Michael. If you haven’t read any of Tea’s books then you are missing out. 

‘Let me make a cup of tea. Tea fixes everything.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.