Author: Tea Cooper
Year of Release: 2019
Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers Australia
Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery
Release Date: 16th December 2019
Rating:🌟🌟🌟🌟
Synopsis
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 Quinn’s 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.
Review
A Picture is worth a thousand words or in this case a painting the beautiful cover act immediately drew me in, I had to uncover all there was to know about The Woman in the Painting, having heard so many good things about Tea Coopers previous Novel The Woman In The Green Dress.
Michael Quinn and his young sister Elisabeth are leaving Ireland for a better life in Australia their parents made the voyage some time ago. Once the ship has docked in Sydney, Michael discovers that not everything has gone to plan Michael is left to think on his feet not just for himself but for the sake of his four year old sister Elizabeth.
Things that worked for me I was able to paint a crystal clear picture in my head of the world Author Tea Cooper has created thanks to her talented writing, I haven’t read a story like this before with Australia front and centre being Australian it is nice to see a positive spotlight put on your own country.
The Characters used to tell this story are suitable, Elizabeth and Michael are the stand-outs for me here, Elizabeth and Michael are amongst the wealthy set in Maitland, and yet they are willing to treat everyone with respect and kindness, what made these characters memorable for this reader was their willingness to take in Jane from the orphanage and treat her as an equal and have given her further opportunities to thrive in the years to come. The situations these characters find themselves in are for the most part realistic and only add strength to this story.
Things I might have wanted to see in The girl in the painting For this reader although I liked how Jane come into the Quinn household the character just did not spark my interest 100% more 98% she’s likeable and has a good heart but at different times I found her bad mannered and I found she could be judgmental towards others, and although I can see why she acted that way sometimes, the audience would soon be reminded she was an orphan, this left me wondering at times are you a child who hasn’t been taught to respect adults or are you a young child moving toward womanhood still finding your own path in life? These actions made it hard for me to connect and sympathise with Jane’s plight. I also would have liked an epilogue here.
Anyone who enjoys Historical Fiction or Australian Fiction with mystery included should set out to find this book. I Personally enjoyed reading this story most of all for the relationship between, Michael and Elizabeth their strong bond as brother and sister was touching, plenty of books have sibling relationships but it’s been in my experience that there’s an older sister younger brother connection or sisters so it was really nice to see that come to life over the pages.
My highlights from this book:
- The descriptive writing
- The bond between Michael and Elizabeth
- The story- wasn’t able to put it down
- The big plot twist wasn’t revealed early on
I gave The girl in the painting 4/5 stars on Goodreads I felt some information was left out that could’ve given a reader a better sense of closure with this story.
With thanks to Harper Collins Publishers Australia and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review Available Now.