Publication Date: March 9, 2021
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 the present converge and Elizabeth’s grasp on reality loosens, Jane sets out to unravel Elizabeth’s story before it is too late.
From the gritty reality of the Australian goldfields to the grand institutions of Sydney, this compelling novel takes us on a mystery across continents and decades as both women finally discover a place to call home.
“Deeply researched. Emotional. Atmospheric and alive. . . Tea Cooper transports the reader to a sweeping landscape of turn of the twentieth century Australia—from the raw realities of the Australian goldfields to the sophisticated institutions of Sydney—and does so with an expert pen. Combining characters that are wonderfully complex with a story spanning decades of their lives, The Girl in the Painting is a triumph of family, faith, and long-awaited forgiveness. I was swept away!” —Kristy Cambron, award-winning author of The Paris Dressmaker and the Hidden Masterpiece novels
What starts out as a story about a philanthropic gesture turns into a quest for the truth in author Tea Cooper’s latest book titled The Girl in the Painting.
Set primarily in Australia in the early 1900s, the author inserts flashback chapters to fill in the history of the main characters, siblings Michael and Elizabeth Quinn, who migrated from England. The bulk of the storyline focuses on the Quinns and their ward, Jane.
An aptitude for numbers is young Jane’s ticket out of the orphanage. The Quinns, owners of a local auction house, recognize Jane’s talent and decide to serve as her benefactors.
The storyline is rich with historical detail ranging from the politics of the era to natural disasters such as floods. It’s through the lens of the auction house that readers start to realize that something is not quite right. Elizabeth’s peculiar reaction to a painting made me wonder if it was a memory or figment of her imagination. I found the search for the truth to be quite interesting, particularly since it involved events in both Australia and England.
Ultimately, the twists and turns demonstrate the universal truth that true love conquers all—even when time and physical distance intervene. Overall, I learned a significant amount about Australia in the early 1900s and the migration of children. It’s a story that requires the reader to pay attention to the time shifts, but it is worth the effort.
Tea is an award-winning 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 bestselling author of several novels, including The Horse Thief, The Cedar Cutter, The Currency Lass, The Naturalist’s Daughter, The Woman in the Green Dress, and The Girl in the Painting.
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Thanks for the great rvewi, Amy! And thanks to Novels Alive for hosting The Girl in the Painting!
Amy
HF Virtual Book Tours
You’re most welcome, Amy!