This dual time line story started out a little confusing on the switch back and forth but the longer I read, the clearer it all became. It was interesting to read about Australia during the time period when it sounded like the old west. In 1853, Della is the main character. She is a taxidermist who sends her completed items to a Curio Shop in Sydney. In 1918, Della has just found out that her husband died in the war and has left his estate in Australia to her. She travels to Australia from London but since she is convinced that he didn't die, she at first refuses his estate. She is also the owner of the Curio Shop that is boarded up. As she tries to find out more about her husband's life and financial holdings, she finds herself trying to discover the mystery behind the curio shop

I didn't connect with any of the characters in this book which means that I liked it but didn't love it. It is however, a very interesting look at Australia during two very different time periods. I found the descriptions of the countryside to be very intriguing and interesting. Overall, it's a very interesting book and well worth reading.

I felt like I started this book confused. It jumped right in to action, with little explanation and I found myself checking to make sure that I wasn't missing pages. I found that I really wasn't invested in the characters enough to find out more and ended up quitting the book about half way through.

review // Happy Sunday, friends! With a to-do list a mile long, I am struggling this morning - but that’s probably because I stayed up too late finishing The Woman in the Green Dress by Tea Cooper!
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Things I Loved: A dual timeline, split between 1853 and 1919. Set in Australia and explores both the criminal past of many of the first colonizers - and the subsequent, devastating impact on the Indigenous people. Quirky secondary characters and a strong female lead. A brief look into Australia’s opal mining industry.
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Thank you to @netgalley and @tnzfiction for the complimentary eARC in exchange for my review! This book was a fast-paced, pleasure! There was murder, mystery, a hint of romance, heartbreak, and history! {4/5 stars}
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The Woman in the Green Dress
By Tea Copper

The Woman in the Green Dress is an excellent read. The book takes place in two time periods 1853 and 1919 with the majority of the story taking place in Australia.

Fleur Richards is a newly-wed widow who has inherited her late husband's properties in Australia. Fleur doesn't believe Hugh is dead as she never properly received notice. But once she arrives in Australia all is as confusing as it was when she first received word of her altered state while in London. Fleur is on a mission to make sure that Hugh's rightful kin get his holdings. But finding the truth of the matter and discovering who her husband truly was is no easy task. She will have to delve into the past to get to the truth.

Della Atterton has removed herself from Sydney following the death of her parents. She is carrying on the work her father entrusted to her. But when she receives unsettling news that points to someone misusing her father's business and threatening the local population she finds herself returning to Sydney.

Captain Stefan von Richter has made a name for himself in his service to the man who saved his life. He has a definite sense of right and wrong, which is aroused when he witnesses a display of excessive cruelty, though he is but a visitor to Australia he refuses to allow the evil he has seen continue. But the prejudices of those who have taken Australia and called it home are not easily swayed.

This book is a historical romantic mystery that offers a glimpse into the past of Australia, a past that subjugated those deemed less worthy as little better than animals (or in some cases less than). When people turn a blind eye to this behavior they lower themselves to perpetuate this continuance of hate and evil. This is an excellent but harsh read. Della and Stefan are people who are to be admired as they try to stop and right the wrong they see. And Fleur is a woman of determination who wants to do the right thing and learn more about her husband. If you like a story that will intrigue and capture your attention you have found it.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

The Woman in the Green Dress covers two timelines and 3 major characters. Della Allerton is on Mogo Creek, NSW 1853. Captain Stefan von Richter is in the same time but he is traveling around NSW following the direction of a Baron that has previously explored the area. Fleur Richards starts in London, but travels to Sydney in 1919. Both timelines have their own mysteries that unravel through the chapters.
In 1853 there is a missing opal, possibly the first opal ever found in Australia, someone is hunting the Aboriginal people, and more than taxidermy is being sold in Della's family store. In 1919, little is known about Fleur's inheritance until she decides to figure it out for herself.
This was an enjoyable read and I appreciate #NetGalley allowing me to give my honest review of #TheWomanintheGreenDress.

The Woman in the Green Dress is a historical-romance mystery that readers can take as light escapism -- or can appreciate the solid research into early Australia's politics, flora, fauna and geology.

Tea Cooper tells the stories of Fleur and Della, both of whom are immigrants from London, in alternating timelines. As early as 1853, Della has sympathy for the indigenous people that other settlers are trying to displace. After World War II, Fleur comes to Sydney to settle the affairs of her husband, killed in the war.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for an advance readers copy.

The Woman in the Green Dress is an intriguing historical mystery set over dual time lines in 1853 and 1919. The lives of two women from the different eras are cleverly interspersed. I really enjoyed the descriptive passages of the Australian rural Hawkesbury region and the beginnings of Sydney, the colourful and memorable characters; their lifestyles, social lives and their clothing. Tea Cooper does an amazing job at painting the setting and manages to include elements of real history which make it feel much more real and authentic.

I’ve always been fascinated by Sydney of old, and particularly how the Rocks, Millers Point, Dawes Point and the dock areas around the harbour have changed from being rough areas of disrepute, to some of the most expensive in demand real estate locations in the world. Barangaroo has changed beyond recognition in the last ten years alone. When I first went there it was a concrete wasteland of literally nothing right on the harbour, now redevelopment has changed it again into parklands, apartments and retail. So when I saw this book was partially set around those areas of Sydney in the late 19th century and the early 20th century I was in my element.

I learnt so much from this fascinating book, particularly about Australian history and was totally glued. It really is an interesting read with lots of drama, action, adventure and a sprinkling of romance.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. With many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson.

The Woman in the Green Dress is a historical novel set in Sydney, Australia in 1853 and London - and then Sydney - in 1918. It is the story of a mysterious woman in a green dress, a white kangaroo, an opal that is said to carry a curse, an unusual little curio shop, a botanist who falls in love, and a woman post-World War I who is desperatley trying to find out if her husband survived the war.

I wanted to read this novel because it sounded so unique. I have not read a lot of historical fiction set in Australia, and I was very inrigued by the setting. As someone who sells vintage items for a living, I was particularly curious about the curio shop.

This is a dual storyline novel. The 1918 storyline is about Fleur Richards, a British woman who has received unofficial word that her Australian husband died in World War I. She receives a sizable inheritance which she doesn't want to accept, so she travels to Sydney to learn the truth.

In Sydney the story flashes back to 1853, an Austrian botanist newly arrived and intrigued by a beautiful young woman who has made friends with a white kangaroo, the curio shop the girl's aunt runs, and an assortment of mysterious stories including a huge opal and an unusual curio shop.

Initially I was much more interested in Fleur's storyline and her search for her lost husband in 1918. The 1853 storyline was much more complex with many characters and locales and it took me longer to really become invested in that story. Then, about halfway through the book, I suddenly found that story completely fascinating and just could not put the book down!

This is such an unusual book. It combines mystery, romance, and topics like opals, the properties of arsenic, and taxidermy in the 1800's. I have been thinking about it since I finished reading, something that I always consider a hallmark of a really exceptional read.

I recommend The Woman in the Green Dress for fans of historical fiction, for anyone interested in Australia, and for anyone looking for a unique glimpse at history that is rarely addressed in fiction.

This is one of those stories that is very easy to read, is light with lots of fun parts, has lovely characters who engage you and make you want to find out what they will be getting up to next.
Loved this wonderful piece of good humor and entertainment and am definitely recommending it.

Thanks to author Tea Cooper and publisher Thomas Nelson and Harper-Collins for an ARC copy to read in return for an honest review.

To be fair, I must say first that it is possible i would have given this book a higher rating if the ARC had been in better shape and easier to read. Some pages were repeated, some were out of order and first letters were misplaced.

The Woman in the Green Dress begins on Armistice Day as the first World War ends. Fleur, a young barista, (works in a coffee shop (but was probably not called that) , discovers that her Australian soldier husband did not survive the war. She is informed that he left her his entire estate, including land and property, near Sydney. The story continues with her trip there, interspersed with the story of her husband's family in 1853.

The novel is interesting, including lovely descriptions of flora and fauna and geography of the region. There is also quite a bit about the mistreatment of the native population and more than you wanted to know about taxidermy.. The historical and geographical aspects are quite interesting. Unfortunately, without much warning, the novel develops into a mystery which includes a cursed opal (perhaps the first one discovered in Australia.)

Don't judge this book by its cover or its title. It can mislead you.

The Woman in the Green Dress is a mysterious historical fiction set in Australia. Tea Cooper depicted Australia in a beautiful way. The book does take place in two different timelines, but it was very easy to follow.

The story takes place in both 1853 and 1918. Each focuses on women during those times and how they end up in the same Curio shop in Australia. Della is a taxidermist and has a family member running the curio shop. She begins to hear about some secrets and wrongdoings and meets a Captain who can help her find the truth. In 1918 we meet Fleur. This is set in the time of WWI and she received news that her husband has died in the war. She travels to Australia because it has something to do about her inheritance.

I really enjoyed the mystery of each women's stories. Tea Cooper did a fantastic job of intertwining each of the time periods and made it that much more intriguing.

I give The Woman in the Green Dress 4 stars. The imagery was amazing, the female characters were captivating, and the mystery made the book that much more charming. I think anyone who enjoys historical fiction will like this book.

I really enjoyed this historical mystery! It had all the elements I love about the genre. The setting was particularly strongly created, and it was an immersive plotline. The characters seemed real, and I was invested in each of their stories. The writing was strong. I found myself staying up late to see what happened in the end.

I can't wait to check out more of this author's work! Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for sending me a free digital copy.

I love opportunities to review books by authors I’ve not previously read. Tea Cooper has written several novels, but The Woman in the Green Dress is the first one I’ve come across. This was an opportunity to read something set in a place I was blessed to visit over 30 years ago (and where my father should have been this month had it not been for COVID-19), written by a woman who lives in and knows well the state of New South Wales.

The book starts in London – Armistice Day – and Cooper captures the sights and sounds of London in her opening pages. Fleur is torn between celebrating the end of the Great War and working so she can pay her bills. She’s waiting for her Australian husband to return from the front and whisk her away to his home, but the gentleman who comes to visit her teashop has news of a different kind for her. The action then shifts back to 1853 and two young women on a farm who are waiting for a delivery of food, drink, and business materials. There are interactions with the local indigenous community, and a rare albino kangaroo, but a storm is headed their way. Meanwhile, an Austrian army captain has arrived in Sydney on the hunt for a precious gemstone and has enlisted the help of an enterprising street boy. Cooper weaves these storylines together toward a beautiful finish in a book that I read in one afternoon.

The book was incredible. I found myself looking up the various locations Fleur visits on a map. I was reminded of how little I’d seen of Sydney all those years ago as I followed Fleur around. This is a city before the iconic bridge and opera house were even dreamed of, let alone built. I traced her passages on the Hawkesbury and MacDonald Rivers, and wished that I could go there and explore the communities Cooper described. This isn’t a pretty historical narrative either; Cooper has included some of the darker parts of Australia’s history such as exploitation and physical attacks against the Aboriginal people. I was also humbled by some of the things I learned. For example, how did I not know that opals could be found on other continents besides Australasia?

I’m not someone who gives every book I read a five-star rating. My main criteria for giving such a rating is how the book left me emotionally after the last page. If I desperately need Kleenex, then it gets the full five stars. The Woman in the Green Dress is definitely one of these books, and I’ll be looking for more by Tea Cooper in the future.

Disclaimer: Although I received an electronic copy of this book from the publisher and Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours, the words and opinions below are my own.

Armistice Day should have been full of joy for Fleur Richards; however, her day turns to despair as she receives a letter that her husband Hugh has become a casualty of war. With the notice, Fleur also discovers that she has been named next of kin for Hugh's inheritance in Australia. Now, Fleur ventures to Australia alone and must unravel the mystery of her husband's estate.


Sixty-six years earlier Della Atterton lives a quiet life practicing her craft of taxidermy on the remote Mogo Creek in New South Wales until Captain Stefan von Richter comes crashing into her life. Stefan is tracking down what he believes to be Australia's first opal. The quest for the opal will bring both fortune and turmoil into his life as well as the life of his

Told from dual timelines, this haunting mystery pulled me into the wonders of Australia. The story did take me a little time to get into as I figured out how the two storylines were connected. I was more drawn towards Fleur's story and her daring, courageous and caring nature. Her strength shone as she set out across the world alone to learn about Hugh. Fleur's drive to figure out Hugh's origins and the mystery of the Curio Shop she inherited were fueled with passion. In the earlier timeline, Della's character echoed Fleur's sentiments; however, I was drawn into Stefan and Bert's quest and relationship even more. Cordelia's character heightened the mystery as I tried to figure out her angle and motivations. Most of all, I enjoyed the descriptions of Australia. I was surprised at the dark history of the rampant attacks and racism on the native people of Australia; however, it is always good to learn about. The ending expertly wrapped the two timelines together and satisfied the mystery.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. ​

This was a little gem of a book, excuse the pun! Two time lines 60 years apart, taxidermy and opals, what more incitement do you need to read it?

This book has everything I love. A) a beautiful cover. B) dueling timelines. C) a compelling story.

Fleur Richards marries Hugh - who quickly is shipped off to war - and then never returns. She moved into the Berkeley Hotel in order to find out more about her lost husband - and quickly finds more properties that Hugh owned and that she now owns as well.

This is a lovely historical fiction and Tea Cooper does a wonderful job balancing the story between the two timelines. I look forward to reading more from her.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book,

I did like this book. The historical fiction aspect and time period is what drew me to this book in the first place. Instantly, I was drawn back in time.

In the beginning, I was really feeling this book. Yet, the further I got into the story, I got confused. There was a lot of different characters introduced into the story not to mention the back and forth time periods. This was not as smooth a transition as I would have liked. Moments were too quick with not a lot of details. Therefore making it hard to really get to know everyone very well.

Despite these factors; I still did like this book. I would read another one by this author as I do believe Tea Cooper has some good storytelling skills.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing this book for review. I quite enjoyed it. I was quick to sign up for this book because it took place in early Australia. Della in the 1800s and Fleur in the 1900s were the two women who anchored the book. I appreciated the fact that the author headed the changes in century each time. So many authors don't, and it irritates me when I have to stop and figure out what time period we're in now! It interrupts the flow of the story and my concentration. There was enough history about each period to consider the book historical fiction. And it was very topical due to the overt racism shown the indigenous tribes of Australia, which was very similar to that of Native Americans in America. It's amazing how absolutely imperious the colonialists were when arriving in a new country and thinking they were superior. How different history could have been! Well written but I would have liked a little more depth to the story and background on the characters. Just a personal preference. Would make an interesting discussion for a book club.

Where is the opal?

As with many historical fictions, two different times converge to solve one mystery. The book features a young Fleur as she travels to Australia to handle her deceased husband's affairs after he was lost in the Great War. In the other timeline, set in 1853, Della's Aunt Cordelia is running her curio shop in Sydney and learns from an Austrial Captain that potentially some inappropriate things are happening at the shop. As the two timelines merge, there are more questions than answers and everyone wants to know where the opal is.

I love the way Tea Cooper seemlessly set up the mystery. Overall, I enjoyed the book, but it was a bit too historical for me - meaning I think I prefer to stick with the 20th century. If someone enjoys digging this far back into history, this is a fabulous read!

Thank you Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for allowing me to read and give my honest opinion.

This book drew me in to the pages and wouldn’t let go. It is beautifully written, well researched, and rich in detail. I felt as though I were in a different world and that was well appreciated during this time.
Many thanks to Thomas Nelson Fiction and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.