The Girl in the Painting

Tea Cooper's latest novel is The Girl in the Painting. For two thirds of the book it is largely written in two sections telling the story of Michael and Elizabeth and how they came to Australia in 1862 plus the continuation of their story when they meet Jane and invite her to join their family in 1906. Eventually the two stories converge into one for the remainder of the novel.

Both Elizabeth and Jane are very good at maths and help keeping track of the financial accounts of Michael's business ventures. All appears to be going well until one day they visit the technical college where Elizabeth sees an item that causes her to faint. Jane is determined to try and discover what is upsetting 'Aunt Elizabeth' so much. When the family agrees to host an art exhibition at their auction rooms it soon becomes obvious that some of the paintings have triggered memories of events occurring during Elizabeth's childhood in England. It takes time before the mystery of the paintings is revealed.

This is a work of fiction but the author includes a section at the end of the book where she briefly refers to some of the true events used in the novel. A book that is hard to put down once you start reading it.