The Woman in the Green Dress
by Tea Cooper
Rating: 4/5
After seeing this recommended on Instagram, I had to read it for myself. I was intrigued by the premise and I do love when two stories get folded into one. The mystery aspect was well done while the romance was not in the forefront which was a nice change.
Amidst the celebrating during Armistice Day, Fleur Richards receives news that her husband did not survive the war. She is confused and distressed to learn that he has left her a fortune in his home of Australia. She travels from London to Sydney in order to figure out what her husband has left her and transfer the inheritance to someone more deserving. What she finds is a mystery surrounding the shop and land owned by her late husband’s family. Can Fleur find out what happened to the supposedly cursed shop and family? Will the mysterious opal and woman in a green dress help give her answers?
The story moves back and forth between the past and present which can be a bit confusing without proper headings but the author was very good about giving you a timeline. As someone who has never been to Australia, I was delighted to learn new things about the animals and wildlife (I guess that’s the scientist in me). I loved learning about the history and am eager to read more. I was a bit disappointed that the author didn’t tie up all the loose ends but there is a satisfying conclusion to the mystery. I also felt the title was a bit misleading but it still works, I guess. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and characters.
I still recommend reading this book if you enjoy romantic mysteries set in historical Australia.
My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.
