Review of 'The Golden Thread' by Tea Cooper

Review of 'The Golden Thread' by Tea Cooper

Release date: October 30, 2024

Publisher: HQ Fiction

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REVIEW

This is one twisty intriguing historical mystery by Tea Cooper set in the 1890s! I enjoyed the drama, the variety of characters (both good and bad) and the extended suspense. There are lots of surprises and complicated threads to the story. One message that surfaces is the cost of keeping secrets. Nell’s worries heighten as she tries to amend a predicament left behind from her son’s legacy.

The novel opens with an enticing prologue set in 1846. It is an atmospheric night full of mystery, haunting shadows and moonlight glimmering across Sydney Harbour. The activities of the day— the colony’s politics of Government House— are on pause. Armed with a leather pouch of gold, a candlestick, silver needle and silk embroidery thread, a woman creeps into ‘the cloying darkness of the eaves above the servants’ quarters, the air heavy with the heat of the day and the scent of forgotten memories.’ This is one seriously powerful image to open the novel with and it snatched my breath and attention from the start. It continues on a delightful journey to the past with historical figures of significance such as William Bligh. Inside a chest, are a ‘treasure trove of forgotten clothes each with their own story, their own memories, silken whispers of the past…’ Pure poetic beauty. Here we get the first glimpse of the yellow silk dress… and we soon learn of its purpose and connection to lost gold. This intro is beautifully written and sets us up for the big mystery to follow.

Forty-three years later, we are in Maitland, Hunter Valley, NSW introduced to Connie, a likeable young woman who longs for some unique adventures. We see the sharp contrast in Faith her mother, a less than endearing woman whose life revolves around horses and the racetrack. Faith’s lack of interest in her daughter’s life is one of many things that keeps us feeling negative toward this woman. And as the plot unfurls, we learn even more about her.

But Connie gets her adventure—just not the one she might expect. Although she plans an ordinary day for herself, it turns out quite different. Soon she discovers that her grandmother Nell is missing and Connie is determined to find her. So she begins her own journey that takes her into a world she definitely knew nothing about. The rest of what follows is both exciting and alarming for danger, mystery and treachery are lurking around the corners. We are plunged into Nell’s past of well-guarded secrets. But time does not stand still. Lives and plots are exposed after many unsettling events.

Ms Cooper’s descriptions are always beautifully rendered and it is easy to get a sense of where you are in both location and history. Her research skills are exceptional and her ability to weave history through fiction is well demonstrated in The Golden Thread. I always learn something new when reading her stories—particularly about Australia’s past. I am not a native to this country so reading Australian novels gives me a chance to learn about various events and people through memorable imaginative fiction like The Golden Thread.

This story covers family relationships, women’s roles of the time and moral dilemmas. The characters face a number of challenges including blackmail, a missing grandmother, hidden gold, theft, a potential ghost or prowler at the Old Government House. If that is not enough to keep you transfixed, there is the practice of horse race fixing: an activity that has provided a scandal or two over the centuries. In The Scarlet Thread, the ‘Sport of Kings’ contains this illegal activity. A jockey is influenced and the phenomenon of switching horses occurs. Who knows about this and what is the motive behind it? We soon learn but there are some surprises!

I definitely recommend The Scarlet Thread and yes, there is a stunning dress in this story as noted in my comments of the prologue. But that is only one piece of this complex puzzle. You will have to read it to uncover the mystery! When all the threads of the story are woven together, and all characters and the parts they have played are realised, there’s a real sigh of relief when the truth is made known. There are some great lessons learned and the ending is perfect.  5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to HQ Fiction and Netgalley for a review copy.