An Australian dual timeline historical mystery that shifts between the Hunter Valley in 1911 and 1880. The older storyline features Evie Ludgrove, who is determined to create a map, and find out all she can about the disappearance of historical explorer Ludwig Leichhardt to please her father who has been obsessed with Leichhardt since accompanying him on an earlier trip.

The second storyline is about Letitia Rawlings who drives in her Model T Ford to the family home at Yellow Rock to meet her great aunt Olivia and try to move past her grief at the loss of her brother Thorne. Lettie soon becomes embroiled in Evie’s story and delves into the unsolved mystery of her disappearance, with some assistance from spunky drover Nathaniel.

A good story which kept me entertained. I was less keen on the audiobook narration by Casey Withoos, which made the women sound possibly more whiney and hysterical than intended. ( )

Welcome to Hell.

Yes, Breton, Virginia is Hell on Earth where all the criminals and murderers are placed to face their demise at the hands of Vampyres: the judges of morally right and wrong.

I have to say after having just finished this novel, I found myself speeding through the rest of the pages to read the Epilogue - and I need to know what happens next.

This was a delightful take on the Vampire genre. And as a good fan of Vampires, I have to say, [a:Ronald Andrés Moore|7112784|Ronald Andrés Moore|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1370047389p2/7112784.jpg]'s Vampyres are a fresh take on, what I feel, Vampires have always been at their core: Creations for a purpose beyond themselves. Whether it be to take blood for the sake of surviving, or, in this case, existing to dish out justice to those deserving of it (and sometimes not).

Which leads me to the colorful cast of characters. Here we have a vast (and I mean vast) collection of characters that fill this claustrophobia-inducing novel with their differences. Even the town itself is a character, a low hanging cloud of amnesia hovering just above its mostly derelict buildings.

I don't want to give too much away, so I won't, but our heroes vary greatly from an amnesiac Vampyre named Michael, to a cast of (IMO) fiery orphans who have known nothing but their existence in the stifling town, to a renowned Vampyre Hunter with numerous tricks up his sleeve, an assassin, and two English Gentlemen, not to mention the various women that take up the fight to the soul suckers.

At its core NOCTURN is a tale. Simply put. A riveting tale of that morally gray area we humans always seem to dwell within. It asks the question, "What would happen if we got rid of our criminals and placed them within a town away from the good?" And it answers that question with a roaring romp through darkness, blood, and gore. Those that created this town are the wrong ones, but we can hardly spare a feeling for them because we're so swept up in the varying characters's dilemmas as they come to terms (slowly) with the fact this town that always exists in one year, is not all it appears to be. (But we feel rightly justified when everyone wakes up and takes the fight to those in charge.)

The baddies in NOCTURN are a slew of Vampyres, many of which, I'll be honest, I can't name right now, but I do remember Isaac, Rurk, and of course, Ruthven, a brilliantly crafted Vampyre that has lived far too long - so long he's let his power corrupt him to the point he's oblivious to any notion of humility - it's not for him, you see.

There's so much I can say about this novel, from it's origin of the Vampyres (they're Nephilim), to the different fantastic creatures that all descend from mothers of ancient (dark) lore, to the awesome characters, and the world that existed in this one town.

Mr. Moore has created a riveting tale that I believe any fan of Vampires (they're vicious, just like I like 'em), historical fiction, claustrophobic horror, suave Van-Helsing-type Vampyre Hunters, and the little orphan inside us all will enjoy greatly.

I greatly await the next installment in this series. Mr. Moore has crafted the Vampire story I didn't know I wanted to read. But I do now, and that's all that matters.

Keep your bite, Mr. Moore.
You're a blessing to the Vampire genre. ( )

Thanks to Harper Muse and NetGalley for a digital advance reader's copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

This absorbing historical mystery takes place in Australia with a dual timeline of 1880 and 1911. Both timelines feature adventurous and brave young women: eighteen-year-old Evie Ludgrove lives on a ranch in The Hunter Valley region of Australia in 1880. Thirty years later young Lettie Rawlings travels from her home in Sydney to the same ranch where her Aunt Olivia lives, driving her late brother’s Model-T. Evie is also Lettie’s aunt, and has been missing for 30 years. After arriving, Lettie gets caught up in the family mystery of Evie’s disappearance. She hopes searching through old papers and articles in her late grandfather’s study will uncover clues as to why Evie disappeared and possibly settle an ongoing family feud.

I liked the independent and strong women characters – Evie, Lettie, and Aunt Olivia. Evie is the cartographer of the book’s title; Lettie confidently drives and repairs her car (in 1911!); while Olivia is running the family’s horse ranch entirely on her own. All are affected by loss and grief, especially Lettie and Olivia who “carried the same pain. A pain that would never go away, should never go away. Because love and loss hurt.”

The first portion of the novel moves between Evie’s narrative and Lettie’s, and the story becomes more detailed as the mystery grows. While the book includes a printed representation of Evie’s map, the author does an excellent job of describing it so that I could picture it in my mind.

I liked the way the author provided clues to the mystery of Evie’s disappearance as Lettie uncovers them, including the map, artifacts, memories, and even a slight supernatural element.

I didn’t want to put this one down. I recommend this Australian historical mystery with a bit of romance and a satisfying ending. ( )

Story of two cousins 30 years apart living at Yellow Rock farm. One of the cousins disapeers without a trace and the other cousins tries to find out why. ( )

A fascinating historical mystery set in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales in Australia. This is a family saga with mystery, secrets, and romance interwoven with historical exploration in a narrative presented in dual timelines of 1880 and 1911.

1880 – Evie Ludgrove is the youngest daughter and eagerly used her artistic skill to create a map of her home and stories her father has shared. Called to her father’s office she is given the assignment to complete while he is in Sydney arranging his older daughter Miriam’s wedding. At first jealous of her sister, Evie is excited by her father’s confidence that she can organize his field notes, journals, and letters. When Evie’s father returns they will create a comprehensive book together of the full and true story of explorer Ludwig Leichhardt.

1911 - Letitia Rawlings is the daughter of Miriam and is traveling to the estate at Yellow Rock. Letitia will tell of the loss of her brother Thorne to Great Aunt Olivia Maynard. But spending time in Yellow Rock begins to reveal more about Letitia’s family than she could have ever possibly imagined.

When I am reading Tea Cooper’s writing I am immersed in her atmospheric and lyrical writing. I referred to Evie’s Map multiple times while reading the novel and each time I was led through the description to focus on a particular area of the map there was a new detail that I would have otherwise missed and enhanced my overall reading experience. As the story unfolds the reader takes a journey with the characters. On the journey, the reader simultaneously wants to turn pages quickly to reveal the mystery and secrets and yet in some ways never wants the story to end.

I encourage all readers to take the time to read the Historical Note at the end of the novel that unfolds its secrets of the historical facts that became the inception for weaving the facts with her creativity. It’s a beautiful tribute to early cartographers. It was quite a surprise to learn that most were women but men received credit as husbands signed the maps in family businesses.

Book Club readers will appreciate the author's provision of Discussion Questions at the end of the novel. ( )

Moving between the 1880 and 1911, this is the story of a family who ranched in Austria. Evie, the youngest daughter of a man obsessed with an explorer who disappeared in Australia, is determined to find out what happened to the explorer. She disappears and is never found. Now in 1911, her niece, with a Tin Lizzie and spunk, comes to visit her Great Aunt Olivia. Her mother wants Letitia to inherit the family ranch and commands her to visit and ingratiate herself with her aunt. Letty becomes engrossed with her missing aunt and is determined to find out what happened to her. Of course, she falls in love with the ranch and falls in love with a local cowboy. Readers will know what the conclusion is long before the story ends, but its still a satisfying story as the family rift is finally ended. ( )

When you stop to think of the historical men (and it's always men) the world over who strode off into the unknown to map places only known to indigenous peoples that lived there, the words that come to mind are a mix of impressed and appalled: brave and crazy, fearless and reckless, determined and foolhardy. And these words generally apply to both the successful and the unsuccessful surveyors. If these are the words we apply to men, what then are the words we would apply to the women who would also map and uncover the world beyond their own doors? Headstrong? Independent? Mad? Obsessed? Tea Cooper has written a sweeping story about two such women, Evie Ludgrove, who disappeared in 1880 chasing after the fate of famed Australian explorer Dr. Ludwig Leichhart, and her niece Lettie Rawlings, who tries to discover her aunt's fate 30 years later.

1911. Thorne Rawlings is killed in a freak accident. Still mourning her beloved brother, Letitia Rawlings volunteers to drive her Model T to Wollombi in the Hunter Valley to inform her Great-Aunt Olivia of the family's loss. She does this both to escape her mother's scheming about her future and to discover why the family is so estranged. Lettie is not a young woman interested in conforming to society's or her mother's expectations so a little distance is not a bad thing. While she is at Wollombi, Lettie starts to learn about her Aunt Evie, who went missing without a trace in 1880, and about all of the carefully long-hidden family secrets at the root of the estrangement. When she finds a beautifully illustrated map drawn by Evie, Lettie is completely drawn into the mystery of this unexplained disappearance.

Alternating with the stories that Lettie is uncovering is Evie's story. She was consumed by the tales her father told of once being a part of Dr. Ludwig Leichhart's expedition and she, as much as he, wanted to figure out Leichhart's final fate. With her mother newly dead and her sister preparing to leave for Sydney to meet and marry a suitor, Evie longs to solve the puzzle for her father before his return from escorting her sister. She and her Aunt Olivia are close but she doesn't share the details of her plans as she sets out on her fateful journey, leaving nothing but questions 30 years later.

Both Evie and Lettie are independent and capable women, beyond what their respective eras allow. Each is curious and intelligent, observant and occasionally foolhardy. The family secrets combined with the never solved, real life riddle of Leichhart's disappearance works quite well. Cooper has evoked rural Australia and the time period beautifully, transporting the reader into the setting. There is a light romantic element here but it never takes center stage, instead complimenting and enriching the main story line. The reader will want to keep turning pages to see Evie's fate as Lettie slowly uncovers it and although the family secret isn't really a surprise at all, it fits the narrative well. This is a quite satisfying novel for readers of historical fiction, especially those who like for elements of real life to have inspired the story in some measure. Are Evie and Lettie headstrong, independent, and obsessed? No question. They are also brave, fearless, sometimes reckless, and determined. In short, they are the very best of both exploring women and men and readers will enjoy their time with these clever women. ( )

Despite it centering on the disappearance of a young woman, this is a very sweet story. Initially, it switches between two timelines, telling the related stories of Evie Ludgrove in the 1880s and her niece, Lettie in 1911. I thought some of the Evie story a tad tedious, and was glad when Lettie’s tale became primary. It was interesting to read historical fiction from Australia and I liked the strong female protagonists, Evie, Lettie, and, especially Oliva, Evie’s aunt. The author’s descriptions of time and place were evocative; I could almost feel the warm, humid weather and smell many of the scents described. Throw in some family intrigue and this was an enjoyable read. ( )

Family secrets amidst the Australian landscape

Once more a richly interwoven story that spreads across the Australian landscape of the lushly appointed Hunter Valley region.
Two women become immersed in their individual trajectories as family secrets are uncovered, and a deep historical mystery is given prominence—the disappearance of explorer Ludwig Leichhardt of the face of the continent. One of the greatest puzzles of Australian European history.
Spanning the years of 1880, the story centres around Evie Maynard and her mapping skills and is picked up in 1911 with Letitia Rawlings. Lettie’s family has been estranged from Great-Aunt Olivia Maynard. The whys are unknown. A family tragedy leaves the Maynards, particularly Lettie reeling. She volunteers to inform their great aunt of events. Anything to get away. The devastated Lettie travels to her great aunt’s home at Wollombi. It’s here the family mystery deepens. It’s here her Aunt Evie is revealed. As secrets unravel we’re treated to classic Tea Cooper—fascinating story telling and superb prose. Cooper’s writing compels—I can smell the bush, I hear “ cry of the koels, the squawk of the black cockatoos as they fought over the nuts high in the casuarina tree.” I’m swept back on Country, and in Time. A willing captive.
Enthralling!

A Harper Muse ARC via NetGalley
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.) ( )

Tea Cooper takes her readers back to Australia in this well written historical fiction book. I have read many of her earlier books and she always describes Australia so beautifully that it makes you want to plan a trip there.
This book takes place in two time periods - 1880 and 1911 and is about the same family at these two times.

1880 - Evie loves to make maps of the areas around her home. When an Australian paper offers a thousand-pound reward for proof of where a famous Australian explorer disappeared, Evie decides that with the help of her father's research papers, she can discover what happened to him. While on her quest, Evie disappears and this mystery continues to puzzle her family for years.

1911 - Letitia goes to see her great aunt to tell him about the loss of her brother. The family land has all been left to her brother at the death of the great aunt. Letitia finds a beautiful map in the home that may give a clue to the disappearance of her Aunt Evie. As she sets out to find the truth, she realizes that there are secrets in the past that maybe should be left secret.

This is a book with strong female characters who are stronger than most women in their time periods.

Be sure to read the author's Historical Notes at the end of the book to see which characters were based on real people.

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own. ( )

As with her other novels The Cartographer’s Secret takes place in Australia. I must admit my knowledge of Australian history is not extensive but that did not stop me from enjoying this novel. Evie is a young woman who worships her father and joins him in his fascination with a missing explorer.

Her sister Miriam is a more traditional girl and when her father leaves their country home to head to Sidney with Miriam in tow to arrange her marriage Evie is left with his direction to sort his papers. She couldn’t be more thrilled.

But like the explorer they both studied, Evie too goes missing. The family is never quite the same after this.

The book takes place in two time periods – the book’s present and the period in which Evie goes missing. The moving back and forth is not confusing and happens only as it needs to so that the story can meet its ending.

As with any tale of this kind there are romances and secrets and a bad guy or two along the way. The clash of time periods is also interesting as there is a motor car versus horse theme within the story.

All in all a delightful book that I actually read in a day. I was reluctant to put it down to cook dinner but cats and the husband do need to be fed now and then. ( )

This is an intriguing dual time-line story starting in 1880 in the Hunter Valley, NSW Australia and then continues in 1911. Readers are first introduced to Evie, an independent young lady who loves to draw the landscape she sees around her. She jumps at the chance to help her father, even though she suffers with an ailment no one understands. He’d asked her to look over the maps, letters and notes he has collected through the years to find clues to this historical puzzle he’s been obsessed with for years. Explorer Dr. Ludwig Leichhardt and his team went out on a journey and never came back, leaving no trace or clues as to what exactly happened. Evie’s father says to her, …”Leichhardt left us with such a mystery when he and his exploration party disappeared, never to be seen again. Five men, two Aboriginal guides, seven horses, twenty mules, and fifty bullocks cannot vanish without a trace. Can your bright young mind shed some light on this conundrum?” She was up for the challenge.
Readers then met Letitia Rawlings as she has driven herself to Yellow Rock, to inform her great-aunt Olivia about her brother’s passing (the year is 1911). She is surprised that Olivia is kind and wonders why her mother, Miriam, told her she wasn’t, and why didn’t she talk to this woman for 30 years? What else was her mother keeping from her? In a quest to solve this unusual family disappearance, Letitia uncovers secrets about her family’s past that are complicated. But this strong-willed young lady is determined to dig deep for answers.
If you like a good mystery, this one has two; first what happened to Dr. Leichhardt and his team? And second, what happened to Evie who had a theory as to where this explorer and team went. She goes on her own journey and is never heard from again. These mysteries kept me turning the pages trying to figure things out before the author shared it. Full disclosure, the author had a few cuss words (dam, hell) and hints at premarital activity. I enjoyed learning about Australia along the way to solving the conundrum. There is not a lot of action, but this sweeping family drama, the setting and secrets kept my attention. This story has a wonderful blend of mystery, family challenges and tragedy, with a splash of romance creating a fun escape for you and your book club to enjoy.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have received a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog www.bookfun.org ( )