When you are given a Tea Cooper book, you know you are in safe hands. I have visions of Tea wandering around an Australian museum establishing the next story that needs to be shared with her devoted readers. This time we are dropped into Maitland, 1892. We meet siblings Viola and Sebastian Oswald. Sebastian is dying of a hereditary blood disease. Their prestigious surgeon stepfather, Elias Sinclair, has used his stepson’s condition to enhance his reputation and has treated him like a test subject to make advancements. However, Viola does not have definitive proof of this and with her mother being emotionally disengaged due to grief, pregnancy and her new husband, it further pushes her to find out what is going on. When her brother dies, he leaves her a letter in the pages of Lamb’s Tales from Shakespeare, setting her on a path to find out what her stepfather is doing. Along the way, Viola meets many people from varying walks of life – from the local seamstress, to the lawyer clerks to urchins. They all help unravel the truth including the fate of a missing boy and the cruelties being faced to advance medical care. Viola only fears what may happen to not only these people but her own mother and the unborn sibling.
Tea’s writing has a way of establishing complex characters, especially the voices of those who have been silenced in history. Tea gives them an opportunity to be heard. There is reference to characters that hardcore readers would remember from The Golden Thread but don’t worry you can read The Tangled Web as a standalone novel. Readers will feel the suspense as you are led through the murky world of medical science in 1892.
Tea is an Australian historical fiction writer who tempts us to look deeper into those lives in the past, and opens readers’ eyes to see how all may not be as it seems. All those historical fiction fans will just devour this book.
Reviewed by Claire Stanley
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tea Cooper is an award-winning Australian author of historical fiction. In a past life she was a teacher, a journalist and a farmer. These days she haunts museums and indulges her passion for storytelling. She is the internationally bestselling author of several novels, including The Golden Thread, The Talented Mrs Greenway, The Butterfly Collector, The Naturalist’s Daughter, the USA Today-bestselling The Woman in the Green Dress, The Girl in the Painting and The Cartographer’s Secret, winner of the prestigious Daphne du Maurier Award.
(5/5)
I absolutely loved the story of The Tangled Web and the intrigue weaved throughout this novel. As per all of Tea Cooper’s works, the writing is outstanding. I love that it continues to revisit towns and cities used in all of her novels.
Only thing I missed in this one is the usual love interest. Without spoilers, there is a hint of it, but I wanted to be drawn in to more of that and was left disappointed. But with such a wonderful story, I can also understand why that was not developed more in order to get the meaning/ending of the characters journey across.
Finished the entire book in 2 days. Wonderful page turner and it’s always a thrill to read Tea Cooper. I highly recommended if you love historical fiction and Fiona McIntosh.
(4/5)
The new book by Tea Cooper, The Tangled Web is a great read! I found the book very easy to follow and could not put it down, I didn’t want it to end.
The author has once again magically woven historical detail into her story and kept the story flowing.
This would be one of Tea Cooper’s best novels yet. You can picture the locations, dresses, medical procedures in your mind’s eye through her detailed descriptions. I was absolutely transported to the past.
I would highly recommend The Tangled Web to all readers who love an Australian based story, strong female leads and the history of a bygone era.
(4/5)
As a fan of historical mysteries, I found The Tangled Web really hit the mark. It’s an evocative and layered story, rich with period detail and emotional depth. Tea Cooper weaves suspense and moral tension seamlessly, creating a tale that delivers both heart and intrigue.
What stood out most for me was how grounded the novel feels in real issues – from medical ethics and power to family loyalty and the treatment of vulnerable people. Viola is a strong and compelling protagonist, and her struggles, both inward and outward, come across as believable and deeply moving.
(5/5)
I have to say from the beginning I wasn’t sure I was going to finish it, despite having read books by this author and enjoyed them greatly, this one was disturbing in its content.
As I continued on, I found The Tangled Web to be extremely enjoyable in the way it is written to the point where I could imagine all the characters and places (it helped that I knew the areas) and actually see myself there. It made me wonder if events mentioned could have happened? It gives insight into the lives of women and children and their treatment in the 1890’s.
The main character, Viola is a delight and whilst I don’t know what age she is, she seemed very mature in relation to some of the situations she finds herself in.
There are many twists in the book, which make the title self-explanatory, and the ending was absolutely riveting. I thoroughly recommend this book for lovers of historical novels. I give this book 5 stars
(5/5)
As a fan of Tea Cooper, I was eager to dive into The Tangled Web. Unlike many of her earlier dual-timeline novels, this one follows a single thread, which took me a moment to adjust to – but I settled in, and I was swept away.
Set in Maitland in 1892, the story is rich with mystery, family secrets, and a powerful glimpse into Australian history, especially around the treatment of women and children. At its heart Viola Oswald, the heroine, is a strong, compassionate young woman whose courage and loyalty make her a character to admire. The supporting cast adds depth, making the story even more engaging.
I thought I had the mystery solved halfway through, but the twist caught me completely off guard. From that moment, I couldn’t put it down – the final chapters had me so invested I didn’t realise I had been holding my breath.
To me the mark of a great story is one that makes you feel, root for the characters, and leaves you satisfied yet wistful. Tea Cooper has crafted a tale that entertains, informs, and sweeps you into another world.
The Tangled Web is a story of love, resilience, and secrets that unravel in the most unexpected way.
(4/5)
Tea Cooper’s The Tangled Web is a captivating historical novel that blends new and familiar characters with a perfect mix of fact and fiction. Set against a rich historical backdrop, Cooper crafts a compelling story that will keep you turning pages, eager to uncover more about the intriguing lives of each character.
For those who love being transported to a time when life was slower yet still rife with mystery and the macabre, this novel is a must-read. Cooper skilfully explores themes of social standing, wealth, and the challenges faced by women in a society constrained by gender and class. The story makes you reflect on what life might have been like in Maitland during that time – how fragile one’s circumstances could be in an era with limited support systems.
A thoroughly engaging and thought-provoking read, The Tangled Web will leave you contemplating the complexities of the past long after you’ve finished the last page. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction with a twist.
(3/5)
Tea Cooper’s latest historical novel A Tangled Web centres on courageous young heroine Viola Oswald. Set mainly in 1890s Maitland, New South Wales, it unfolds during a time when haemophilia had no cure. After her beloved brother Sebastian dies, Viola suspects her prestigious stepfather – a Sydney surgeon – of using Sebastian’s illness to experiment with blood transfusions on young boys to enhance his reputation. Fearing for her unborn sibling, she is sent by train to Brisbane to stay with her uncle while her mother prepares to give birth.
Disguised as a boy named “Tuppence”, Viola blends into a band of homeless youths. She also is befriended by Taylor, a sharp lawyer’s assistant, and the young lawyer she works for. As Viola delves deeper, she becomes entangled in a dangerous network of lies, disappearances and deaths, unsure whom to trust.
I enjoyed Violet as a main character. Her resourcefulness and allies ultimately enable her to expose the tangled web of lies at the heart of the story, highlighting Cooper’s trademark blend of suspense, historical detail, and strong female protagonists.
(3/5)
Set in 1892, the book gives the reader an insight into what life was like for a very well-off family living in Sydney and the young homeless teenagers in Maitland. Viola’s brother Sebastian is a haemophiliac, and dies early in the story. Their step-father is a prestigious doctor who treated Sebastian while he was alive, however Sebastian did not believe that his step-father’s intentions were always honourable, and Viola discovers a letter in Sebastian’s favourite book suggesting this. The secret to what is going on lies in Maitland.
The Tangled Web was a very easy read, but I found the characters a bit unbelievable. They needed to be developed further. The history was interesting, but it is a story for the occasional reader, and I probably wouldn’t recommend it to a book club.
(4/5)
‘Being a huge fan of author Tea Cooper, I was really looking forward to this read.
I was captured by the way she can develop suspense into her historical fiction storylines, keeping me turning the pages.
I would absolutely recommend The Tangled Web and give it four stars.
(3/5)
Tea Cooper has a natural charming writing style, with the initial premise and the characters of Viola and Taylor being well written.
But after the promise of a ‘tangled’ initial premise I just wanted a bit more. The other characters, especially Sinclair, were very one dimensional, the plot simplistic and some plot devices, particularly in the last quarter, seemed like cop-outs to have move things a little too quickly.
Perhaps The Tangled Web is one for lovers of historical fiction, of which the author does well, rather than true mystery and the twists and turns the title suggests to myself.
(5/5)
An adventurous book showing how a sibling’s love for her brother fulfills his last wish. Viola enters a dangerous world in an undercover disguise, making new friendships and working together to help find the truth.
The Tangled Web was an enjoyable book to read, and it took me on an adventure while opening my eyes to the historic times and how difficult it can be being a woman in that era.
(4/5)
Viola Oswald, a young woman bereft over the recent death of her younger brother Sebastian, travels to Brisbane to stay with family. While on the train, Viola discovers secret messages from her brother that have been secreted in the pages of a favourite book. Sebastian had a hereditary blood disease that their unscrupulous step-father was experimenting with, to enhance his reputation in the medical world.
Viola abandons her journey and her identity as a girl, and takes on the appearance of a young lad. This ploy had been used on several occasions with her brother on their adventures in Sydney. But 1892 was not a time for young ladies to travel alone safely.
Viola starts sleuthing and joins a gang of homeless boys in Maitland. As she spends time with them, dodging the law and helping them find a secure home, more clues are unearthed, and with some assistance from trusted new-found friends, the results are astounding
.
Many young women in history have overcome adversity, and with their sense of adventure, pluck, and survival skills, have navigated challenges by assuming the guise of a male. With her wit, perseverance, and sense of justice, Viola is absolutely unstoppable, and an amazing main character!
A Tangled Web is a great read for lovers of history!
(5/5)
The Tangled Web is awesome. I couldn’t put it down and didn’t until I had finished reading it. Definitely a 5 star rating and I would give it a 6 if I could. I felt like I was living alongside each of the characters, as they were just so believable.
My only very small feedback is that my understanding of the reformatory on Cockatoo Island itself was for wayward girls, and the boys stayed on a ship next to Cockatoo Island – The Vernon. I just remember this from my history studies at high school.
Otherwise just fantastic. Will definitely be a re-read in my library.
(5/5)
Another brilliant historical fiction novel by Tea Cooper, reminiscent of Oliver Twist and The Boys from Brazil.
Set in Sydney and my hometown of Maitland, NSW, the references to familiar names, streets and locations made this story particularly significant to me. Previously viewed photos of the era also added to my imagining of the vivid descriptions.
Wonderful characters weave an intriguing tale of living conditions, attitudes and laws of the the late nineteenth century.
If you’ve enjoyed Tea Cooper’s previous books, you’ll love The Tangled Web!
(3/5)
Tea Cooper is well known for writing historical fiction, with a twist of mystery and The Tangled Web is a superb example of this genre.
The story follows a young girl on a mission to decipher a mysterious message from her beloved brother, left to her after his death from a blood disease. Her investigation into her stepfather’s medical practices leads her from Sydney to Maitland for answers, disguising herself as a boy.
The book creates a compelling and well written narrative that encourages the reader to keep turning the page. As the story unfolds, Cooper successfully and authentically transports the reader back to living in the 1890s.
We discover the social mores of life for women and homeless or orphaned young boys through her writing. As a Maitland resident, the writing had me imagining life in local places and roads compared to how they are now. This is Cooper’s writing ability at its best, accurate historical details, which contribute so much to the story.
It is a gripping and captivating tale and I found the book difficult to put down.
(4/5)
Tea Cooper fans will recognise Viola as the strong, independent heroine we all want to throw our support behind as she unravels a family secret.
Viola and her brother Sebastian live with their mother who is expecting her third child, and their surgeon stepfather. But poor Sebastian, born with a hereditary blood disease, suffers at the hands of their stepfather. Blood is thicker than water, so the saying goes, and the bond that ties this young sister and brother stretches between Sydney and rural NSW as we follow Viola on her journey. With unlikely friendships being formed and through a ruse of disguise and cryptic messages, Viola is determined to uncover the key to exposing the truth about his medical mistreatment and stop the same thing happening to her unborn sibling.
I enjoyed the journey back in time to the 1890’s and meeting the various characters who rally around Viola, and ultimately how she doesn’t allow the atrocities of her past to shape her future. I would thoroughly recommend The Tangled Web.
(5/5)
Tea Cooper has once again taken us back in time, back to NSW in the 1890’s. The Tangled Web features amazing, strong women at the heart of this story. At a time when women were deemed only fit for domestic duties, Viola and Taylor show true strength and courage.
Following leads left by Viola’s late brother Sebastian, she uncover the awful truth of what her step father has been doing. Along the way she transforms into a street boy, experiencing the harsh life of homeless youth. A gripping story that will take you back in time and make you fall in love with the amazing characters.
(3/5)
I like the way Tea Cooper’s books like The Tangled Web capture the human heart while giving us a taste of a past period in time. I also enjoyed the way she characterised the strength and capacity of a women trying to survive in a man’s world.
The way Viola fitted herself in the unruly boys group by pretending to be one of them, applying tact and cleverness to gain their trust, was very entertaining.
I was a bit disappointed with the ending. I would have preferred that some characters be taken to task for what they’ve done.
(5/5)
Viola Oswald lost her brother Sebastian to a blood disease and this sends her on a hunt to prove her stepfather had something to do with it. Discovering a letter in the pages of a book her brother loved, she thinks about Maitland; a small town in NSW. Next day, while on a train journey to go stay with her Uncle in Brisbane, the train stopped at Maitland and she impulsively jumps off.
Viola often dresses as a young boy so she can explore without hinderance, and she quickly puts on this outfit. She falls in with a gang of homeless boys, and her adventure truly starts as she investigates missing kids and digs deeper into what her stepfather is up to.
This is a wonderful adventure of lost boys, medical experiments, and lots of excitement and mystery.
Top marks Tea, this is a wonderful story.
(5/5)
In her newest novel, Tea Cooper once again proves why she’s a master of historical fiction. Set in the late 19th century, the story unfolds across Sydney and Maitland, where Cooper introduces fresh faces while seamlessly weaving in characters from her previous works—a delightful nod for long-time fans.
At the heart of the narrative is Viola Oswald, a determined young woman on a quest to uncover the truth behind a cryptic letter left by her late brother Sebastian. Hidden in his treasured copy of Lamb’s Tales of Shakespeare, the letter hints at a disturbing possibility: Was their esteemed stepfather, a celebrated surgeon, exploiting Sebastian’s hereditary illness to bolster his own reputation?
Cooper’s storytelling is rich with atmosphere and emotional depth. The blend of mystery and historical detail makes this novel a compelling read, while the reappearance of familiar characters adds a layer of continuity that fans will relish. I will be recommending A Tangled Web to our library patrons.
Readers beware that you don’t get caught in the pages of Tea Cooper’s The Tangled Web. The story of a young girl (Viola)’s journey from Sydney to Maitland after the death of her beloved brother, Sebastian is compelling and intriguing. Viola is on a mission to uncover the truth regarding her stepfather and his medical experiments on young homeless boys. Although haemophilia was a known hereditary disease in the 1890s blood transfusions were not common or successful due to incompatibility of blood types (not discovered until the 1900s).
As a well educated wealthy young woman she is forced to hide her identity by dressing in boy’s clothes but her disguise does not fool everyone which may ultimately put her in danger. Tea Cooper has a way of blending historical fact and creative fiction that draws one in. The characters are well drawn as are the places. The love that Viola has for her brother, mother and unborn sibling is believable and one can understand how it drives her to discover the truth.
I really enjoyed the story with all its twists and turns and feel that it could be made into a great Australian movie/mini series.