The Hudson Collection ~ Review

The Hudson Collection

On Central Park #2

By Jocelyn Green

 

Elsa Reisner works at the American Museum of Natural History in the ornithology department. But her passion for birds is getting lost in the work of preparing specimens for the displays. When she is assigned the task of cataloging a vast collection left to the museum she finds much more than she could have imagined.

The estate is scheduled for demolition, Elsa is working on a limited timeline, as are the architectural salvage workers who are removing the library. Add in a missing treasure, a sinister secret, and a tragedy and one gets a moving historical story that blends factual events with fictional aspects into a captivating read.

 

Elsa is a polio survivor who is experiencing the fallout from her illness - prejudice and even scorn. But she is not alone as she befriends two WWI survivors who dealing with their scars as Eugenics still holds sway in the minds of those seeking to have a superhuman race.  

 

Yes, there are some harsh topics presented. History not to be proud of but important yo be aware of. I highly recommend this book, but I have never been disappointed in the author's work. It was well researched and well written making for an unputdownable read.

I was provided complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Step into the beguiling world of 1926 New York and discover the power of resilience,
friendship, and love from award-winning author Jocelyn Green.

Elsa Reisner's lifelong dream of working as an ornithologist at the American Museum of Natural History is fading as the job begins to drain her passion. But fate takes an unexpected turn when she is assigned to catalog the bequest of a recently deceased patron whose Gothic country mansion holds secrets and treasures waiting to be discovered.

As Elsa delves into her task, she forms an unlikely bond with the estate's delightful gardener and her daughter, as well as an architectural salvage dealer who still bears scars from the Great War. Together, they embark on a thrilling treasure hunt for a missing relic intended to safeguard the servants' futures before the estate is sold. At the same time, Elsa's body seems to betray her with new symptoms from a childhood disease that isn't through with her yet.

With the brooding veteran and her handsome colleague joining the search, Elsa must navigate the tangled web of secrets and hidden motives along with the changing state of her health. As her deadline looms ever closer, will she be able to secure a new life for her friends before the estate slips from their grasp?

 

AUTHOR BIO

Jocelyn Green (JocelynGreen.com) inspires faith and courage as the bestselling author of numerous fiction and nonfiction books, including the Christy Award-winning The Mark of the King and Drawn by the Current and her On Central Park series.