Magnificent historical set in 1926 New York.
Ms. Green takes us into the inner workings of the American Museum of Natural History. It reminds me of touring behind the walls of the Field Museum in Chicago where my father’s cousin was a curator.
This multi-faceted story taught me about cataloging birds as well as interesting facts about historical salvaging done in the 1920s. Paired with a search for a mysterious valuable illuminated manuscript from the Middle Ages and secret rooms in an abandoned mansion, this book was very hard to put down. It also told of Elsa and her bout with childhood polio and how she coped with the effects as an adult. Luke, architectural salvage dealer, is also dealing with the scars left from The Great War. But they help each other glean valuable spiritual lessons. A takeaway was: it is important to communicate, as Elsa learned to do concerning her experience with polio that left her feeling abandoned and lonely. Also, that we should care about how God sees us rather than people who have no real place in our lives.
Elsa and Luke as well as other characters were easy to engage with. The scenes with Danielle, a young autistic girl, were well depicted, showing the attitudes and ignorance of the condition in that time period. The author cited the interest in eugenics and how that effected the characters. So much valuable information wrapped in an appealing story. I look forward to the next book.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Bethany House through Interviews and Reviews. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.* 5 stars and a solid faith thread
BackCover Blurb:
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?
Bethany House Publishing, June, 2024
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