Title: The Hudson Collection
Author: Jocelyn Green
Series: On Central Park, book 2
Major Themes: Ornithology, Birds, Treasure Hunts, Romance, Friendship
Synopsis: As an avid birder and ornithologist, Elsa Reisner is delighted when tasked with cataloging a large bird collection, but as her work gets underway, she discovers that an important relic missing.
Several years ago, I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Metropolitan Affair, and when I saw The Hudson Collection come out a year or two ago, I knew I wanted to read that, too. Somehow, even though I kept the book in mind, I never quite got around to reading the ebook, and I finally decided to download the audiobook because even if audio isn’t my preferred reading medium, at least I’d be able to still enjoy the story. I’m so glad I didn’t put it off any longer, but I’m equally glad I waited until now to read it; this ended up being a fascinating read, and proved to be even more interesting because of current life circumstances than I anticipated!
Publisher’s description:
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?
My thoughts:
If you’ve been following my reviews for any length of time, it’s no secret that Jocelyn Green is one of my favorite authors. I clicked with her writing style instantly, and loved being shepherded through another story from her pen in these pages.
What I didn’t expect in this story was how intricate the treasure hunt would be (honestly, this book read almost more like a mystery novel…it was cleverly written!), or how much I’d end up connecting with the main character. I loved that birds and birdwatching featured in this story, and how one very special book also featured in the story. Add to that my childhood fascination with stories about hidden things and household secrets, and I was bound to enjoy this story. Hearing about Elsa struggling years later with the aftereffects of polio also hit me hard, because I’ve recently been blessed to spend time with an older friend who had polio as a girl. The way it was described in this story felt very realistic, and because of that, I connected deeply with Elsa.
One thing that surprised me in this book was the discussion of eugenics and the value of human life. I haven’t come across any books that showcase this topic in quite the same way before, and I really appreciated Elsa’s perspective and position in the story. I’ve read other books that talk about this topic from the perspective of women considering abortion or people who adopt babies who would otherwise be aborted—Sustainer’s Smile and The Atonement Child are two titles that come to mind. This book addressed it more in relation to what society should do with children who are “different” in some way or another, and also shows some of the history surrounding eugenics as they stood in the 1920s. It wasn’t a big part of the story, but I found it interesting, and was impressed that Jocelyn Green took the time to research that and share some of it with us.
I ended up thoroughly enjoying The Hudson Collection. It was an intriguing story, deeply nuanced, and I felt drawn into Elsa’s world from the very beginning. If you enjoy historical fiction with threads of faith, sweet romance, a bit of mystery, and a strong historical setting, I’d highly recommend you check out this book and the other titles in the On Central Park series.
WARNING: Heck (ch. 8), gee (ch. 16, 17, and 22). Around chapters 21 or 22, a woman is locked in a closet, and people host a drunken party. Chapter 23: Woman stuck in a house on fire.
Age levels:
Reading Independently—Ages 15 and Above, Adults
Links to buy this book:
Amazon: Paperback | Kindle | Audible Audiobook (unabridged)
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com
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