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Jocelyn Green’s The Hudson Collection scratched my bird-nerd itch in the best way. Set in 1926 New York, Elsa Reisner works in the ornithology department at the American Museum of Natural History and heads upstate to catalog explorer Linus Van Tessel’s vast bird collection. What sounds like a quiet assignment turns into a fight over a priceless aviary that Van Tessel’s wife willed to Danielle, the gardener’s young daughter—much to the dismay of Mr. Spalding, the heir who doesn’t think a child should inherit anything so valuable.
The plot moves with a steady hum: hidden journals, a looming demolition deadline, and the search for the aviary keep the pages turning. As a bird lover, I loved the field notes, the museum details, and the subtle nod to Flaco, the famous Central Park owl. The heart of the book, though, lives in the relationships—Elsa’s gentle bond with Danielle and her mother, and her slow-bloom romance with Luke, an architectural salvager and WWI vet. Luke and his friend Tom carry their scars; Elsa carries hers from childhood polio. Together, they choose courage.
Family dynamics, found community, and faith give this story lift. It’s tender, atmospheric, and full of feathered grace. I’m glad I read it.
** Thanks to NetGalley and Bethany House for a complimentary review copy. Opinions are my own.