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A review by gaderianne
Fundraising the Dead by Sheila Connolly
4.0
If you have ever worked in a museum, if you have ever wanted to work in a museum, if you want to know what goes on behind the scenes at a museum....you have to read this book!
Having worked for two different historical societies (and now at a historic site), this book was so familiar to me it was eerie. In fact, at one point I asked the person who lent me the book if the author had ever worked (or knew someone who worked) for the historical societies I worked for. I am amazed by how realistic this book truly is. From the details about collections managements, directors, and board members - the details are phenomenal! In addition, having lived through a theft at one place where I worked (thankfully not internal like it was in this book), I felt like I was reliving the horror of that situation. The only criticism in realism that I would have is even with all the mundane...it still seemed more glamorous than it actually is to work for a museum. And...how can the main character afford a house on the main line...even a small one???
I thought that Connolly wrote a unique main character in Nell Pratt. It isn't often that development and fundraising folks are featured in museums. Typically it is the curators or librarians (although the collections folk did have a prominent role.
The mystery portion was a little weak. I guessed who the thief was by the third chapter and it was revealed early on in the book. Part of this book's plot was not so much the who-done-it, but the how to catch the guy. The murder part of it dragged on until the end and I thought it was a bit rushed/didn't fall completely in place with the rest of the book. I would have liked a bit more action and a bit more suspicion played out amongst the rest of the staff.
Still, overall highly enjoyable. I can't wait to read the second in the series!
Having worked for two different historical societies (and now at a historic site), this book was so familiar to me it was eerie. In fact, at one point I asked the person who lent me the book if the author had ever worked (or knew someone who worked) for the historical societies I worked for. I am amazed by how realistic this book truly is. From the details about collections managements, directors, and board members - the details are phenomenal! In addition, having lived through a theft at one place where I worked (thankfully not internal like it was in this book), I felt like I was reliving the horror of that situation. The only criticism in realism that I would have is even with all the mundane...it still seemed more glamorous than it actually is to work for a museum. And...how can the main character afford a house on the main line...even a small one???
I thought that Connolly wrote a unique main character in Nell Pratt. It isn't often that development and fundraising folks are featured in museums. Typically it is the curators or librarians (although the collections folk did have a prominent role.
The mystery portion was a little weak. I guessed who the thief was by the third chapter and it was revealed early on in the book. Part of this book's plot was not so much the who-done-it, but the how to catch the guy. The murder part of it dragged on until the end and I thought it was a bit rushed/didn't fall completely in place with the rest of the book. I would have liked a bit more action and a bit more suspicion played out amongst the rest of the staff.
Still, overall highly enjoyable. I can't wait to read the second in the series!