I enjoyed this murder mystery with dual timelines, one in the 20s and one in the 40s. The story is very atmospheric, and I felt transported to Marbrisa with its macabre ambiance, rooftop gargoyles, ostentatious interior, and secret passages. Deaths occur and there are rumors of its being haunted. The story held my interest throughout; I did not know whose story to believe when the police were investigating the murders. I highly recommend this book.
Robert Barnes built Marbrisa, a glamorous estate for his wife, Anna’s 40th birthday. It is in Biscayne Bay, a remote area south of Miami. Anna loves the gardens, but to her, the house feels like a museum, filled with art and ornate furniture from Europe. Marbrisa is Robert’s legacy since they have no children, and he desires the envy and respect of others. They host a housewarming party, and a woman falls into the bay and drowns. Was it an accident or murder? Later, Anna is killed.
Asher Wyatt bought Marbrisa cheaply since it was in poor condition after being vacant for 10 years. He renovated it to its former glory. In 1941 Asher and his wife Carolina had lived there 6 years. Carolina’s younger sister, Carmen Acosta age 18, comes from Cuba to live with them after their parents were killed in an accident. Their father appointed Asher to handle Carmen’s inheritance and to be her guardian until she turns 21 or marries. The sisters were never close, partly due to their 13-year age difference. Carmen’s second night there, she hears her sister scream, and she races outside to find Asher carrying Carolina’s body from the garden’s maze. Carmen is determined to find out who is responsible – Asher, the gardener, the architect, her lover, or a member of the staff?

I love all the wonders of nature and learning about Alfie did not disappoint. When rescued, she was a near-death, tiny ball of feathers. At first she lived in Safina's home, then she grew enough to move to an outdoor coop. Although Alfie was physically able "to fly the coop," Safina hesitated to leave the door open, for fear she would fly away and not be able to survive on her own. They had an amazingly close relationship.
It is remarkable that her instincts kicked in and she found shelter in her Ivy Tower and nearby trees, learned to hunt, and mated with Plus-One. Alfie and her mate raised three healthy owlets, affectionately called The Hoo. I enjoyed the photos.
The story of Alfie rates 5, but nearly half the book was about philosophy, thinkers through the ages (Confucius. Galileo, Plato, etc.), views of different cultures, and humans' impact on the health of the Earth. While these subjects have merit, for me, they were extraneous to Alfie's story.

I loved this fun adventure, mystery and the developing friendship of the two women. I highly recommend it. The characters are well developed and their banter and antics will keep you engrossed and wondering what will happen next. Tanner is 21, angry and adrift since she lost her soccer scholarship due to her leg injury. Louise is 84, smart, spunky, quirky, and has a mysterious past that even her family doesn't know about. Her daily routine includes a crossword puzzle and 4 pm vodka happy hour. After Louise breaks her hip, her daughter hires Tanner as caregiver. Their adventure begins when Louise wakes Tanner in the middle of the night to drive her from Atlanta to California to help a friend. Tanner only agrees when Louise offers to pay her. They have challenges and scares on the trip as they try to outrun the FBI. Was Louise the woman on the news who masterminded a 3 million dollar jewelry heist forty years ago? In spite of their sixty year age difference, the unlikely pair learn lessons from each other and develop a caring friendship. I laughed a lot at their misadventures and I enjoyed this delightful book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The Smith College women were tough and learned so much while helping the French people whose lives were torn apart during WWI.