Post Bulletin: "Three books from the University of Minnesota Press serve varied interests"

Memories, mystery and museum histories: three books from the University of Minnesota Press serve varied interests.

A brilliant and rich gathering of voices on the American experience of this past year and beyond, from Indigenous writers and writers of color from Minnesota

We Are Meant to Rise, edited by Carolyn Holbrook and David Mura — These words are sacred parts of each author, shared with the world as a generous gift to those willing to accept it. These stories, poetry and prose are pieces of the writers given freely. The reward for the reader is a connection and a deeper understanding of our neighbors and our friends. When one just takes in the words being shared without judgment and without opinion on that experience, it is something beautiful and amazing to be experienced.

The ninth and final Minnesota mystery, in which Shadwell Rafferty, with the inimitable Sherlock Holmes, may have solved his own murder

Rafferty's Last Case by Larry Millett — With his background in historic architecture, Millett pulls in not only the excitement and entertainment of the Sherlock Holmes/murder mystery genre, but weaves it seamlessly into the 1920s St. Paul setting. This is a fun read for the history enthusiast, the murder mystery connoisseur or the Holmes fan.

A richly illustrated tour of Minnesota’s premier natural history museum after 150 years

A Natural Curiosity by Lansing Shepard, Don Luce, Barbara Coffin, and Gwen Schagrin — Broken down into decades and eras, this book is filled with photos and details about those who influenced the museum's evolution and carried its mission throughout the years. The scope of knowledge and dedication that so many people provided the museum is very evident in this book.

A thorough look at Minnesota's natural history's history, "A Natural Curiosity" is filled with so much for the natural historian or Minnesota enthusiast.

Read the full reviews of all three books at Rochester Post-Bulletin.