Author: Denny S. Bryce
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Kensington Books
Book Release Date: 2024
Pages: 338
Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: Inspired by a real-life scandal that was shocking even for the tumultuous Roaring Twenties, this captivating novel tells the story of a pioneering Black journalist, a secret interracial marriage among the New York elite, and the sensational divorce case that ignited an explosive battle over race and class—and brought together three very different women fighting for justice, legitimacy, and the futures they risked everything to shape.
New York, 1924. Born to English immigrants who’ve built a comfortable life, idealistic Alice Jones longs for the kind of true love her mother and father have. She believes she’s found it with Leonard “Kip” Rhinelander, the shy heir to his prominent white family’s real estate fortune. Alice too, is “white”, though she is vaguely aware of rumors that question her ancestry—gossip her parents dismiss. But when the lovers secretly wed, Kip’s parents threaten his inheritance unless he annuls the marriage.
Devastated but determined, Alice faces overwhelming odds both legally and in the merciless court of public opinion. But there is one person who can either help her—or shatter her hopes for good: Reporter Marvel Cunningham. The proud daughter of an accomplished Black family, Marvel lives to chronicle social change and the Harlem Renaissance’s fiery creativity.
At first, Marvel sees Alice’s case as a tabloid sensation generated by a self-hating woman who failed to “pass.” But the deeper she investigates, the more she will recognize just how much she and Alice have in common. For Rhinelander vs. Rhinelander will bring to light stunning truths that will force both women to confront who they are, and who they can be, in a world that is all too quick to judge.
My Review: The Rhinelander vs Rhinelander was one of the most controversial cases in US history. It confronted the concept of what amount of blood is needed for one to be considered colored. This historical novel retells the trial from Mrs. Rhinelander’s perspective. Alice Jones believes that she has found true love when she meets Leonard Rhinelander, who is a rich man’s son. When she marries him in a secret ceremony, Leonard’s parents are furious. They force him to annul their marriage. Leonard tries to annul it on the grounds that Alice has deceived him because he didn’t know that she was black. Alice hires a defense team and fights in the trial by claiming that the marriage is valid because he knew about her race. As Alice fights to keep herself married to her husband, she realizes that she is in danger of losing everything that she holds dear.
I have heard about the Rhinelander vs Rhinelander case in history, but I have never thought about it. After reading this novel, I found Alice to be a very fascinating character. Alice is naive and longs for true love. She believes that Leonard is the perfect man. Their romance is full of bliss. When she marries him, she believes that she will have a happy life with him and bear him children. However, Leonard loves money more than her. He would rather give her up than his money. Alice finds out that he is not what she thought he was. Alice fights to be married to him in court because she loves him and wants to keep him. She also doesn’t want to face the stigma of a divorced woman. Therefore, I found Alice to be a very compelling, strong, and brave woman. She is willing to face the humiliation of the press and the public’s opinion to win in court. I found her to be very reliable and could not help but feel sorry for her as she experienced many hardships during the trial.
Overall, this novel is about race, justice, and betrayal. I found all of the characters to be well-developed and realistic. The only thing that I did not like about it was that the novel sometimes switches between Alice and her niece, Roberta’s perspective. I did not come to care for Roberta as much as I did for Alice. Nevertheless, the story moved at a very steady pace. The Trial of Mrs. Rhinelander was a beautifully written and thought-provoking novel! I was hooked on this novel from the very first page, and I did not want it to end! I recommend this for fans of The Great Mrs. Elias, In a League of Her Own, and A Right Worthy Woman! The Trial of Mrs. Rhinelander is a stunning tribute to the brave and intelligent Mrs. Rhinelander!
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
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