The Trial of Mrs. Rhinelander

Denny S. Bryce

The Trial of Mrs. Rhinelander by Denny S. Bryce, a spectacular historical novel set in the 1920s in the U.S. is based on the true story of a young woman, Alice Jones. She meets and falls in love with Leonard “Kip” Rhinelander, a shy heir to his prominent family real estate fortune. When they secretly marry, Kip’s parents threaten his inheritance because they believe she is not white. Leonard father demands his son to get an annulled and end any contact with Alice.

A scandal emerges and begins a court case that shocks the 1920’s. Alice’s reputation is diminished and is believed to have used Leonard for her own personal gain. Will Alice ever recover from this devesting lost? Alice meets Marvel Cunningham, a journalist for Amsterdam News. She’s a proud black woman and Alice is very wary of reporters and the press but Marvel manage to change Alice’s mind and stick up for herself and fight back. An interesting story about class, society, legitimacy, money, control, jealousy, and passing. Inspired by a real-life scandal, Bryce brings this scandal to life that was a phenomenon within itself.