The Great Mrs. Elias

In "The Great Mrs. Elias," the author of the award-winning Sally Hemings vividly portrays the life of Hannah Elias, one of the wealthiest Black women in early 20th-century America. Set against a backdrop of opulence and ambition, the story unfolds as a murder and a case of mistaken identity lead to a police investigation at Hannah's luxurious mansion on Central Park West. As her carefully constructed life begins to unravel, Hannah grapples with her past and faces public scrutiny in a scandalous trial that threatens everything she has built while revealing the dangerous secrets behind her fortune. Rich with historical detail, the novel captures both the glamour and the struggles of an extraordinary woman navigating a turbulent era.