A fascinating historical fiction novel based on a real life scandal. The story is about a secret interracial marriage and a sensational court battle over race and class. I liked the writing which I thought was insightful and captured the prejudices of the time. The characters were well drawn, however I did not much care for Alice. and therefore did not engage with her.
Many thanks to Kensington and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to Kensington books and netgalley for providing me an arc. I read a previous book by Denny S, Bryce and loved it so I searched out her other books and I found this new release. This book was enjoyable to read about something that I wasn't aware of. like racial injustice that takes place in the roaring 20s. Alice marries Kip a rich family and later learns that Alice is black and cannot be justified, being married to a white gentlemen. At the end I learned this was based on a true story. This book was captivating and kept my interest it was hard to put down.
I cant wait to read another book by this author.

Ever since hearing that Bryce was writing this book, I have been eagerly awaiting it and it did not disappoint! It is so much more than a story about a white passing woman and her divorce trial. It's a story of family, of love, of sisterhood. It is delightfully complex and Bryce's voice is compelling. Do yourself a favour and give this one a read.

This was an entire soap opera.1925. An immigrant family. A high society family of New York. There is a romance. There is conflict There is a trial. There is drama.

In this country a persons race is defined very differently than it is in other parts of the world. A persons class will also dictate acceptance. This is a complex story of how love has no value if there is a question of race or class. This is a story of race in America. This a story of how family can divide and conquer. I enjoyed this book it was like watching a soap opera. The writing gave you a glimpse into how other countries / immigrants see race, color, and nationality. Love is not enough for this couple.

Could you imagine falling in love and never meeting the family of the person who has asked you to marry them? Could you marry a man that desires something more than you? Alice only had one thought, she was in love. Everything else that happens to her was because she did not think about her relationship outside of the moment she was in. Also her insistent on her identity was annoying I had to keep reminding myself that she was from an immigrant family, this is what adds to the complexity of the story and why she is navigating this marriage and trial the way she does. There is not enough love on this earth for me to endure some of the humiliation she did to “prove” (or disprove depending on who’s asking) her racial identity.
Historical fiction is my jam I and enjoyed this book, even though there were parts that moved slowly.

Interracial Marriage Scandal in 1920s

The Trial of Mrs. Rhinelander by Denny S. Bryce is a historical novel based on the real-life scandal of Alice Beatrice Jones Rhinelander and her tumultuous relationship with Leonard "Kip" Rhinelander. Set in the 1920s, the story revolves around Alice, born to English immigrants, who falls in love with Kip, the shy heir to a prominent real estate fortune. Their secret marriage faces immense challenges as Kip's wealthy family threatens his inheritance unless he annuls the marriage. The novel delves into their legal battles, centred around accusations of racial passing, as Alice, though appearing white, has mixed heritage.

The Trial of Mrs. Rhinelander by Denny S. Bryce is a powerful and engaging historical novel that sheds light on issues of race, class, and identity. It is a must-read for fans of historical fiction and those interested in the complexities of social justice. Bryce's masterful storytelling ensures that this book will leave a lasting impression on its readers.

As always Ms. Bryce picks an intriguing person to write a novel about and Alice definitely has a story. What she did well is show how we can see ourselves and how others see us and how that affects our perspective.

I have been waiting for a book that told the Rhinelander trial through the lens of Alice Rhinelander. Bryce definitely delivered.

Alice Rhinelander was a working class woman who made the mistake of falling in love and marrying a member of the New York 400. Two months into their marriage, Alice’s husband Kip sued for an annulment claiming Alice lied about being white.

The twist? Mixed race Alice believed she was white. Her family were from England where the 1% rule didn’t exist.

The annulment hearing and scandal dominated the press for weeks.

Bryce tells me the story through three lenses: Alice, Alice’s niece Roberta, and a black female reporter. All three storylines are interesting but make no mistake, this is Alice’s story all the way. In Bryce’s hands she’s equal parts innocent and bitter. Deeply in love but angry as can be.

A marvelous story that touched on personal identity and the experience of black woman in the 1920s. Loved it.

I have been listening to the audio version of this book .i am not sure if this is the narrator but the story seems to drag on. I will try again by reading the book myself to see if my opinion changes

This was an interesting story based on real life events that I had never heard about. I thought the author did a great job of bringing the people and time alive in the book.

This was quite the story and I can't imagine having to go through what Alice did. She certainly faced a trial that was more than just in a courtroom. Having her identity and race questioned had to take a toll on her and I can see why she became the way she was.

The author tells this story well and my interest was kept throughout. This was a quick read for me as I wanted to know what was going to happen to these characters and I enjoyed the way the story was told in a dual timeline.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion which I have given.

I like this one it was a different type of historical fiction focusing on resilience and social justice and racial equality. A story that deserves to be told .
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for a digital advance reader copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

When I finished this novel, I felt confused and uncomfortable. Even sort of depressed. I wanted Alice to move on after it seemed obvious that Lenny wasn’t going to return to her. I thought I should have sympathized with Alice, but I really never liked her. I felt uncomfortable from reading the graphic details of the trial. And I was depressed because it was a sad story of a naïve young woman who was obsessed with a man who claimed to love her, but ultimately was unable to break from his father’s control.

The novel alternated between time periods: from the point of view of Alice in the 1920s, and her niece Roberta in the 1940s. The back and forth between the two women’s points of view was also confusing and a bit unclear at times.

Ultimately this was a novel of racism. Alice and her family thought they were white because she and her sisters looked as white as their white mother. But the 1920s court decreed she was Black because her father, a mixed-race Jamaican, was considered Black.

The author spent an amazing amount of time researching the details of this real-life scandal and I appreciated the historical value. But the information became somewhat repetitive and after a while didn’t provide new insights. The trial seemed to go on way too long and was painful for the entire Jones family, not just Alice. It was painful for me, too.

In summary, it was a sad story of a young woman with working-class parents whose life was ruined by her obsessive love affair with a man from a wealthy, powerful family. The attraction to me was that this was based on real people and a true scandal, with all the attitudes and behaviors of the time period. Some people enjoyed this story more than I did. For me, reading Alice’s story often felt like reading an article in The National Enquirer or People Magazine, voyeuristic and intrusive.

No spoilers:
This is one of the most captivating and moving books I’ve read in the past couple of years.
The story of a young servant courted by the son of a wealthy New York family hooked me. There’s an immediacy and authenticity to her voice.

Weaving together the events relevant to the Rhinelander trial with the perspective of the niece working for a newspaper two decades later worked beautifully. There’s a good balance of history and suspense. I was enthralled by the spirit of this woman treated as an outsider in a love affair with a Top-400 aristocrat.

The novel gives an intimate window into the lives of a couple in love who outraged bigots. The social pressures, family reactions, and inflammatory news frenzy add to the impact.

It's a fast-paced story that delivers its context through events. The Trial of Mrs. Rhinelander illuminates the social and economic changes in the US during the 20s and beyond, particularly the anxieties, exaggerations, and prejudices related to race, class, and immigration. Beyond that, it’s the story of a woman's courage.

Bryce brought a challenging era of history to life in a masterful novel that celebrates the strong women it depicts. It’s a heart-stirring and entertaining book that demonstrates the power of talented storytelling. The novel shows some difficult, painful, and disturbing things, yet is so spellbinding, it doesn’t become depressing. I remained so immersed in the multi-faceted story, that it carried me along through a full range of emotions. The characters are so fully realized, I felt everything. The richness and beauty of it left me feeling good.

The Trial of Mrs. Rhinelander stands out as an extraordinary, powerful book. Reading it for a second time in ebook form after experiencing the audiobook, it still gave me chills. I’m in awe of Bryce’s achievement.

I recommend this novel for general readers as well as for those interested in historical fiction. You don’t have to have a background in this era to follow the story. This book is terrifically satisfying.

Some readers might want to know that there are spicy scenes. They’re well-written and relevant. Sensitive material is handled with great skill. Brava.

Thank you, NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the e-ARC for consideration. These are my opinions.

In 1924 Alice born to immigrant parents always considered herself white, despite the fact that her father was of Jamaican origin. This whiteness was always emphasized by her mother. Meeting Kip Rhinelander, and marrying him was bold by society’s standards especially since Kips family never ever would accept the marriage and were determined that the couple should divorce.

The marriage, the scandal and the tumultuous divorce that followed is a true story. It showed the sheer determination of the Rhinelander family to disassociate themselves from Alice Jones, and no amount of lawyers or court rulings were going to sway them. It did not help that Kip himself was weak, did not know how to live as a working man, nor could he stand up to his family. The Rhinelanders were overwhelming.
The conflict went on even after Kips death because his wife was determined to fight tooth and nail against any settlement, however meager to his ex wife.

The story outlined how weighted the system was against anyone not white, and the damage and emotional stress that the entire Jones family underwent during Alice’s ordeal. The story is told in two timelines when Alice’s niece takes up the narrative in 1941.

Recurring themes prevalent in society today of racism and bigotry amply spoken of in this story.

Denny Bryce tackles racism, classism, and passing in her new novel, drawing inspiration from the sensational early 20th-century Rhinelander trial. Alice Beatrice Jones and her sisters, Gracie and Emily, have been raised white, although their father has some watered-down West Indian blood. Emily marries a Black man and opts for ‘Negro’ on her marriage certificate. Alice’s love affair with, and secret marriage to, Lenny ‘Kip’ Rhinelander releases devastating retaliatory spite from blue-blood millionaire patriarch, Philip Rhinelander, not least because Alice has proclaimed herself white.

In 1940, a feisty young assistant at the NY Amsterdam News, Roberta Brooks, is chasing her big break. It comes when the editor discovers she is Alice’s niece when her aunt won’t talk to the newspaper. Roberta’s family are estranged from Alice, blaming her for all the misery she caused, most prominently her firm denial of any Black heritage and the media circus that denial unleashed in the ´20s. As it happens, Alice won’t talk to Roberta either, but with Philip Rhinelander’s death, her allowance is abruptly severed by Lenny’s sister, Adelaide. The more Alice seethes at Adelaide’s vindictive treatment, the more she lets go of the heartbreaking story she has previously refused to tell.

Bryce’s artistic flair in intertwining historical stories with fiction is on show here. No wonder this story grabbed headlines! What begins as a fairytale romance quickly becomes sordid manipulation, humiliation, shame, and inevitably, the ‘one drop’ law (although events could be seen as Alice playing the race card in reverse). One drop of Black ancestry, and you were labelled ‘Negro’ the moment you stepped off the boat. This novel based upon Rhinelander v. Rhinelander is a gripping read, as any sensational story of private celebrity lives always has been. Another gem about race, discrimination, and entitled arrogance from Bryce’s expert hand.

The Trial of Mrs. Rhinelander” is a significant novel that illuminates a lesser-known historical event. Bryce’s storytelling is both engaging and educational, making it an essential read for enthusiasts of historical fiction. The book’s examination of race, identity, and social justice is both timely and pertinent, resonating with modern readers.

'The Trial of Mrs. Rhinelander” is highly recommended for those interested in historical fiction, social justice, and narratives of resilience and determination. Denny S. Bryce has created a compelling and thought-provoking novel that will leave a lasting impression on its readers.

Denny Bryce delivers yet another amazing historical fiction story. Centered around the fascinating Alice Jones and her love and legal entanglements with the wealthy and powerful Rhinelander family. There are so many layers to this story. At the heart of the story is a love that begins when Alice and Kip Rhinelander are just teenagers. They marry for love but soon face the realities of racism that threaten to separate them. The biggest threat is The Rhinelander family that will not stand to have their son married to a Black woman. Passing plays a major role in the story as Alice has been raised as being White although she is Maletto.

My heart went out to Alice as she lost many years of her life fighting the Rhinelander family to keep her dignity and for what was owed to her financially. I did want so badly for her let go and move forward. I yelled at Kip to get a backbone and stand up against his family. I felt suspense as the courtroom drama ensued and the nasty headlines continued. I loved that the story took place with the backdrop of the 1920's renaissance, including all of the music and nightclubs of the time. Thoroughly enjoyed this one!

this book was based on a true story that happened in the 1920's. very interesting read. enjoyed it very much.

The Trial Of Mrs.Rhinelander by Denny S Bryce is a book about the marriage of Leonard Rhinelander and Alice Inez Jones, he was a son of one of the 400 and she the daughter of immigrants from England although her dad was originally from Jamaica mom considered herself and her daughters to be white because it was the 20s that’s very understandable. Unfortunately not everyone agreed especially those that were apart of the rich and influential 400. She waited for years and they exchanged hundreds of love letters but their married Bliss would only last two months because just like the first time his dad found out he again put a stop to it. Unfortunately for Alice the trial would go on much longer. The story is toll from two different POV‘s one is Allison Lennys Court chip the subsequent trials and lawsuits and her friendship with the local reporter marvel and the other is her niece Roberta who in my opinion just wanted to get the scoop of all scoops, because it certainly didn’t seem like she cared about her aunt Alice. I loved the author’s Book “the other princess,“ but unfortunately I found it hard to really buy into everything in this book certain things in the book seemed contrived despite the letters and things from the trial being factual not to mention the great language from the 20s that the author implemented in her story that was just something I wasn’t feeling about the book. I also felt a great shift between the 1925 storyline and that of the 1940s in the first POV I could feel myself getting immersed in the time and place but didn’t get the same feeling in Roberta‘s POV. I did think the author did a great job describing the fashion of both errors and I am finding it hard to explain what exactly I mean but in any event lots of people like this book and I did not at all Haidet I just felt there was something missing that wasn’t missing in the authors other book which I loved. So needless to say this could all be on the reader and not the author so I would still recommend you give this book a try as a story especially the first half is very interesting I felt so bad for Alice when they made her disrobe in court so she could prove that Lenny knew she wasn’t white. Although I don’t see how that proves anything because white women have dark Ariola‘s as well. But there’s no explaining stupidity is there?#KensingtonBooks,#NetGalley, #DennySBryce, #TheTrialsOfMrs.Rhinelander,

The Trial of Mrs. Rhinelander is a story of black and white. A woman who identifies as white marries the man of her dreams. It comes out that she may have a DROP of black blood in her.

The publicity that this drop causes is crazy. The microscope that Mrs. Alice Rhinelander is put under digs into every corner of her life and her history. She is portrayed as a gold digger and a woman lying to the world about the color of her skin. But the truth is she is just a woman who loves her husband and wants nothing more than for them to be together.

Denny S. Bryce wrote a book set in the 1920’s that showed exactly how racism could change an entire relationship. The different classes of society and how they ruled their families is also prominent in the book showing how it is all about the money for some of the families.

As with other books I have read by the same author, the history of this story is one that will stay with me. I look forward to reading historical fiction, especially historical fiction that is new to me, so that I learn about an event or time that I did not know of before I read the book.

*4.5

This novel amazed me. I have to be honest: I didn’t ow the true story of Alice, but this novel taught me a great deal. I was so captivated by the events and by those three female figures, Alice, Marvel and Roberta. They are marvellous written and so complex! I love it.
I was also captured by the trial and the racial motivations. I’m sad they were such an issue and I’m angry that they still are such an issue. I think this book have to be reading in schools.
I don’t know if I be able to stop thinking about this book. Certainly I will re-read it soon enough.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.