New Release Book Review: The Trial of Mrs. Rhinelander by Denny S. Bryce

 

THE TRIAL OF MRS. RHINELANDER by Denny S. Bryce

Kensington Books

Release Date; July 23^rd, 2024

E-book: 978-1-4967-3788-5

Historical Fiction, Women’s Fiction

ARC e-Copy.

Received by Publisher via Netgalley

4 Stars

Available on Amazon

**This is an Objective Review and not an Endorsement**

 

It’s the Roaring Twenties and for Alice Jones, it was a time of jazz music, finding where she belongs and how to be part of a life she dreams about in New Rochelle, NY, outside New York City. When she meets Leonard ‘Kip’ Rhinelander, she finds a love she thinks is like her parents and a life she finally belongs in. But Kip is from the upper crust of society, son to a prominent white real estate family and for Alice Jones, a daughter of English Immigrants, her mysterious ancestry is one the upper echelon's of society whisper about even though she is white though she has heard the rumors of her family’s ancestry that she dismisses as idle gossip. Until Leonard and Alice elope and then all hell breaks one month later. 

Devastated and determined, Alice, at first, tries to hold her head high and keep her love for Kip alive even as his family brings her nothing but trouble. Vilified in the news, Alice and her family are dragged through the mud as the court of public opinion delves into their lives and publishes every rumor and gossip about Alice. When Alice meets Marvel Cunningham, a reporter who sees Alice as a tabloid sensation but as Alice and Marvel’s friendship deepens, Marvel sees the person that’s the real Alice, not the tabloid caricature that is vilified every day in the press. For the trial of Rhinelander vs. Rhinelander is more about a woman holding onto her love for a man but it will force both women to see who they real are and who they can be.

The TRAIL OF MRS. RHINELANDER is one filled with twists, turns and more at a time in history when society judges you on everything from who you marry to your ancestry. Denny S. Bryce’s newest book (coming July 2024) delivers a look into a time where jazz clubs’ rule, prohibition is in effect and upper society is the leader in society in places like New York City and beyond. For myself, delving into this time in United States history was fascinating and a little disturbing. The way Alice and her family were besieged by the press was awful as well as hints at how the press ruled during that time frame. There was no internet or 24-hour news cycle back then but as articles the author used for research showed in the book, it was a cutthroat time in journalism and being a woman in that field that was dominated by men is a risky venture for any woman dreaming of reporting the news in newspapers and magazines. The story flowed smoothly, and the characters were intriguing, especially as the author delves between Alice’s life in the 1920’s and then in the 1940’s. I found the actual facts behind the story of THE TRIAL OF MRS. RHINELANDER to be a fascinating one and I appreciated how rich the author did in capturing the main character, Alice Jones, and her family. 

THE TRIAL OF MRS. RHINELANDER is a story that will capture the interest to all who enjoy historical fiction and is based on a true story. This was the first book of this author I have read, and I am eager to see what else she has published to dive into. It’s an interesting premise that delves into a story that enthralled me and captured my imagination. If you enjoy a different sort of historical fiction, then try THE TRIAL OF MRS. RHINELANDER and settle in to get lost within the pages of a story that will leave you breathless.