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The Trial of Mrs. Rhinelander
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 two very different women fighting for justice, legitimacy, and the futures they risked everything to shape. From Denny S. Bryce, bestselling author of Wild Women and the Blues and In the Face of the Sun.
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 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.
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 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.
336 pages, Paperback
First published April 23, 2024
About the author
Denny S. Bryce
7 books886 followersDenny S. Bryce is a best-selling, award-winning author of historical fiction. A former dancer and public relations professional, Denny is an adjunct professor in the MFA program at Drexel University, a book critic for NPR, and a freelance writer whose work has appeared in USA Today and Harper’s Bazaar. She is also a member of the Historical Novel Society, Women’s Fiction Writers Association, and Tall Poppy Writers. Originally from Ohio, she likes to call Chicago her hometown but currently resides in Savannah, Georgia. You can find her online at DennySBryce.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
July 30, 2024
In a Nutshell: A historical fiction based on the actual Rhinelander vs. Rhinelander case of 1925. I loved the historical details, but some writing choices didn’t work for me. Don’t expect a legal drama because of the title and blurb, else you will be disappointed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
I was not aware of the Rhinelander vs. Rhinelander case, so when I saw the blurb mention that this book is based on a pathbreaking legal case, I had to go for it. However, I have mixed feelings about the execution.
It was enlightening to read about people’s thinking and social attitudes in 1920s New York, especially their attitude towards coloured people. In fact, some of it is so outrageous that it might have felt far-fetched if this were ordinary historical fiction rather than being a story based on facts. The author’s research into the trial and the 1920s setting is visible.
I had assumed this to be a story of a Black/mixed race woman ‘passing’ as white because of her lighter skin tone. So I was surprised to see that Alice, and her entire family (her white mom, her mixed-race dad, and her two sisters), thought of themselves as ‘white’ (after all, the girls had ‘barely a drop of coloured blood’ in them), and they didn’t even consider the idea that they were ‘passing.’ This brought an unexpected dimension to the book. After all, it cannot be called a novel of "passing" as the family isn’t technically “passing”.
Now to the flip side.
Roberta’s timeline begins excellently with a clear intro about her ambition and spunky attitude. However, her role in the story is mainly to ask questions to Alice, who then provides answers and fills in the gaps left by the 1920s timeline. There is barely anything about Roberta’s life, and except for one passing mention of the Pearl Harbor attacks, nothing about the events of 1943 except what concerns Alice. It is a timeline curiously bereft of descriptions and era-setting.
The character development is quite flat. The writing is clearly tilted in favour of Alice, even before we hear Kip’s thoughts or Roberta’s inquiry. Alice isn’t a likeable character, so it is tough to sympathise with her situation. But even this complexity is presented in a fairly shallow approach that tells us the whats but doesn’t dig into the psyche of the whys. Roberta’s opinion of Alice swings randomly from supporter to opponent. Kip never becomes a well-defined character, though his role was vital. The secondary characters are even more vaguely sketched. Some of these issues could have been sorted had the writing been in third person.
As Roberta and Alice both are in their early twenties in their respective timelines, their thoughts and actions have a strong YA feel to them. This might not bother readers who enjoy YA, but I found their repetitive thoughts, lengthy inner monologues, and self-centred approach towards life somewhat annoying.
The details of the physical intimacy were a bit beyond what I prefer in historical fiction. As I read this as a historical legal drama and not a historical romance, this content annoyed me.
The biggest disappointment to me is the complete lack of courtroom scenes. For a book based on a real-life trial and with a title mentioning the word ‘Trial’, I had expected a nail-biting legal drama. However, the trial stays conspicuously off the page. We hear the development of the case and all related proceedings through later conversations between the key characters, and a few times, from small excerpts of newspaper articles that appear before a few chapters.
The title itself is misleading. The trial referred to by the titular "Trial" begins only around the 70% mark. There are actually two trials, one in each timeline, but we don’t see the glimpse of the inside of the court in either, so this doesn’t make any difference to our experience. The blurb is also inaccurate, as it assigns reporter Marvel Cunningham a prominent role, though she is just one of the secondary characters.
As we learn all key plot developments through the dialogues, and both perspectives are written in first person, we effectively get a whole load of first-person rambling. Even introductions of new characters are done through odd dialogues that leave us wondering why they are giving out their bio in between an interaction. Also, because of this writing decision, the passage of time within each narrative isn’t always clear.
🎧 The Audiobook Experience:
The audiobook, clocking at 9 hrs 16 min, is narrated by Joniece Abbott-Pratt and Chanté McCormick. With two first-person character perspectives, it helps to have one narrator each for Roberta and Alice. The narrator for Roberta was fine. But the one who voices Alice didn’t voice intense emotions such as crying well as she read even those sentences in the same tone as the rest. The rest of her performance was good.
There was no author's note in my ALC, so I am unsure if the final print copy includes one. I sure would have appreciated an update from the author about her writing choices. Such stories always need a word from the author.
All in all, I liked the potential of the story more than the execution itself. I don’t regret reading this, but I did want a legal drama, so my overall feelings are muted.
Still recommended, but not with gusto. The book might appeal to historical fiction readers who would enjoy details of a real-life scandal of the 1920s. This isn’t for those who seek a courtroom drama.
Do note that the language is authentic to the times, so there are many offensive racist slurs in this book.
2.5 stars, rounding up for the historical insights and the audiobook.
My thanks to Recorded Books for providing the ALC of “The Trial of Mrs. Rhinelander” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
1924. New York. Alice Jones, born to working class English immigrants, believes that she has found true love with the wealthy real-estate scion Leonard ‘Kip’ Rhinelander, four years her junior. Alice considers herself “white”, so when, after their elopement, Kip’s parents threaten to cut him off from his inheritance for marrying a coloured woman, Alice is stunned. As events continue to spiral, Alice finds herself in a court battle against her new husband.
1943. Roberta is an ambitious journalist. When she is given the task of speaking to her estranged aunt Alice and getting the inside scoop about the latest development in the Rhinelander family saga, Roberta is initially hesitant. But for her job, she goes ahead with the interaction, and finds herself learning more about Alice and what happened in the 1920s.
The story comes to us in the first-person perspectives of Alice and Roberta from two timelines.
I was not aware of the Rhinelander vs. Rhinelander case, so when I saw the blurb mention that this book is based on a pathbreaking legal case, I had to go for it. However, I have mixed feelings about the execution.
It was enlightening to read about people’s thinking and social attitudes in 1920s New York, especially their attitude towards coloured people. In fact, some of it is so outrageous that it might have felt far-fetched if this were ordinary historical fiction rather than being a story based on facts. The author’s research into the trial and the 1920s setting is visible.
I had assumed this to be a story of a Black/mixed race woman ‘passing’ as white because of her lighter skin tone. So I was surprised to see that Alice, and her entire family (her white mom, her mixed-race dad, and her two sisters), thought of themselves as ‘white’ (after all, the girls had ‘barely a drop of coloured blood’ in them), and they didn’t even consider the idea that they were ‘passing.’ This brought an unexpected dimension to the book. After all, it cannot be called a novel of "passing" as the family isn’t technically “passing”.
Now to the flip side.
Roberta’s timeline begins excellently with a clear intro about her ambition and spunky attitude. However, her role in the story is mainly to ask questions to Alice, who then provides answers and fills in the gaps left by the 1920s timeline. There is barely anything about Roberta’s life, and except for one passing mention of the Pearl Harbor attacks, nothing about the events of 1943 except what concerns Alice. It is a timeline curiously bereft of descriptions and era-setting.
The character development is quite flat. The writing is clearly tilted in favour of Alice, even before we hear Kip’s thoughts or Roberta’s inquiry. Alice isn’t a likeable character, so it is tough to sympathise with her situation. But even this complexity is presented in a fairly shallow approach that tells us the whats but doesn’t dig into the psyche of the whys. Roberta’s opinion of Alice swings randomly from supporter to opponent. Kip never becomes a well-defined character, though his role was vital. The secondary characters are even more vaguely sketched. Some of these issues could have been sorted had the writing been in third person.
As Roberta and Alice both are in their early twenties in their respective timelines, their thoughts and actions have a strong YA feel to them. This might not bother readers who enjoy YA, but I found their repetitive thoughts, lengthy inner monologues, and self-centred approach towards life somewhat annoying.
The details of the physical intimacy were a bit beyond what I prefer in historical fiction. As I read this as a historical legal drama and not a historical romance, this content annoyed me.
The biggest disappointment to me is the complete lack of courtroom scenes. For a book based on a real-life trial and with a title mentioning the word ‘Trial’, I had expected a nail-biting legal drama. However, the trial stays conspicuously off the page. We hear the development of the case and all related proceedings through later conversations between the key characters, and a few times, from small excerpts of newspaper articles that appear before a few chapters.
The title itself is misleading. The trial referred to by the titular "Trial" begins only around the 70% mark. There are actually two trials, one in each timeline, but we don’t see the glimpse of the inside of the court in either, so this doesn’t make any difference to our experience. The blurb is also inaccurate, as it assigns reporter Marvel Cunningham a prominent role, though she is just one of the secondary characters.
As we learn all key plot developments through the dialogues, and both perspectives are written in first person, we effectively get a whole load of first-person rambling. Even introductions of new characters are done through odd dialogues that leave us wondering why they are giving out their bio in between an interaction. Also, because of this writing decision, the passage of time within each narrative isn’t always clear.
🎧 The Audiobook Experience:
The audiobook, clocking at 9 hrs 16 min, is narrated by Joniece Abbott-Pratt and Chanté McCormick. With two first-person character perspectives, it helps to have one narrator each for Roberta and Alice. The narrator for Roberta was fine. But the one who voices Alice didn’t voice intense emotions such as crying well as she read even those sentences in the same tone as the rest. The rest of her performance was good.
There was no author's note in my ALC, so I am unsure if the final print copy includes one. I sure would have appreciated an update from the author about her writing choices. Such stories always need a word from the author.
All in all, I liked the potential of the story more than the execution itself. I don’t regret reading this, but I did want a legal drama, so my overall feelings are muted.
Still recommended, but not with gusto. The book might appeal to historical fiction readers who would enjoy details of a real-life scandal of the 1920s. This isn’t for those who seek a courtroom drama.
Do note that the language is authentic to the times, so there are many offensive racist slurs in this book.
2.5 stars, rounding up for the historical insights and the audiobook.
My thanks to Recorded Books for providing the ALC of “The Trial of Mrs. Rhinelander” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
June 21, 2024
Alice Jones parents George and Elizabeth immigrated to New York from England and she has two sisters Emily and Gracie. Her dad’s family are from Jamaica, the Jones consider themselves white and her father works as a cab driver.
Alice meets Leonard “Kip” Rhinelander the shy and stuttering heir to his father Phillips’s real estate company at Orchard School, in Stamford, Connecticut. His father finds out and sends him away on a tour, the couple keep in contact by writing letters to each other. When he returns Kip works for his dad, he keeps his relationship with Alice a secret, and her family know about it, he proposes and they get married and all hell breaks loose when it’s front page news in the papers.
Kip’s father is used to getting his own way, he threatens to disinherit him unless he annuls the marriage and Alice is devastated. Kip assures her he won’t follow through with his father’s demands and to trust him. Yet reporters are banging on Alice's parent's front door, hiding in bushes and accusing her of deliberately deceiving Kip.
Alice meets Marvel Cunningham, she works for Amsterdam News, she’s a proud coloured woman and Alice is very wary of reporters and the press and will Marvel manage to change Alice's mind and stick up for herself and fight back.
The narrative has a dual timeline and it's set in 1924 and 1941 and told from Alice’s and her niece Roberta’s points of view, and it’s easy to follow.
I received a copy of The Trial of Mrs. Rhinelander by Denny S. Bryce from Kensington Books and Edelweiss Plus in exchange for an honest review. Using real facts and fiction Ms. Bryce has written a fascinating novel about an infamous scandal that took place during the Roaring Twenties, at a time when interracial marriage was legal in New York and not common.
The court battle raged for over two years, Rhinelander vs Rhinelander and it looks at what was the definition of “white” and “coloured” and did Alice deceive Kip for financial gain and I don't think so!
An interesting story about racial anxiety, class, society, hate, justice, legitimacy, marriage, money, control, jealousy, and passing or not. Five stars from me I highly recommend The Trial of Mrs. Rhinelander and the author’s previous book In the Face of the Sun.
Alice meets Leonard “Kip” Rhinelander the shy and stuttering heir to his father Phillips’s real estate company at Orchard School, in Stamford, Connecticut. His father finds out and sends him away on a tour, the couple keep in contact by writing letters to each other. When he returns Kip works for his dad, he keeps his relationship with Alice a secret, and her family know about it, he proposes and they get married and all hell breaks loose when it’s front page news in the papers.
Kip’s father is used to getting his own way, he threatens to disinherit him unless he annuls the marriage and Alice is devastated. Kip assures her he won’t follow through with his father’s demands and to trust him. Yet reporters are banging on Alice's parent's front door, hiding in bushes and accusing her of deliberately deceiving Kip.
Alice meets Marvel Cunningham, she works for Amsterdam News, she’s a proud coloured woman and Alice is very wary of reporters and the press and will Marvel manage to change Alice's mind and stick up for herself and fight back.
The narrative has a dual timeline and it's set in 1924 and 1941 and told from Alice’s and her niece Roberta’s points of view, and it’s easy to follow.
I received a copy of The Trial of Mrs. Rhinelander by Denny S. Bryce from Kensington Books and Edelweiss Plus in exchange for an honest review. Using real facts and fiction Ms. Bryce has written a fascinating novel about an infamous scandal that took place during the Roaring Twenties, at a time when interracial marriage was legal in New York and not common.
The court battle raged for over two years, Rhinelander vs Rhinelander and it looks at what was the definition of “white” and “coloured” and did Alice deceive Kip for financial gain and I don't think so!
An interesting story about racial anxiety, class, society, hate, justice, legitimacy, marriage, money, control, jealousy, and passing or not. Five stars from me I highly recommend The Trial of Mrs. Rhinelander and the author’s previous book In the Face of the Sun.
July 23, 2024
The Trial of Mrs Rhinelander by Denny S Bryce
Historical fiction inspired by a real-life scandal of the time. Dual time line.
In 1924 New York, Alice Jones is from an English immigrant family. 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. Kip freely admits, he cannot live without the money and his father’s approval even though he loves Alice. He knew it would come to this while Alice was completely unaware. It’s the start of what will become a famous trial and news story about race, Justice, and social class. Reporter Marvel Cunningham is a pioneering Black journalist is following the trial and has formed her opinions of Alice but after they meet one night and trade stories, Marvel is realizing how much they have in common and how the world has already put them into a specific lane.
In 1941 Roberta is told by her boss that she is to interview her Aunt Alice. Roberta hasn’t talked to her aunt in years, and isn’t really given a choice but to reconnect and try to get more details from the reclusive woman.
🎧 I alternated between an ebook copy and an audiobook. The narration is done by Chante McCormick and Joniece Abbott-Pratt who do a fantastic job with the performance. The two have very distinct voices and can easily be identified. Both have strong voices and are able to express emotions clearly. I liked their voice contrasts which made it easy to hear the timeline and POV change. That’s not always as easily heard as it is here.
As usual, I listened to this at 1.5 which is the best to match local conversational speed.
I found this story sad in so many ways. Alice thinks she’s white and even asking her parents, is told that “your mother is 100% white, so you’re white” regardless of her skin color, regardless of her father. She believes what she’s been told but Kip knew what everyone else thought and married her anyway. Alice continues to love Kip though he’s gone back for the money.
There’s a whole lot more through the annulment and trial and then support payments. More social injustice. More family thrown into turmoil when Alice declares herself black for the trial. It’s sad that it mattered then. Even more so that it is still a factor.
The story is sad but also enlightening.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and RB Media.
Historical fiction inspired by a real-life scandal of the time. Dual time line.
In 1924 New York, Alice Jones is from an English immigrant family. 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. Kip freely admits, he cannot live without the money and his father’s approval even though he loves Alice. He knew it would come to this while Alice was completely unaware. It’s the start of what will become a famous trial and news story about race, Justice, and social class. Reporter Marvel Cunningham is a pioneering Black journalist is following the trial and has formed her opinions of Alice but after they meet one night and trade stories, Marvel is realizing how much they have in common and how the world has already put them into a specific lane.
In 1941 Roberta is told by her boss that she is to interview her Aunt Alice. Roberta hasn’t talked to her aunt in years, and isn’t really given a choice but to reconnect and try to get more details from the reclusive woman.
🎧 I alternated between an ebook copy and an audiobook. The narration is done by Chante McCormick and Joniece Abbott-Pratt who do a fantastic job with the performance. The two have very distinct voices and can easily be identified. Both have strong voices and are able to express emotions clearly. I liked their voice contrasts which made it easy to hear the timeline and POV change. That’s not always as easily heard as it is here.
As usual, I listened to this at 1.5 which is the best to match local conversational speed.
I found this story sad in so many ways. Alice thinks she’s white and even asking her parents, is told that “your mother is 100% white, so you’re white” regardless of her skin color, regardless of her father. She believes what she’s been told but Kip knew what everyone else thought and married her anyway. Alice continues to love Kip though he’s gone back for the money.
There’s a whole lot more through the annulment and trial and then support payments. More social injustice. More family thrown into turmoil when Alice declares herself black for the trial. It’s sad that it mattered then. Even more so that it is still a factor.
The story is sad but also enlightening.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and RB Media.
May 1, 2024
This spectacular historical novel, set in the 1920s in the U.S., is based on the true story of a young woman, Alice Jones, whose father-in-law wants her marriage to his wealthy white son to be annulled. She and her family immigrated from England, where the "one drop of Black blood" rule didn't apply. But in the U.S., where it does, Alice tries to pass as white despite her Jamaican father.
Denny S. Bryce perfectly captures the racism and classism that pervade this high profile divorce case, as well as the incredible efforts of pioneering Black female reporter Marvel Cunningham to uncover the truth.
Such a heartbreaking story, meticulously researched and beautifully written. Highly recommended for loyal Bryce fans and readers who love gripping historicals about brave women of color fighting to be seen, heard, and treated with respect.
Denny S. Bryce perfectly captures the racism and classism that pervade this high profile divorce case, as well as the incredible efforts of pioneering Black female reporter Marvel Cunningham to uncover the truth.
Such a heartbreaking story, meticulously researched and beautifully written. Highly recommended for loyal Bryce fans and readers who love gripping historicals about brave women of color fighting to be seen, heard, and treated with respect.
July 10, 2024
DIDN'T IMPRESS ME, EVEN THOUGH THE TRUE STORY WAS VERY INTERESTING
Actual rating: 2.5⭐
I'll preface this by saying that I see how much others enjoyed this, and perhaps I am just not in the right state of mind at the moment to be reading this book. But I do feel like it has some shortcomings, which kept me from fully enjoying this book.
What I didn't like
Alice: I probably would have enjoyed this book more, if I had been able to connect with the main character, Alice. I just couldn't get a sense of her, her personality or her motivations. Her character seemed superficial. She lacked depth.
Kitty: This might be a small issue, but apparently Alice has a best friend who's always there for her. Problem is, we only meet her half way through the book. She came out of nowhere and suddenly she was there. It felt really odd. She should have been left out or introduced earlier in the story.
Evelyn Hugo: I got a really strong The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo-vibe from this book early on. A (in)famous recluse finally decides to give an exclusive tell all. I might have liked the book better, if the Roberta-story was cut.
Writing: The writing was not to my liking wither. It felt a bit clumsy. Bryce was obviously very conscious of the setting of her story (New York in the 1920's) and made an effort to make the era come alive. Only problem is, it was just too much. It was too heavy. It felt overworked and just clumsy. It didn't make me think 1920's. It made me thing 2020's-trying-to-be-1920's.
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Actual rating: 2.5⭐
I'll preface this by saying that I see how much others enjoyed this, and perhaps I am just not in the right state of mind at the moment to be reading this book. But I do feel like it has some shortcomings, which kept me from fully enjoying this book.
What I didn't like
Alice: I probably would have enjoyed this book more, if I had been able to connect with the main character, Alice. I just couldn't get a sense of her, her personality or her motivations. Her character seemed superficial. She lacked depth.
Kitty: This might be a small issue, but apparently Alice has a best friend who's always there for her. Problem is, we only meet her half way through the book. She came out of nowhere and suddenly she was there. It felt really odd. She should have been left out or introduced earlier in the story.
Evelyn Hugo: I got a really strong The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo-vibe from this book early on. A (in)famous recluse finally decides to give an exclusive tell all. I might have liked the book better, if the Roberta-story was cut.
Writing: The writing was not to my liking wither. It felt a bit clumsy. Bryce was obviously very conscious of the setting of her story (New York in the 1920's) and made an effort to make the era come alive. Only problem is, it was just too much. It was too heavy. It felt overworked and just clumsy. It didn't make me think 1920's. It made me thing 2020's-trying-to-be-1920's.
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
July 23, 2024
This audiobook was made available for me to listen to and review by Denny S. Bryce, RB Audio/Recorded Books, and NetGalley.
This audiobook is narrated by Joniece Abbott-Pratt and Chanté McCormick. I like that each point of view character got their own narrator. It helps to keep track of who said what to whom, which is important in an audiobook. Also, Joniece Abbott-Pratt is one of my favorite narrators.
This is told in alternating chapters and timelines. Roberta Brooks is the 20 yr old niece of Alice, and her timeline begins in 1940. She works at the New York Amsterdam, a local Black paper as an assistant. She's hoping to be a reporter in the future. Her first real reporting assignment is to meet with her Aunt Alice.
Alice Beatrice Jones is the maternal aunt of Roberta. Her POV chapters began in 1921. The trial itself began in 1924. Alice is the middle child of 3 girls born to her British parents. Emily is the oldest sister, and she marries Robert, a Black man, and is Roberta's mother. Gracie is the youngest. She marries a white Italian man, Anthony 'Footsie' supposedly attached to the mafia. The sisters are mostly close. Her husband is a casual friend at first, and eventually, they have a full-blown relationship.
The book deals with race throughout much of the narrative, but I wish the novel had gotten into the differences between the British and US view of race at that time. Instead, this had a different focus, and it really worked well.
I read Love on Trial by Heidi Ardizzone & Earl Lewis in 2021, which is a nonfiction history of the Rhinelander trial. So, I was familiar with the basics and super excited to be approved for this arc from NetGalley. This was really, really well done. I advance ordered the audio from Audible because I'll definitely read this again.
Thank you to Denny S. Bryce, RB Audio/Recorded Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.
This audiobook is narrated by Joniece Abbott-Pratt and Chanté McCormick. I like that each point of view character got their own narrator. It helps to keep track of who said what to whom, which is important in an audiobook. Also, Joniece Abbott-Pratt is one of my favorite narrators.
This is told in alternating chapters and timelines. Roberta Brooks is the 20 yr old niece of Alice, and her timeline begins in 1940. She works at the New York Amsterdam, a local Black paper as an assistant. She's hoping to be a reporter in the future. Her first real reporting assignment is to meet with her Aunt Alice.
Alice Beatrice Jones is the maternal aunt of Roberta. Her POV chapters began in 1921. The trial itself began in 1924. Alice is the middle child of 3 girls born to her British parents. Emily is the oldest sister, and she marries Robert, a Black man, and is Roberta's mother. Gracie is the youngest. She marries a white Italian man, Anthony 'Footsie' supposedly attached to the mafia. The sisters are mostly close. Her husband is a casual friend at first, and eventually, they have a full-blown relationship.
The book deals with race throughout much of the narrative, but I wish the novel had gotten into the differences between the British and US view of race at that time. Instead, this had a different focus, and it really worked well.
I read Love on Trial by Heidi Ardizzone & Earl Lewis in 2021, which is a nonfiction history of the Rhinelander trial. So, I was familiar with the basics and super excited to be approved for this arc from NetGalley. This was really, really well done. I advance ordered the audio from Audible because I'll definitely read this again.
Thank you to Denny S. Bryce, RB Audio/Recorded Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.
April 16, 2024
I love it when I’m reading a book and run to the internet to find out the true story behind the story. This is the case with the Trial of Mrs. Rhinelander. Told in dual timeline, at first I was pulled in by the relationship between Alice and her niece: why didn’t her niece like her aunt? Why as Aunt Alice a recluse? And then I learned more about the love affair between Alice and Lenny Rhinelander. And what she had to go through to justify her role as his wife married into a family that wanted nothing to do with her. Bryce excels at relaying the indignation and tribulations Alice went through during the trial. There are poignant moments that break your heart. It’s a great read.
May 21, 2024
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.
Received ARC from publisher via Netgalley
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 12, 2024
Based on the true story of Alice Jones who's parents moved to the USA from England. She has always thought of herself as 'white', but when she marries a wealthy socialite her life is turned upside down to discover that in the USA she is considered 'coloured' due to her father being from the West Indies. Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC/audiobook of this very interesting case.
August 3, 2024
This book had all of the elements that would typically make it a winner for me: true story, seminal legal case that is both an intimate story of a person and a window into significant contemporary societal issues, centering a woman’s experience and bringing us into what her world must have looked and felt like. That said, the dialogue and inner monologues of the main characters felt stilted (both the words as written and the narration) which made a lot of it feel cringey and not realistic.
I found myself being fascinated but also dubious about how Alice could have grown up in the time and place of the story - and a member of a multiracial family - so oblivious to race. Could this be accurate? True, her parents are from England where racial constructs were different but she was clearly aware of class differences, her sister is ostracized for marrying a Black man… just didn’t land right. I was hoping for an author’s note to explain this and make it make sense.
All in all I enjoyed the book for its historical basis, but it dragged. It could have been edited down to reduce some redundancies in the story. It might also have felt slow because the character development dragged. Both generations of main characters seemed stuck in the past, closed and stubborn. To some extent maybe this is the point of the story - how getting stuck in these categories and conflicts stunts personal development and familial relationships.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I found myself being fascinated but also dubious about how Alice could have grown up in the time and place of the story - and a member of a multiracial family - so oblivious to race. Could this be accurate? True, her parents are from England where racial constructs were different but she was clearly aware of class differences, her sister is ostracized for marrying a Black man… just didn’t land right. I was hoping for an author’s note to explain this and make it make sense.
All in all I enjoyed the book for its historical basis, but it dragged. It could have been edited down to reduce some redundancies in the story. It might also have felt slow because the character development dragged. Both generations of main characters seemed stuck in the past, closed and stubborn. To some extent maybe this is the point of the story - how getting stuck in these categories and conflicts stunts personal development and familial relationships.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 2, 2024
I was very excited to read this book about Alice Rhinelander, the daughter of English immigrants. This is based on a true story about her marriage to Leonard “Kip” Rhinelander and the threat from his father to disinherit him, if he refuses to dissolve their marriage. Alice is not part of the elite society, and is also passing for white. Her father is of Jamaican descent, and the one drop rule has caused quite a stir. Denny S. Bryce weaves a wonderful story about Alice fighting for her marriage in court. I loved learning about this piece of history that took place in the twenties.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for allowing me to read this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for allowing me to read this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
June 24, 2024
Another fabulous story by this author. Set in the first half of the 1900s in New York City. In the 1920s, Alice Jones found herself falling for Lenny Rhinelander whose family was part of the '400' in the social register at the time. This was a real-life scandal that lasted for decades. Alice wanted nothing but the love of her life. Lenny's family wouldn't allow it since Alice did not come from money and her lawyers couldn't prove her father was white. In the 1940s, Alice's niece, Roberta, reconnected because her boss at the newspaper wanted a story and Alice would only talk to her niece. The book moves between the two story lines to reveal the complex details of Alice's life.
I have really been enjoying books set in the 1920s because so much was going on that I didn't know about. I read this in a few days because I had to find out what happened to Alice, Lenny, and their families. The author explains that Rhinelander v. Rhinelander was a real divorce case and what was fictionalized in the book. I felt for Alice and all she went through for the majority of her life because of racism and prejudice. Roberta's story was fictionalized and I really liked how she had to find those connections to the past.
If you are looking for a good story of family relationships gone wrong and navigating with world of 1920s New York, I would recommend this book.
#TheTrialofMrsRhinelander #NetGalley
Thank you Goodreads for a giveaway win.
Thank you Kensington Publishing and Net Galley for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
I have really been enjoying books set in the 1920s because so much was going on that I didn't know about. I read this in a few days because I had to find out what happened to Alice, Lenny, and their families. The author explains that Rhinelander v. Rhinelander was a real divorce case and what was fictionalized in the book. I felt for Alice and all she went through for the majority of her life because of racism and prejudice. Roberta's story was fictionalized and I really liked how she had to find those connections to the past.
If you are looking for a good story of family relationships gone wrong and navigating with world of 1920s New York, I would recommend this book.
#TheTrialofMrsRhinelander #NetGalley
Thank you Goodreads for a giveaway win.
Thank you Kensington Publishing and Net Galley for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
July 20, 2024
3.5 rounded up. This novel recreates life for a young woman of working class parents who is wooed by and falls in love with a wealthy heir to a substantial fortune. Based on a true story, his father objects to their love and various schemes are concocted. It is all quite believable and scandalous (at the time). Race became a sticking point and defining oneself as white or negro (at the time) was a matter for the courts, handled shockingly (at ANY time!).
The story alternates between their young love and some 20-30 years later, when things have sadly not changed all that much for women of color. If you enjoyed The Personal Librarían, you will likely enjoy this book, also historical fiction.
The audiobook narrator did a good job with various characters and accents. After a shaky start when there was a bit of histrionics, things settled into a rhythm and the story was easy to follow and interesting.
My thanks to the author, publisher, and #NetGalley for loaning me and advance copy of the audiobook for review purposes.
The story alternates between their young love and some 20-30 years later, when things have sadly not changed all that much for women of color. If you enjoyed The Personal Librarían, you will likely enjoy this book, also historical fiction.
The audiobook narrator did a good job with various characters and accents. After a shaky start when there was a bit of histrionics, things settled into a rhythm and the story was easy to follow and interesting.
My thanks to the author, publisher, and #NetGalley for loaning me and advance copy of the audiobook for review purposes.
August 21, 2024
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.
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.
July 13, 2024
Excellent historical fiction novel that was researched and detailed while still fast moving. I learned quite a bit in this novel.
May 13, 2024
This was interesting, especially given that is was based on real people and real events. It really didn’t feel like it could have been real at points. I do think the author missed the opportunity to discuss some wider societal issues within the framework of the Rhinelander trial. I liked the characters and some of the story but certain elements didn’t flow well and read more like a laundry list of timeline events. I think this needed some character development and some depth and it could have been great.
September 12, 2024
LOVED this book and second one I have read by Denny S. Bryce. She has a captivating style that left me hanging on every word and made me finish the book in two days! Such an interesting topic of 'passing' and the ramifications on both White and Black families. Complex and richly layered characters make this historical fiction at its best!
Can't wait for her next one!
Can't wait for her next one!
July 27, 2024
Great read
The story kept me wondering what happened when she found out she was black and why family was so upset with her.
The story kept me wondering what happened when she found out she was black and why family was so upset with her.
August 22, 2024
I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway. I enjoyed it, and I really liked the time jumps! Great historical story!
Currently reading
September 23, 2024DNF
August 4, 2024
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.
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.
July 8, 2024
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
I love how Denny S. Bryce’s books have introduced me to aspects of Black American history that I either knew very little about or knew nothing about prior to picking up her books. In the case of The Trial of Mrs. Rhinelander, it’s very much the latter, as I hadn’t heard of Alice Jones, the Rhinelander family, or Rhinelander v. Rhinelander case before. But this book has all the hallmarks of some of my favorite stories, like discussions of race and class relations, and how those play out both in the courts of law and public opinion via the newspapers.
The structure of this book is interesting, and it’s not unlike Bryce’s prior books in its dual timeline focus, but I also saw parallels to books like The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?, particularly in its use of a journalist reporting on the story years later, not to mention discussing the issue of “passing” in high society as a parallel to Kitty Karr. With the more contemporary element being the weakest part of both (and dual timeline also being hit-or-miss for Bryce), I initially didn’t care for this structure, and found the chapters from Roberta’s perspective to be the weakest parts of the novel. But Bryce’s work here is aided by the fact that she reinforces Roberta’s personal connection to Alice, in addition to role as a journalist.
I do feel that the blurb was a tad misleading in overselling the journalistic element though. While it’s a substantial part of the case and its aftermath, I didn’t feel it was so in the way the blurb presents it. The journalist Marvel who Alice befriends is mentioned in the blurb, and the blurb frames it as if Marvel has a large role at least equal to Roberta, and prior to picking it up, I worried that the book would follow the two journalists, with only limited glimpses of Alice, who is the true star of the book.
Speaking of which, I love Alice. She went through so much, and her family was simply trying to exist in the racist American society of the 1920s, which had different standards of race (the infamous “one-drop rule”) and Blackness in comparison to England, where the family hailed from. She fell in love with Lenny/Kip Rhinelander, who came from a wealthy family, and they got married, but his father made her justify her right to marry into the family, and demanded an annulment. To see how the aftereffects lingered far beyond when the original court case played out, until all the Rhinelanders involved had passed on, was truly intense.
This was an enlightening and emotionally moving read, and I’d recommend it to readers looking for historical fiction about strong Black women.
I love how Denny S. Bryce’s books have introduced me to aspects of Black American history that I either knew very little about or knew nothing about prior to picking up her books. In the case of The Trial of Mrs. Rhinelander, it’s very much the latter, as I hadn’t heard of Alice Jones, the Rhinelander family, or Rhinelander v. Rhinelander case before. But this book has all the hallmarks of some of my favorite stories, like discussions of race and class relations, and how those play out both in the courts of law and public opinion via the newspapers.
The structure of this book is interesting, and it’s not unlike Bryce’s prior books in its dual timeline focus, but I also saw parallels to books like The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?, particularly in its use of a journalist reporting on the story years later, not to mention discussing the issue of “passing” in high society as a parallel to Kitty Karr. With the more contemporary element being the weakest part of both (and dual timeline also being hit-or-miss for Bryce), I initially didn’t care for this structure, and found the chapters from Roberta’s perspective to be the weakest parts of the novel. But Bryce’s work here is aided by the fact that she reinforces Roberta’s personal connection to Alice, in addition to role as a journalist.
I do feel that the blurb was a tad misleading in overselling the journalistic element though. While it’s a substantial part of the case and its aftermath, I didn’t feel it was so in the way the blurb presents it. The journalist Marvel who Alice befriends is mentioned in the blurb, and the blurb frames it as if Marvel has a large role at least equal to Roberta, and prior to picking it up, I worried that the book would follow the two journalists, with only limited glimpses of Alice, who is the true star of the book.
Speaking of which, I love Alice. She went through so much, and her family was simply trying to exist in the racist American society of the 1920s, which had different standards of race (the infamous “one-drop rule”) and Blackness in comparison to England, where the family hailed from. She fell in love with Lenny/Kip Rhinelander, who came from a wealthy family, and they got married, but his father made her justify her right to marry into the family, and demanded an annulment. To see how the aftereffects lingered far beyond when the original court case played out, until all the Rhinelanders involved had passed on, was truly intense.
This was an enlightening and emotionally moving read, and I’d recommend it to readers looking for historical fiction about strong Black women.
July 19, 2024
I listened to this books thanks to RB Media who provided a copy via NetGalley.
Alice Jones lives in 1920s New York, she is the daughter of an English woman (white) and English man (mixed race). She and her sisters have been raised as white, this is what they believe. When Alice meets wealthy socialite Lenny Rhinelander and soon they begin a love affair. When they decide to elope against the wished of both families it causes a media sensation because all of a sudden the media is branding Alice as coloured. Something she fervently denies. This is based on a true story which makes it all the more intriguing as the question of Alice's race end up in court. The social implications of what it meant to be considered white or coloured were extreme. This is a dual timeline story set in the 1920s and 1940s.
This was an unusual one to rate for me because although the circumstances of the story were very interesting to the point I ended up researching the story and looking up photos of the real life Alice Jones Rhinelander and Lenny Rhinelander as well as their family and history - all this was plus points. However I felt the execution of the book dragged on somewhat. I felt like it could have got to the point a lot quicker. I enjoyed the backstory of how the Alice and Lenny met but once the trial started and especially once it ended was very repetitive and lengthy. I did not particularly enjoy the 1940s chapters where Alice's niece Roberta interviews her Aunt. I much preferred Alice's point of view in the 1920s.
Regarding the audio narration I feel like I have to mention this reduced my enjoyability of the book because of a couple of reasons. There are 2 narrators: one for Alice POV (1920s) and one for Roberta's POV (1940s). My beef is this: the narrator for Roberta had a very strong I think southern USA sounding accent which I didn't feel suited the character as she is born and raised in New York to parent also from New York. it distracted authenticity. The 2nd issue I had was with the narrator from the 1920s POV. I had no qualms with Alice's voice but I could not and I mean could NOT stand the accent given by the narrator for Alice's parents who are English! As a British person myself I thought the accent was nowhere near what English accents sounds like (in any part of the country) it was that bad!. It made me cringe so badly, I contemplated switching off. They really should have picked a better narrator.
Alice Jones lives in 1920s New York, she is the daughter of an English woman (white) and English man (mixed race). She and her sisters have been raised as white, this is what they believe. When Alice meets wealthy socialite Lenny Rhinelander and soon they begin a love affair. When they decide to elope against the wished of both families it causes a media sensation because all of a sudden the media is branding Alice as coloured. Something she fervently denies. This is based on a true story which makes it all the more intriguing as the question of Alice's race end up in court. The social implications of what it meant to be considered white or coloured were extreme. This is a dual timeline story set in the 1920s and 1940s.
This was an unusual one to rate for me because although the circumstances of the story were very interesting to the point I ended up researching the story and looking up photos of the real life Alice Jones Rhinelander and Lenny Rhinelander as well as their family and history - all this was plus points. However I felt the execution of the book dragged on somewhat. I felt like it could have got to the point a lot quicker. I enjoyed the backstory of how the Alice and Lenny met but once the trial started and especially once it ended was very repetitive and lengthy. I did not particularly enjoy the 1940s chapters where Alice's niece Roberta interviews her Aunt. I much preferred Alice's point of view in the 1920s.
Regarding the audio narration I feel like I have to mention this reduced my enjoyability of the book because of a couple of reasons. There are 2 narrators: one for Alice POV (1920s) and one for Roberta's POV (1940s). My beef is this: the narrator for Roberta had a very strong I think southern USA sounding accent which I didn't feel suited the character as she is born and raised in New York to parent also from New York. it distracted authenticity. The 2nd issue I had was with the narrator from the 1920s POV. I had no qualms with Alice's voice but I could not and I mean could NOT stand the accent given by the narrator for Alice's parents who are English! As a British person myself I thought the accent was nowhere near what English accents sounds like (in any part of the country) it was that bad!. It made me cringe so badly, I contemplated switching off. They really should have picked a better narrator.
July 23, 2024
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,
July 25, 2024
5 stars, no spoilers:
This book grabbed me hard and didn't let go. It's entertaining, fast-paced, and compelling.
The excellent voice actors enhanced my enjoyment of the powerful story. It was like going back in time and listening to a radio show, complete with breaking news headlines. I could barely stop listening and finished it in two days.
The interweaving of connected stories works beautifully. The timeline transitions are clear, and the change in narrators makes the shifts unmistakable, maintaining the novel’s spellbinding quality.
It's an important book. The level of historical immersion combined with a suspenseful and heartfelt story are impressive.
I felt enormously satisfied by this book. It’s a multifaceted, challenging saga with many emotional aspects. Although there are sad and disturbing parts to it, there's so much spirit, strength, and courage, it’s uplifting and inspiring.
Bryce presents a feast of historical detail including language, music, pastimes, fashion, foods, and the power of newspapers and tabloids to influence public opinion. The historical context comes through in the events, woven seamlessly into the narrative.
The many ways in which race and class divides were constructed and enforced in the US emerge in the same masterful manner, adding to the novel’s impact.
I enjoyed the references to influential figures in the Harlem Renaissance and the media. The contrasts in the lives and opportunities available to the women of both generations highlight the courage of individuals who fought for their rights. Outrages based on classism, racism, and anti-immigrant sentiments speak for themselves within this powerful story.
The strong pacing, intelligence, verve, talent, and heart in its telling left me energized and wholeheartedly excited to share it with other readers. I'll be watching for more books by Denny S. Bryce.
This was my first audiobook from RB media. The production values and performances by Joniece Abbott-Pratt and Chanté McCormick are excellent.
Recommended for readers who enjoy or wish to explore Historical Fiction, Black History, Literary Fiction, or simply an extraordinary audiobook experience.
This book grabbed me hard and didn't let go. It's entertaining, fast-paced, and compelling.
The excellent voice actors enhanced my enjoyment of the powerful story. It was like going back in time and listening to a radio show, complete with breaking news headlines. I could barely stop listening and finished it in two days.
The interweaving of connected stories works beautifully. The timeline transitions are clear, and the change in narrators makes the shifts unmistakable, maintaining the novel’s spellbinding quality.
It's an important book. The level of historical immersion combined with a suspenseful and heartfelt story are impressive.
I felt enormously satisfied by this book. It’s a multifaceted, challenging saga with many emotional aspects. Although there are sad and disturbing parts to it, there's so much spirit, strength, and courage, it’s uplifting and inspiring.
Bryce presents a feast of historical detail including language, music, pastimes, fashion, foods, and the power of newspapers and tabloids to influence public opinion. The historical context comes through in the events, woven seamlessly into the narrative.
The many ways in which race and class divides were constructed and enforced in the US emerge in the same masterful manner, adding to the novel’s impact.
I enjoyed the references to influential figures in the Harlem Renaissance and the media. The contrasts in the lives and opportunities available to the women of both generations highlight the courage of individuals who fought for their rights. Outrages based on classism, racism, and anti-immigrant sentiments speak for themselves within this powerful story.
The strong pacing, intelligence, verve, talent, and heart in its telling left me energized and wholeheartedly excited to share it with other readers. I'll be watching for more books by Denny S. Bryce.
This was my first audiobook from RB media. The production values and performances by Joniece Abbott-Pratt and Chanté McCormick are excellent.
Recommended for readers who enjoy or wish to explore Historical Fiction, Black History, Literary Fiction, or simply an extraordinary audiobook experience.
September 12, 2024
The Trial of Mrs. Rhinelander by Denny S. Bryce was both intriguing and heart-wrenching—a story that grips you from the start with love, betrayal, and the crushing weight of societal norms. I had never heard of Alice Jones and Kip Rhinelander before picking up this book, but now their story is one I won’t soon forget.
Alice’s journey is a tragic one. Imagine marrying someone you love, thinking you’re about to build a life together, only to have it all come crashing down when the media, the courts, and basically the world accuse you of fraud and deception. Alice’s crime? Being accused of "passing" as white. The way Denny S. Bryce portrayed Alice’s turmoil throughout this ordeal was so well done—you could feel her heartache and frustration with every page.
I really appreciated that the book didn’t stop at the trial’s conclusion. Getting a glimpse into Alice’s life afterward made the story feel more complete. And while I would’ve loved to see more of how the relationship between Alice and Roberta developed, I get that it wasn’t the main focus. Still, their bond was something I wanted to explore further.
The historical aspect of this book was fascinating to me. I had no idea this trial was a real event from the 1920s, and the fact that the trial was centered on whether or not Alice was “passing” as white blows my mind. The way Alice, her sisters, and even her family’s background played into the case was just shocking. It’s hard to wrap your head around the level of prejudice and ignorance Alice faced simply because of her family’s racial history. It really speaks to the absurdity of societal norms back then—and, honestly, the ripple effects of those norms are still felt today.
I loved that Bryce included detailed author’s notes and shared her sources—it added an extra layer of depth to the story, and I immediately went digging for more information about the real events after finishing the book.
If you’re a fan of historical fiction, court cases, or just love stories rooted in true events, this one should definitely be on your list. It’s an emotional read, but so worth it. Just be prepared to feel a mix of anger, sadness, and empathy by the end. Alice and Kip’s story is truly one that will stick with you.
Alice’s journey is a tragic one. Imagine marrying someone you love, thinking you’re about to build a life together, only to have it all come crashing down when the media, the courts, and basically the world accuse you of fraud and deception. Alice’s crime? Being accused of "passing" as white. The way Denny S. Bryce portrayed Alice’s turmoil throughout this ordeal was so well done—you could feel her heartache and frustration with every page.
I really appreciated that the book didn’t stop at the trial’s conclusion. Getting a glimpse into Alice’s life afterward made the story feel more complete. And while I would’ve loved to see more of how the relationship between Alice and Roberta developed, I get that it wasn’t the main focus. Still, their bond was something I wanted to explore further.
The historical aspect of this book was fascinating to me. I had no idea this trial was a real event from the 1920s, and the fact that the trial was centered on whether or not Alice was “passing” as white blows my mind. The way Alice, her sisters, and even her family’s background played into the case was just shocking. It’s hard to wrap your head around the level of prejudice and ignorance Alice faced simply because of her family’s racial history. It really speaks to the absurdity of societal norms back then—and, honestly, the ripple effects of those norms are still felt today.
I loved that Bryce included detailed author’s notes and shared her sources—it added an extra layer of depth to the story, and I immediately went digging for more information about the real events after finishing the book.
If you’re a fan of historical fiction, court cases, or just love stories rooted in true events, this one should definitely be on your list. It’s an emotional read, but so worth it. Just be prepared to feel a mix of anger, sadness, and empathy by the end. Alice and Kip’s story is truly one that will stick with you.
July 19, 2024
3.5 stars rounded to 4. This is the first book I have read by Denny Bryce in which she is the sole author. I previously read, and loved, a book which she co-authored with Eliza Knight , titled “Can’t We Be Friends”.
This story is based on the real life story of Alice Jones, who became the wife of Lenny “Kip” Rhinehold, son of a real estate tycoon. Alice is born to immigrants and is by no means wealthy. This does not sit well with Lenny’s father Philip. Putting the nail in the coffin is the fact that Alice’s father, of Jamaican descent, has a bit of colored blood in him. No matter that, because Alice’s mother is British, her children are considered “white”. Philip Rhinelander will not tolerate this and being the brute that he is, threatens to cut his son off from his inheritance if he doesn’t push Alice out of his life. He will not have this scandal threaten his family name. Lenny and Alice are very much in love, but Lenny is weak and that weakness overcomes him. He comes up with a plan to have the best of both worlds… the woman he loves and his father’s inheritance.
I enjoyed most of the book. I did feel that the middle between Alice falling in love and leading up to the trial felt a little draggy. There was also a part about a good friend Alice reached out to in the story, but as soon as she was mentioned she was pretty much forgotten about in the story (to the point where I can’t even recall her name!). However, the majority of the story was interesting and it’s so crazy that it was true. Alice went through a lot, hanging onto a thread that things would work out. The author brings Alice’s niece Roberta into the story to help explain later years with family dynamics. This dual timeline works.
It sounds like Denny Bryce did a lot of research, digging through the articles of the many newspapers who covered the sensationalized trial of the Rhinelanders. It had to be a lot of work and I appreciate the time she put in to make the story as accurate as possible.
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.
This story is based on the real life story of Alice Jones, who became the wife of Lenny “Kip” Rhinehold, son of a real estate tycoon. Alice is born to immigrants and is by no means wealthy. This does not sit well with Lenny’s father Philip. Putting the nail in the coffin is the fact that Alice’s father, of Jamaican descent, has a bit of colored blood in him. No matter that, because Alice’s mother is British, her children are considered “white”. Philip Rhinelander will not tolerate this and being the brute that he is, threatens to cut his son off from his inheritance if he doesn’t push Alice out of his life. He will not have this scandal threaten his family name. Lenny and Alice are very much in love, but Lenny is weak and that weakness overcomes him. He comes up with a plan to have the best of both worlds… the woman he loves and his father’s inheritance.
I enjoyed most of the book. I did feel that the middle between Alice falling in love and leading up to the trial felt a little draggy. There was also a part about a good friend Alice reached out to in the story, but as soon as she was mentioned she was pretty much forgotten about in the story (to the point where I can’t even recall her name!). However, the majority of the story was interesting and it’s so crazy that it was true. Alice went through a lot, hanging onto a thread that things would work out. The author brings Alice’s niece Roberta into the story to help explain later years with family dynamics. This dual timeline works.
It sounds like Denny Bryce did a lot of research, digging through the articles of the many newspapers who covered the sensationalized trial of the Rhinelanders. It had to be a lot of work and I appreciate the time she put in to make the story as accurate as possible.
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.
July 10, 2024
No matter what the era is, seems the worst thing to be is 'a colored woman'. Nobody wants to be black, and yet...we're so fabulous. Go figure! I guess I have so much pride, it was cringey to hear this woman’s family go to great lengths NOT to be considered African-American. (Who is going to pull George Jones aside and break it to him that 'West Indian' is not a race.) And again— we’re so fabulous! (Shrug) What’s not to love? The world wears tanning potions to look like us, lip fillers to look like us, mimics the way we sing, claim our cornrows and bonnets are new discoveries they found. What’s the saying ‘they want our rhythm but not our blues.’
The author of this book gets bonus points for introducing this trial to this generation. I was so intrigued by the epic scene in the judges chambers that I dove into my own rabbit hole, researching the real Alice…Lenny…and this case. I was shocked to find that Alice really did have to do what she did, at the instruction of her legal team. I guess it worked by…whoa! As a black woman myself, I’m not sure what they expected to find in that we come in all shade and colors, and there’s nothing about disrobing that screams ‘she’s black!’ Chalk it up to 1920s objectification of woman…and the black body.
Goodness gracious Lenny, have a backbone! We are spoiled by endless stories of men who will move mountains to be with their woman. Not this guy. Honestly, I think that his secret plan- which never made a lick of sense to me- was unwise, and the whole thing got away from both of them.
Any book that sends me to Google to research for hours gets big points from me. I can’t figure out what Alice really believed about her race and what Lenny knew. Again, we're spoiled in 2024 in that all these answers are only an Ancestry DNA test away. I feel the story flip flopped-- giving us clues various characters knew or did not know she was black-- and perhaps it’s because it was equally jumbled up IRL.
The author of this book gets bonus points for introducing this trial to this generation. I was so intrigued by the epic scene in the judges chambers that I dove into my own rabbit hole, researching the real Alice…Lenny…and this case. I was shocked to find that Alice really did have to do what she did, at the instruction of her legal team. I guess it worked by…whoa! As a black woman myself, I’m not sure what they expected to find in that we come in all shade and colors, and there’s nothing about disrobing that screams ‘she’s black!’ Chalk it up to 1920s objectification of woman…and the black body.
Goodness gracious Lenny, have a backbone! We are spoiled by endless stories of men who will move mountains to be with their woman. Not this guy. Honestly, I think that his secret plan- which never made a lick of sense to me- was unwise, and the whole thing got away from both of them.
Any book that sends me to Google to research for hours gets big points from me. I can’t figure out what Alice really believed about her race and what Lenny knew. Again, we're spoiled in 2024 in that all these answers are only an Ancestry DNA test away. I feel the story flip flopped-- giving us clues various characters knew or did not know she was black-- and perhaps it’s because it was equally jumbled up IRL.
July 22, 2024
Based on a real court case, the story here is very interesting, but as a novel, fell short for me. I think I would have enjoyed this novel had I approached it as a holiday/light novel rather than historical fiction, for which I have a higher bar. Read as the representation of a true trial, it felt like there wasn’t enough meat on its bones. Hence, the 2*s!
The trial is featured only in dialogue, except in one instance, and therefore, doesn’t offer us a flavour of the judicial side of things. While the story is told in a dual timeline, narrated by Alice to her niece, Roberta, there is an almost-over-the-top effort to capture 1920s NewYork and nothing to capture WW II era America. And while the politics of colour is the focus of Alice’s story, Roberta’s has none other than a hatred of her aunt, the cause of which is kept under wraps for most of the novel in a very contrived fashion. Thus, the niece is merely a caricature of a black, independent young woman, whose inclusion in the story mainly seems to be as the reader-surrogate. At the end of the book, Roberta is a non-entity to the storyline.
Finally, Alice’s story, while interesting, is told to Roberta (through whom we read it), rather than shared through the book Alice (later) writes (for herself). Had the latter device been used, we would have had a better insider-view into her psyche. By using the former path, I felt like I didn’t still know Alice, nor really understand her choices. Her hurt, and anger, appear and vanish with no insight, and sometimes without sufficient reason - a lack due to the story’s structure than the writing itself.
However, the writing itself was easy, and compelling. For that reason, I will be reading other Bryce novels despite the disappointment with this one.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
The trial is featured only in dialogue, except in one instance, and therefore, doesn’t offer us a flavour of the judicial side of things. While the story is told in a dual timeline, narrated by Alice to her niece, Roberta, there is an almost-over-the-top effort to capture 1920s NewYork and nothing to capture WW II era America. And while the politics of colour is the focus of Alice’s story, Roberta’s has none other than a hatred of her aunt, the cause of which is kept under wraps for most of the novel in a very contrived fashion. Thus, the niece is merely a caricature of a black, independent young woman, whose inclusion in the story mainly seems to be as the reader-surrogate. At the end of the book, Roberta is a non-entity to the storyline.
Finally, Alice’s story, while interesting, is told to Roberta (through whom we read it), rather than shared through the book Alice (later) writes (for herself). Had the latter device been used, we would have had a better insider-view into her psyche. By using the former path, I felt like I didn’t still know Alice, nor really understand her choices. Her hurt, and anger, appear and vanish with no insight, and sometimes without sufficient reason - a lack due to the story’s structure than the writing itself.
However, the writing itself was easy, and compelling. For that reason, I will be reading other Bryce novels despite the disappointment with this one.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
January 26, 2024
I love to discover history's forgotten female rebels, and THE TRIAL OF MRS. RHINELANDER led me down the research rabbit hole. After reading the first chapter, I NEEDED to learn the real story behind the scandalous divorce that rocked New York's elite in the nineteen twenties.
Leonard Kip Rhinelander is a shy 19-year-old with a stutter when he meets Alice, a cleaner who dreams of working at Saks. They become unlikely friends and eventually lovers, but Alice is several years old, working class, and comes from a biracial background. Lenny's father is a powerful New York mogul who is vehemently anti-immigrant--despite his own ancestry. The moment he learns of Lenny and Alice's relationship, his attempts to sabotage it.
After marrying in secret when Lenny turns 21, Lenny and Alice start planning a shared future. The Rhinelanders, however, have a different plan, which they instigate weeks after the wedding.
As Lenny tries to appease his manipulative father, who demands an annulment on the grounds Alice lied to Lenny to pass as white, Alice is ripped apart by the press. And has to deal with the fallout and public scrutiny of her own family.
Her parents emmigrated from England, and her mother insists her daughters are white, even though her husband has West Indian blood. And one of Alice's sisters married a Black man and listed herself as Negro on her wedding certificate.
As Alice fights to save her marriage and dignity, she crosses paths with an ambitious young reporter from Harlem, Marvel Cunningham, who educates Alice about the one-drop rule. ("One drop" of "black blood" is classified as Black.)
What unfolds, through a dual time line, is a heartbreaking almost Romeo and Juliet story of loyalty and betrayal, two families ripped apart, the abuse of power, racism, issues of class, and how one woman fought against a wealthy family--determined to destroy her--for decades. But at what cost to Alice, who, when we meet her in 1940, is a recluse?
Read this beautifully written page-turner for the answer.
Leonard Kip Rhinelander is a shy 19-year-old with a stutter when he meets Alice, a cleaner who dreams of working at Saks. They become unlikely friends and eventually lovers, but Alice is several years old, working class, and comes from a biracial background. Lenny's father is a powerful New York mogul who is vehemently anti-immigrant--despite his own ancestry. The moment he learns of Lenny and Alice's relationship, his attempts to sabotage it.
After marrying in secret when Lenny turns 21, Lenny and Alice start planning a shared future. The Rhinelanders, however, have a different plan, which they instigate weeks after the wedding.
As Lenny tries to appease his manipulative father, who demands an annulment on the grounds Alice lied to Lenny to pass as white, Alice is ripped apart by the press. And has to deal with the fallout and public scrutiny of her own family.
Her parents emmigrated from England, and her mother insists her daughters are white, even though her husband has West Indian blood. And one of Alice's sisters married a Black man and listed herself as Negro on her wedding certificate.
As Alice fights to save her marriage and dignity, she crosses paths with an ambitious young reporter from Harlem, Marvel Cunningham, who educates Alice about the one-drop rule. ("One drop" of "black blood" is classified as Black.)
What unfolds, through a dual time line, is a heartbreaking almost Romeo and Juliet story of loyalty and betrayal, two families ripped apart, the abuse of power, racism, issues of class, and how one woman fought against a wealthy family--determined to destroy her--for decades. But at what cost to Alice, who, when we meet her in 1940, is a recluse?
Read this beautifully written page-turner for the answer.
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