“A hideous deceit concocted within a lowly New York lodging house. A violent crime, fueled by passion and liquor, in an Atlantic City cottage. A mysterious death in Jackson Hole. A play full of thinly disguised secrets. And not one but two thrilling courtroom melodramas.
Shaffer masterfully weaves together all these dark events, filled with little twists and turns that will leave the reader gasping.”
-Greg Young
Co-founder of The Bowery Boys New York City History Podcast
Praise for The Scandalous Hamiltons
“If legal-thriller star John Grisham thought up the story of Robert Ray Hamilton and Eva Steele one morning, by lunch he would have abandoned the idea as too far-fetched. Yet historian Shaffer shows that these seemingly implausible events not only happened in the late-nineteenth century, they played out for millions, thanks to the nearly 16,000 newspapers in existence at the time. Shaffer has an appealing writing style and a talent for sneaking up on the reader with each big reveal.”
— Booklist
“Shaffer gives a detailed account of the scandal surrounding Robert Ray Hamilton (1851–1890), great-grandson of Alexander Hamilton, and his secret marriage to a prostitute and attempted murderer. Historical true crime buffs will be engrossed.”
— Publishers Weekly
“Author Bill Shaffer explains how a late-1800s scandal involving Alexander Hamilton’s great-grandson paved the way for today’s tabloid journalism and celebrity gossip market. This eye-opening take on the birth of society journalism kept us riveted. Fans of Erik Larson-style histories and anyone who just loves a fun, gossipy read will love The Scandalous Hamiltons.”