The Girl from Greenwich Street (by Lauren Willig)
True crime, a genre that propelled my reading journey during my adolescent years, continues to hold a special place in my heart. Although I may not indulge in reading many true crime books these days, the allure of intriguing crime stories remains irresistible. Lauren Willig’s “The Girl from Greenwich Street: A Novel of Hamilton, Burr, and America’s First Murder Trial” stands as a blend of genres. This historical fiction novel is based on a true crime story set in New York City.
In late 1799, young Elma Sands, claiming to be on her way to get married, leaves her cousin’s boarding house. Days go by, and no one hears from her until her body is discovered in the Manhattan Well. Her family blames a young man named Levi Weeks for her murder and the intended marriage. Attorney Aaron Burr agrees to defend Levi in court. Alexander Hamilton, who is running for political office and seeking public attention, joins Levi’s defense team. However, it’s worth noting that Burr and Hamilton had a strained relationship, making their collaboration an intriguing aspect of this narrative.
Elma Sands and her family were Quakers, which made it take me some time to adjust to the historically accurate language used in the book. Additionally, with its numerous characters, it took me some time to get to know everyone involved. Once I settled in, I found myself fully immersed in the historical fiction aspect of the story and thoroughly enjoying it. As The Girl from Greenwich Street is based on the first murder trial, I was particularly intrigued by the court proceedings that unfolded during the early 1800s. I couldn’t help but be curious about the verdict that the jury would deliver.
After completing the historical fiction story, Lauren Willig provided an update on the lives of the cast characters after their trial. She concluded the book with historical facts about Elma Sands, her family, and the court proceedings. She also explained where she took professional liberties with the story and the reasons behind them. The extensive and thorough research she conducted is evident in the epilogue. Lauren recommends other books related to the story and encourages readers to interact with her on her website.
I borrowed the audiobook of The Girl from Greenwich Street from my local library using Libby. I thoroughly enjoyed the narration by Jane Oppenheimer.
I discovered Lauren’s coauthorship with Karen White and Beatriz Williams while browsing her website, which you can find here. She has also written several historical fiction novels. I eagerly anticipate reading more of her works.
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