First published 2016
On a rain-slicked November night in 1746, a mysterious young man named Smith arrives in Manhattan with an astronomical bank order for one thousand pounds—and zero explanations. The local merchants are immediately suspicious: Is he a con artist? A spy? A wealthy eccentric? As Smith navigates the tight social networks of this small colonial town, he must dodge arrest, survive increasingly dangerous confrontations, and protect a secret that could destroy him. His quick wit and audacious charm are his only weapons in a world where one misstep could mean financial ruin—or death. With each interaction, the stakes rise, and Smith's true purpose becomes more tantalizing and uncertain. A high-wire act of survival unfolds in a New York that's more frontier than metropolis, where identity is fluid and trust is the most fragile currency.
Genres: literary-fiction, historical-fiction, adventure, mystery
Vibes: atmospheric, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, mystery, survival
Setting: New York (State), New York (N.Y.)
Period: Colonial Period, ca. 1600-1775
303 pages · Hardcover · Scribner