First published 2012
Thomas Henry Oliver arrives in New Orleans at the turn of the twentieth century, fleeing the tedium of his Midwest backwoods childhood. The city's vibrant streets offer him opportunities that transform a country boy into a wealthy businessman. Over decades, Oliver constructs his empire from brothels and speakeasies, accumulating vast riches by age ninety-five. His success breeds a new problem: his family's hunger for control over his fortune. Two daughters who feel entitled to his wealth and an adopted son driven by ambition circle around the aging patriarch. When strokes weaken Oliver's grip on power, he must decide who deserves to inherit his empire. None of his potential heirs inspire complete confidence in their worthiness. Three generations clash as each family member maneuvers for position in the succession battle. The struggle reveals how money and power corrupt family bonds, turning love into calculation and loyalty into strategy.
Genres: american-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: family-conflict, succession-battle
Setting: New Orleans
Period: Turn of the 20th Century
422 pages · Kindle Edition · Open Road Media