The Last Hamilton

Former defense attorney Bregman’s propulsive debut weaves little-known details of American history with a frightening vision of financial armageddon. Elizabeth Hamilton Walker, Alexander Hamilton’s last descendant, works in wealth management until she jumps—or is pushed—onto subway tracks in Harlem and killed by a train. Just before her death, she’d retrieved an antique key from the Grange, Hamilton’s old New York City residence, and sent a mysterious text message to her best friend, Sarah Brockton. Together, Sarah and Elizabeth’s new husband, Ralph, dig into the circumstances of her death. Other characters include NYPD detective Deborah Schwartz, a nefarious Russian duo, and a pair of “quant jocks” who sense a shift in the market. All of them gradually become embroiled in a conspiracy involving a secret society established by Hamilton to protect U.S. gold reserves from foreign and domestic enemies. A blockbuster finale on top of the New Jersey Palisades brings the action to a satisfying close and sets the stage for a potential sequel. Dan Brown fans will relish this electrifying tale. Agent: Claudia Cross, Folio Literary. (Feb.)