The Inheritance - by Bennett Capers (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

"The Inheritance is a diamond in the rough. Bennett Capers has crafted a hypnotic telling of a story both searing and soaring, and ultimately a triumph of imagination." -- Michael Connelly

A gripping novel of history, rebellion, and the unpredictable nature of truth

When antiquarian Malcolm Washington is sent to a decaying plantation home on Johns Island, South Carolina, his mission is simple: authenticate and acquire a shackle rumored to have been used on Denmark Vesey, the legendary leader of a thwarted slave rebellion. But the task proves far more complicated than Malcolm could have imagined. The enigmatic Mrs. Manigault--the shackle's owner and the last white woman on the island--is having second thoughts about selling her inheritance.

What begins as a professional assessment quickly spirals into a tense battle of wits, as Mrs. Manigault insists on telling the "story" behind the shackle, one she was told as a child, which grows more fantastical at every turn. Each part of the tale is both a weapon and a test, crafted to manipulate, conceal, and ultimately reveal the buried truths of the past. Trapped between Mrs. Manigault's calculated storytelling and his personal, complicated motivations, Malcolm must come face-to-face with his own history.

Sweeping, suspenseful, and acidly funny, The Inheritance blends contemporary Southern Gothic and literary mystery to delve into the heart of America's unresolved past, where the search for the truth uncovers secrets both liberating and terrifying.

Review Quotes

"[A] captivating debut . . . . The story unfolds in a dazzling and transfixing dreamscape, even as it raises meaty questions about which stories people choose to believe in and to value. It's sensational." - Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

"The Inheritance is a diamond in the rough. Bennett Capers has crafted a hypnotic telling of a story both searing and soaring, and ultimately a triumph of imagination." - Michael Connelly, New York Times bestselling author

"In his confident and surprising debut, Bennett Capers fearlessly tackles one of this country's most complex legacies--one belonging to all Americans. The Inheritance is a propulsive, gutsy, and often very funny novel that understands history itself for what it is: a story." - Rumaan Alam, New York Times bestselling author of Entitlement and Leave the World Behind

"Centered on the search to authenticate an elusive abolition-era artifact, The Inheritance immediately pulls you into a foreboding cat-and-mouse game and a sly exploration of who owns the right to tell the stories we inherit. Bennett Capers has written a bold, haunting, and unforgettable debut." - Alafair Burke, New York Times bestselling author of The Note

"With The Inheritance, Bennett Capers has fashioned a debut novel that is truly unique. Part mystery, part historical narrative, and all of it a rollicking good time. Capers is an author to look out for. I couldn't put the book down." - Nathan Harris, New York Times bestselling author of The Sweetness of Water and Amity ​​​​​​​

"Riveting and multilayered, The Inheritance examines the gifts and burdens of ancestry and heritage as well as the blurry lines between storytelling and history. Helmed by a strong character whose voice oozes with style and acerbic wit, this fascinating debut will have you turning pages late into the night." - Angie Kim, New York Times bestselling author of Happiness Falls