The Girl from Greenwich Street

How does Hope's loyalty towards her family affect her choices? Whatchanges for her as the trial unfolds? Do you agree with her choice to go back to New Cornwall at the end?

Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr come together as defense attorneys in the hopes of saving a man's life-but also to ingratiate themselves with the voting public. Are they more motivated by altruismor ambition? What about the prosecutor, Cadwallader Colden?

How do rumor and mob mentality shape the unfolding of events in thenovel? Does public outrage serve any positive purpose? How do various characters try to use it to their advantage.

Brockholst Livingston, when coming up with a defense strategy, says:"The prosecution will attempt to stir the emotions of the jury by painting her as a virtuous woman seduced and betrayed. They'll be less sympathetic to a loose woman." Do we still see this defense used today in criminal cases?

Particular attention is paid to dress and style. Elma's borrowed muff is the first clue to her murder, the girls in the Ring household earn money making hats, and Croucher sells luxuries like silk stockings. What is the role of clothing in relationships and social standing? How do characters' states of dress reveal their innermost thoughts and feelings?

Hamilton tells Burr: "If a thing is to be done, it should be done right. To merely acquit the boy isn't enough; we ought to bring the guilty to justice." Do you believe that the two famous lawyers did right in their defense of Levi Weeks?

Elias tells Caty: "If thee had been here where thee were meant to be, none of this would have happened." What is he accusing her of? Is thereany truth to it? What does this moment reveal about Elias? Is he at all responsible for what happened to Elma, even though he didn't murder her?

Did you sympathize with Caty? Is her resentment of Elma justified? Why is she so conflicted about Elma's death and the resulting trial?

Nearly every woman in this novel's life is dramatically affected by pregnancy, miscarriage, and childbirth, from Elma to Caty to Eliza Hamilton, even more minor characters like Elizabeth Weeks and Maria Colden. What kind of insight do their experiences give you about women's lives in this time period? Why do you think Lauren Willig chose to include those stories in this novel?

How does Margaret Miller's revelation at the end of the book change the narrative around Elma's story? How does Cadwallader Colden's prosecution of her rapist mirror his failed prosecution of Levi Weeks? Does Margaret receive the justice that was denied to Elma Sands?

Eliza Hamilton tells Alexander: "There are no accounts and lines of credit in a marriage." Does this ring true to you? What did you make of the different marriages that we see in this novel: Hamilton and Eliza's and Elias and Caty's, Maria and Cadwallader's? Which are models? Which are cautionary tales?

At the end of the novel, Lauren Willig provides an epilogue titled "What Became of Them After?" Were you surprised to learn about what happened to the real-life characters in this book in the years after the murder trial? Could you have imagined or wished different endings for the people you read about?

After reading the book and the historical note, who do you think murdered Elma Sands? Do you agree with Willig's conclusions or do you have a theory of your own?

Even though Elma Sands's body was found in the Manhattan Well over two hundred and twenty-five years ago, the story of her murder is still a feature of city tours and frequent articles, blog posts, and most recently a dedicated podcast by actress Allison Williams. What is it about Elma's death that still resonates today?