Land of Sins and Promise

by Jay G. Grubb

Twenty-one-year-old Joshua Banks, second son of a Yorkshire baron, is chasing a future that is slipping away. He must succeed soon; once his brother takes over the estate, Joshua will be cut off for good.



On the eve of his engagement to Margaret, daughter of a powerful press baron, Margaret's father offers a Faustian bargain. A foreign correspondent position, but he must sail to New York immediately.



Instead of fame, a vengeful editor forces Joshua to cover low-life minstrel shows. Joshua confronts an alien world of Jim Crow, race passing, seances, dollar princesses, gold cures, muscular Christianity, sex parlors, Native Americans, gay theatre, and all manner of Gilded Age excess. Joshua struggles to make sense of the life and murder trial of his friend, the first black recording star, George Washington Johnson.



Challenged by the charismatic Black anti-lynching activist Eva Hope Moon, he rallies to her cause while trying to resist his attraction to her. Meanwhile, Margaret resents Joshua's absence and restrictions on her desire to attend college.



Just as Joshua is finding his feet, an informer tips Nowak on the Banks' family secret, a scandal that threatens to destroy Joshua's very identity. Joshua must either remake himself or lose everything.

Genres: Historical Fiction

391 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 1, 2024

About the author

Jay G. Grubb is an entertainment attorney working in music, film, and publishing. As a professor teaching the history of jazz, blues, and pop he has confronted the complexities and contradictions of American culture that are at the core of Land of Sins and Promise. He was a columnist for Script Magazine (now merged with Final Draft), and received an Achievement Award in Writing from the National Council of Teachers of English. He is a frequent speaker, including lectures at Peabody Institute and the Maryland Institute College of Arts. He loves to travel, especially to the scout the locations used in his writing.

Reviews

[Stan Rockwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes. This historical fiction work is set in the late 1890s, a period we are hearing a lot about lately with words of tariffs and manifest destiny. What was the period really like? Jay Grubb gives an amazing overview of the time through the eyes of his main character, Joshua Banks. Banks is from England and is sent to the US to work for a newspaper. We learn about so many issues and events from the time that still resonate today as unfinished business: class, race, gender, and more as well as the struggles for finding how we fit into the world of family, friends and adversaries. It is also a travelogue with Joshu’s journey from England to New York to Denver (with a foray into Yellowstone) back to New York with a stop in Baltimore. Along the way, Joshua meets an array of people who challenge his ways of being and help him to grow. There are so many experiences in this book that captivate you as you travel along in the adventure. I highly recommend this book. Normally I prefer nonfiction, but this historical fiction teaches a lot about the times, and the plot is well thought-out and very well executed. Grubb even includes a bibliography. You can follow up on events where you want to learn more by checking these out, too. Grubb teaches us a lot that was left out of our history textbooks with his excellent storytelling skills.

[Dashingirish · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy historical fiction, and "Land of Sins and Promise" checks all my boxes for an entertaining, exciting and fact-filled read (it may be the best-researched historical novel I’ve ever read).

Our curious protagonist, English aristocrat Joshua Banks, finds himself careening through the United States during the Gay Nineties, from New York to the (very) Wild West, in pursuit of a journalism career. Along the way, both Joshua and the United States discover their own identities by leaving behind their European roots and embracing the young and bold energy that is surging through the US. It is a time of ideas, discovery and huge opportunity, and Joshua is right there in the midst of it. Here’s the thing: this isn’t Edith Wharton’s America of grand parlors and refined manners. It’s not Max’s “The Gilded Age,” either. It’s a tale about every One during the 1890s – the rich, the poor, the demure, the adventurous. We travel with Joshua from brothels to a grand ball to a sensational murder trial. It’s a terrific romp through a part of history that is – at least in my experience – seldom explored, told with humor and empathy.

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I toyed with giving this a 4 star rating, due to a few chapters that I felt went on (TMI) irrelevantly for me. But, about half way through the book I was feeling more of a "hard to put this book down" attitude. It was an overall 5 star read.
It read like a travel memoir. It could have been titled: The Adventures of Joshua Banks, and I smile when I look back on his adventures and how it changed the course of his future.
This being the late 1800's, there were many inventions that we all enjoy today.
What I looked forward to the most was his letters to Margaret. It was so fascinating to hear tale of someone describing their first drink of Coca Cola. "a newfangled concoction of brown syrup and fizzy water..." And electricity. "... awed at the electricity showcase. Still, I didn't think I'd ever convince my father to bring such a dangerous spirit into our estate house."
The book is quite eye opening on racial topics - I won't adlib and spoil the book.
I appreciate Jay Grubb giving this out to Goodreads for the win! I donate every book I win to our little community library where others have an opportunity to enjoy a new author, as I did.

[Aiden Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Land of Sins and Promise is one of those novels that reminded me why I love historical fiction. Jay G. Grubb has done something truly special here he doesn’t just paint the Gilded Age, he immerses you in it. Joshua Banks is a character caught between worlds: old money and new ambition, duty and desire, race and identity, faith and temptation. His journey from privileged Yorkshire son to struggling journalist in New York is mesmerizing. The descriptions of turn-of-the-century America- the minstrel shows, the sensational press, the political corruption — are vivid and unflinching. But it’s the emotional core that really got me: Joshua’s moral unraveling, his attraction to Eva Hope Moon, and his constant battle between honor and survival. The story asks hard questions about privilege, power, and conscience that still feel relevant today. I absolutely recommend this novel to anyone who loves historical fiction that challenges as much as it entertains.

[Lucas Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jay G. Grubb’s Land of Sins and Promise is a sweeping, unforgettable journey through the Gilded Age. Joshua Banks is not an easy hero he’s flawed, idealistic, and deeply human. Watching him stumble through the hypocrisy of both British aristocracy and American ambition was heartbreaking and fascinating. The New York of this story feels alive: the smoke, the noise, the deceit hiding behind gilded facades. The author brings to life not just a time and place, but a feeling that restless hunger for identity and belonging that defines youth. Eva Hope Moon completely captivated me. She’s fierce, intelligent, and uncompromising, the moral compass that Joshua doesn’t know he needs.

This book is beautifully written, morally complex, and full of heart. I recommend it to readers who enjoy layered storytelling and historical depth-fans of Edith Wharton, E.M. Forster, or Colson Whitehead will find much to love here.

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Land of Sins and Promise pulled me into a world I didn’t want to leave. From the opening chapters, I felt Joshua Banks’s desperation, The quiet panic of a young man watching his future slip away while trying to hold onto a sense of purpose. When he accepts that fateful offer to sail for New York, I knew things would never be the same. Jay G. Grubb’s depiction of America during the Gilded Age is breathtakingly vivid. Every scene feels alive from the smoke-filled theaters to the bustling newsrooms where truth is a commodity. What I loved most, though, was the emotional honesty. Joshua’s relationship with Eva Hope Moon is both tender and volatile, full of passion but also haunted by guilt and fear. Their connection is complicated, and that’s what makes it real. This novel has everything: social critique, romance, mystery, and heart. It’s rare to find a story that feels this alive. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves historical fiction that stirs both the mind and the soul.

[Emma Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredible achievement! Jay G. Grubb’s Land of Sins and Promise is one of the most immersive historical novels I’ve read in years. Joshua Banks’s fall from privilege and his struggle to define himself in a new world reminded me of characters like Pip in Great Expectations or Nick Carraway in The Great Gatsby but with far more grit and conscience. The New York that Grubb paints is chaotic, alive, and dangerous. The way he threads together race relations, gender politics, and the rise of the modern press is both educational and gripping. I was fascinated by the inclusion of real cultural phenomena minstrel shows, “gold cures,” seances all of which serve to highlight the contradictions of a society both modern and morally bankrupt. Eva Hope Moon is the kind of heroine who stays with you long after the story ends. Strong, uncompromising, and deeply human. I can’t recommend this book enough to readers who enjoy historically rich, emotionally intelligent storytelling.

[Grace Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very first page, Land of Sins and Promise had me under its spell. Jay G. Grubb writes with the precision of a historian and the heart of a poet. Joshua Banks’s journey from Yorkshire gentility to New York’s underbelly is both tragic and transformative. I was especially drawn to how the book explores the cost of ambition. Joshua’s desire to prove himself leads him into moral quicksand, and the choices he makes both noble and shameful feel painfully human. The murder trial of George Washington Johnson was one of the most powerful sections I’ve read in recent fiction; it brought the cruelty of racial injustice to life in a way that was visceral and unforgettable. This is not a book you rush through. It’s a story to savor, to think about, and to feel deeply. I wholeheartedly recommend it to serious readers of historical fiction and anyone who believes that great novels should illuminate the truth.

[Mason Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into Land of Sins and Promise expecting a historical novel, but what I got was a full-blown emotional journey. Jay G. Grubb doesn’t just tell a story he dissects an entire era and rebuilds it through the eyes of one flawed, yearning young man. Joshua Banks’s fall from aristocratic comfort into the chaos of Gilded Age New York is both tragic and beautiful. What I loved most was how alive everything felt. The air seemed thick with cigarette smoke, jazz, and hypocrisy. The portrayal of minstrel shows, the cutthroat newsroom politics, and the constant moral compromises made me feel like I was living it all. Eva Hope Moon is an extraordinary creation, fierce, brilliant, and grounded in painful truth. Her interactions with Joshua shimmer with unspoken longing and impossible choices. This book left me emotionally drained but spiritually stirred. I’d recommend it to readers who crave historical fiction that challenges and transforms.

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jay G. Grubb’s Land of Sins and Promise is nothing short of breathtaking. It’s the rare kind of historical novel that doesn’t just transport you to another time it makes you feel the weight of it. Joshua Banks is the perfect embodiment of a world in transition: an Englishman shaped by privilege but undone by conscience. The story’s pacing is deliberate, building layer upon layer of tension. Every new revelation about his family, his career, and his forbidden attraction to Eva Hope Moon hit me harder than the last. I found myself reading slower, not wanting it to end. What really struck me was how Grubb gives voice to those who history often silences. Black artists, women, the “outsiders.” It’s a compassionate, unflinching portrait of people trying to find dignity in a world that denies it. I can’t recommend this book highly enough to anyone who loves literary fiction that speaks to both the head and the heart.

[Jacob King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Land of Sins and Promise took me on a ride I didn’t expect. I thought I’d be reading a simple period drama, but what I found was an emotional and cultural odyssey that left me thinking long after the last page. Joshua’s disillusionment as he faces the corruption of both the press and society is painfully relevant. The world Grubb creates is richly textured from seances and minstrel halls to the drawing rooms of the elite. Each scene feels meticulously researched and alive. Joshua’s relationship with Eva is electric it simmers with forbidden tension, intellectual respect, and moral awakening. Margaret’s side of the story, though less central, adds another layer of tragedy and realism. This book is more than historical fiction it’s a reflection on identity, race, and conscience. I recommend it wholeheartedly to readers who appreciate stories that make them feel and think in equal measure.

[Liam Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are books you read for entertainment, and there are books that change the way you see history. Land of Sins and Promise is the latter. Jay G. Grubb doesn’t just write about the Gilded Age he exposes its sins and contradictions. Joshua Banks is the perfect lens through which to view this era: privileged but naive, principled yet compromised. His downfall and eventual self-discovery mirror the corruption of the age itself. The inclusion of real historical elements like George Washington Johnson gives the novel a grounding that makes it both educational and emotionally gripping. I found myself torn between frustration and admiration for Joshua, and that’s the beauty of Grubb’s writing, He doesn’t make morality easy. If you love novels that combine beautiful prose, deep themes, and unforgettable characters, this is absolutely worth your time.

[Emily Sharp · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found myself completely captivated by Land of Sins and Promise. Jay G. Grubb has created a story that is as intellectually engaging as it is emotionally devastating. Joshua Banks begins as a young man chasing privilege, but by the end, he’s chasing his own soul. The contrast between his life in England and his experiences in New York was masterfully done. The city becomes a character in itself-seductive, cruel, and endlessly alive. Through Joshua’s eyes, we witness both the glitter and the grime of the Gilded Age. Eva Hope Moon, meanwhile, brings a moral clarity that challenges not just Joshua but the reader too. What impressed me most was how Grubb handled issues of race, class, and gender without ever turning the story into a lecture. It’s deeply human, full of empathy and truth. I would recommend this novel to anyone who values storytelling that both entertains and enlightens.

[James Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Land of Sins and Promise is a magnificent work of historical fiction, immersive, thought-provoking, and deeply humane. From the first chapter, Jay G. Grubb pulls you into the moral turmoil of a young man torn between the world he comes from and the world he’s thrust into. I was struck by how well the author captures the contradictions of the time, A world that celebrates progress but hides deep corruption. Joshua’s assignments covering the seedier corners of New York’s entertainment scene give us a glimpse into a society obsessed with spectacle and repression. The racial themes, particularly through Eva and George Washington Johnson’s stories, are handled with great care and intelligence. This book deserves to be widely read and discussed. It’s a perfect choice for readers who love richly detailed historical narratives that grapple with timeless moral questions.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an emotional and intellectual feast! Land of Sins and Promise isn’t just a historical novel — it’s a mirror held up to humanity. Jay G. Grubb writes with the confidence of someone who knows both history and the human heart. Joshua Banks’s transformation is painful but believable, and the ending left me deeply moved. The scenes set in New York’s newsrooms and theatres are particularly vivid, you can feel the chaos, the ambition, and the moral decay in every description. Eva Hope Moon stood out as one of the strongest female characters I’ve encountered in recent fiction. She’s the conscience of the novel, the voice of truth that Joshua desperately needs to hear. This is a masterpiece of historical fiction. I'll recommend this book to anyone who loves morally complex stories that challenge assumptions and celebrate resilience.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I closed Land of Sins and Promise with tears in my eyes. Not because it was sad though it is, in places but because it was true. Jay G. Grubb has written a story that captures the messiness of life: the compromises, the guilt, the brief flashes of grace. Joshua’s journey from naïve idealist to self-aware man is one of the most satisfying arcs I’ve read in a long time. Every chapter deepens his understanding not just of the world around him, but of himself. The racial and moral tensions of the era are portrayed with honesty and care, never caricatured. Grubb’s prose is rich but never heavy-handed; his dialogue sparkles with intelligence and feeling. This is a book that demands to be read slowly, thoughtfully, and with an open heart. I’d recommend it without hesitation to any lover of historical fiction, literature, or simply good storytelling.

[Maya Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Land of Sins and Promise completely upended my expectations. It’s not just a tale about a privileged man losing his footing. It’s a reflection on identity, shame, and redemption in an age of moral chaos. Jay G. Grubb’s prose is both poetic and precise; every sentence feels deliberate and alive. What stood out for me was Joshua’s deep internal conflict. He wants to be good, but he’s constantly confronted with how little that means in a corrupt world. Watching him navigate class prejudice, racism, and his own insecurities was painful and oddly hopeful at the same time. The historical backdrop is stunningly rendered from the decadence of Fifth Avenue salons to the grit of Harlem’s streets. I came away feeling as though I’d lived a lifetime in those pages. For readers who love intelligent, emotionally charged fiction, this book is a gift.

[SOFIA · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is Shakespearean in scope, Dickensian in detail, and entirely original in voice. Joshua’s world is full of masks, performances, and shifting identities. what better metaphor for the Gilded Age? The book reads like a stage play at times, with vibrant scenes, sharp dialogue, and richly drawn characters. It’s not just about history it’s about the theatre of society and how we all perform roles we never auditioned for. The narrative’s pace is brisk, yet thoughtful. I appreciated the way the novel didn’t try to resolve every tension. it honored the complexity of race, class, and sexuality without flattening them into tropes. And Eva Moon? She deserves her own spin-off. What a force. This book is truly a masterpiece. Just try to read it. Trust me you would enjoy it.

[Andrew Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Land of Sin and Promise transported me straight into the grit and glamour of the Gilded Age. Joshua Banks is such a compelling character-young, ambitious, and walking a fine line between privilege and ruin. I loved how the book wove in so many historical elements: Jim Crow laws, the plight of Native Americans, early gay theatre, and the rise of the Black recording industry. The murder trial of George Washington Johnson had me gripped from start to finish. Eva Hope Moon completely stole my heart, Her determination and courage are unforgettable. The writing is vivid without ever feeling heavy handed. I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction with moral depth, romance, and a dash of mystery. You’ll feel like you’re walking the streets of 1890s New York yourself.

[Evan Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very first chapter, Land of Sin and Promise swept me into the life of Joshua Banks, a young man balancing on the edge of privilege and ruin. The tension between his life in Yorkshire and the chaotic world of 1890s New York is handled with masterful pacing. The novel doesn’t shy away from showing the grim reality of minstrel shows and racial injustice, yet it also celebrates resilience and hope through characters like Eva Hope Moon. The murder trial of George Washington Johnson was particularly moving equal parts courtroom drama and social commentary. I would happily recommend this book to any historical fiction enthusiast who enjoys a richly layered plot and characters who grow in ways that feel real and earned.

[Oliver Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was completely absorbed by Land of Sins and Promise. The writing is lush and poetic without ever feeling overdone. Joshua’s arc from a privileged yet insecure young man to a morally tested reporter is both heartbreaking and inspiring. Jay G. Grubb captures the contradictions of the Gilded Age perfectly, A time of opulence and moral decay, innovation and exploitation. I loved how the story intertwined social commentary with deeply personal stakes. The subplot about George Washington Johnson’s murder trial was particularly powerful it added emotional weight and historical realism. This novel reminded me of The Alienist and The Age of Innocence, but with a sharper edge and a more daring conscience. It’s a book that deserves to be discussed, shared, and remembered. Highly recommended.

[David Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an extraordinary debut! Land of Sins and Promise is ambitious, moving, and deeply intelligent. The contrast between Joshua’s crumbling English nobility and the raw, chaotic energy of New York’s underbelly made for some of the best reading I’ve had all year. The author doesn’t shy away from the darker sides of history. racism, hypocrisy, sexual exploitation but he handles them with grace and nuance. Every character, from Joshua to the side figures, feels fully realized. The pacing is deliberate but deeply satisfying, and by the end, I felt emotionally spent in the best way. I can’t recommend this book enough to readers who crave historical fiction that challenges them emotionally and intellectually.

[Samuel Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jay G. Grubb’s Land of Sins and Promise feels like a forgotten classic rediscovered. The writing is elegant, the themes are timeless, and the characters are painfully human. Joshua’s search for meaning amid social collapse resonated deeply with me. The depiction of New York’s underworld seances, minstrel stages, sex parlors is not gratuitous; it’s a mirror held up to the hypocrisy of a society obsessed with image. Eva Hope Moon is a revelation. Her moral clarity and defiance made her one of my favorite literary heroines in years. This book deserves a wide audience. I would recommend it to readers who love historical fiction that digs beneath the surface fans of The Master and Margarita or A Gentleman in Moscow will find themselves at home here.

[Kelly Myers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joshua Banks is the kind of character you root for even when you’re not sure he deserves it. His journey from a privileged aristocrat to a man struggling to find his place in a brutal, unfamiliar world is handled with depth, honesty, and care. The historical detail is staggering, This book doesn’t just paint a picture of the Gilded Age; it throws you into its chaos. I found myself researching George Washington Johnson after finishing, which shows how compelling the narrative was.
I highly recommend this to anyone who loves powerful fiction with real historical depth. Share this with your book club, you’ll have so much to discuss

[Aslae · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a thunderclap. It’s not just historical fiction it’s a visceral plunge into a world teetering on the edge of modernity and moral collapse. Joshua Banks is one of the most compelling protagonists I’ve encountered in years: privileged yet lost, principled yet deeply flawed. The exploration of Gilded Age America through a foreign lens is brilliant. The minstrel show assignments were uncomfortable and powerful, forcing me to confront the ways art and exploitation intertwine. Eva Hope Moon? Electrifying. Their chemistry sizzles, not with cliché, but with real intellectual and ideological friction. This story is timely, raw, and transformative.

[David Darling · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are books you read, and then there are books you feel in your bones this was the latter. The tension between Joshua and Eva is the spark that ignites the narrative, but what truly amazed me was how well the novel captured the contradictions of the era. I learned so much about the hidden sides of the Gilded Age: the suppression of women’s education, the rise of Black artistry, the complexity of identity in a racially divided world. I couldn’t put it down. Read this book not just for the love story or the history, but for the way it challenges your perspective. It’s beautifully written, deeply researched, and emotionally resonant.

[Hally Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jay G. Grubb’s Land of Sins and Promise deserves recognition as a significant contribution to contemporary historical fiction. With sensitivity and narrative skill, Grubb explores the complexities of race, gender, and class in the Gilded Age, offering readers a layered, thoughtful examination of transatlantic identities and the personal cost of social ambition. The novel’s engagement with figures like George Washington Johnson and its portrayal of anti-lynching activism provide a valuable lens on underexplored histories. Grubb’s work stands as both a compelling story and a meticulously researched cultural document.

[Kevin Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn’t put this book down. Joshua’s transformation from a pampered younger son into a man shaped by hardship, prejudice, and political awakening is remarkable. The author paints such a nuanced picture of America’s contradictions, innovation and opulence standing alongside racism and corruption. The subplot with Margaret wanting to go to college added another layer, showing how even privileged women had to fight for their education. The family secret twist at the end genuinely shocked me. If you love novels where history is more than just a backdrop where it shapes the character's lives you’ll be captivated.

[Brett Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

What impressed me most about this novel was the way Jay G. Grubb captured the complexity of ambition. Joshua begins as a man chasing career prestige, but the injustices he encounters in New York force him to re-examine everything. Eva Hope Moon’s activism was inspiring, and Margaret’s frustration with her limited freedom added another layer of depth to the narrative. The period details gold cures, seances, dollar princesses-are fascinating without ever feeling like history lessons. To my fellow readers: this is the kind of book that will leave you thinking about its themes long after you finish the last page.

[Anthony Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book felt like stepping into another world, One that’s both fascinating and deeply unsettling. Land of Sins and Promise exposes the duality of the Gilded Age: its glittering wealth and its buried sins. Joshua’s transformation is gradual and painful, but so believable. I found myself alternately frustrated with his privilege and moved by his attempts to grow beyond it. Eva’s character provided the moral heart of the book, Her strength and clarity give the story its emotional anchor. This novel has the scale of Downton Abbey and the soul of Beloved. I recommend it highly to lovers of historical drama, moral complexity, and rich character work.