The Widow Hamilton: An Eliza Hamilton Mystery

An Eliza Hamilton Mystery #2

by Mollie Ann Cox, Cassandra Campbell (Narrator)

The widow of Alexander Hamilton faces another mystery in the second Eliza Hamilton mystery, perfect for fans of Deanna Raybourn.

It's December 1805 and Eliza Hamilton is determined to seek justice. One young woman is dead, another has vanished—both residents of a house where Eliza's friend, Alice, lives among other craftswomen struggling to survive in a city unforgiving toward widows and orphans.

With no help from the constabulary because the young woman's body was found in a bad part of town—and was dressed as a man—Eliza vows to protect the women and uncover the truth. She suspects a connection between the death and the disappearance, especially given that the young lady who disappeared went missing while searching for the woman who was later found dead.

As Eliza traces their last known steps, she unearths a hidden world of dangerous secrets lurking beneath the city—secrets that could tear apart everything she holds dear.

This pulse-racing historical mystery will intrigue and delight anyone fascinated by the founding fathers and feminist history.

Genres: Mystery, Historical, Historical Fiction, Audiobook, Historical Mystery

Audible Audio

Published February 10, 2026

About the author

Author also writes as Mollie Cox Bryan

Reviews

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an entertaining, beautifully written, historical fiction mystery novel. It is a fictional story based on actual persons, with a likable, intelligent female protagonist, murder, mystery, intrigue, and a satisfying conclusion. I truly enjoyed being immersed in the world of Eliza Hamilton and her family in early 19th century New York. This is the second entry in Mollie Ann Cox's delightful Eliza Hamilton Mystery series, and it can be read as a stand alone. Cassandra Campbell does an outstanding job narrating the audiobook.

[Grandma Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author is new to me and this is the second book in the series. I will be listening to the first one this month. Eliza, the widow of Alexander Hamilton, is a memorable, delightful character. There were several murders and mysteries to solve. I didn’t guess the outcome. I’m also looking forward to more in this series. Highly recommend.

I was blessed with an ALC. Thank you NetGalley and HighBridge. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.

[Courtney Pityer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Widow Hamilton is an upcoming historical fiction novel which is the second book in the Eliza Hamilton mystery series. While I haven't read the first book I will say I was quite impressed with how this story turned out. The idea of Alexander Hamilton's wife reinventing herself as a amateur sleuth is an excellent plotline.

This book takes place in December of 1805 and strange things are happening. One woman has disappeared and another is dead. Eliza is deeply disturbed because both of these women reside in the same house as her friend Alice. The law has no interest in seeking justice as one of the bodies was found in a rough part of town.

However, Eliza decides to take matters into her own hands and retrace the step that the women took before their deaths. The journey will lead her on a trail of danger and secrets. But in the end she will hopefully find the answers she is looking for.

[Tamara Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and High-rise Audio for my ALC in exchange for my honest review.

The Widow Hamilton is a great historical fiction/mystery. Very fun and intriguing read. It's the second book of the Eliza Hamilton series. I haven't read the first book yet. But was able to enjoy this, the second, book without confusion.
Cassandra Campbell was a brilliant narrator. She is a gifte to authors.

Expected release date February 10 2026

[Jeannine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so glad Eliza Hamilton is back! This series is quickly becoming a favorite because of how it weaves together real events of Eliza's life and fascinating mysteries. We see Eliza dealing with the terribly financial situation Alexander left her, her many children, and a mystery involving a house full of women supporting themselves (we met them in the first book, The Lace Widow).

One woman from the house is murdered and another has disappeared. Eliza decides to help track them down, as the police don't seem interested. Meanwhile, there's a group of zealots who think all women should be married and they are selling women to men, mostly outside the city. Despite the darkness all around her, Eliza is relentless in her pursuit of justice for one woman and safety for the other.

There's a nice reprieve from Eliza's personal stress when Angelica visits. It's so nice to see the sisters together, especially when Eliza seems to have the world on her shoulders.

Bonus: There's great representation here!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun and intriguing and heartbreaking historical mystery. I don't think I've read much historical fiction from this specific time period in America and so I appreciated how it really explored the lives of different women during this time. There are so many different fates of women without a husband and this book shows some of the darker sides that I hadn't considered much about. There are a lot of dark threads to follow in this one and it was fascinating seeing Eliza and her friends piecing things together. I also loved seeing her and her sister working together. There is a lot of emotion in this book and really great characters! I would love to read more in this series.

Note: I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed it. The narration of Eliza is such a good mix of harried and a bit stressed, but also calm and authoritative when needed.

Thanks to the publishers for an ALC; my thoughts and review are my own.

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

One young lace maker is dead, and another lace maker is missing. The constabulary is not interested in justice, but Eliza Hamilton is. She may not know why the woman’s body was found in a dangerous area, but she does know why she was dressed as a man. She also feels there is a connection between the woman’s death and the woman who has gone missing. Eliza learns there is a militant group that believes all women should be married and is selling women to men. She hopes that it has no part in her investigation. Eliza is also facing the loss of the home she and Alexander built.

With the holidays, Eliza’s two oldest sons have come home, and her sister Angelica has come for a visit. She is very willing to help Eliza in any way to find out what happened to the women. Her sons encourage them both to let the authorities handle it because it is so dangerous.

In her follow-up to The Lace Widow, Mollie Ann Cox reconnects Eliza with the women of the Pearl Street house. Like Eliza, they are very strong women trying to make their way in a time and a city where widows, single women, and orphans are treated horribly. Eliza works tirelessly to change this, using the status given her by being Alexander Hamilton’s widow, most of whom do not know what dire financial straights she finds herself in following his death. Her courage to push forward is admirable. Her sister, Angelica, Mrs. John Church, is the same. Always ready to fight for others. Together, they are pretty unstoppable. Eliza’s sons, Alexander Jr. and James, become involved in the investigation in an effort to keep their mother and aunt safe. They have been raised well with the right values and will see their mother in a new light.

Mrs. General Hamilton and Mrs. John Church start their investigation following the path the lace makers took before their death/disappearance. They started at the Pearl House and visited high-society households, nearby shops, and even to the darker side of town. They also checked in with the constabulary several times. The blustery winter weather made travel precarious at times, but Eliza and Anegelica were determined, to their driver’s dismay. It was a complex investigation with many secrets being held and omissions being made. Key observations needed to be explained. Inquiries had to be made time and time again to obtain the truth.

What makes stories like this so entertaining is that while the story is fictional, it truthfully depicts the history of the time. We are also taken into Eliza’s life, from raising her children, trying to have a holiday celebration with her financial worries, her quest to open an orphanage, all while preserving her husband’s legacy. Add to that a complicated mystery to solve.

Before reading The Lace Widow, Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton was herself a mystery to me. Ms. Cox took time to do the heavy lifting with the research to give her readers an entertaining reimagination of her life, adding some sleuthing to her history. In The Widow Hamilton, that story continues with another compelling mystery, featuring characters that truly come to life with her words. With scenes described in vivid detail and rich dialogues, I felt transported back in time. Mysteries mixed with history to make this book a Perfect Escape.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

For some reason, this one just didn’t resonate with me…
Don’t get me wrong, the story was good and so was the narration… but it just wasn’t for me.

Surprising, as I usually love historical fiction…

In any case, Mrs. General Hamilton is facing many problems in her life right now, but the most troubling is the death of one of her close friends…
And off she goes in an attempt to solve the mystery. BUT, while doing so, another close friend goes missing…

As she and her friends “investigate” they seem to unravel more and more problems along the way….

But in the end, they DO solve it… and what a surprise it is!

3 bold stars for me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️

#TheWidowHamilton by @MollieAnnCox and narrated nicely by @CassandraCampbell.

This one has not been released yet. Look 👀 for it on 2/10/26.

Thanks so much to #NetGalley, @HighBridgeAudio and @HighBridgeMedia for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!!

You can also find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Instagram: @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine

Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️

[Michelle "Champ" · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, well, I was pleasantly surprised with this. I am very intrigued by the American Reveloution times, and read many book based on the time period, but I had no clue that an author was out there writing books about Eliza the widow, crime solver. What a grand idea! I also like that we, the reader, get an idea of what the Widow Hamilton did after Alexander. I just love the thought of her being a crime solver! In this book, she and her pals try to figure out what happened to Rebecca (I may have spelled this incorrectly, I listened to the audio). What I liked about Rebecca was that she was breaking gender norms and entering worlds usually only made for men. I hated she was murdered, even though we never met her properly, she felt like a friend.

I hate spoilers so I will just say, I was smitten from the get go and had to keep going until Eliza figured it out. I hope there are more books in this series and thank the author for such creativity all around. What an enjoyable experience.

[Larissa Norton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this as an audiobook ARC on NetGalley and I’m glad I did. I gave it a three star because I did very much enjoy it, it just didn’t have the oomph that I personally would like to see in order to give it a four or a five star.
This book puzzled me at the same time making it all make sense. The mystery and over all story was well done and well written. Since this isn't my typical genre, I likely wouldn't have read this on my own and I did struggle for a bit of it to stay interested, but I am grateful I pressed on and continued listening to it because it really was a great read (or listen). I do think I’ll look into more books by Molly Ann Cox, as she definitely knows how to craft a good story.
I think my favorite part of the entire story was how the author wrote Angelica St. Church (Schuyler). I know she was a real living historical person in the past, I just LOVE how Molly Ann Cox wrote her character and personality for this story. She was very witty, funny, sassy, and so ready for everything. She was written a bit wild and adventurous, which did well to stay true to all I’ve heard and read of the actual Angelica in history. I had so much fun listening to Angelica in this story.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had never given much thought to what became of Alexander Hamilton’s widow, but Mollie Ann Cox is here to provide readers with the details of this remarkable woman’s life. Though she wasn’t actually a sleuth as posited here, she did live a long life with her many children, founded a large orphanage, and dedicated much of her life to preserving her husband’s legacy, organizing his papers and keeping him in the public eye. Along with Dolley Madison and Louisa Adams, she raised the funds for the Washington Monument.

But back to this novel – in this story, Eliza has only been a widow for a year, has a houseful of children, and is worrying that the home she built with Alexander will be repossessed by the bank. Meanwhile, she continues visiting friends of hers – women who live together, making a living with their sewing (lacemaking, embroidery, quilting, etc.). Two of the women have disappeared, and one of them is found dead, the other remaining missing, The woman who is the defacto head of this all female household, Alice, is not letting things lie, however, and neither is Eliza, who uses her position to insist that the police investigate.

One of the things I appreciated about this book was simply the portrayal of women’s lives. Eliza is not ordinary herself but like many a mystery heroine, she can straddle several social and economic groups, with the difference that when she is introduced as “Mrs. General Hamilton” she is granted respect, an audience, and sometimes, answers. Helping her in her sleuthing is her sister Angelica, who is a bit more bold than Eliza.

As the two women visit the apothecary where the women were last seen, the constabulary, and the home where the women sewers make their living, a portrait of early New York City is formed: a small town growing into a large one. Eliza’s sons bemoan the fact that they used to know every alleyway, but continual change and building is changing the town where they grew up. They are some help in the investigation but most of it belongs to Eliza.

The investigation leads to the discovery of several nefarious activities that find Eliza charging all over town, to the dismay of her coach driver, and to the dismay of her children who are merely wanting to celebrate Advent and Christmas as a family. This dynamic is as powerful in the 1800’s as it is now. It’s really the characters and the portrayal of their lives that drive the novel. The sleuthing is on the gentle side, the characters, on the memorable side.

As I read this book during a snowstorm I appreciated Eliza’s search for warmth in a cold city, and I enjoyed meeting the many women she encounters. The wrap up to the mystery is a good one and quite surprising as well, which is a neat trick for any author to pull off successfully. This is a real bit of armchair time travel.

[Barbara Schultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: The Widow Hamilton
Series; An Elisa Hamilton Mystery #2
Author: Mollie Ann Cox
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Cassandra Campbell
Publisher: Highbridge Audio/Cooked Lane Books
Genre: Historical Fiction, Women’s Fiction
Pub Date: February 10, 2026
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Pages: 336

This is the Second story of Eliza Hamilton the wife of Alexander Hamilton who died following his duel with Aaron Burr.
In the First story The Lace Willow we follow Eliza who was left with little money and deep in debt after Hamilton’s dead. Eliza doesn't know how she will be able to pay her bills and provide for their eight children. Then Eliza reconnects with Alice, someone she helped after her own husband's death. Alice manages a widow support group who are lace makers. Eliza turns to selling her handmade lace— as there is a demand by New York’s high-society families.


In this story - it is December 1805, and Eliza wants to seek justice for the death of Rebecca and also find out why Josephine has vanished—both women are/were residents of where Eliza’s friend, Alice manages a widow’s support home. It seems Jo disappeared while searching for the Rebecca. We find out that Rebecca was dresses as a man and was found outside a ‘Gentlemen’s Club.

The police are not very interested in doing anything. Most of villagers are not kind to women struggling to survive. The gossip is that these women should get married and not be living in a home with so many women. The villagers make accusations of what the women surely must be doing.

When Angelica Eliza’s sister comes for a visit it is the support she needs to solve this mystery. Plus her nineteen-year-old son, Alexander Jr is very helpful.
We find out that Rebecca was leading a very interesting life. As we learn more about her - it becomes clearer what might have happened that got her killed.

This story turned out sooo much better than I expected- I totally enjoyed it.
Plus Cassandra Campbell is one of my favorite audiobook performers.

This was my first Mollie Ann Cox and I will definitely read another!

I want to thank NetGalley and Highbridge Audio and Crooked Lane Books this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for February 10, 2026.

[Tiana E. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and High Bridge Audio for an ALC copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book surprised me.

What really pulled me in was how unflinching it was about Eliza’s reality after Alexander’s death. There’s grief, yes—but more than that, there’s panic. Debt. Pressure. The quiet terror of realizing love doesn’t protect you from poverty. The story doesn’t soften that blow, and I appreciated that honesty.

One of my favorite (and most uncomfortable) threads was how the book handled women disguising themselves as men to survive. Not as some dramatic statement, but because it was necessary. It was safer. It paid better. And sometimes it was the only option. What made this even more compelling was the reaction from other women—because not all of it was supportive. Some were openly hostile. Judgmental. Bitter.

That dynamic felt brutally real. The story doesn’t pretend women are always allies to one another. It shows how quickly “support women” energy can disappear when a woman does something bold, transgressive, or simply unrelatable. There’s gossip. There’s resentment. There’s that familiar undercurrent of women policing other women while insisting they’re on the same side. Messy, uncomfortable, and very human.

I also appreciated that this is part of a series but works perfectly on its own. I jumped straight into this without reading the first book and never felt lost, confused, or like I was missing emotional context—which honestly deserves praise on its own.

And if you’re listening to this on audio—the narrator absolutely nailed it. Each character had a distinct voice, and the emotional beats landed harder because of her performance. It added depth without ever feeling distracting.

This ended up being a 3-star read for me. I genuinely enjoyed the story and the themes it explored, but it did feel a bit long for how everything ultimately wrapped up. The ending didn’t quite hit with the same intensity as the journey—but I still walked away glad I read it.

Favorite quote:
“Sometimes, it’s the righteous who are most dangerous.”

Overall, a thoughtful, sometimes sharp look at survival, womanhood, and what happens when women step outside the roles they’re expected to stay in.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Widow Hamilton is book #2 in the Eliza Hamilton Mystery series by Mollie Ann Cox. Audiobook narrated by Cassandra Campbell.

Eliza, Alexander Hamilton’s widow, is facing challenges. She’s grieving the death of her husband, as well as dealing with financial issues. Then she finds that a young woman has been murdered, and another one has disappeared. She’s curious to find out what happened to these women and because of her status, she’s able to get more information than most other women could. Eliza’s sister arrives for a visit as well as Eliza’s sons so she has help investigating and searching for the missing woman. This is the first book I’ve read in the series and I was able to jump in and follow along. Eliza and her sister faced challenges because of being a woman and the men trying to “protect“ them but they work around that and sometimes use that to their advantage to get the information they need. I really enjoyed this story and plan to read the first book also. I’m a fan of Cassandra Campbell’s narration and she did not disappoint in this book.

Thank you to the author, Highbridge Audio, and NetGalley for the Advanced Listener Copy (ALC) of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Kristina Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

This mystery is perfect for anyone who loves historical fiction, strong female characters, and, of course, the musical HAMILTON! This second installment in the Eliza Hamilton Mystery Series by Mollie Ann Cox follows the disappearance of two young ladies who make clothe stuffs. Eliza and the visiting, Angelica, work alongside their friend, Alice to uncover what has happened to Rebecca and Jo and why. There are many suspects and lots of period humor.

I found this to be a light mystery story that had enough intrigue to keep me guessing and a good pace. The narrator, Cassandra Campbell, differentiated the different voices as best as possible, but it was sometimes challenging to ascertain which Hamilton son was talking without the specific cues of "Alexander said..."

Thank you to #NetGalley and Highbridge Audio for providing access to this audiobook for my listening pleasure!

I am already waiting on the next book in this series!

[MokeysMaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, thank you to Netgalley and RBmedia for the advance audiobook copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.5* rounded down.

Despite jumping into this series without having read the first book, I was able to follow along without feeling like I was missing too much backstory.

New York 1805
Eliza Hamilton, wife of the late Alexander Hamilton (hello the musical "Hamilton"), along with her friend Alice, embark on a search to uncover the truth behind what happened to their friends Rebecca and Jo in this historical fiction/mystery.

It started off slow and I was worried I would lose interest, but once the pacing picked up, it kept my attention.
Overall, I found this to be a memorable story and will definitely read more by Mollie Ann Cox.
Also a shout out to Cassandra Campbell whose narration was spot on.

[Giselle's Unquiet Shelf · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pleasant and accessible historical mystery.

The Widow Hamilton follows Eliza Hamilton, widow of Alexander Hamilton, as an amateur sleuth when a woman is found murdered and another goes missing. Determined to help uncover the truth, Eliza involves herself in the investigation, bringing a thoughtful and observant perspective to the case.

The characters were likable, and I appreciated the subtle anti-patriarchy thread woven throughout the story. While the mystery itself is fairly straightforward, the historical setting adds charm and makes this an engaging read.

Overall, this was a quick and easy historical mystery. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy light murder mysteries set against a historical backdrop.

My thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the advanced e-copy.

[Sammy D · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid 2.5 stars

I listened to this one on audio, and I’ll start by saying the narrator did a great job—they really carried the story.

That said… I was honestly bored for most of it. The description of the book really intrigued me, so I went in expecting more, but it just didn’t deliver.

The only word I can think of to describe this book is vanilla. It’s centered around solving a murder and finding a missing girl, which should have felt tense or gripping, but instead it came across as very mild.

I will give it that extra half star because I did enjoy the time period it was set in, and I think that may be part of why the story felt more toned down or “innocent.”

Overall, not a bad concept, just not engaging enough for me.

[Andrea Wenger · Rating 5 out of 5]

December 1805: When a young woman is murdered and another disappears, Eliza Hamilton vows to find justice in a city that ignores its most vulnerable. Her investigation leads her into a hidden world of dangerous secrets that threaten to destroy all she holds dear.

This is a tense, atmospheric mystery. The story is intriguing with well-developed and fascinating characters. The audiobook narration was well done. I haven't read the first book in the series yet, and that presented no problems. I look forward to more!

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Crystal Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Widow Hamilton is the second book in a series based on Eliza Hamilton written by Mollie Ann Cox. I really enjoyed the historical aspects in the book along with the mystery. It was well written and there are lessons we can learn even today from this book. I haven’t read the first book in the series but hope to soon!

Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for this advanced audiobook! (I also really liked the narrator!)

[Stephanie Ramirez · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Widow Hamilton by Mollie Ann Cox was a solid, enjoyable read, and I’ll say right away—it was better than the first book. The story felt more focused, the pacing improved, and I found it easier to stay engaged this time around. I liked seeing the characters develop a bit more, and the mystery kept my interest even if it didn’t completely wow me. That said, there were still moments where it felt predictable and parts I wished had a little more depth or tension. Overall, a decent follow-up that showed improvement, but still not quite a standout for me.

[Alicia Alford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for this audio ARC copy! With the second novel in the series of Eliza Hamilton, this mystery was a lot more engaging than the first book. Though there were so many repetitive notes. For example, taking in orphans and the fact that oh they needed more money it became distracting from the plot and felt like filler.

[Heather · Rating 1 out of 5]

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the audio version.
I was very very excited to read this novel. I loved the cover. The story was okay. I felt like it was very very feminist for that time period. I just feel like a woman of her stature would not have been so feminist and it was very unbelievable and unrealistic in my opinion. I found myself rolling my eyes a lot.

[Shannon Hinkson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book overall, It had a really good mystery and the ending was not what I was expecting. I felt that the book had some really good depth covering things in good details and was very well written with a lot of different emotions being portrayed throughout.

[Michaela H.]

great book

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 I enjoyed this one and really like the characters but I liked the first one better which had more true facts of Eliza Hamilton's life included.

[Olivia Blacke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic historical mystery!