Rebels Against God: A novel of murder, politics, and abolition in 19th century Virginia

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"Rebels Against God" is a meticulously researched historical novel set in 1800s Virginia, where the noble words of the Declaration of Independence clash with the harsh realities of slavery. Virginia's powerful planters, unwilling to relinquish their slave-owning privileges, challenge the founding principles of the nation. As Northern states lean towards abolition, one man in Virginia dares to stand against the tide.

In 1806, founding father and abolitionist Chancellor George Wythe shook the foundations of Virginia's slaveholding society with a groundbreaking judicial opinion. In the case of Wright v. Hudgins, Wythe declared three enslaved women free, asserting freedom as the birthright of all humans. Supported by the Virginia Declaration of Rights, his decision was a beacon of hope for many, but a threat to others. Weeks later, Wythe and his mixed-race studentrumored to be the son of President Thomas Jefferson and his slave Sally Hemingswere murdered. Although a trial followed, no one was convicted, and the records were destroyed in the Civil War, leaving the case an unsolved mystery.

"Rebels Against God" immerses readers into the investigation led by Samuel Morrison, an anti-slavery pamphleteer, and Elizabeth Pleasants, a former slave. They navigate the treacherous waters of racial and political tensions to unveil the shocking truth behind the murders and the ensuing cover-up. This historical mystery provides a compelling resolution to the unsolved murder of George Wythe, shedding light on the dark side of America's founding era.