The novel follows Belle da Costa Greene as she receives employment from J. P. Morgan and establishes herself in high society while disguising her true identity as a person of color in the early twentieth century.

[1] Murray, a Black woman, was able to add personal information to the story given that her grandmother, who had lived in a similar time period as da Costa Greene, had also been able to pass as white.

In her starred review for Booklist, Donna Seaman wrote, "Every element of this blockbuster historical novel is compelling and revelatory, beginning with the bedazzling protagonist based with awestruck care on Belle da Costa Greene.

"[10] Publishers Weekly reviewed the book positively, noting that "Benedict and Murray do a great job capturing Belle’s passion and tenacity as she carves a place for herself in a racist male-dominated society.

"[11] Writing for The Christian Science Monitor, Heather McAlpin noted that Benedict and Murray's "teamwork has yielded an engrossing, well-researched read, which the authors assure us is anchored in 'the available facts,'" though "[l]iberties have, of course, been taken.