“While chasing down these little-known stories, Bruno examines her own intentions: “Was I looking for absolution?” Her answer: a calling drew her to the task—and good thing, too, for this is very well done. . . . A strong, surprising addition to the history of slavery in America.”

“A valiant, in-depth, and invaluable investigation.”

“The history of the Hudson Valley in this book is a fascinating read and a valuable resource.”

“What Bruno did was write her first book, “A Hudson Valley Reckoning: Discovering the Forgotten History of Slaveholding in My Dutch Family” (Three Hills, an Imprint of Cornell University Press). In her book, Bruno not only unearths much of her family’s past that included over 20 enslavers, but she also reached out to Black Americans tracing their own ancestry. She eventually met and became friends with Eleanor C. Mire, a descendant of a woman enslaved by one of Bruno’s Dutch ancestors.”

“The book is strongly recommended to all who love investigatory researching, an engrossing story, and Hudson Valley color in particular.”

“With the help of Mire, who provides a moving epilogue, Debra Bruno tells the story of white and Black lives impacted by the stain of slavery and its long legacy of racism, as she investigates the erasure of the uncomfortable truths about our family and national histories.”

“A Hudson Valley Reckoning is an intimate memoir of historical research. Ms. Bruno blends a style reminiscent of film noir voice-over and an investigative tone resonant with her experience in journalism. ”