In a Nutshell…

“Beloved by her grandchildren.” “A female fiend.” “One of the most expert sneak thieves in the country.” How could all of these describe the same woman? After an 1889 newspaper article surfaced, I uncovered the secret double life of my husband’s ancestor Catherine Seeley—widowed, scorned, and, at sixty years old, just getting started.

The Story Behind the Pages…

After finding a newspaper article about Catherine’s 1899 divorce trial from William A. Seeley, I started researching her life. I originally self-published the book (titled Opulent in Aliases) for family only, on lulu.com. Now that I have learned about creative nonfiction, I have rewritten her story, making full use of her character!

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In the gaslit streets of Gilded Age Chicago and Kansas City, a stout woman in widow’s black glides from parlor to parlor, claiming charity work, dropping names of mayors and ministers—and collecting cash wherever she goes. With a cameo at her throat, gold spectacles on her nose, and a diamond flashing from her left hand, Catherine Seeley was many things to many people. But none of them knew the full truth.

Until now.

Drawing from court records, yellowed newspapers, and forgotten letters, Countess of Cons unearths the astonishing true story of a respectable-looking matron who lived a double life as a con artist. At nearly sixty years old, Catherine began crafting aliases, staging schemes, and outwitting authorities in an era that left few options for women on their own. Her crimes were daring, sometimes absurd—but always intentional.

Historian and award-winning novelist Deborah S. Holman, peels back the layers of family silence to reveal a woman who defied expectations, manipulated reputations, and left behind a tangled legacy. This meticulously researched narrative reads like a novel—because the best stories really are true.

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