Black Cake

Charmaine Wilkerson, an American writer, spent much of her childhood living in the Caribbean and is now based in Rome. A former television news reporter, journalist and recovered marathon runner, she is a debut novelist and an award-winning writer of short fiction. Black Cake is in development as a Hulu original series produced by Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Films, Marissa Jo Cerar and Kapital Entertainment.

Eleanor Bennett won't let her own death get in the way of the truth. When her estranged children - Byron and Benny - reunite for her funeral, they discover a puzzling inheritance. First, a voice recording in which everything they ever knew about their family is upended. Their mother tells a tumultuous story about a headstrong young woman who escapes her island home under suspicion of murder. Second, a traditional Caribbean black cake made from a longstanding family recipe, that Eleanor hopes will heal the wounds of the past. Can Byron and Benny fulfil their mother's final request, to share the black cake at the right time? Or will Eleanor's revelations leave them feeling more lost than ever? 'An incredible family saga spanning sixty years ... about secrets and inheritance' Guardian. 'I was immediately drawn in' Bonnie Garmus, bestselling author of Lessons in Chemistry, i 'A roiling soup of family secrets, big lies, great loves, bright colours and strong smells' New York Times 'A sweeping story, with Wilkerson masterfully bringing together all the different threads' Independent 'A special, beautifully written novel that's as rich and intoxicating as the Jamaican rum cake of its title' Good Housekeeping.