"Empty Mansions" is a mesmerizing journey into the secluded world of Huguette Clark, an enigmatic heiress whose life story is as rich and mysterious as the estate she left behind. Born into unimaginable wealth during the pinnacle of the Gilded Age, Huguette was the daughter of W.A. Clark, a copper magnate who rivaled Rockefeller's fortune. Yet, amidst the splendor of her family's vast riches, she chose a life of obscurity, spending her final decades in a modest hospital room rather than her grand, unoccupied mansions. This tantalizing narrative, crafted by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Bill Dedman and Huguette's cousin, Paul Clark Newell, Jr., delves deep into the paradox of a woman who was both fiercely protective of her privacy and incredibly generous, her fortune quietly dispensed in gifts to friends and strangers alike. Beyond the surface of Huguette's secluded existence, "Empty Mansions" uncovers the battle over her $300 million inheritance, a saga that connects the opulence of the past with contemporary conflicts over wealth and influence. Dedman and Newell weave a captivating tale that is part historical biography, part legal thriller, exploring the complexities of Huguette's relationships with her family, her loyal nurse who received gifts totaling more than $30 million, and the distant relatives contesting for her fortune. This narrative is not just the story of a woman who lived on her own terms but a reflective look into America's Gilded Age legacy, told through the lens of the Clark family's rise from log cabins to luxury, their influence shaping the nation from the Montana gold rush to the streets of Fifth Avenue. "Empty Mansions" is a compelling portrait of a life that defies categorization, a book that captivates with the allure of hidden treasures and the mysteries of a secluded heiress.