In the Belly of the Anaconda is a sweeping historical fiction set during the American Civil War, primarily focusing on the occupation of New Orleans and the personal struggles of its citizens amid the conflict. Through the lens of protagonist Rachel Durand, the story explores themes of survival, identity, and transformation in a society in upheaval.

Rachel, a widow navigating the occupied city, struggles to support her family while facing moral dilemmas and the weight of her Southern heritage. As Union forces tighten their grip on New Orleans, she is drawn into a world of espionage, intrigue, and resistance. 

The novel also explores the moral and social dilemmas its characters face, including the tension between Southern tradition and the harsh realities of war, the plight of enslaved people seeking freedom, subtle antisemitism, and the struggle of women to find agency in a male-dominated society.