The White City (True Colors) by Grace Hitchcock

The White City

(True Colors)

by Grace Hitchcock 

Paperback, 256 pages

Published March 1st 2019 by Barbour Books

Goodreads synopsis:

Mysterious Disappearances Taint the Chicago World’s Fair

Step into True Colors -- a new series of Historical Stories of Romance and American Crime

While attending the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893, Winnifred Wylde believes she witnessed a woman being kidnapped. She tries to convince her father, an inspector with the Chicago police, to look into reports of mysterious disappearances around the White City. Inspector Wylde tries to dismiss her claims as exaggeration of an overactive imagination, but he eventually concedes to letting her go undercover as secretary to the man in question—if she takes her pistol for protection and Jude Thorpe, a policeman, for bodyguard.

Will she be able to expose H. H. Holmes’s illicit activity, or will Winnifred become his next victim?

***

5 Stars

This book was not what I expected it to be. 

I guess I would categorize it as a Historical Christian Romantic Suspense Intrigue. I thought this might be a true crime depiction of a notorious character from the past, more hard-hitting and hard-nosed. What I found instead was a sweet story about Winnifred Wylde, a pretty modern woman for the time turn of the 1900 century. She dreamed of a life of adventure she found in the pages of her books. Her father, a lawman, lost his wife due to the shock of one of his investigations and has forbade his daughter to ever marry a lawman like himself.

Enter Jude Thorpe. He is everything her father doesn’t want for her future. So, of course, he is the man for her. Then her favorite author, Percy, shows up, charming, good looking and wealthy. He is her family’s ideal for her. 

This story is a mix of the family pushing her to accept the dandy (love that word description) Percy and the investigation of the world’s first serial killer H.H. Holmes wth Jude. I believe this is a story that is inspired by the notorious serial killer, Holmes and told from a Christian romantic perspective.

I thought this was a fun book. I loved all the turn of the century words they used for common items we would use today like purses were called reticules. Great book. The Christian part is not too obnoxious like it is in some books. Very subtle. If you are looking for a sweet historical romantic suspense, check this one out for sure.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

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Grace Hitchcock is the author of The White City and The Gray Chamber from Barbour Publishing. She has written multiple novellas in The Second Chance Brides, The Southern Belle Brides, and the Thimbles and Threads collections with Barbour Publishing. She holds a Masters in Creative Writing and a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in History. Grace lives in southern Louisiana with her husband, Dakota, and son. Visit Grace online at GraceHitchcock.com.