Winnifred Wylde is the daughter of a local police inspector, living in Chicago during the World's Fair. She fancies herself as a Victorian era Nancy Drew, but unfortunately her overactive imagination has led to her making too many incorrect speculations and accusations. When she really does see a kidnapping, her story is brushed aside as another absurd tale. Her father, worried that his daughter may follow up on her conjectures and find herself in trouble, sends along a new recruit, Jude Thorpe, to follow her from a distance and keep her from harm.
As a light romance, this tale is delightful and fast paced, despite much of the action taking place in tea parlors and other seemingly innocuous locations. The main characters are likeable and arguably free from any glaring flaws without coming across as cloying. Winnie does jump the gun more than once, often placing herself into potentially dangerous situations, but it feels like a natural part of her character instead of a plot device.
Other reviewers have mentioned that this book may have been mis-categorized. I agree, as it is marketed as true crime, but reads as general Christian fiction or historical romance. There is little detail or psychological insight regarding the serial killer. Instead, he is used as means to draw our two characters together into a relationship that the reader knows is coming from their first introduction. However, I am not going to base my rating on that since the author is not to blame for how the publisher chose to market this book. Putting the true crime label aside and reading it for its own merit, I enjoyed the story as it was written and was instantly swept up into the setting. Although the outcome was predictable, I was invested in seeing how they got there in the end. 3.5 stars.

I would like to thanks Barbour Publishing and netgalley for providing me with an E-ARC which did not influence my honest review.

I received an advanced digital copy of this book from Netgalley.com and Barbour Publishing.

This debut novel from Grace Hitchcock the right combination of historical fiction and romance, the tale of Winifred Wylde is set during the spectacle of the Chicago World's Fair. While finding the perfect suitor is a challenge, finding criminals and crime to report to her policeman father is incredibly easy. Add a meddling aunt and the most notorious serial killer in America, the story is almost perfect.

The White City is a entertaining read.

4 out of 5 stars. Recommended reading.

I enjoyed this sweet, Christian historical mystery. The main character Winifred Rose Wylde, is the daughter of a Police Inspector who longs for the chance to prove to her father that she has a nose for police work too. Unfortunately she has tried a little too hard in the past to prove that there were mysterious happenings only to be proven wrong. So when she does at last witness an abduction at the Chicago World's Fair, her father doesn't take her very seriously. Lucky for her, she is assigned a police bodyguard who actually listens to her and takes her observations seriously.

Soon, they both find themselves involved with a disreputable hotel owner whose business practices reveal his criminal nature. Winifred and her bodyguard must prove that the hotel owner is a nefarious criminal before another young woman goes missing. The story has an exciting climax and a satisfying resolution.

What an endearing debut!
Winnifred had her head in the clouds and for a moment I thought she'd border to be too naive. No fear though, this lady has gumption and determination! And this courageous personality is one the things that first draws investigator Jude Thorpe to her, to the point that almost makes him lose his mind in worry.

Winnie knows Jude is only doing the job her father assigned him by looking out for her, nevertheless she can't help but notice how well they work together and her differently he treats her compared to those who easily dismiss her. But Jude has his own secrets, and Winnie's dad has firmly stated his disregard for her to find a suitor in the law force.

Will these be strong enough reason to keep Winnie and Jude from developing feelings towards each other? Or can they find a way to be together before the dangers be the final straw to keep them apart?

The White City by Grace Hitchcock is historical fiction based on True Crime. This book has elements that will please most readers mystery, suspense., thrills, murder, romance and Christian values. I liked the historical details since I am Intrigued by H.H. Holmes and how he was able to hide his criminal acts for so long. The White City is very fast paced with a daring heroine and is light reading despite its serious aspects.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book.

This was an interesting read. While it's fictional, it's based on a real serial killer. Most of the info is correct but it just whets your appetite if you love true crime. It doesn't go in depth to H.H. Holmes heinous crimes, most of which occurred outside of the time frame of the book. It is a very sweet romance at the same time (albeit NOT with H.H. Holmes!). The fictional characters are believable and relatable. Winnifred is the main character and she is very headstrong in a time that that wasn't really acceptable. All in all a very good read. I would definitely read more by this author.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley and voluntarily chose to review it.

What a great start to a new series! The characters leap off the pages. This is a story that will hold you til the end., and stay with you for a while. Hitchcock has taken true crime and intricately woven this story. Thanks to Barbour Publishing and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed this historiical crime novel about a young, independent woman who wanted more from her life than the expected marriage proposal and wedding! Taking place at the time of the World Fair in Chicago in the 1860s, the story used the real life criminal, serial killer H.H. Holmes, as the focus of Winnifred Wylde’s desire to be a detective. She is sure she sees a young woman kidnapped at the White CIty, but has difficulty getting others to believe it. So sets the drama of Winnifred setting out to prove what she saw while being sure that this is the person responsible for the many missing women reported during the Worlds Fair.. With the help of another detective tasked by her father to keep an eye on her, she arranges to meet and then work for H.H. Holmes, living under an alias. I recently read another book detailing this White City serial killer and was curious to see how this story followed along with the story, I was happy to see that it definitely was based on factual happenings and built the fictional story along with it. I look forward to reading the other books that will follow in this series. I believe Grace Hitchcock has the makings of a popular series with this first book following the sleuthing abilities of Ms. Winnifred Wylde. I was given an ARC of this book from the author, publisher and Net Galley in return for an honest review, which this has been. #TheWhiteCity #NetGalley

The White City is quite an interesting read. I have read about H H Holmes and it was fascinating to see him part of a story in a fictional book. I enjoyed the suspense and mystery that surrounds Winnifred Wylde. I had no problem reading this whole book in just a few hours.
I am giving The White City a well deserved five plus stars. I can not wait to find out where Grace Hitchcock’s imagination takes the reader in her next release.

White City was a refreshing first book in a brand new series called True Colors: Historical Stories of American Crime. Since it is published by Barbour, I knew that it would be a well-written Christian fiction book.

The author, Grace Hitchcock does a wonderful job of making the characters and their actions resonate with the time period they are from. I love how the women and men treated each other respectively the way I imagine life would be in 1893. I especially enjoyed the main character, Winnifred; her love of mystery books and how her somewhat impulsive actions propel her into investigating a crime that so far has been unsolved. Because of past mistakes, there are those who think she couldn't possibly have a lead on anything important.

The plot was well thought out. The romance in the book isn't what I've come to think as the typical girl dislikes boy from the moment they meet, and then within days they fall madly in love with each other. The book offers a romance that falls in the category of an actual courtship with an aunt and father having a lot to say about who Winnifred should date. I also liked that the characters rely on God, and that fact is mentioned. This is a Christian fiction book with Christianity in it.

This book was every enjoyable, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good, clean mystery.

I thought this was a rather fun read with a hint of mischief and romance! I enjoyed the playfulness of the main character and the love that eventually blossomed. As a Christian book, I appreciated that the author drew it back to good morals and the idea to help one another, thus finding fulfillment in self.
This was my first read by this author and I dare say, won't be the last.

NetGalley ARC.

Since my early days of hanging out with Wilder, Alcott, and Montgomery and more mature interactions with Janette Oke and Tracie Peterson, I’ve always had a soft spot for historical fiction. It is still my favourite genre to date. There is something about being transported to another time and place in history that absolutely thrills me – the experience without the discomforts.

I was hopeful when I requested a copy of The White City by Grace Hitchcock. I was excited when I received the notification that a copy was mine for the reading.

The White City was set in Chicago during the 1893 World’s Fair. It is the perfect blend of historical fact and intriguing fiction. (I never knew the Fair was a hunting ground for a serial killer!) The elements of romance, danger, and intrigue were exquisitely intertwined resulting in a fast-paced, emotionally balanced tale.

I absolutely loved the headstrong, impetuous, intrepid, confident nature of Winnie, our heroine. She was also a book-lover, so what’s not to love? The romance element was delightful and I enjoyed the contrast between the two possible suitors. The portrayal of the era’s societal norms and conflicting desire for a woman to be her own person while being perceived as capable and intelligent was nicely depicted. There was no objectionable content for my friends who like their books G-rated (well, maybe PG with the focus of the investigation.)

An excellent read overall! I’ve already recommended it to a few of my friends. I look forward to exploring other titles from Ms. Hitchcock.

I was provided with a copy of this title via NetGalley, courtesy of the author and/or publisher. All opinions are my own, given with thanks for the opportunity to review this book.

Published by: Barbour Publishing, Inc., Barbour Books;
Publication Date: March 1, 2019

2.5 stars

I enjoy True Crime stories, so I was interested in seeing how Christian fiction would tackle it in this new series, starting with The White City by Grace Hitchcock.

The story is based on H.H. Holmes, a read serial killer who terrorized Chicago during the time of the World’s Fair in 1893. Winnifred Wylde loves romance novels but finds herself playing amateur detective after witnessing what she believes to be a kidnapping. Jude Thorpe, a police detective, is assigned by her father to be her bodyguard as she works undercover as a secretary to investigate the potential suspect. Has she indeed found the killer? Will she end up being the next victim?

I don’t know a lot about this time in history, so I did learn a bit along the way. However, the pace was a bit slower than expected (or preferred). There wasn’t as much suspense as I’d anticipated, especially as it’s based on a real (serial killer) event. At times, the action was spot-on, but it didn’t maintain the pace throughout. When reading books such as this, I enjoy sleuthing out the clues along with the character, but I really wasn’t able to do that with this story. The romance angle was a bit predictable, but it was okay. While this wasn’t exactly my cup of tea, I’m interested in checking out other books in the series as they’re released.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy, but I wasn’t required to write a positive review.

I just loved Winnifred Wylde in this wonderful book that Grace Hitchcock wrote! She is a very likeable, strong willed woman who knows what she wants and does not want to settle. And the amazing protector Jude Thorpe is absolutely adorable as well! This is a definite page turner, especially at the end! I was late putting my kids to bed because I couldn't stop until I was finished!

Clean historical romance. I was aware of the "Murder Castle" as I had seen stories on TV about the events. The book contains many facts about the incidents of the past but is primarily focused on the spirited Winnie's escapades and romance. The details of the courtship of the time are fun and interesting. There are no gory details and it gives a glimpse of life during that time period. There are Biblical quotations and references throughout the book. It would be quite suitable for a young innocent pre- teen to read. Takes you back in time to customs of old, much like an episode of the TV show, 'Murdoch's Mysteries'. The author has done a lot of work in capturing the customs and conversation of the time period. Fun easy read.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. I received this book as a complimentary copy for an honest review. The opinions expressed are my own.

I am not ashamed to admit that I enjoy a well-written romance. There are those who would say that most of them are predictable and formulaic and there are times I would agree. But they are still a frequent guilty pleasure on my "to be read" list.

Just last year, I read a book titled "The Devil in the White City" which is a non-fiction re-telling of the infamous serial killer H. H, Holmes, his infamous murder house, and the Chicago World's Fair so when I read the synopsis and discovered that the author wrote the romance around Holmes' crimes? I was MORE than intrigued. Winnifred is endearing and believable and her romantic complications progress in a way that feels very natural.

The thing I appreciated the most was how well the author describes Holmes, his bizarre hotel, and Winnifred's experiences while working for him. Even a reader with no prior knowledge of Holmes and his crimes would get an accurate picture of him and his schemes. The author used the names of real women who were believed to be victims of Holmes and simply inserted a fictional character into the story - Winnifred - who was secretly working with the police to find evidence of Holmes crimes.

Hitchcock beautifully blended real-life crime with a fictional romance to create a story I enjoyed reading. This title is due to debut in March of this year (2019) with a sequel due out in 2020. I look forward to reading that title as well!

It took a bit for me to get into this story but once I did, I was hooked. I had never heard of the infamous serial killer, H. H. Holmes. Was interesting to learn about him in the book and then google him afterward and see some pictures of him and his hotel, which is described in the book.

The White City by Grace Hitchcock leads off a new multi-author series from Barbour Books that, at least in this first outing, weaves together a fictional historical romance with notorious American crimes.

Set mainly at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair and in a building that became notorious as the “murder castle” of America’s first serial killer, H.H. Holmes, this short novel centers around a would-be female detective and the police officer assigned to keeping her out of trouble. This novel mixes the fun of a historical romance between a spunky and determined Winifred Wylde and the stalwart, handsome Jude Thorpe with a true tale of a monstrous man whose criminal career almost reads like an unlikely work of fiction.

The premise intrigued me, as I could not imagine wrapping a historical romance around the horrible crimes of H.H. Holmes. And this story itself is a bit implausible at times, but this does not detract from it’s odd mix of entertainment and horror.

This is a novel, and perhaps a series, that will appeal to those who enjoy historical romance with a faith element and for fans of true crime mixed with fiction. An interesting choice for Barbour Books, and I find I’m curious to see what true American crimes this series will tackle next.

This review refers to a digital galley read courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

Very interesting characters in an unusual murder mystery. Definitely historically fairly accurate, I think!

I thoroughly enjoyed this debut novel from Grace Hitchcock. It was all the more fascinating as it was based on the true story of America’s first serial killer. Winnie Wylde is at the World’s Fair in Chicago when she witnesses a woman being abducted. However, her inspector father isn’t sure if it really happened or if it’s a product of her overly active imagination. He reluctantly lets her go undercover to see what she can find out if she is shadowed by one of his detectives.
Winnie is a great character. She is ready for an adventure and is willing to do whatever it takes to save lives. She doesn’t want to settle into a gentlewoman’s life of receiving callers and attending balls. She is courageous. She finds herself in a love triangle when her aunt wants her to marry one man but she finds herself always thrown together with another. I liked both Jude and Percy. They are both so passionate about their very different callings. It made for a great read.
Thank you to Barbour Books and Netgalley for providing me an e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.