The White City (True Colors)
by Grace Hitchcock40738332

March 1st 2019
by Barbour Books
ISBN 1683228685
(ISBN13: 9781683228684)
Grace Hitchcock takes after her name sake not only in mystery but setting up the suspense. Using the usual suspects she takes over the mystery with a romantic twist. A thrilling story a great adventure and a remarkable love story. The disappearance of several women during the worlds fair has raised the hackles of this high class lady. She believes she has seen this abductor in person. What she does to find the solution of the mystery may be more deadly than adventurous. This is a great story to startle the mystery world.

This was a cute and fun book- a little romance, a little mystery. From the description I was expecting more of a true crime novel, I would say this was a Christian Romance with some crime solving mixed in. However, I really enjoyed it. Of the 3 books in Barbour Publishing's True Colors Series (books about famous crimes in American history, which I think is such a great idea- a change from most christian fiction novels and with different authors), this one is my favorite. This was a great debut novel from Grace Hitchcock and I look forward to her next book which will be the 4th in the True Colors Series.

I enjoy reading historical fiction books very much. Grace Hitchcock is a new author to me. She did not disappoint with this book. The book is set during the Chicago World’s Fair of 1893. During the fair Winnifred Wylde witnesses a possible abduction of a woman. Rumors are swarming around the city of women being abducted. Winnifred reports it to her father who is a police inspector. He brushes it off as her having an overactive imagination. She is eventually able to convince him she is serious. Winifred goes undercover as a secretary of the suspect Mr. HH Holmes. Her father allows her to go if she takes her pistol hidden in her purse. She is assigned one of her father's detectives for protection named Jude. She tries to dig into the matter without being caught.

Overall I really enjoyed this book.

Thank you NetGalley, Barbour Books and Grace Hitchcock for a copy of The White City. This is the first time that I read a book from Grace Hitchcock and I am truly now a fan. If you are looking for a book that has romance, mystery, and humor between the two main characters, then this is the book for you. I was captivated from the first page. Grace has a great technique to introducing characters and keeping you interested in them throughout the whole story. This ended up being a cute love story. This book felt like I was watching a movie, instead of reading a book. Can’t wait to read her other books.

If you want a good love story, here it is! Not only is it a good love story, but it pokes fun at the sappier love stories out there, while being one itself.
This book has it all. A handsome and muscular man, a strong-willed and beautiful woman, a villain based on a real- life criminal, a doting and protective father, a funny best friend, a peculiar and handsome suitor that makes the woman have to choose between the two men, a bit of mystery, a beautiful city setting, and suspense throughout the book.

I loved reading this book because it was kind of a refreshing read. As a reader, you are taken on the journey with this woman as she is forced into a social life when all she wants is to work in a man’s world. You are with her as she falls in love and as she realizes she cannot be with who she wants. And you are with her when her situation turns south and she is fighting for her life.

The author does a great job of pulling us into the story and it was a very fun read! This is a book I would happily read again and again!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an advanced copy to read. All opinions are my own.

True crime is even better than fiction...

The title, The White City, caught my eye but what captured my attention was that the book, and the series, is fiction based on a real historical crime. I'm also always interested in debut authors this is author Grace Hitchcock's first full-length novel.

While The White City felt more like a historical romance the historical crime elements were quite interesting and I especially appreciated the author's note at the end. The setting was another big plus in my book, the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, an event that has long fascinated me.

A good premise based on a true crime in history, nice characters that you couldn't help rooting for them to solve the crime in time and for their blossoming romance, and the exciting backdrop of the World's Fair made this a good read. I know that I am looking forward to more from this author and the series.

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

I thoroughly enjoyed the World's Fair and much of the story. Aunt Lillian is determined to see Winnie taken care of in the best way she knows how. Even if she is kind of aggravating, her heart is true.

Winnie is fun to be around, sweet, determined and smart with just the right level of human failure. My biggest problem actually comes when she is understandably in a snit. She withholds an important detail from detective Thorpe that I believe went too far, since 'the case' is so important to her. It jarred me out of the story for a while.

I came back a couple of hours later and finished the book, and it was good.

That it was inspired by a true story made it all the more interesting.

📌 I received an advance copy of the book from @NetGalley and chose to review it here. All thoughts are my own.

Delightful banter kept the mood light without detracting from the heart-pumping action and mind-bending mystery! The head-strong unconventional heroine is perfectly paired with a simply wonderful (no spoiler) hero!

Winnifred’s personality doesn’t quite fit in the figurative glass tower her well-meaning father would like to hide her away in. Despite their differing opinions, it’s clear that the father/daughter duo are wrapped up in a tangle of grief and expectations. Winnifred’s spunk and intelligence serve her well and she’s definitely a character I’d love to revisit from time to time.

Fans of Mary Connealy, Jen Turano, or Regina Jennings will especially enjoy this story’s light-hearted vibe and action-packed plot. I highly recommend this book and look forward to future works from this author!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review. The opinions expressed are my own.

I listen to a lot of true crime podcasts and watch a lot of true crime shows, so I was super interested in this book when I came across it. If you know anything about true crime, you've probably heard the stories about H.H. Holmes and his murder castle.

I found this book to be interesting. I appreciated the fact that the author kept true to the actual facts surrounding H.H. Holmes as there is a lot of sensationalized information surrounding him. I thought the author did a great job of weaving a fictional tale in with actual facts.

I thought the story rang true to what was known of Holmes at the time. I've seen other reviewers complaining that there wasn't enough murder/emphasis on the serial killer part of Holmes, but if you actually think about it, the general public really didn't know about Holmes's murders until after he was arrested. There were a few people who possibly knew but didn't say anything. And of course there was the disappearances and rumors of murder that were connected to him, but as far as his murdering, it wasn't really confirmed until after he was arrested.

Simply put, Holmes was a con artist as he committed a lot of insurance fraud, so I liked that the story touched on that.

I did find the romance to be a bit cheesy at times. Especially a good portion of the middle of the book where the plot dragged a bit. The characters were interesting enough to keep me engaged, even if I did roll my eyes a bit at the romance and move on.

And there really wasn't as much suspense as I would have hoped. I've read some other reviews where people said this book leaned more towards romance than suspense, and I would agree with that.

So yes, personally I would have preferred more suspense and action, but considering this book is for a Christian market I think it's pretty good. I've read enough book reviews to see that some Christians will lose their minds over every little thing, so had this book included more murder, I don't know that it would have been as well received.

Overall I found this book to be well written with good characters and an interesting plot. I will be looking forward to reading the next book in the series!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishers through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book didn’t end up being the story I thought it would be. With the series being dubbed “Historical Stories of American Crime”, I was expecting something more along the lines of a suspense/mystery than a romance. This was definitely a romance. Some suspense, yes, mainly at the end, but Winnifred felt more like a somewhat-naïve girl playing undercover detective than a heroine I could take seriously.

Meanwhile, the hero, who had supposedly been “one of the best detectives in New York”, got off on the wrong foot for two reasons. Firstly, he was unsuccessful in trailing the heroine without being noticed—after Winnifred’s father made a point of asking him specifically because he would be competent enough to escape Winnifred’s notice. Secondly, he proceeded, in the same scene, to draw a hasty conclusion based on minimal evidence and make himself look like a rookie cop. First impressions matter in fiction as well as real life, and Jude’s left a lasting impression.

When it came to the crime, I found myself a confused as to what that actually was. It began as a kidnapping and referred to several other people who had mysteriously disappeared, but there wasn’t any resolution to these matters in the story. Another crime is uncovered along the way, but there really wasn’t a lot of detective work going on and the conclusion wasn’t terribly satisfying in that case either. Once I looked up H. H. Holmes and did a little reading for myself, I could see why the story went the way it did, but I then found myself wondering whether Holmes was the best choice of subject for a true crimes story. In short, the crime/suspense plot didn’t deliver for me.

In light of my opening comments, it’s perhaps not surprising that I didn’t feel as though I connected with these characters. I didn’t dislike them; they just never became real to me. The romance was cheesy at times and followed a predictable path, negating any of the tension I might have derived from that part of the story, and I didn’t feel an emotional connection developing between the characters.

With all that being said, I can see that this book would appeal to many historical romance readers, particularly those looking for a light read with a bit of a suspense plot worked in. It just wasn’t what I was expecting or looking for. I do love the premise of the series, though, and would be interested in checking out future books as they’re released.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.

The White City

Author: Grace Hitchcock
Publisher: Barbour Books, March 2019
Series: #1 in True Colors
Reading Format: eBook, Kindle

Personal Rating: 4.32
Star Rating: 4/5

*I received an ecopy of this book from Barbour Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to give a positive review.*

Setting:  The Chicago World's Fair of 1893 was an exciting event for all to attend.  It was there that the world was introduced to things such as Juicy Fruit Gum, Aunt Jemima Pancake Mix, the Zipper and the Ferris Wheel. Lighting companies bid for the privilege to light the fair and Westinghouse won.  Using Tesla's alternative-current system, the White City was named and Grace Hitchcock gives enough details to bring it to life in her debut novel named the same, The White City.

Plot: Although the Chicago World's Fair made history in many ways, one still surprises us all.  It came in the form of a man named Herman Webster Mudgett, otherwise known as H. H. Holmes.  Winnifred Wylde, an imaginative, avid reader, reports a kidnapping to her inspector father. He doesn't believe her, but Winnifred insists someone needs to investigated. Her determination earns the permission to pursue leads.  What follows is a fictional account of a woman investigating of America's first serial killer.

Content: The content is clean and well written. There is only an allusion to the violence committed by Holmes and that allusion has minimal description. This story focuses more on the fictional investigation.  Clean, often humorous, relationships keep this story from being too serious which makes it read more as a cozy mystery than a historical fiction.  I liked the book even more for that reason.

Characters:  Winnifred was refreshing. She wasn't the typical damsel who consistently made silly mistakes and got herself into trouble.  She was bright, able to handle a pistol, and was trained in defense maneuvers.  None of this mattered to her father. He still placed a bodyguard to trail her.  Detective Jude Thorpe's  backstory added extra depth to an otherwise basic plot. I also laughed at a few other characters (all with brief appearances) because they could have been right out of the pages of a Charles Dickens novel.  H.H. Holmes was a living, breathing person who had an evil mind.  The author supplied enough information to understand the personality that shocked the world with his crimes.
      The characters are interesting, but somewhat typical.  This is important for the story to be believable. It's important to note that each personality fit the roles they played therefore making the reading enjoyable instead of complicated. 

Spiritual Content: The spiritual content was true to Winnifred's character and her beliefs were mentioned when it moved the plot forward.

My Thoughts:  Knowing the story of H. H. Holmes, I was apprehensive to read this book. How could his story be written in Christian fiction? He was truly an evil man and to describe his crimes would be too much for my mind as a reader. Grace Hitchcock gives us the perfect blend of "just enough" information to know the truth, and "more than enough" to give us a clean, well written story. I recommend this book to anyone who loves history without gruesome details.

Loved this book! From the cozy-feeling romantic suspense, to the alignment with historical crime, this genre-busting novel grabbed my attention and kept it all the way through. I look forward to reading more from Hitchcock!

The Chicago World’s Fair was supposed to show that Chicago was back in business after the fire of 1871. Instead, it was marred by tragedy. First, there was a fatal fire on site, and then the city’s mayor was assassinated just two days before the fair closed. Most notorious, however, were the events surrounding one H.H. Holmes and his “murder castle.” Holmes was a businessman, a con man, a bigamist, and a murderer. His building, located approximately 3 miles from the World’s Fair, became infamous with tales of trap doors and corridors that led nowhere. The first novel in a new crime fiction series by Barbour Publishing uses Holmes as the center of its plot.

Having read and watched plenty about Holmes, I knew this tale wouldn’t end with the man’s apprehension. Winnifred was not going to play a part in his arrest. Despite the very real and serious nature of the subject, The White City is more romance than suspense. The Holmes plotline serves as a device to get to the “Happily Ever After.” While our heroine does find herself in danger, there is no question regarding her survival. Winifred is a would-be novelist, so it’s no surprise she’s not taken seriously, and the least said about her would-be suitor’s name the better. (And I’m not talking about Jude Thorpe here.) Overall, this is a light and fluffy novel and not what I expected it to be. I’m not sure if that’s to be the tone for this True Colors series – I’m willing to give the next couple of books a chance – but I do prefer true crime novels to be meatier in substance.

Thank you to Barbour Publishing for my complimentary electronic copy of The White City.

"The White City," book one of the True Colors series, is a good introduction to Historical Stories of Romance and American Crime. Set in Chicago in 1893, Winnifred Wylde, daughter of a Chicago police inspector, believes she witnesses a kidnapping. She goes undercover for the suspect and has a handsome policemen Jude Thorpe assigned as her bodyguard. Will she expose H. H. Holmes or become his next victim?
I liked the suspense of this book. The romance was a little cheesy for me, but this is a romance story. Author Grace Hitchcock writes clearly and keeps the action moving. If I were a fan of romance novels, I would read the next book in this series.

"The White City" is an intriguing novel set in Chicago at the World's Fair. Part true crime and part historical novel, the plot keeps the reader involved and interested, alternating moments of suspense with romance. The characters are likeable and realistic. I would recommend this novel to readers interested in the Chicago World's Fair, as well as true crime and historical detail. The Christian aspect of the story is there, but lowkey. The only negative is that I am not convinced that a police inspector father would allow his civilian daughter to go undercover and serve as bait for a killer, no matter how confident, skilled, and trained she might be.

I received this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

Hitchcock has landed a place on my to-watch list for both historical and suspense fiction. She managed to capture the essence of the time period and setting – Chicago’s World Fair in 1893, and put my investigative instincts to work all at the same time. On top of that, she made me smile and chuckle over Winnifred and Jude. Jude sparked something in Winnie, kind of pushed her to be herself without her even realizing it. Their relationship was so natural, and I really liked the way she was around him.

Winnie is really my kind of character. She’s fun, determined, and smart. She wasn’t afraid to stand for what she thought was happening, even as she made mistakes through the investigation. And the way she acted around her “potential suitors” courtesy of her overzealous Aunt were a hoot to read.

This is a very strong start to what promises to be an exceptional series, as well as the start to (hopefully) a wonderful future in writing for Ms. Hitchcock. Two things to be excited about – the next book in this series, and what Hitchock is going to write about next!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

What an interesting book. A unique look a HH Holmes and the Chicago World’s Fair. It’s a light suspense novel with a side of romance included. Winifred is a detective’s daughter. She enjoys reading and solving mysteries herself. Although her aunt would prefer her to settle down and marry. Jude is assigned as Winnie’s bodyguard after she ‘witnessed’ a kidnapping and chooses to investigate. Debut author Grace Hitchcock does a nice job with this book. I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions stated here are my own.

Winnifred Wylde is a the daughter of a Chicago police inspector who loves mystery novels and sometimes sees crimes where nothing really occurred after reading a little too much. Winnie’s father and Aunt want nothing more than for her to marry a man of society and forget about her crime novels, however Winnie is convinced that she saw a woman being kidnapped while attending the World’s Fair after a number of women have gone missing.. Can Winnie solve the mystery or will she be the next victim of a serial killer?

I cannot say enough great things about this novel. I will admit I was hesitant at first, I wasn’t sure I was going to love a book about a serial killer. However, the author Grace Hitchcock has done a masterful jobs of transporting the reader to Chicago in 1893 without making it impossible for the reader to sleep at night. While reading the book I felt like I was at the fair and in Chicago with Winnie.If love historical fiction or historical romance, this book checks both boxes. I loved this book and can’t wait for the next book in the True Colors—Fiction Based on Strange, But True, American Crime Stories Series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Celebrate Lit, however this in no way influenced my opinions, all ideas and opinions are my own.

I was thrilled to review this since I love the nonfiction book The Devil in the White City. This was a very sweet romance with a likable and feisty heroine, however, for a novel set during this tumultuous World's Fair there wasn't enough detail and description of the fair. Little background on the muderers were given so without prior background knowledge it would be hard to appreciate and understand.

This is a very sweet historical romance. My rating: 4.25.

Winnifred Wylde is the nineteen-year-old daughter of a top Chicago police inspector. After the death of her mother when Winnie was ten, her Aunt Lillian stepped in to help guide the family. Winnie wants to enjoy her reading and visits to the Chicago World’s Fair, but Aunt Lillian wants Winnifred to decorously attend social events and secure a marital match. Inspector Wylde is happy to leave the socializing to Aunt Lillian as he is determined that Winnie marry someone other than a law man.

Winnie is at the Fair when she sees a young woman taken off by a man. Her father isn’t willing to call the police out to investigate because she made a previous allegation that turned out groundless. Inspector Wylde agrees to allow Winnie to continue to visit the Fair but only with a police guard, a new man on the staff, Jude Thorpe. Jude has a good reputation from New York and has secretly come to Chicago to investigate the death of his brother-in-law.

Winnie soon spots the man she suspects and wrangles a job interview so she can learn more undercover. Jude has already been on hand to ‘rescue’ Winnie from the drudgery of a suitor she wants nothing to do with. Now he is standing by to protect her if needed as she works undercover. As they share time together investigating, their easy friendship grows. Assuming Winnie can come through the assignment safely, is there any chance for a continued relationship with family (and boss) set against them?

I liked the characters right away. They are cheery, bright and imaginative. Winnie loves books and gets to meet her favorite author in a surprising element of the story. The mystery plot develops slowly, but this allows the relationship, with conflicts, to develop. I liked the setting of the Chicago's World Fair and found the author’s afterward interesting as she explained this story was based upon a true crime event.

The author uses fun quotes from Jane Austin books and others to introduce the chapters. I also liked the light scripture and faith references. During a frightening situation, Winnie pulls on her memory verses for support. The story reads easily and moves along at a good pace. There is a good mix of mystery, suspense and romance. I would like to read more in this series and recommend this to readers who enjoy clean, historic romance/mystery.

Source: NetGalley 2019.