The Grays of Truth

well-written and researched. Also, this historical setting isn't used often so it's refreshing to read about. I liked how in the end the differences with real life are highlighted. I also liked to see how different society was back then from today. Jane is relatable to. Also, anyone could understand her search for the truth. Would recommend to historical fiction or mystery and thriller readers.

“The Grays of Truth” by Sharon Virts is a gripping historical true-crime novel that delves into murder, deceit, and the hidden secrets of Baltimore’s elite during the Reconstruction era.

Beneath the polished facade of high society, there lies a web of illicit affairs, jilted lovers, financial struggles, and countless motives for murder.

When Jane Gray Wharton’s husband, Ned, dies unexpectedly while visiting his brother’s home, Jane initially accepts the circumstances. However, when both Jane and her daughter fall gravely ill during a subsequent visit to the same house, she begins to suspect foul play.

The Grays of Truth follows Jane’s quest for answers, redemption, and her fight to save the man she loves.The author dissects the polished veneer of high society, revealing a web of illicit affairs, betrayal, and murder.

Sharon Virts weaves a tale of intrigue and suspense against the backdrop of post-Civil War Baltimore.The novel invites readers to explore the dark secrets lurking beneath the glittering facade of the city’s elite.The Grays of Truth delves into the complexities of trust, power, and redemption.

The narrative unfolds like a puzzle, with each revelation adding to the suspense.Sharon Virts masterfully explores the psychological turmoil faced by Jane Gray Wharton.The novel skillfully balances historical context with a gripping mystery.

This is the first novel that has truly made me question the unfolding events and circumstances within the story. Despite feeling irritated by the characters, I found myself unable to put it down.

I would give this story a solid 4 out of 5. It took me by surprise with its profound impact. While I've always favored nonfiction, this narrative has made me appreciate the depth of such literature.

The narrative begins in a somber setting in Baltimore, where one character has passed away, and the others are entangled in their roles connected to the deceased. Each situation gradually reveals more about the characters' personalities. The story takes a dark turn as characters begin to succumb to death, without a clear antagonist in sight. Jane Warton, a former nurse and skilled chemist, who battles delirium, grief, and hysteria due to past traumas, becomes deeply involved. As the deaths of her loved ones mount, she tries to decipher the antagonist. Her grasp on sanity weakens, her fears materialize, and she finds herself isolated in her beliefs. The question arises: Can she even trust her own mind?

The narrative delves into the societal themes of the 1800s, exploring high society and its dark underbelly. It touches upon illicit affairs, financial corruption, and the complexities of human desire.

What sets this story apart is its inspiration from real events in Baltimore. While it contains some sexual content to better portray the character connections, and occasional profanity, it does so without sparking religious controversy. I recommend it to fans of crime and thriller genres. My reading experience with this story was truly enjoyable.

The story is exceptionally well-crafted, devoid of any plot discrepancies that might irk readers. It maintains a smooth flow, gradually unfolding its events to allow readers to fully comprehend the narrative. I noticed no grammatical errors and found the world-building to be immaculate.

4.5⭐️

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and Sharon Virts for allowing me to review this book!

This is the first book I have read from Sharon Virts and I thoroughly enjoyed it! This book is well written and includes historically factual elements, which helps highlight the secrets and scandals of the time.
For me, this book highlights that your past doesn’t control your future, that no matter your circumstances in life, you should never stop fighting for your redemption!

First of all thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy of the book in return for my honest opinion.

Based on a true story about this is a book about family betrayal and revenge set in post Civil War America. I was not sure if I was going to like this book however was pleasantly surprised . The story was really easy to read and connect with and you were never sure which of the main female characters were telling the truth . Kept you guessing throughout. Would highly recommend. 4.25 stars

This one is a blast! Virts recreates a striving society worthy of the Borgias in 1870's Washington. We have infidelity, forbidden love, death-dealing on a grand scale, and a realistic look at the status of women in late-19th Century America. The best part is that the story is based on truth.

Jane Gray has been shattered by her betrothed's breaking off of the engagement. Defeated and depressed she's married off to an abusive martinet. Her one solace beyond her daughter is her exploration of chemistry. When family members and friends begin dying in her sister-in-law's home, Jane becomes suspicious. Since Jane, herself, has been institutionalized twice, her fears are treated as a return of her delusions.

We're given Civil War heroes, society matrons, undisclosed loans, and a laundry list of motives for murder. But Jane is more likely to end up back in an institution than solving the crime.

I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH. I RATED THIS BOOK 4 STARS AND I RECOMMEND EVERYONE TO READ THIS AMAZING STORY.

If you love historical fiction, this book is a gem. The story follows a former nurse, Jane Gray, with a deep understanding of chemistry, through the trials of an abusive husband, a history of mental illness, and the trauma of losing multiple family members under suspicious circumstances. She seeks to learn the truth about whether the people she loved were poisoned at the hand of her sister-in-law. However, because of the prominence of the sister-in-laws' Baltimore family, the police will not investigate; and because of Jane's history of mental illness, her family will not believe her claims. Can she prove what happened and prevent more deaths?

This novel is based on the true story of an elite Baltimore family in the reconstruction era. The characters are brilliantly portrayed, and the glimpses into Jane's mind will keep the reader guessing as to what is true and what is a fantasy of an unhealthy mind.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

In Reconstruction-era Baltimore, the veneer of high society conceals a web of secrets, scandals, and sinister plots. “The Grays of Truth” plunges readers into a world where elite members mysteriously turn up dead, and the once-innocent Jane Gray Wharton finds herself at the heart of a deadly conspiracy. The novel begins with the sudden death of Jane’s husband, Ned, which she initially accepts without question. However, a subsequent visit to her brother-in-law’s house leaves both Jane and her daughter gravely ill, prompting her to suspect foul play. As a trained chemist and former nurse, Jane’s suspicion is further fueled by a history of delusion and loss, making her struggle to differentiate between reality and paranoia. When a respected army officer falls ill after visiting the Wharton, Jane’s worst fears are confirmed. She must act swiftly, but her credibility is in question due to her past and the societal norms of the 1800s, where women were often dismissed and silenced.

Inspired by true events involving prominent Baltimore families, the novel spans from the mid-1860s to the early 1870s, weaving in meticulously researched historical details. It vividly portrays the challenges faced by women, even those as intelligent and educated as Jane, who had to fight to be heard in a male-dominated society. The medical practices of the time are depicted with harrowing accuracy, underscoring the precariousness of life and health during that era.

“The Grays of Truth” is a compelling tale of murder, intrigue, and the relentless quest for truth and redemption. Jane’s journey is both heart-wrenching and inspiring as she battles to uncover the truth behind the deaths of her loved ones while grappling with her sanity. The narrative keeps readers on edge, questioning the unfolding events and the true nature of the characters involved. With its profound impact and intricate storytelling, “The Grays of Truth” earns a solid 4 out of 5 stars. It captivates readers with its blend of historical context, societal critique, and psychological depth, making it a standout in the crime and thriller genres.

I really enjoyed the historical true-crime element that I was expecting. It uses the elements in a way that I wanted and thought the historical elements worked overall. The characters worked with the setting and was hooked from the first page. Sharon Virts has a great writing style and I’m glad I read this.

It has been a long time since I read my last historical fiction book, and I have discovered that I have truly missed this genre.
This book is a masterpiece of both fiction and nonfiction.

It's is a heartbreaking story about a woman who fights for women's rights, unfortunately, with more negative consequences than benefits.

She is ostracized and labeled as crazy.
She is declared insane and locked away.
She is not respected or appreciated, even though she is an incredibly brilliant scientist.

Until she finally meets a "real man" who is not afraid of intelligent women and who gives her the attention and respect she deserves.

I only found out at the end of the book that this story is based on real events.
Granted, many characters, especially our main heroine, are fictional.
But the overall story and unique events did indeed happen to some extent.

Fascinating, exciting, and captivating.
The story is beautifully written with so many details and in such an incredibly captivating language that perfectly fits the era. It's is simply phenomenal.

I enjoyed this book immensely.
I even tried to read more slowly so that I could savor the story for longer. But it was futile because it is just an incredibly exciting and thrilling historical fiction thriller.

I would love to tell you more, so that you would read this beautiful book, but that would take away the magic of reading it for the first time.

Thank goodness the story has a positive ending. Unfortunately, it is not as positive as you might imagine, but as I have learned, being in balance with yourself is also a positive outcome.

This book is many things: heartbreaking, dramatic, and full of brutal and raw topics that are unthinkable for women from Western countries. Of course, it is also very authentic.

I enjoyed every second of this book and was rooting for the incredibly brave and strong heroine.
She taught me to think the unthinkable.

I highly recommend this book to any historical fiction and historical thriller fans.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

This was a well-written work of historical fiction. This genre isn’t my usual “go to” but I’ve come to realize that I actually do enjoy historical fiction lately especially by Sharon Virts.

This novel has a rather large cast of characters and intricate relationships between each of the characters. They are…messy. The author does a nice job of helping the reader get to know all of the key players.

The story takes place in Maryland (Baltimore), DC and Pennsylvania which is cool because I’ve lived in Baltimore all my life.

I can’t imagine being in Jane’s position with all of the death constantly in your orbit and such high levels of mistrust and suspicion amongst everyone you know. I also felt bad for Jane because while she had her own issues she really was incredibly smart and capable…just surrounded by men who were typical of men in that time period. She was well educated during a period where most women were not.

I enjoyed trying to figure everything out with this one. The pacing and storyline were solid.

I definitely recommend this one. If you like this one then you should read her other book Veil of Doubt.

Thank you Girl Friday Productions | Flashpoint for the ARC!

Title: The Grays of Truth
Author: Sharon Virts
Pub Date: October 29, 2024

This book truly shocked me and blew me away.

"The truth isn't always black or white. The truth hides in the grays."

I'm going to be completely honest. When I open a book and see that it takes place in the 1800s, I'm immediately discouraged because much of the historical fiction I have read in the past has done a disservice to the genre and led me to believe two things. First that historical fiction is boring and second that I won't be able to relate to the characters in any way. Sharon Virts proved me wrong on both accounts and I'm so glad she did. This book was anything but boring!

I'll share a brief portion of the synopsis since they described this wild ride so accurately: "In Reconstruction-era Baltimore, members of the city’s elite keep turning up dead. Below the polished surface of high society, there are illicit affairs, jilted lovers, financial hardships, and countless motives for murder."

This book has it ALL. I mean ALL. Murders left and right. People falling in and out of love left and right. Family drama like you've never seen before. Mind-blowing and shocking reveals along the way and a twist that will leave you aghast. The level of detail was insane! I truly don't even have the words to accurately sum up the experience I had reading this.

The word that keeps coming to mind when I think of this book is ENTHRALLEED. I was 100% enthralled and captivated.

When I got to the end and read the author's note and saw how much of this story was TRUE TO HISTORY, I was blown away all over again. And relieved to not be living in the 1800s frankly!

You won't be disappointed if you give this one a chance!

The Grays of Truth, alludes, I presume, to the shades of truth and the lies that accompany the plot and characters of this book. It is based on a historical series of murders and a trial, rather lengthy and protracted in description, which studies Lady Jane Gray Wharton, a former nurse and chemist. The plot involves multiple murders from poisoning, and Jane Gray's scientific knowledge is invaluable in terms of identifying what happens to her relatives and family members who die unexpected deaths.

The setting of the book is the Reconstruction in Baltimore during the 1860s to the 1870s. Jane Gray also has a background of having been locked up twice in an asylum for being mentally unstable. Her self-examination involves psychological study of her family and friends who are killed, apparently for no reason. Other plots involve infidelity, recondite pools of money, and surprises among the characters, whose familial relationships are not always what they seem.

I found the trial, in particular, to be rather tedious, and Jane's self-asserted, silent thoughts were not always well-connected to the current plot twists. Nonetheless, I learned a lot about chemical compounds and their use in the multiple murders that took place in the book.

I appreciate the author's extensive research concerning the reality of what happened to cause the deaths of the various characters. Her scientific knowledge is also prodigious, and it carefully supports the plot.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

When I saw this author have a book set in Baltimore, I had to read it as a Maryland resident. What a page turning historical fiction mystery! This who-dun-it story had many twists and just when I thought I knew what would happen next, I was surprised. Jane Gray Shippen Wharton was part of the elite of Baltimore and Washington, DC by marriage. Her family were physicians so she learned to help make remedies for those in need. Jane had a contentious relationship with her sister-in-law, Ellen because of Ellen's husband, Major Hank Wharton and that is where the mystery begins. Many of society elites ended up poisoned, but Jane couldn't figure out who killed them or poisoned her.
There were a lot of characters and many had two names or similar names, such as Henry/Hank and Octavia/Tay or Jake vs. Jack, that I had to learn to keep straight. Once I had that figured out, the second half of the book flew! I had to keep turning the page to find out what happened next. "Who did what to whom?" was a constant thought. The main characters had good development. The research about the chemistry, medicine at the time, and poisoning was well done and explained in detail for the reader. The author notes clearly explain this story was based on true events and real people and what changes and alterations the author made for this book.
If you are a fan of historical fiction and mysteries, this would be a good read for you!
#TheGraysofTruth #NetGalley #historicalmystery
Thank you Girl Friday Productions and Net Galley for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is historical fiction that’s got suspense, drama, death, and even a trial. It’s based on real life events and it’s one that once I started it I couldn’t put it down.

It takes place between the years 1867-1872 in the Washington, DC and Baltimore areas. It’s got movers and shakers of that time period and maybe the most unlucky house full of people dying.

Sharon knows how to write this kind of story as she draws us in with background on the key characters before all of the deaths begin which I felt really enriched the entire read.

Sharon also gives us Author’s Notes at the end so for the curious minded like me I can find out the fact vs fiction.

4.25 stars.

Sharon Virts has done it again! The Grays of Truth is a well-written, historical fiction novel based on a true crime that occurred in the 19th century. The story started off a bit slowly as the reader got to know the various characters but then I was immersed in the story. It’s a fascinating story about women’s lack of control over their lives, men’s dominance over women, and the ways in which wealth and privilege corrupted the halls of power and the justice system. These themes are interwoven into the mystery surrounding the suspected poisonings of several members of the same high society family.

The characters were well-developed and I felt that I was a part of their lives. I enjoyed the fact that the main character, Jane, was a complex woman, a chemist by training, a wife trapped in an abusive marriage, all while struggling with mental health challenges. Yet, she is so resilient dealing with the sorrow and hardships that came her way.

I also liked that the writing seemed to fly off the page and I wanted to keep reading to see what would happen to Jane and how the mystery of the poisonings would unfold. There are great court-room scenes and a satisfying epilogue.

Lovers of historical fiction should definitely read this one. I can’t wait f0r this author’s next novel!

"You have lost your ever-loving mind again, Jane Gray."

"I am not crazy...I am simply suggesting...someone wanted me and my daughter dead!"

She's not wrong. The mesmerizing The Grays of Truth by masterfully skilled historical fiction author Sharon Virts is a masterclass in crafting a perfect blend of historical fact, fiction, true crime, murder mystery and a bit of romance.

Jane Gray Wharton is a complex yet inspiring woman. A trained chemist, nurse, wife and mother she would be seen as a woman who has it all in today's society. Sadly, in late 1800s Baltimore she was a woman seen suffering from mental illness. Prone to supposed hallucinations she is institutionalized and considered "crazy;" never to be taken seriously; especially by men.

It's funny how she realizes many who visit her brother in law's family, the wealthy powerful Whartons, are soon found dead. When her own husband dies there she believes it's natural causes, but then more die and, not one to be bribed, blackmailed or threatened, she looks for the truth.

What makes this more than a "who dun it" mystery is that it's based on a true story. Reading the writer's notes at the end is proof that truth is stranger than fiction. The historical aspects add to the shock value. The medical treatments are a horror thriller by itself.

I had such respect for Jane who was often treated like an annoying child. She was called "dramatic" and accused of "bouts of hysteria." What she possessed was grit, brains, and the truth.

I raved about this writer's previous books, Masque of Honor and Veil of Doubt, but with The Grays of Truth, she has surpassed her own work. We learn how the privileged rich act like they are the epitome of morality, when in truth they just believe they are above it.

I received a free copy of this book from the author via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.