Two Series of Murders Seem Mysteriously Connected Step into True Colors — a series of Historical Stories of Romance and American Crime Three years before Jack the Ripper began his murderous spree on the streets of London, women were dying in their beds as The Midnight Assassin terrorized the citizens of Austin, Texas. Now, with suspicion falling on Her Majesty’s family and Scotland Yard at a … family and Scotland Yard at a loss as to who the Ripper might be, Queen Victoria summons her great-granddaughter, Alice Anne von Wettin, a former Pinkerton agent who worked the unsolved Austin case, and orders her to discreetly form a team to look into the London matter.
The prospect of a second chance to work with Annie just might entice Isaiah Joplin out of his comfortable life as an Austin lawyer. If his theories are right, they’ll find the The Midnight Assassin and, by default, the Ripper. If they’re wrong, he and Annie are in a bigger mess than the one the feisty female left behind when she departed Austin under cover of darkness three years ago.
Can the unlikely pair find the truth of who is behind the murders before they are drawn into the killer’s deadly game? From Texas to London, the story navigates the fine line between truth and fiction as Annie and Isaiah ultimately find the hunters have become the hunted.
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Having read the previous books in The True Colors series, I was excited to read The Black Midnight by Kathleen Y’Barbo. I was not disappointed. The authors of the series take true crime stories from American history and bring readers historical romantic suspense fiction. The fast-moving plot is fantastic–an unlikely pair of Pinkerton detectives are assigned to discover a Texas serial killer who just might be Jack the Ripper. It is evident the author has done her research and makes history come alive. I felt as if I was right there in the midst of the scenes. With vivid descriptions of London palaces and Texan mansions, Y’Barbo quickly brings readers into the settings of her book. The characters are likable and relatable–Annie, direct, to the point in her demeanor and yet conflicted in her emotions; Ike, knowing what he wanted, yet fearing he’d have to settle for second best. I loved Granny and Miss Hattie, down to earth, and full of love and advice for Annie and Ike. I appreciated how the author gives readers ‘the rest of the story’ at the end of the book, explaining where she bent history a bit to fit her story and what some of the facts behind The Black Midnight are. Unsolved murders, suspense, and romantic tension, lovers of historical romance stories will not want to miss this gripping addition to True Colors, True Crime series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. The opinions are my own.
I am loving this series of stories. They are all stand alone but they are all based around a true murder or murders. This one connects murders that took place in Austin, Texas with the murders in London, England byJack the Ripper. I love the main characters and would love to see them in a series of their own. This set of murders has a lot of twists and turns. I received a copy of this book from Barbour Publishing for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
I loved this next installment in the True Colors Crime Series! An intriguing twist in both Jack the Ripper and The Midnight Assassin crime theories. The portrayal of the Pinkerton Agency and England’s royal family in this thrilling mystery was a fascinating look at potential explanations. I love how the characters worked together and the back story of characters and events is explained early on. Annie and Isaiah forge a professional alliance, determined not to let their feelings get involved. The beauty of love stories though, is seeing it seep out through the cracks in all interactions and develop into what it was meant to be. Sigh. I loved the relational slow build, the mystery, and the way it was all wrapped up at the end. I really could not put it down until I knew the outcome. It is part of the True Crime Series but can absolutely be enjoyed as a standalone novel. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own and freely given.
This was a great book. I enjoyed reading about Alice and Isaiah’s adventures while in Texas and in London. The crimes were horrific and I had never heard of the midnight assassin until reading this book. The book was written in present time, but most of the book was in a flashback. Alice was tasked by Queen Victoria to work on the Jack Ripper cases. Alice decided that working with her former Pinkerton Detective partner, Isaiah. Sparks fly between Isaiah and Alice when they work together. They both struggle to keep their relationship professional, yet there is an attraction brewing under the surface. The brutal murders that the book is highlighting were not as graphic as they could have been. I believe the author did a great job of describing the scenes without being too detailed. I recommend to those that like a little suspense, mystery and romance.
I received a copy of this book from Barbour Books through NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
History brings us many fascinating tidbits, some of which are very hard to believe. We have all heard of Jack the Ripper, but the murders in Austin, Texas were new to me. The similarities between these murders can not be denied, but whether or not they were perpetrated by the same person remains yet to be discovered….or did our illustrious Pinkertons figure it out?
It is 1889 in London, England and Alice Anne von Wettin is called before Queen Victoria. This young lady has spent several years as a Pinkerton agent in the USA, already quite a feat for a woman and certainly much more so for the great granddaughter of the Queen! Isaiah Joplin is her partner from her tenure in Texas. Can they, along with a high-level officer of the Metropolitan Police, finally catch this murderer? Granny is counting on them…
This installment in the True Colors crime series keeps you wondering right up till the end. Toss in a little covert romance, plenty of suspense and you have a story you will long remember. I received this copy through Barbour Publishing and NetGalley. The comments and impressions are my own and were in no way solicited.
The True Colors series is definitely a unique genre of Christian fiction, but I actually have enjoyed every one I have read. Each book has a different author and focuses on crimes from the past, weaving within them a story of characters from that era.
“The Black Midnight” is a book that draws you in, basing some of the story in Austin, Texas, and other portions in London, England. As the world reels from Jack the Ripper’s crimes, Queen Elizabeth suspects his crimes began earlier–in 1884 Texas. She enlists the help of her wayward granddaughter, Alice Ann von Wettin, who chose to leave England to become a Pinkerton investigator. There is a catch, though–the Queen wants to send along some backup for Alice Ann.
The book is really interesting and harkens back to dark Victorian alleys with predators lurking around every corner. To learn about the Pinkerton Agency and its agents was a cool twist to link the characters, and the romance element was believable.
If you enjoy spooky books like those of Jaime Jo Wright’s or Victorian suspense novels by writers such as Michelle Griep, this is a great mix of the two. I can’t wait to continue to watch this series. It’s captivated me from the first book and I hope it keeps going!
I was an early reader, thanks to #NetGalley and Barbour Books.
“I have a friend in Chicago. Six words that had changed her life. And her address.”
Being the great granddaughter of Queen Victoria definitely had its advantages when it came to lavender baths and plush carpets, but when one’s independence was at stake, it took a miracle for Alice Anne von Wettin to slip across the “pond” unnoticed as a Pinkerton detective in the making. And a really fine detective at that! When her path crosses with fellow agent Isaiah Joplin, they form a duo tasked with solving a series of horrific murders in Austin, Texas . . . to no avail. What they did accomplish however, was a matter of the heart. Unfortunately, they were most emphatically interrupted by none other than Annie’s father.
Three years later, murder strikes again. To everyone’s surprise, the queen insists on reuniting Annie and Ike following a series of bloody homicides, attributed to none other than “Jack the Ripper”, who has succeeded in blatantly terrorizing the streets of London. Is it possible for lightning to strike twice? What of the rumor circling about that there is a secret society hiding one of its own? So many questions . . . . and ultimately there’s only one answer that Annie is tempted to change.
Wonderful book! The pacing was creatively flawless and the characters were so at home with each other that it was easy to forget they were actually fictional, rather than real. Historical events were strategically absorbed in all the right places; and in the end, there was a love story that was worth reading every page. What a great addition to a fascinating series!
The Black Midnight, written by Kathleen Y’Barbo was so well written I couldn’t put it down. The historical aspect of a young Pinkerton Detective who is really the great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria was fabulous. With her partner, Isaiah Joplin, they go on a hunt for what they believe is the Midnight Assassin. The case takes Annie across from one country to another, all the while she is dealing with telling Isaiah the truth about herself, hiding her profession from her family & finding herself involved in intrigue, deceit, and murder. This book really draws you in and keeps you guessing. I was given a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
This is an incredible novel based on a true crime mystery!
I love both of the main characters. Alice Anne / Annie and Isaiah are wonderful. It was a lot of fun to see how Alice Anne keeps so much of her true personality while she is in Austin, living as Annie. The way they interact with each other while both in Texas and then in England is great.
The plot of the mystery is fantastic. I loved going along with the investigators as they searched for clues about the murderer. There were plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing.
I thoroughly enjoyed the note by the author at the end of the book explaining the actual history behind her story. I love the way she expresses what facts she bent to make them fit.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own.
I have really enjoyed the True Colors series, a series based on true American crime. This is an enjoyable mystery, centering around two unsolved crimes that have some similarities. I believe these are the first unsolved crimes in the series, hence a little more fiction than actual fact. However, this did not prevent me from thoroughly enjoying the escapades of two Pinkerton detectives and their link to British royalty. I personally liked the portion of the story that centered around the crime spree in Austin, Texas. That is a previously unknown story that I found fascinating.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are mine.
I feel a little bit on as adventure of a murder mystery. This happens to be with this book called “The Black Midnight.” This is book seven of the True Colors series. This one is taking place along two continents across the ocean.
If you are a history lover and enjoy England, you will enjoy this book. Well, you will get a bit of a tour of London. Though we start in Austin, Texas. We are introduced to every strong Pinkerton detective and her partner. We seem to have unsolved murders in Texas. But our detectives seem to be quite busy otherwise while chasing down a killer.
Will Annie and her partner Isaiah solve the murders in Austin and London? Will they find the killer that is killing women in their beds in Austin and the connection with the killing in London? The queen seems to want her great-granddaughter to look into them with her friend from Texas.
The pages will make you want to read until the last page. You will be on your toes and turning or sliding your pages up reading until the end. Is the killer Jack the Ripper, or is it someone else? You will be trying to guess and figure out along with the Pinkerton detectives in their investigations.
I felt like I was investigating along with them trying to find the killer of the mysterious deaths. You do get pulled into experience the London along the way. Who or What is the Black Midnight? Is the Midnight Assiaint the same person as The Black Midnight or Jack the Ripper?
All fans of historical fiction and crime will love this book and the series. It had me wanting more. It is in does go into details about investigations but not a lot into the deaths of killings. This is good in that way. What does the Prince want with his daughter? Why is he trying to bring his daughter home? Who is Annie Walters? Will she give herself away? What up with Cameron Blake and his reporting. Some entertaining story plots are going on. We go on as adventure with this one.
In December 1884 two Pinkerton agents are on the heels of the Midnight Assassin in Austin, Texas; in 1888 they reunite in London, England in pursuit of the White Chapel murderer. Could he be one and the same person? So many suspects including relatives of both detectives! Will we ever know the identity of this vicious killer?
A novel about Jack the Ripper was not high on my need-to-read list but since I have really enjoyed Barbour Publishing’s True Colors series and being a fan of Kathleen Y’Barbo it was a must read for me.
I loved Miss Hattie and her bossy ways. I grimaced every time Cameron Blake showed up. He annoyed me so. Annie with her independent, stubborn spirit was not what she appeared to be, but when her cover was blown, Ike lost the best partner he’d ever had. The history was well researched and the story flowed well between fact and fiction. I really enjoyed this book.
I received an ARC of this book from Barbour Publishing through Net Galley.
Each of Kathleen Y’Barbo’s True Colors suspense novels has been quite interesting. This one features a serial killer in Austin TX and the Jack the Ripper murders in London England. Could the same man be the murderer in both? That’s for Pinkerton detectives, Alice Anne von Wettin great granddaughter of Queen Victoria, and Isaiah Joplin, must determine along with figuring out if the mysterious Black Midnight group played a part in one or both.
I enjoyed that the romance played a backdrop in this storyline with most of the focus on the serial killer in Austin. Alice Anne is definitely trying to spread her wings and be known for her work rather than her relationship to the Queen. Isaiah (aka Ike) loves Alice Anne’s spirit, keen observations, and dedication to her job, and they work well together. Full of historical detail on each of the serial murders, Y’Barbo handled them well without lurid detail which both the series of murders included. Suspects were eliminated; but since it is widely known that neither series was ever solved, the ending continued to leave the murders unresolved. The Queen Victoria touches were delightful.
Another good addition to the True Colors series.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.
The Black Midnight
Kathleen Y’Barbor
What can I say about “Back Midnight” except it is a another great book in the “True Crime” series. This is the 7th book in the great series. All book are stand alone and are cases that are true.
This book is about Anne Walters who is a Pinkerton detective who was sent to work with Isiah Joplin. Annie has a secret that might change here relationship with Isiah . She is the great grand daughter of no other than the queen of England Victoria.
The story is set in 1889 in Austin Texas were Annie and Isiah were hunting for a person they called the Midnight Assassin. He had killed 8 people between 1884 and 1885. Could it be the same person called the Whitechapel killer aka. Jack the Ripper. Jack the Ripper killed August 31, 1888 and November 9, 1888.
This book the very suspenseful! It was hard to put down.
At the end of the book The author includes information about is real fact and what is false in this adventurous novel
I give this book a 5 out of 5
I will recommend book to friends and family through Facebook, bookbud, Goodreads, Amazon and my blog
I received this complimentary copy of this e-book from netgalley. I am under no obligation to write a review. All thoughts and opinions are mine and mine alone.
This was a very good addition to this series. I didn’t know anything about the Midnight Assassin case in Texas. It was very interesting reading it and hearing about the possibility of being linked to Jack the Ripper. The characters were likeable and I enjoyed their banter. I also loved the inclusion of Queen Victoria along with other real life characters. The author did a great job of weaving this story together and also in sharing her research. Will definitely look for more from this author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and Netgalley and was under no obligation to post a review.
The Black Midnight mixes historical fiction, romance and suspense into an intriguing novel. Anne Walters is a Pinkerton detective by day, but is secretly a British royal. She wants to live her life outside of family obligations. She gets assigned to Texas to work with Isaiah Joplin to hunt down a serial killer.
I’m typically not a fan of the 1800’s or romance themes. But I enjoyed everything about this novel. First – the suspense. The murders in Austin, TX become linked to a series of murders in England, which eventually leads to the hunt for Jack the Ripper. Anne and Isaiah work to connect the string of murders between the two continents. Also, Anne is a female Pinkerton detective, which was rare for women during this time period, not to mention someone with a royal background. Anne takes a strong lead in this novel, as a detective and as she stands up to her family.
As far as the romance, I enjoyed Anne and Isaiah discovering their feelings for each other. Of course it falls into the forbidden love category as Anne could never marry someone who wasn’t a royal and chosen by her family. Her desire to be independent and work as a detective clashes with the desire to please her family. And Isaiah appreciates Anne’s investigation skills and sees her for so much more than the roles women of this time period traditionally held.
I found this story intriguing from the historical aspect. I didn’t know much about Jack the Ripper, and I liked the author’s notes in the end with the research details. Kathleen Y’Barbo tacked a big topic and created a suspenseful story with heartwarming characters that will keep readers hooked until the very last page.
Overall: 5 stars (I loved it, couldn’t put it down)
Suspense: 5 stars (Non-stop edge-of-your-seat suspense from start to finish)
I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
When I finished this book I felt as though I was involved with Ike and Annie investigating the murders thought to be from Jack the Ripper! The writing is so realistic with just enough details without overdoing to capture and hold my attention and tempt me to keep on turning the pages!
Between the murders in Houston and London, there was plenty to keep these investigators busy. And I’m thankful there was nothing gruesome in describing the murders.
This series, Step into True Colors — a series of Historical Stories of Romance and American Crime is so excellent. Each book in this series is so hard to put down, or in my case turn off my light to get some sleep.I highly recommend this book.I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
The Black Midnight is a cleverly written mystery and romance based on true historical crimes. The book is well researched, and the author even tells at the end where she kind of bent history a bit to make it work for the book better.
Alice Ann, the queen’s granddaughter, worked as a Pinkerton, unbeknownst to her parents. Isaiah Joplin, was also a Pinkerton agent and is now a lawyer. The book starts in 1889, but then smoothly goes back to the events of 1885 when servant women in Austin were being murdered with axes. That part of the story is told and then goes back to 1885 and the deaths of the women in Whitecastle. There is no graphic violence in the book.
The plot has twists and turns as expected for a good mystery and a second-chance romance. Our couple gets their HEA after some difficulties are addressed.
I enjoyed the interactions with the queen. She was sharp and nobody’s fool. Her relationship with Alice is sweet, but a little complex with Alice being an investigator, who even has to consider a prince as the suspect.
I have enjoyed the other books in this series that I was privileged to read. Kathleen Y’Barbo is a new author to me, but I hope to read more from her as I thoroughly savored reading The Black Midnight.
I received a copy through NetGalley. I chose to write a review and share my opinion of this great read.
As all of the True Color Series The black Midnight is about crimes that actually took place. This one starts in Austin, Texas with a serial killer that was never caught and ends in England with Jack the Ripper. He also was never caught. Could the two possibly be connected, although continents apart? This story includes England’s royalty, which makes an interesting part of this story. The book starts off rather slow but picks up as the main characters are working for the Pinkerton Investigating Company, in Texas investigating the murders taking place in the late 1880’s of this small town. Y’Barbo has done her research well on both notorious happenings to bring us this Christian Historical novel. There is of course many murders, mystery, intrigue and a forming romance making this a must read………I received this book from Netgalley and Barbour Publishing but it did in no way influence my review.
In this story the author takes a strong female character, as the request of her aunt (the Queen) on a true crime adventure that spans two continents and many years. The addictive nature of this story had me turning the pages to see if there really was a connection between murders in American and the Ripper murders in England. I loved the balance of historically accurate true crime with the fiction within this story. It makes for a wonderful read.
I found myself taking notes and trying to piece the puzzle together before the main character, but the author kept both me and her on our toes and so I was excited to find the twists and turns outside of the box. The overall story flows nicely with a few instances of flashbacks that caught me by surprise. I think the author did an amazing job with this story and it was a great read.
This is one story in a series of standalone true crime reads that are quite clean and readily accessible to all readers. I will be continuing to devour this series and have found a new author to follow. I received an ARC via Barbour Books and NetGalley and I am leaving my honest review. 4.25 stars.