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 … 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?
more
This new series from Barbour Publishing, True Colors, looks very promising.
Having finished reading the first in the series, the White City by Grace Hitchcock, I am eager to read the second novel in the series.
Each novel, a work of fiction, is based on “strange-but-true history”, has the elements of surprise and disbelief that such incidents truly occurred. This debut novel written by Grace Hitchcock, is sure to put her on many readers favorites authors lists.
The main premise in the story surrounds Doctor H. H. Holmes, who is known historically as America’s first serial killer. Leaving behind many murdered young women, Holmes’ notoriety was soon forgotten under the excitement of the Worlds Fair held in Chicago.
The author skillfully weaves historical facets of the fair, leaving the reader a bit awestruck with what was accomplished in that time frame. Interwoven with the fair are well-developed characters that brought depth to the story and provided just the right touch of romance.
I highly recommend this first novel of the True Color series, the White City
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and am under no obligation to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions therein are solely my own.
This book will forever be etched upon my mind. I can not express in mere words how exciting and wonderful this book is! The characters were funny, witty and intriguing. The White City had me captivated from the first page with its upper class avid reader who has clearly cried wolf too many times, thanks to her over active imagination. Grace Hitchcock brings mystery, romance and action packed crime to a head in this page turning tale. Don’t be surprised when you see this book on the top 10 best selling books of the year list!
The White City, book #1 in a new “true crime” series by Barbour Publishing, is a great debut by Grace Hitchcock. The writing is fresh, with a gentle humor throughout, and characters are well drawn. There’s plenty of suspense in this story inspired by a man known as America’s first serial killer, and romance is a major theme as well.
I loved the vivid historic detail and was quickly drawn into the setting of Chicago’s World Fair during the summer months of 1893. Winnifred, daughter of Inspector Wylde of the Chicago police, is simply delightful. She’s brave, enthusiastic, and an avid reader of romantic adventures! Jude, the officer assigned to protect her while she poses as the suspect’s secretary, is a great match for her, both on and off the job. He’s intelligent, kind, caring, and self-sacrificing. There’s a little romance triangle with the addition of a secondary character who I enjoyed, but it’s really all about Jude and Winnifred. I loved how both strive to put their faith into action in every situation.
Lighthearted moments give a good balance to a story about a serial killer, and the author captured the complexity of his nature, both charisma and propensity for violence. The story is more about detecting methods than crime details. In today’s high-tech world of crime solving, it’s fun to be swept back to a time where skills like observation and questioning played such a huge part, and many crimes did get solved that way.
The White City is both interesting and entertaining, a great beginning to what promises to be a fascinating series. I look forward to more of Grace Hitchcock’s writing. Recommended.
I received a copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
I enjoyed this quick read, and it had a lot of danger, or heart stopping moments, you never knew when evil would strike.
The place setting is the Chicago World’s Fair, and we get to experience through these character’s some of the happenings here, some of the new inventions, that we take for granted, and others that have been replaced.
The story does focus on a young woman, Winnifred Wylde, and her Aunt’s wish for her to marry socially well, and a young detective who desires to find and convict the people responsible for his brother- in-law’s death.
Now our girl has a vivid mind and loves to read and has in the past suspected things that weren’t really happening, but now she finds a woman being kidnapped, and has she cried wolf to long?
You don’t want to miss this one!
I received this book through Celebrate Lit, and was not required to give a positive review.
Would I recommend The White City?Yes! This was a delightful read. There were some edge-of-the-seat moments (which my thriller-loving-soul delights in), but it wasn’t gruesome. I love characters that are believable and yet don’t quite fit their time or their community…I think I am a lot like them, so they help me figure out how to be me and how to walk with God in my perpetual season of out-of-place. I think my favorite part was the true test of character and love at the end (I won’t spoil it!), and that Winnie’s dad saw it too. If you enjoy mystery, crime, or historical novels, you’ll like this one.
The White City by Grace Hitchcock is her debut novel and the first book in the True Colors series by Barbour Publishing.
I really enjoyed this story! I liked the romance, I liked the mystery, I liked the setting, I liked the characters! The romance had touches of sweet with moments of swoon-worthy. I didn’t know much of anything about H. H. Holmes, so the mystery was quite intriguing for me. I enjoyed having true crime come to life. The setting of Chicago’s World Fair was perfect. (Of course, it helps that the actual crime took place there. ;)) The characters were fantastic. Winnie Wylde is a spunky, adventurous, witty heroine that has a weak spot for a good mystery. Jude Thorpe is the quintessential hero. Strong, handsome, chivalrous, and a police detective. He’s attentive to Winnie and her hero more than once.
The writing of this story is very well done! It flowed perfectly, nothing was rushed, and I enjoyed it immensely! I’m very much looking forward to what comes next from Ms. Hitchcock and also the True Colors series!
I received a complementary copy of this book. A positive review was not required. All opinions expressed are my own.
I was highly intrigued by this story when I first saw the description of it. For me, the story itself was okay, but didn’t hold as much suspense as I was hoping or expecting. In the beginning I felt the action started without getting a full grasp of the scene, but then after that the pace became too slow. I wasn’t gripped by the story as much as I was hoping I would be. I would have like to at least see some clues along the way to reveal that the characters were on their way to solve the crime. Instead there are moments when Winnie is afraid for her safety, but no real effort goes into investigating. It was more of a waiting game than a criminal investigation. I don’t want to discourage anyone from reading this since I know everyone has their own tastes and I already know of several others who thoroughly enjoyed this story. It was just a bit too slow for me.
*I received a copy of this book through CelebrateLit. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.
This novel is set in Chicago 1893, during the World’s Fair. People are coming to the city from all over increasing the crime rate by thieves, pickpockets, shysters, even murderers. Based partially on fact, this story drew me in and kept my heart pounding during certain events.
Winnifred sees a woman being forced by a man to leave the fair by gunpoint. Her accusations are overlooked at first by her Inspector father. But for safety reasons and to ease his mind, he asks Detective Jude Thorpe to discretely follow her when she’s out and about. On one of her trips to the fair she is approached by the man she realizes is the kidnapper. He offers her a job as his secretary and she convinces her father to let her go “undercover” as a detective. She is determined to find out what happened to that woman. Even though Jude is watching out for her, her bravery astounded me. She mentions numerous times that she seeks out adventure, and this time she finds it and then some. This kept me in suspense many hours into the late night, where I kept thinking I heard thumps, bumps and creaks around me!
Follow along on her “adventure” where you will find your heart thumping as you turn the pages and yes, a sweet romance to add the cherry on top.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through Celebrate Lit.
First, let me tell you about a mistake I almost made with this book. I very nearly passed on the opportunity to read it. I am so glad my curiosity won out and I did read it.
I wasn’t sure that I wanted to read a “true crime” type story and I’d never read a book by this author. Let me fully admit to you that I was completely wrong on both counts. This is a well-written, intriguing story and I will be looking for more books by Grace Hitchcock.
It’s based in facts about a true crime, but the writer has taken the those facts and written a very interesting story with great characters. I loved the characters of Winnifred and Jude. Winnifred is a strong-minded, courageous young woman who is being pestered by her family to find the right person to marry ( as in rich and well-established in society). Winnifred, however, is all about adventure, and fueled by her imagination and romance novels, thinks she sees crime happening everywhere. Until the day she actually sees a crime occur at the World’s Fair—and she then has a hard time getting her police Inspector father to take her seriously. However, he assigns one of his best officers, Jude, to protect Winnifred. As Jude comes to know Winnifred better, he comes to believe her story. The action in the story really begins from that point. I won’t give away details, but I will tell you that Jude proves himself quite the hero.
This is a good Christian historical suspense novel with a thread of faith and a little romance running through it. I think I’m going to follow this series to see what’s next.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Chicago, July 1893 during the World’s Fair this story of a serial killer was full of suspense, history and a little romance. This young lady was a force to be reckoned with. She had a way of getting people to do things against their better judgement that was certainly what needed to be done as she worked on solving the missing women case. I found it interesting and wanting to read more Historical Stories of American Crime.
I was gifted a copy through Barbour Publishing, no review was required. My review is voluntary.
This is a wonderful story based on true events. The main characters of Winnifred and Jude are both not real but the circumstances they are placed were real. I love reading the history of the Chicago Worlds Fair and learning more about the first known serial killer in the United States. The story and the characters were well written about and everything was well tied together. I received a copy of this book from Barbour Publishing for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
It seems it is always fun to read about one great event that changed the face of Chicago, the World’s Fair of 1893. The White City by Grace Hitchcock helps to sharpen our modern focus on a time when Chicago had a “mini” city of large white stucco buildings well-lit, even at night, to house the fair. The character HH Holmes was a real criminal, detailed in another non-fiction book. White City also caused me to research how the giant Ferris Wheel looked back then. It was nothing like our modern Ferris Wheels, having glass “rooms” holding up to 60 people each!
I thought this was the perfect vacation read, with a smattering of history, and romance, and suspense.
I enjoyed the love triangle and truly wasn’t certain how it would turn out.
Jude Thorpe is a new detective in Winnifred Wylde’s father’s precinct and is assigned the dubious duty of protecting Winnie from her efforts to prove her crime sightings are more than her imagination. Winnie appears attracted to him, but he has competition.
Winnie fights off many of her aunt’s hand-picked suitors, but will Percival Covington turn out to be the perfect man?
For myself, I was glad to see Winnie could be a reader and still be a respectable heroine. Often readers are passed over in real life as those who just don’t want to work, instead of those called to nourish an inner need.
“He didn’t deserve to have her heart’s sloppy seconds.” Said about one of Winnie’s suitors, it hit me how applicable this is in our relationship to God.
This was one book I would almost have liked to have seen the author write an alternate ending too. That is if she had made a few character adjustments, of course. It just seemed the book teetered on a precipice and the author had to think for a moment which way she wanted to take the action. I know I seriously considered which way I would have counseled her to take it. Indeed, that really brought me thoroughly into the tale, as if the adventure didn’t already have me there. Good point for a book club discussion.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and NetGalley. No positive review was required, and all opinions are solely my own.
3.5 stars
“My daughter tends to exaggerate because she reads too many of those penny novels . . . . . .”
There is one thing that Winnifred Wylde is quite certain happened; a young woman was kidnapped at gunpoint before disappearing into the bustling crowds that continually strolled the grounds of Chicago’s World Fair. The fact that her father, an inspector with the Chicago police department is dubious, doesn’t surprise her. However, he demonstrates concern by immediately assigning a handsome new detective on the force to shadow her every move, suspecting that Winnie will go right to work trying to discover the young woman’s whereabouts. And he would be right.
“It would be silly for you to follow me since I now you are there. Come on, you can help me look.”
Detective Jude Thorpe quickly learns that the quite lovely Winnifred Wylde is a force to be reckoned with when she smells an adventure, and there’s nothing wrong with her sense of smell about this case. After she wiggles her way into their suspect’s office as “Cordelia Swan”, Thorpe’s radar spikes sky high, but since patience is a virtue, guarding his heart becomes just as tedious as solving the mystery; just what is the illustrious Dr. Henry Howard Holmes up to?
What could be a rather creepy story (since it is based on fact, not fiction) has a rather whimsical, romantic aura . . . calming the heart and teasing the mind as Jude and Winnifred manage to both entertain and ascertain what is actually happening in the infamous White City. Certainly an impressive series debut! . . . with an edge of your seat ending.
“If I had a flower for every time I thought of you . . . I could walk through my garden forever.” – Lord Alfred Tennyson
The White City by Grace Hitchcock is part of a new series put out by Barbour Publishers. Each story is based on a true crime in American history. This one deals with the Chicago World’s Fair of 1893.
What could be more exciting than a World’s Fair right in your home town? Winnifred Wylde, whose father is an inspector in the Chicago police department is about to find out. With her aunt out of town on a visit, her father assigns detective Jude Thorpe to keep an eye out for Winnie for protection.
Ms. Hitchcock spins a mysterious tale around the real facts of a serial killer amidst the Fair of 1893. She takes a spunky heroine and gives her an insatiable desire for romance novels. The last of her friends to make a marriage match, she finds herself with two suitors but only one meets with approval from her aunt and father. Among the fascinating details of the Fair, the author puts you in another era. I was kept turning pages to see what trouble Winnie and her bodyguard could get into. And when Percy Covington, a very suitable suitor, comes to call, can Winnie decide which is the man for her?
This was a wonderfully colorful story and very appropriate to the series title TRUE COLORS.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own. *
I was immediately enthralled by Grace Hitchcock’s debut novel, The White City. A must read for fans of historical mysteries!
The setting of the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago is a stunning backdrop to one of the most horrific crime sprees in America. Although this is a fictional account of those events, I believe Hitchcock’s attention to historical detail and research aided in a masterfully penned story. While the author hints at some of the atrocities committed by Doctor H. H. Holmes (Henry Howard Holmes), she does not share some of the most gruesome details.
Winnifred Wylde believes she has witnessed a kidnapping while visiting the World’s Fair. When she reports this to her father, an inspector with the police department, he allows her to go undercover as a secretary for her suspect. The only concession is that she takes the bodyguard he assigns. Hitchcock pens a spunky heroine being courted by two charming suitors. While the romance was predictable, I enjoyed the story. It had everything I love, a good mystery filled with danger, wonderful setting, and an enjoyable cast of characters who relied upon their faith to strengthen and guide them.
Grace Hitchcock is another author to add to my list. I am looking forward to reading more in Barbour’s True Colors series that centers around actual events in American history. These are advertised as suspense with a romantic element. While these will be fictional accounts of true crime, I don’t believe they will focus on the gory details. But I am sure there will be enough hair-raising moments to please this reader.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Netgalley and the author/publisher through CelebrateLit. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.
The white city
Winnifred loves to read crime novels. Her father is a inspector with the Chicago police. The book starts out when she thinks she sees a kidnapping and sets out to find the kidnapper.
Her father has detective Jude Thorpe be her body guard. He has reasons of his own to help solve the crime.
I loved all the comparisons to the novels she was reading. This is a very well written book. I found very interesting from start to finish. I look forward to reading more books from the author.
I received an complementary copy of the book from the publisher through Celebrate Lit. I was not required to write an positive review. This is my own opinion.
This is my first book by this author but it won’t be my last. I usually do not care for mysteries but this one is historical my favorite genre and with a great mystery and a lot of suspense..
This story had most wonderful characters and the plot was awesome. I really enjoyed this story a lot and loved the characters especially the hero and heroine. I loved their interaction even if one was to shadow the other they became friends and maybe more.
This suspense and mystery was engaging for sure and you didn’t want anything to happen to either our hero and heroine. But it was quite possible for both that harm was waiting for them.
This is a very engaging story that I couldn’t put down. I highly recommend this story to everyone and I will be reading more of this authors work.
I received this story from the publisher who I greatly thank as I really enjoyed this story.
I was under no obligation to do a review but I did so because I loved this story and I hope others will find it awesome like I did.
I really enjoyed this book! I hadn’t read anything by Grace Hitchcock before, but now I know that I will be looking for new books by her! I loved Jude and Winnifred. The romance between them was great! The parts about H. H. Holmes were suspenseful. This book kept me hooked the whole way through. I didn’t want to put it down! I’m definitely looking forward to the rest of this series!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.*
The Chicago World’s Fair is an exciting setting for The White City! Winnifred Wylde is the spunky daughter of a Chicago police inspector. I did not find her role very believable as she works to find a person she suspects was kidnapped. Winnie’s bodyguard, detective Jude Thorpe, is a great main character! This book is based on true history of Chicago which was interesting. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
What an intriguing Christian mystery! Set in White City, 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago, this novel is first in a new, multi-author series, True Colors, based on real crimes. I enjoyed reading about the fair, how the police department worked in the late 1800’s, and the story itself! I particularly appreciated Winnifred “Winnie” Wylde, Detective Jude Thorpe, and Percy Covington as they attempt to capture the man known as H.H. Holmes, who Winnie had seen abducting a woman at gunpoint when at the fair.
Winnie is the daughter of Inspector Wylde, widowed when Winnie’s mother died almost ten years earlier. She is also the niece of Lillian, who wants her to marry into the upper society her mother had belonged to before marrying Winnie’s father. Winnie is at the Fair when she sees a woman in an emerald gown being taken by Holmes. Knowing that many women have recently disappeared, and being a huge fan of penny mystery novels, she races to her father to report what she saw.
It is Detective Jude Thorpe’s first day at her father’s precinct; he had been one of the finest New York City detectives. His sister’s husband was murdered while on an undercover investigation from this Chicago precinct, and without bringing that up, is hired by Inspector Wylde. The investigation of his brother-in-law’s death noted a head injury, but it was thought to have been sustained when being hit by the trolley. Jude knew better, and wants to follow up on his fraud case and find his killer. Instead, he is sent to discreetly follow Winnie and keep her safe. Winnie is too observant to miss the man following her, and in short order wants to help Jude find the kidnapper. Winnie begins to work “undercover” as a part-time secretary to Mr. Holmes, the man she believes kidnapped the woman.
Aunt Lillian sets up a date for Winnifred with the wealthy Percival Covington. Young, good looking, and very kind, he still is no competition in Winnie’s heart for Jude, who she has begun to care a great deal for. She is not allowed to be courted by any lawmen, however, partly due to the social status, and partly due to the stress that her mother had endured with her father as a detective and never knowing if he would be injured or killed on duty.
I got to know Winnifred and Jude well and like them both. Conversations are realistic and help define who they are. I also enjoyed reading about the mysteries, including the Valentine series, that she and her dear friend Danielle love to read. Descriptions of surroundings and colors, detailed observations made by Winnifred, and the faith and courage she and Jude display, are exemplary.
Winnifred and Jude are fictional. It is interesting to read about H.H. Holmes. Plot twists keep the pages turning in this riveting novel, as do the actions of the characters. I don’t think I would have had the courage to work in Holmes’ office, much less search around the basement and other rooms! Historical details about White City and the exhibits bring authenticity and enjoyment. Seeing the changes in Winnie’s family, especially her father, was heartwarming, as is seeing prayers and faith of Winnie and Jude. The end brought surprises, some wonderful and some frightening! Overall, I was very satisfied with the novel, and highly recommend it to those who enjoy quality Christian historical fiction.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.