The White City is Grace Hitchcock's debut novel, but it reads like it was written by a seasoned writer. Initially I would have described the story as lighthearted fun, but near the end it took a dark turn. I would love to say more about that, but no spoilers here!

Winnifred Rose Wylde, daughter of Inspector Randolph Wylde, is an avid reader, especially of romantic mystery novels. While her aunt wanted Winnie to focus on making a good marriage match, Winnie was able to convince her father to allow her to spend the summer doing some undercover work. Of course the agreement came along with a bodyguard in the form of the handsome Officer Jude Thorpe. If Inspector Wylde or Officer Thorpe had had an inkling of who Winnie would be dealing with, permission would never have been granted.

It was interesting to learn in the Author's Notes that the villain in this story was a real person, a notorious criminal. I am sure fans of romantic suspense and historical fiction will enjoy The White City, set in 1893 Chicago during the World's Fair. I give it four stars. I am grateful to have received a coy from Barbour Books via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to write a positive review and received no monetary compensation.

What a delightful debut novel! Mystery, intrigue, suspense and romance blended together seamlessly to tell a stunning tale during the Chicago World’s fair. The full story will leave you guessing until all the pieces are found and properly put in place. I love Winnie’s independence and ability to state her mind. I also couldn’t help but chuckle while picturing her leading other detectives on all sorts of crazy adventures. This time, she knows she’s right and sucks up poor Jude in the whole affair. I enjoyed the building of their friendship into something more. They both had to fight for what they wanted and found that, oftentimes, even when we can’t see the outcome, standing for what we believe in is the right thing to do.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The White City is a debut novel by Grace Hitchcock and is first in the True Colors series of historical stories of American Crime and I can't wait to read the next books in the series. The White City introduces readers to Winnifred, or Winnie to her friends, a plucky young woman who is an avid reader of mystery novels, and just wants to be taken seriously when it comes to investigating what she thinks may have been a crime. When handsome and heroic Detective Thorpe is assigned by Winnie's father to be her bodyguard, the action begins and sparks fly. The author takes readers to the Chicago World's Fair in 1893 to begin Winnie's journey into her undercover role to find a kidnapper and with an engaging writing style and witty dialogue readers are quickly drawn into the story. The story is a compelling read with just the right amount of suspense, character development, and romance (and there is a bit of tension in the romance with two possible love interests). The Author's Note at the end was informative regarding the infamous criminal the story was based on and begs the reader to do more research about the man and his Murder Castle. Lovers of cozy mysteries based on true life won't want to miss this book.
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.

"She was not a weak heroine" , my favourite sentence of the book and a great summary of this great book. Set in Chicago in 1893 Winifred is a modern woman, who is independent! We explore Chicago during the World Fair in a way where we are almost there experiencing it with her. Winnie loves reading (like me), a very active imagination (also me) and a father who is the inspector (not me).
She sees a woman getting kidnapped during the world fair and raises hell and earth to find out what happened. She goes undercover with her crush, detective Jude Thorpe, (dreamy) as protection in, H.H. Holmes' house (I GASPED) as a secretary to solve the mystery.
Shenanigans ensue, romance comes and Winnie is in a whirlwind of a life.
I definitively recommend this novel. READ IT!

A Serial Killer Stalks the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair

In 1893, the Chicago World’s Fair was a huge attraction. People came from all over the country to wander through the White City. The gathering also attracted crime.

Winnifred Wylde is attending the fair with a would-be suitor when she thinks she sees a woman kidnapped at gunpoint. She races off to tell her father, an inspector of the Chicago police force, what she’s seen. Winnie loves romance novels and sometimes lets her imagination run away with her. This is what her father thinks happened.

Winnie is convinced of what she saw, and she plans to find the kidnapper. Knowing his impetuous daughter, Inspector Wylde assigns a policeman, Jude Thorpe, to follow her. Winnie spots Jude almost immediately and convinces him to help her in her quest. As the two work together, they find a growing attraction. It makes Jude even more convinced that he must protect Winnie, especially when she goes undercover to trap the kidnapper.

This is much more a romance than a mystery although it’s based on actual events. I felt the story of the serial killer got overshadowed by the romance between Winnie and Jude. Winnie is a vivacious character throwing herself into dangerous situations without thinking about the consequences. Luckily Jude is a well-trained policeman who makes it his mission to keep her out of danger.

This is a Christian mystery so there is little violence and no inappropriate sexual behavior. It’s a fun read. I particularly liked the fact that it was based on a historical incident.

I received this book from Barbour Publishing for this review.

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.*

4.5 stars - I was immediately intrigued by the synopsis and couldn’t wait to get thrown this late 19th-century true crime inspired book. Imagine my surprise when I slowly realized that this was actually a romance novel disguised as a true crime novel! I didn’t mind it though, because I immediately fell in love with the characters, and the story was so well-written that I couldn’t help but get entangled in their web of mysteries and undercover work and unravel the truth alongside them.

Winnie was sweet, charming, honest and anything but the naive high-born girl I expected her to be. She was consistently a strong character throughout the book and I appreciated her for it. Detective Thorpe/Jude was the total dreamboat you’d expect as a hero in romance novels. And although he was a total cliche, I couldn’t help but root for them both.

To be honest, I had no idea who H.H. Holmes was but so many parts of the story spiked my interest enough to warrant a pause in my reading and do quick Google searches on him, his hotel aka “Murder Castle” and his victims. Now I’m forever intrigued by America’s first serial killer!

My imagination was ignited right from chapter one. Drawn in with the colorful word imagery and witty dialogue and held captive by the vivacious characters, this is one book that you will want to read!

Winnifred loves to read the popular dime novels, yet sometimes her imagination gets ahead of her. She is nearly certain that she witness's an abduction. However, her father, Inspector Wylde is reluctant to send out detectives on another one of her wild goose chases. Tasked with following her and keeping her safe, detective Jude Thorp becomes her personal bodyguard.

Jude Thorp harbors his own secrets and shadowing a pampered socialite isn't what he had in mind when he moved to Chicago. However, he quickly finds out that Winnifred isn't your typical socialite. She carries a pistol in her muff and she knows how to use it! Jude Thorp's care and protection of Winnifred is one of my favorite things about this story! The slow-growing affection and Jude's desire to have Winnifred's father's approval is quite endearing.  

While Winnifred is trying to uncover the dastardly deeds of the notorious H. H. Holmes a tender, swoon-worthy romance is growing! There are many fun layers to this story, mysteries to solve along the way, and danger lurking in the most unlikely of shadows! I highly recommend this romantic, page-turning story to anyone who enjoys a delightful adventure with their romance!

(I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher. I am not required to write a positive review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.)

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 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.

This book started out slow. I was almost to the point of deciding whether I should finish it. Then about a fourth of the way in it, started to get interesting. I liked Winnie's character. She was full of life and wanted adventure. Today she would have made a top rate detective. In the late 1800's it wasn't even considered. Jude Thorpe was also a likable character. His love for his family is what drives him. He quickly falls in love with Winnie. But her father will not allow it as he is a policeman. Which I thought was strange as he was Jude's boss on the police force. Then there was Percival Valentine. He was also likable. He is the man that Winnie's father and aunt have chosen for her to marry. The only problem with that? She doesn't love him, she loves Jude. As far as the mystery aspect of the book, it was okay. The book did make me look up Mr. Holmes to read more about him.

If the book hadn't started out so slow, I would probably give it four stars. So therefore, I will be giving it three stars.

I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

Due to Winnie's vivid imagination and the suspenseful books that she reads, Winnie's Police Inspector father doesn't believe that Winnie really saw a young woman kidnapped. Her father assigns Detective Jude Thorpe to quietly follow her and make sure that she's safe. Soon after Winnie discovers Jude following her, she convinces him that it would be safer for him to join her in her investigation. Before long, Winnie is working undercover as a secretary to the man that she suspects is the kidnapper with Jude as her secret protection. Winnie's curiosity will put her life in danger. If her life isn't busy enough, Aunt Lillian wants to marry Winnie off before the end of the summer. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through Netgallery. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. I really like this book. The book contains mystery, suspense, romance, and some humor. The quotes that started each chapter enhanced the story. I am hoping that there will be another book with Winnie, Jude, and Percy. I recommend this book.

The White City is a well-written romance, suspense, and mystery. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. (The title didn't exactly grab me.) Having the different parts of the World's Fair as part of the setting added a lot of interest to an already great fast-paced plot. Winnie and Jude are well-fleshed out, likable characters. The dialogue felt natural for the time period. I loved the romantic quotes at the beginning of each chapter and the Scripture that is very lightly sprinkled through the book in appropriate places in the story line. I would highly recommend this book. I received a copy from NetGalley. I chose to write a review and share my opinion of this excellent book.

What a wonderful debut novel! A fictionalized tale of H. H. Holmes, America's first serial killer, is sure to grab your attention and not let go until you have finished the book. I loved the bookworm, Winnifred, who always had the latest Perceval Valentine novel read and almost memorized. These stories seemed to dictate many of her actions, to the point where she became the heroine in his latest writing. Her amatuer sleuthing found her in a number of dangerous situations, causing her bodyguard a great deal of stress. Would she even survive to prove she had been right all the time? An interesting opportunity to learn a bit more of what life was like in 1893 around the time of the Chicago World's Fair.
I received this fabulous book through Barbour Publishing, Netgalley and CelebrateLit. These impressions and opinions are my own.

I really liked this debut novel from Grace Hitchcock. She brought to life an interesting, funky, take charge heroine, two dashing men as possible love interests and a realistic hero.

Winnie was easy to connect with - her personality was quite feisty and her love for mystery novels sealed the deal. She found herself in a few difficult situations where she sought help instead of being a naive lady who think she can take on everything on her own.

Jude was quite the dashing hero who had my vote from the first time I met him and the tension between him and Winnie was tangible and real.

I would classify this story as a mystery more than suspense (what I initially expected when I read the book summary). There was one scene at the end which was more suspenseful, but the feel for most of the story was more of a mystery - following the leads in solving the crime but not feeling that anxiety of danger. It was very enjoyable. Fact and fiction flowed nicely.

I would definitely read more from this author and looking forward to the series based on true crimes.

Based on the mystery surrounding one of America’s notorious killers, this story inserts you into Chicago, 1893, at the time of the World’s Fair. Winnifred Wylde witnesses a kidnapping in the wake of several women missing, the only problem is that no one believes her because she’s “cried wolf” one too many times with her overactive imagination. Her father is an inspector with the police, and assigns one of his deputies to watch Winnifred because he knows she’ll not give up and will investigate on her own. But Jude Thorpe is convinced Winnifred is on to something, and Winnifred gets a job working for the infamous H.H. Holmes, trying to gain proof that he is behind the kidnapping.

The story and setting paint an amazing tale. I loved reading the historical setting, during the World’s Fair. The plot focuses more on the budding romance between Winnifred and Jude, despite Winnifred being set up with more suitable suitors. While I enjoyed this novel, I wanted more suspense and danger, especially after reading up on the nefarious H.H.Holmes and his horrific crimes. But I enjoyed the chemistry between Winnifred and Jude, and the story had a lighter feel where it could have taken a much darker approach to the crimes. This is Grace Hitchcock’s debut novel, and I’m looking forward to reading more from her.

I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I loved the decision the author made to place the very real serial killer, H.H. Holmes areal in this novel along with her fictional characters. Winnifred Wylde the daughter of Inspector Wylde with the Chicago police department is a truly delightful character. She's high-spirited, brave and very amusing. It' s pretty hard not to love a protagonist who is an avid reader, right? I loved Detective Jude Thorpe who has been assigned as Winnifred's bodyguard by her father. Jude is the perfect hero, he's cautious, intelligent, witty and quite handsome.


Winnifred really does need a bodyguard when she persuades her father to allow her to work undercover as a secretary to Holmes. I found the storyline not only interesting but very entertaining as well. There are several secondary characters who added fun elements especially, Percival a funny, kind and kind of a silly young man. It was refreshing to see Winnie have a social life and her interactions with other characters.


If anyone is expecting a detailed crime, gory detailed novel, this is not what this is. What it is, is a well written and impressive debut novel based on a real life killer with sweet and likeable fictional characters woven into the storyline. I absolutely loved this book which is why I highly recommend it. I look forward to reading more from Ms. Hitchcock.

I received a copy from the publisher and was under no obligation to write a review. All opinions are my own.

Winnifred Rose Wylde is an avid reader of the wildly popular romance novels written by Percy Valentine and has notions of being a heroine in such novels. While attending the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair in 1893, she witnesses an apparent kidnapping of a young lady.

Her father is Chief Inspector at the Chicago Police Department and when she tells him of what she saw, he thinks it’s just a figment of her overactive imagination. In an attempt to placate her, he allows her to investigate this further, as long as his newest Detective - Jude Thorpe acts as her bodyguard. Winnie agrees and begins her investigation.

Almost immediately upon beginning her undercover work, she meets with the suspected kidnapper and interviews to become his secretary. She quickly becomes convinced he is guilty of more than just the kidnapping she witnessed. While watching over Winnie, Jude has a private investigation ongoing concerning the mysterious death of his brother-in-law.

During this time, Winnie meets her favorite author serendipitously through the machinations of her High Society Aunt. A love triangle soon ensues in which Winnie falls in love with Jude, Jude falls in love with Winnie but is forbidden to court her. Percy is allowed to court her but seems more interested in her as his “muse” than as a love interest.

Will Winnie expose H.H. Holmes and his crimes, or will she become his next victim?

I really enjoyed the character of Winnie. I love a good Historical Fiction with a strong-willed, female as the main character. Ms. Hitchcock does a brilliant job of allowing her spunk and spirit to shine through even within the constraints of what “society” deems appropriate for young ladies of this time period.

The Christian aspect of this book was woven in subtly throughout. There were no “preachy” areas in this book. There were areas where Scriptures or prayers were shared, but I felt it would be natural for a Christian to either reach for a soothing Scripture or to pray at those moments.

While based around the first American serial killer, H.H. Holmes, his character was not fully fleshed out for me. I understand that because this is a Christian novel, there would be no graphic descriptions of his crimes, but I did still expect a more detailed account of his “evil”. In my opinion, he’s portrayed more as an insurance fraudster than a killer. In real life, he admitted to killing 27, which makes him a very sinister person, but this aspect was never really touched on in the novel.

While romance is not my genre of choice, the romance aspect of this novel was done well and tastefully. Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and would definitely recommend it to Historical Fiction fans.

The first in a series, True Colors, This novel is set in Chicago during the World Fair where the first serial killer, H H Holmes is busy choosing and preparing his next victim. Based on true facts with a few additions for entertainment, this novel is quite enlightening. Recommended!

When I received an email inviting me to read this book I read no further than Chicago World's Fair and kidnapping before accepting the invitation. I knew this book must somehow center around H.H. Holmes whom I had previously read about and maybe a bit fascinated by. I wasn't sure what to really expect from this book but knew I had to read it. I was not disappointed!

I immediately fell in love with Winnifred Wylde. She's adventuresome, witty, and an avid reader so what's there not to love? While on a disastrous date at the World's Fair she sees a woman being kidnapped. What better way to ditch a date than try to save the woman? But when that can't be done Winnifred goes to her father who is an inspector with the Chicago police department. He relents and lets her go undercover to find the woman but she must have a bodyguard and that's where policeman Jude Thorpe enters the story. And Jude is such a swoon-worthy character. He's strong, masculine, and charming. There's such natural chemistry between Judy and Winnifred that readers will soon find themselves wanting these two to fall in love. These two characters are on my list of all-time favorites!

This story is a romance and American crime story that has a perfect mix of each. The author does a great job of putting in details surround Holmes and his schemes and mixes it well with the fictional characters and situations. The author's writing style is wonderful and I found myself surprised that this was a debut novel. It reads like one from a seasoned author. She pulled me into the story and kept my interest until the very end and perhaps left me wanting a bit more. I loved the characters and story so much that I hated to say goodbye to them. Her descriptions made me feel as if I were there with the characters experiencing the fair, romance, and mystery right along with them.

I definitely recommend this book to fans of historical fiction, true crime, and romance. The three combine for a wonderfully written story that's incredibly entertaining. This is a story I won't soon forget and I'll be early awaiting more stories from this author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions are mine.

The White City is an intriguing novel that will interest readers who enjoy historical fiction filled with romance, mystery and faith. Grace Hitchcock tells the story of Winnifred Wylde who thinks she sees a woman being kidnapped at the Chicago’s World Fair in 1893. Her father, an Inspector for the Chicago Police, questions whether to take her claims seriously due to her sometimes overactive imagination. He ultimately assigns Detective Jude Thorpe to serve as protection for her as she does some amateur undercover work in order to figure out what really happened.

The White City tells a fictional account of the real-life story of America’s first serial killer H. H. Holmes, but the novel focuses more on the antics of Winnifred, her various suitors, and her quest to discover what her new employer H. H. Holmes is hiding. H. H. Holmes is somewhat of a secondary character in the story, with the focus more on Winnifred and Jude. The action increases toward the end of the novel as Winnifred finds herself in danger at the hands of H. H. Holmes.

Readers who are looking to read a fast-paced suspense thriller will be pleasantly surprised to discover this more light-hearted historical mystery. Readers will thoroughly enjoy this different take on the story of H. H. Holmes.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing through NetGalley and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

What an unusual story! The subtitle indicates this is the first of a series of “Historical Stories of Romance and American Crime.” Quite a combination that I really enjoyed! The historical American crime part focuses on H. H. Holmes, considered the first American serial killer, the subject of Erik Larson’s excellent THE DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY. The romance part includes Winnifred Wylde, a young woman in 1893 Chicago who reads popular romance novels and poetry of the time, including Jane Austen, Tennyson, Browning, and more. The combination of the two provides an intriguing story.

While exploring the newly opened Chicago World’s Fair, Winnie thinks she witnesses an abduction of a woman. Crime has increased in Chicago since the Fair opened, and women especially are disappearing. Winnie decides she must investigate, as the heroines in her novels would do. Her father is a police inspector, and agrees to allow her to investigate, as long as one of his detectives can protect her. Meanwhile, Winnie’s aunt is trying to marry Winnie off to a handsome eligible bachelor who has a mysterious secret. Winnie finds herself torn between two very different men while digging deeper into the dangerous investigation.

The author’s writing style is readable and descriptive, providing very visual images. I love the way she creates a heroine in the style of Austen’s heroines, presents a romantic triangle that could be pulled straight from those novels, and uses books as a fun plot device. I especially like the quotes presented at the start of each chapter that fit perfectly with the actions in those chapters.

The one thing I found odd were the seemingly random insertions of prayers into the plot. I have no problem with characters praying, if it comes naturally in the story. I didn’t think that was the case here. It felt like the prayers were added later, as an afterthought.

Overall, though, I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a preprint of this book.