I have enjoyed the novels in the True Colors series, ones about historical crime and unusual situations. This one was particularly interesting. Hitchcock did a good job of weaving historical fact and a fictional woman incarcerated on Blackwell's Island, a hospital for insane women. In the 1880s, women had few rights and few ways to find recourse when wronged. This novel paints a horrific picture of the conditions in the hospital, conditions that were being noted by the undercover female reporter, Nellie Bly.

I like the many issues covered in the plot. There is greed to the point of kidnapping an heiress and bribing doctors to see her declared insane. Women had defined social behavior at the time and going outside of the boundaries, such as riding a bicycle or learning to fence, was frowned upon. A major issue was faith in God, a challenge for the heroine under such cruel circumstances.

I recommend this book to readers who enjoy thought provoking fiction about a dark situation in the past. You'll get a good dose of suspense along with historical reality and a hint of romance. While it is fiction, the author notes its basis in actual events.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

A well-written book that was easy to read.  Edyth Foster is a rich young lady.  Her parents died in an accident when she was a child.  Her uncle has been her guardian since.  His new wife wants to the money.  If she makes it to her twenty-fifth birthday, she gets complete control. So they cook up a plot to get her committed to Blackwell's Island Asylum in New York City.  He uses the money to convince doctors to use her eccentricities as proof on insanity. 

A quick read that held my interest.

The Gray Chamber is the latest release in the True Colors series. While not the most gripping and suspenseful book I’ve ever read, Grace Hitchcock still manages to weave a compelling tale that will have you turning pages as fast as you can.
I loved Edyth. I loved her eccentricities, how she was true to herself. All this, as well as her camaraderie with Bane, made it easy for me to root for their relationship. But Bane’s sudden interest did have me furrowing my brow a bit. Although I suppose that once Bane realized what had been right in front of him, it was in his character to want to act on it. Bane struck me as a go-getter.
I liked how Hitchcock explored the horrors of the asylum without going into too much graphic detail and making the novel too dark. While The Gray Chamber isn’t a lighthearted read, it wasn’t overly dark either. I also liked how she explored how the asylum’s treatment affected the patients.
The suspense surrounding Edyth’s stay and the hope of her escape makes the novel suspenseful. I was hooked from the beginning of the novel, but from the moment Edyth was taken to the asylum, I couldn’t stop reading. I pushed through so I could get to the ending and discover how she was going to get free.

All in all, this was a wonderful, well-written novel perfect for a rainy day.

(Review will go live on the blog on Jan. 10 at 5 pm)

I loved the feistiness of Edyth ! I’m appalled that things like this actually happened. It was a page turner which I really enjoyed! Thanks to Netgalley for the early copy

I loved Grace Hitchcock's book "The Gray Chamber."The story developed at a good pace and kept me intrigued as to what would happen next. I loved the ending!! I normally don't read a lot of stories with a "love story" but this book was different and kept me reading from the time I started!
Grace has a great writing style and I look forward to reading more books by Grace Hitchcock. If you like historical fiction based on true history you will love this book.

I downloaded a copy of this book through Net Galley via the publisher with no fee and no compensation in the hopes of an honest review. My opinion is entirely my own.

The Gray Chamber is fictional story based upon true and atrocious events as its backbone. Blackwell Island in New York is the home of a mental hospital built to house patients potentially until their last breath. Edyth and her fortune left to her by her parents are under the guardianship of her uncle until she turns 25. She has no immediate intentions to conform to society's expectations of a lady or enter a marriage that would strangle her free spirit. Believing her place in society as secure she enjoys activities that society deems eccentric for a woman to enjoy - fencing and riding her velocipede about town. Edyth's happiness and security is threatened when her uncle finds a terrifying loophole in her parents will - her uncle has Edyth taken by force to live out her days in the insane asylum on Blackwell Island. As Edyth has estranged herself from high society will anyone even notice that she's gone?

This book was a fast read for me - equal parts historical fiction, suspense, true crime and a dash of romance. I really do love novels with strong female characters that are eccentric and/or nonconforming of society's standards women should apparently obey. Edyth's character will capture the heart of those who love this type of character - and she is anything but weak. The horrific treatment of patients (even those not surrendered or forced into an asylum) by doctors and scientists alike is just abhorrent for so many different reasons. I would highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy historical fiction, Victorian era novels, social injustice books and with strong female characters. This book isn't overly religious in my opinion - just that religion was more a part of daily life as well as the time period the book takes place in. This book is part of a series of novels based upon true crime: True Colors: Historical Stories of American Crime of which there are currently three other novels.

If you're curious you can read Ten Days in a Mad-House published by female undercover news reporter Nellie Bly (it's also a Kindle Unlimited title) and you can find at least some of her news articles online as well but they're a little hard on the eyes to read (at least for me). The island itself is now known as Roosevelt Island and the hospital's entrance - the Octagon, was refurbished as the lobby for high-end residential housing which you can visit. Another interesting article regarding historical psychology I stumbled upon is Civil Commitment in the United States written by Megan Testa, MD and Sara G. West, MD on the NCBI website. I would like to thank NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for providing me with a copy of The Gray Chamber to give an honest review of and experience - it is one that I thoroughly enjoyed.

I've read the other books in the series. The books have been hit or miss with me. I loved a couple of them, but some fell a bit flat, and that's how I'd categorize this book. The others in the series have had more "pull," whereas this one was steady and predictable. It was very slow moving, especially compared to prior books in the series. Based on the blurb, the story had promise, but it didn't quite live up to its potential.

I liked the asylum angle, as well as learning a bit about Nellie Bly, someone few people know much about. It was sad to see how easily people could be committed (such as to obtain a divorce to marry a mistress). {Parts were okay, but I had a hard time staying engaged for too much of the story to rate it higher than 2 stars.

The Gray Chamber True Colors: Historical Stories of American Crime by Grace Hitchcock is a Christian Historical Romance Thriller Fiction set in 1887. Ms. Hitchcock ́s newest book is based on the real crimes of committing unwanted family members to asylums. She explores the various reasons for committal, treatments and many abuses. Nellie Bly the famous journalist even makes an appearance. I found this book interesting, exciting and somewhat terrifying to think these crimes could happen. I thought the characters were at times not completely believable but at the same time very likable. There was an excellent Christian message throughout about trusting God in all things.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book. 4 Stars

Edyth Foster is your average twenty-five year old in the year 1887 who loves fencing and her fencing instructor, Bane. She is about to come into her fortune when she is involuntarily committed to an institution. I really enjoyed this story! The romance, pacing, and history were all well done. I would highly recommend it but set aside some time. You won’t be able to put it down.

This series has truly been an eye-opener on so many historical scandals. This installment focuses on the horror of women committed to asylums for being an inconvenience to their families or failing to conform to society's expectations.
Tired of watching Edyth flout the conventions of polite society - attending fencing classes, riding her bike around town - her uncle schemes to have her committed and steal her fortune. Her only hope is her life-long friend, fencing instructor and long-time crush, Bane. With her beautiful cousin's careful ministrations, Edyth had finally made Bane notice her for being something other than a promising pupil.
Bane has only just realized that all the attributes of independence and stubbornness he's always admired in Edyth make her the perfect partner in life, when she's snatched away.
Bane relies on God for patience and guidance to find and rescue his love, while Edyth learns to rely on God for the strength to endure the horrors of Blackwell Island Asylum and the dreaded gray chamber. All the while they rely on their faith in one another to fight for the love they've only just begun.
I loved this story. I loved the inclusion of real life historical figures, and the historical research that every author in this series has done so well.
I recommend this read for mystery and history lovers alike.

Beautiful, heartbreaking, romantic, strong. The christian leaning of this did not overwhelm the story. And I am not usually a romance reader, but the love and romance was clean and woven into the mystery and suspense and action really well.

I knew this was based on true events going into it and was positively horrified by what Edyth and the other women experienced at the asylum. I know those kinds of things (and worse) were reality for many women. I am so thankful for people like Nelly Bly who revealed to the world the depravity and evil going on in these institutions. So many lives were improved because of her bravery. I respect the way the author wrote this story in a way that put forth the truth in all it's evil, but that also showed hope.

Thank you to Barbour Publishing for a free digital galley via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I have to admit I was skeptical of this series going in. But now I'll have to go back and read the first in this series, The White City!

I’m a sucker for the unconventional underdog and got very drawn in to this story for that reason. But, I stayed for the plucky heroine, the sweetness of a love story, the gentle reminder of the Father’s presence and the promise of good hopefully triumphing over evil. I was not disappointed! This book takes a fascinating look into the practices of the infamous Blackwell Island mental asylum in the 1800’s which definitely makes one shudder as well. Spoiler alert. God always wins! #gracehitchcock #thegraychamber #blackwellisland

Loved this book. Edyth and Bane were wonderful together. The secondary characters were well written with villains and heros among them. Just when i felt like i would start crying or have to stop reading, a character would say a prayer or bible verse and keep me reading. That's how immersed i was in this story, that a line or two from one of the characters could inspire me to continue reading. This book is sad for what happened to patients confined for illness or greed of relatives or evil spouses. Thank goodness for Nellie Bly writing the story for the World. I would recommend this book just so people can get a glimpse of the history of mental asylums/hospitals. I would like to read the rest in the series.




This book was given as an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. The opinions are my own.

Epic and heart wrenching:
What an amazing book! The writing style was great, with the story flowing well and it drew me in right from the very beginning. It was disturbing and difficult to read at times due to the injustice and sad subject matter; yet I wanted to keep going in order to see how things turned out. There is plenty of angst and it wrenches your emotions but it is also a story about trusting and relying on God during hardships.The treatment of women and the mentally ill (actual and falsely accused) was shocking and deplorable. It made me count my blessings and appreciate anew all that has been bestowed upon me!
I enjoyed reading about spunky and quirky Edyth and the love and dedication bestowed upon her by Blane. All in all an enlightening and enjoyable read.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

New York, year 1887.
Edith Foster is a 25 yo woman, orphan, wealth, creative, proud and independent.
She loves her uncle, but not her new wife, the only relatives alive, but he's jelaous and declares Edith mad. What a awful person!
The story could be a nowadays story.
The book is inspired by a true article of Nellie Blyu, that tells the life, atrocity treatments of nurses and doctors to the innocent patients of the sylum on Blackwell's Island. Poor people!
Very nice book, fast to read, good characters.

Excellent blend of adventure, thriller, romance, history, and faith. Edyth’s uncle/guardian attempts to steal her inheritance by having her committed to an infamous women’ insane asylum. Edyth’s own eccentric behavior only makes the plot easier to implement. Outstanding research into the abominable conditions is surpassed only by the thriller the author has created mapping out the schemes to get Edyth committed, hidden, abused, and freed.
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Edyth Foster doesn’t fit the mold of a Gilded Age high society woman. Nor does she want to. She doesn’t care if people call her an old maid (she turns 25 in a few months), or eccentric because she loves to ride her bicycle and sword fight. A rich inheritance makes her life comfortable, and she fears just one thing—losing Bane.

Raoul ‘Bane’ Banbridge has acted as Edyth’s fencing master for almost ten years. And for almost ten years Edyth has loved him. But he sees her as just a friend, nothing more. When she shows up on her mount in Central Park with a new riding habit and a flattering hairdo, Bane finally sees Edyth as a beautiful young woman, not just his friend and fencing partner. He struggles with his newfound regard for her, not wanting to ruin a good friendship because his affections have turned to love.

Neither one knows that a danger stalks their relationship—a danger so deep and sinister that neither can imagine it.

Hitchcock has crafted a masterful tale set in Blackwell Island, New York’s home for the insane. During this time period women wielded no power and the criminal-minded could easily prey on them. The author relies on meticulous historical research to provide the backdrop for Edyth and Bane’s romance.

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

The book takes its name from a room at Blackwell’s Island that was used to subdue and torture mentally ill women. The heroine—Edyth Foster—is a strong, capable and somewhat eccentric 25-year-old. The hero is her fencing master and love interest—Bane. The action begins in the first chapter and moves along at a breakneck pace to the end. Hitchcock based her characters on real people who were incarcerated at Blackwell Island. I felt a few of the situations were a bit contrived, but overall the story was excellent. I was appalled at the treatment of perfectly sane women (as well as mentally ill) who were abandoned by society. I would recommend this book.

This historical fiction was filled with suspense which kept me turning pages. I absolutely loved the development of the wonderful relationship between the hero and heroine. This romance is not straight forward but it is definitely swoon worthy! Hitchcock creates these unique and memorable characters and puts them in this gripping storyline. The heroine is strong, resourceful and not at all what society would expect. I would want her in my corner. I appreciated the faith lessons learned during such incredibly difficult circumstances, such a great reminder of the true value of trusting God. I don’t want to forget to mention the fantastic use of humor throughout this engaging story. Hitchcock is a talented writer and as I finished this book I knew that it had been time well spent. I will be watching for her next novel. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

So many things to say about this book. The author made me so curious, I Googled to find out more information about Blackwell’s Island. The story was suspenseful. I found myself holding my breath in hopes the main character, Edyth, would escape her tragic situation. I liked how feisty Edyth was. I also enjoyed the love element in the story. It was sweet without being too syrupy. This story had suspense, love, an eventual reliance on the Bible, and several surprises. I would recommend The Gray Chamber to those who enjoy historical fiction with the above mentioned elements.