Gray Chamber by Grace Hitchcock is a romantic suspense based on a true story from history. Shocking and appalling what was allowed to happen to women back in that time. Edythe is a character that you will enjoy. She is a tad eccentric and can be since she does not need to marry for money. Her parents passed away and she has inherited their estate and money. She only has a few more months before control of it will move from her uncle to her.

She has had a crush on her fencing instructor, Bane. He finally sees her as more than a student and she goes missing. He searches for her and is the only reason she was found.

Her uncle has sent her to Blackwell Island asylum. It is horrifying what was happening to the women in the asylum.

The author did a great job of telling the story.
Sexual content – kissing
Violence – the atrocities at the asylum are horrifying and the women hopeless.

I received this book from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review.
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.

This book goes into the horrors of people committed to Blackwell's Island insane asylum and how the living conditions at the asylum were finally exposed. It's not hard to imagine that these abuses occurred then and likely still occur in other care facilities. The characters are lovable and the story keeps readers engaged.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review.

Everything in Edyth Foster's life was going well. She had inherited a vast fortune, and the man she'd long been in love with was beginning to show signs of reciprocating. You could say that everything was perfect... until it wasn't. In order to gain control of her mansion and her inheritance, her evil uncle had her committed to an insane asylum.

The rest was rather difficult reading for me: hence, the reason for 4 stars, rather than 5. I was once locked up in a psyche ward of a hospital, and conditions were so much more humane, of course, but still awful for me! So, probably, I could relate a little too much to the horrors that Edyth endured.

And how interesting to find that this was based on a true story!

Thank you to Barbour Publishing and Net Galley for the chance to read and review this book. I am really enjoying this series-historical fiction based on real events. What a great concept! This story takes place in 1877, and involves the horrific conditions at the insane asylums. Edyth, who will inherit a fortune when she turns 25, is under the care of her uncle and aunt. In order to keep her from inheriting the fortune, they have her committed to Blackwell's Island in New York. If she is declared insane, her uncle will get all of the money and everything she is going to inherit. While she is there, she meets Nellie Bly, who is undercover to report on the terrible conditions at the insane asylum. Edyth also has a boyfriend named Bane. This is the story of how Bane and Nellie rescue Edyth from Blackwell's Island. Lots of excitement and some romance. Another winner in this series!

Words can not do this book justice! Grace Hitchcock is a magnificent story teller, her books will captivate your heart. Stories woven around true historical crimes brings shock and emotions from its readers. I read this book in one sitting and couldn’t put it down until completed. The suspense, betrayal and heartbreak had me captured in its pages. The sweet life giving romance and faith in God brought closure to such a harrowing tale. This book will have you clamoring for more from this author!
Was given a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

The Gray Chamber by Grace Hitchcock is historical fiction. Edyth Foster is an eccentric young woman living in New York. Her uncle is her guardian and has control of her inheritance until she is twenty-five years old. Edyth is not rushing to get married or bow to the conventions of society and is very trusting. However, when her uncle remarries things begin to unravel for Edyth. Edyth's fortune reverts to her uncle if she dies or is declared insane. There is an insane asylum on an island off the coast of New York. The story goes that once you are checked in you don't come out. Edyth hopes that her friends will wonder what has happened to her and somehow help her escape. Meanwhile, living conditions are deplorable. Edyth's roommate turns out to be Nellie Bly who is in the asylum to do an undercover expose on the institution. The big question is will they ever escape and be free women again. Very interesting reading. I would recommend it.

"Mothers never fail to present their daughters as a marriageable option...[Edyth Foster was]...one of the few women who had her future secured without needing to put on a facade to secure a husband's pocketbook." The year was 1887, the place was New York City.

Edyth, a twenty-four year old "free spirit", answered to the beat of her own drum. She enjoyed riding her velocipede "in lieu of a respectable carriage". She preferred uncorseted, split skirts to fashionable gowns. "Books were too quiet a pastime. She needed to be in motion or fiercely concentrating". Edyth loved fencing, especially with her close friend and fencing instructor Raoul Banebridge. The Banebridge and Foster families traveled in the same social circles.

Edyth's so-called "eccentricities" were soon to be perceived as signs of insanity. In the late 1800's, a women might be committed to an asylum on the word of her husband or family for insanity caused by childbirth, overwork, infidelity, or in Edyth's case, eccentricity.Upon the death of her parents, Uncle Boris had become her guardian. In a matter of months, Edyth would come into her inheritance...but...not if Boris could apply a clause discovered in the family will. "...if [Edyth dies] unmarried and childless, or is declared mad and committed to an asylum, the fortune reverts to [Uncle Boris] and [his] heir."

"The Gray Chamber" by Grace Hitchcock is a work of historical romance focusing on the true crime of imprisoning women on Blackwell's Island, arguably based upon scanty proof, often an act of convenience achieved by lining the pockets of doctors willing to recommend placement in a brutal facility of the time period. Edyth's mutual support team included Poppy, Nellie Bly and Raoul Banebridge (Bane).

Blackwell Island, located on the East River between Manhattan and Queens, housed a lunatic asylum, jail, and workhouse. In 1887, journalist Nellie Bly went undercover "under assignment from Joseph Pulitzer", by assuming the cloak of insanity. Her expose was later published in the book "Ten Days in a Mad-House".

Thank you Barbour Books and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "The Gray Chamber".

This is the fourth installment in the True Color series which takes strange historical crimes and turns them into suspense-filled fiction stories. Grace Hitchcock’s The Gray Chamber focuses on a dark period in the late 1800’s surrounding the poorly run women’s lunatic asylum called Blackwell Island.

Edyth Foster’s life is about to take off. She’s set to take over her parent’s estate after their death, and she finds the love of her life. But her uncle get her falsely committed to the asylum where Edyth withstands the horrible conditions. She meets Nelly Bly, an undercover reporter, and the two try to stay alive in the asylum.

The Gray Chamber puts readers right into the middle of these historical events. I hadn’t actually heard about Nelly Bly until reading The Gray Chamber, and the story surrounding Blackwell Island is creepy in its own right. But the author adds the lovable and quirky Edyth to the plot and readers endure the heartbreaking conditions of the asylum right along side her. Edyth’s spunk challenges the societal norms of the time period with her dress and actions. She even takes up fencing, which wasn’t a thing women did in the 1800’s. Edyth isn’t the damsel in distress, which made her plight all the more harrowing as she fights for her life from inside the asylum.

The Gray Chamber is intriguing and full of suspenseful twists. Sadly, much of the elements in the story happened. If you love true crimes, this is one novel you don’t want to miss. The fast-paced action plus likable characters makes this a must read.

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

Faced with being committed to an asylum under false accusations, the main character faces family turmoil and danger. The story is filled with action and intrigue. New found romance gives hope to the future. Great read. I received a complimentary copy of the book. No review was required.

Grace Hitchcock's The Gray Chamber is a well written book about a shameful period in the late 1800's when women could be locked away on the say so of her husband or legal guardian. The story describes the horrendous treatment that women received if they were declared "insane" and put into a mental facility.

Edyth Foster is an unconventional twenty five year old woman who lost both parents in an accident when she was a child. In 1887 her Uncle Boris decides he and his new wife should inherit Edyth's fortune. The only way for that to happen was if Edyth died or was committed to an insane asylum. Her commitment and treatment culminating in the Gray Chamber makes an exciting read. There is a beautiful relationship between Edyth and her long time friend Bane, who teaches fencing, that sweetens the story.

I received an Advanced Reader's Copy from Barbour Publications through NetGalley.The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
#TheGrayChamber. #NetGalley

Really outstanding book! Edyth is a definite person!! We understand her and are rooting for her all the way through the book! The descriptions of the asylum and its keepers are horrifying! Totally interesting!!

This was my introduction to the True Colors series, and I was hooked from the get-go! The fact that it is based off true stories makes it all the more compelling.

We meet Edyth Foster, an eccentric young woman who is about to come into a large inheritance. But there’s a catch, and Edyth soon finds herself locked away behind the cold, cruel walls of the Blackwell Island Lunatic Asylum. Desperate to escape and be reunited with the man she loves, Edyth sets out to reclaim her life before it’s too late.

The story is told through two voices: one of Edyth and the other, her dear friend and fencing master, Bane. I found both characters’ perspectives complemented each other well as they puzzled and mused over their predicaments. It also felt fairly cinematic as I was reading, like I am already casting the Gray Chamber movie in my head!

Overall, I quite enjoyed this book, and I look forward to more from the True Colors series! Thank you to Barbour Publishing for the advanced copy!

Review- The Gray Chamber by Grace Hitchcock

This book got going from the start, and never stopped. It was action packed, and really got me thinking.

It got me thinking about what people will do to others for money. As the saying goes, “money is the root of all evil”, and this book exemplifies that. It also made me wonder if what happened to Edyth could happen today. Something tells me that it can.

I would recommend this book. It was an interesting, quick read.

I am really enjoying the True Colors series from Barbour Publishing!  The Gray Chamber did not disappoint! First of all this cover is really haunting and really reflects the atmosphere that is created in the book.  The story was intriguing and the characters were smart, capable, and easy to like.   This novel really showcased some of the unfair and brutal treatments that some patients endured on Blackwell Island.  It was chilling.  As soon as Edyth entered the asylum I felt tense and anxious.  There was such a sense of hopelessness to her situation, but she didn't lose hope in spite of her dire circumstances.  There were several intense and suspenseful scenes in this book that had me on the edge of my seat!  I was happy with the conclusion of the book and also felt like I had learned a bit of history within the context of this story.

There is a lot to like about The Gray Chamber. There's the admirable hero and heroine, a heroine that is ahead of her time in participating in fencing and a novel based upon actual events.

After reading and very much enjoying The White City, my expectations for The Gray Chamber were rather high. The bits of humor that I loved in The White City were very rare in The Gray Chamber. The fictional story line wasn't as engaging for me. The change in Bane's opinion of Edyth from friendship to seeing her in a romantic light happened rather abruptly. Some events were a little cliche.

My favorite character was secondary character Lavinia. I expected that she would be bratty but was actually looking for true friendship and genuinely cared for others. That was a lovely surprise. I also liked how Poppy was described and the background of how she got to her mental state. Both of these characters were written plausibly.

Overall, The Gray Chamber was a good novel. It just wasn't as charming as The White City.

The Gray Chamber is a page turning tale of greed and betrayal. Edyth Foster was not your typical socialite. She was adventuresome. She loved fencing, riding her velocipede, drawing and painting, though she might be impulsive, she was not insane. How could she prove that from Blackwell's Island?
Deception, betrayal, abuse, and danger battle against truth, honor, courage, and love. WOW! I could not put this book down even when the hair on the back of my neck stood up!

I loved Poppy, Nellie Bly and Raoul. Grace Hitchcock has done an excellent job with a difficult reality that isn't completely left to history.

I received an ARC of this book from Barbour Publishing through NetGalley. I was under no obligation to post a review.

I rarely buy multiple copies of the same book, but this is going to be one of them! I have the ebook and I am buying the paperback. This story was AMAZING!! This is my second story from this author and she is firstly becoming a favorite, must read, instant click author.

This is a historical romance with American crime and a few Christian verses. This book was addictive, informative, heartbreaking and redemptive! I loved how the author wrote a true crime story, with romance intertwined and made me believe in the power of love again.

Psychology and pre-war medical treatments and laws are a particular interest of mine (and romance) this book covers all of those and is perfect for a great many readers. It was scary just how fast and with such little proof the main character was committed to the hospital. I had goose bumps reading this. Edyth is a strong lady and I was passionate about her getting her HEA.

This story was brilliant in its prose and form and addictive in its plot and characters. I could not have loved this story more. I highly recommend it to all readers (history lovers, medical loves, romance lovers, Victorian lovers and the rest)! I had the extreme pleasure of receiving an ARC from NetGalley and I am leaving my honest review. This is going on my book gift list for sure!

This is a very well written book. This story is based on a true story and it will break your heart the way women was treated in the women's lunatic asylum and how easy it was to get somebody admitted. This book will grab you on the first page and it doesn't let go. It will keep you on the edge of your seat; you don't want to put it down, you just have to know what happens next This book deserves more than 5 stars! Thank you Barbour Publishing via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Heart-Breaking wonderful tale.

this books is amazing, i was enthralled from the first page i couldn't help but devour this book. it is a tale of amazing strength and love. Edyth is a strong independent character that you cant help but support through-out the story.
even though the characters are fictions the story is based on true advents and this story make you realize how easy it was back then to fob off a relative simply by saying there insane. i am still reeling from this epic tale.
at the end the author even refers to the book that she used as reference and i love that because it opens my reading to books i wouldn't normal venture in.
this is a ten star review its a shame i can only give it five stars. i will be following this author and cant wait to read more by her.

I wasn't exactly sure what I was getting into with this story. I'm not a big fan of historical writing, and I had a really hard time getting through this. I gave up about half way through. The story jumped around too much for me. If you enjoy historical mysteries, this would be a great book for you. It just didn't do it for me.