Realistic fiction at its best. My first read by Shannon McNear. The writing captured the essentials of the human soul. The author convincingly and accurately wrote this story for me.
I have a difficult time with a lot of Christian authors,in the sense that it’s not realistic enough to me. And sometimes they’re to preachy. Do you understand what I mean here? I want a truthful story that has real life struggle, chemistry, love and hope. I love to see people acting godly. Their moral compass shouts, I walk with God.
This story held all of those for me. Thank you Shannon for writing this. I loved it and can’t wait to read more from your talented hand.

Thank you NETGALLEY and the publisher for this ARC,

This is the third book in the True Colors “series” and also my least favorite so far. It didn’t grab me like the others have. I didn’t feel like the characters were developed that well.

I realize the nature of the crimes are more grizzly than in the other books but from the authors note in the beginning I gathered this isn’t really a book the author wanted to write and it shows.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

This was probably one of my favorite books I’ve read this far. Well developed characters and a good storyline.

I really enjoyed reading this book, the characters were great and I actually really enjoyed the suspense in the book. I liked that you don't have to be super religious to enjoy this.

The recounting of the evil exploits the Harpes committed in the 1790's was difficult to read due to the crimes themselves. However, it was told with the focus of finding justice for the victims and their families.

The perspective of Sally Rice's poor decisions and her association with these men was what made me want to keep reading. Would she ever be free of them? Would she become another victim in the wake of these two horrible men's deeds?

I appreciated Ms. McNear's thoughts at the beginning of the book to let readers know the struggle she had with writing about these crimes. While she does include some details, they are described to show us that, "they're [the Harpes] just in the fun of shedding innocent blood." The research that was cited at the end of the book was interesting and gave resources for further investigation.

Thank you to Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for a copy of this ebook in exchange for my opinion.

I received this book from the publisher via Netgalley, All opinions are my own.


The book is based on true events and reading and understanding that makes me extra sensitive to the topic being handle. The book is detailed on the murders which took place which made me have to skip over some parts but the rest of the story was compelling to read and sad. I have enjoyed the series of book based on true crime but it is still hard to grasp that these took place . The book is not for someone with a light stomach but it’s well researched and well written

Experience the wilderness and brutality of the eighteenth-century frontier in Shannon McNear’s The Blue Cloak.

Throughout the area, the Harpes satisfy their murderous inclinations and create havoc, uncertainty, and terror. Rachel Taylor’s friend, Sally Rice, recently became wife to Wiley Harpe, while Ben Langford’s cousin fell victim to the killing spree. With clear reasons to want justice, they grapple with the evil lurking around them, do what they can to put an end to it, and even find hope amidst the tragedy.

The Blue Cloak brings to life an astounding piece of history I had never heard before, and seeing it play out kept me intrigued. The Harpes exemplify the challenge of keeping evil in check, and yet, through it all, God works and brings about good. It is a solid historical-fiction story—even if the writing felt a little distant from it, at times—and look forward to exploring more True Colors crimes.

Rachel Taylor is a little jealous that her friend Sally is the one getting married, not her. But when rumors of newlywed Wiley Harpe's brutality begin to spread through the Tennessee frontier, Rachel begins to realize how much Sally is to be pitied. Soon Rachel finds herself trying desperately to extricate Sally from the situation she has got herself into and to stop her from being hanged as an accessory to murder.

Based on true events right before the turn of the eighteenth century, this fictionalized account tells the story of America's first serial killers. Coming of age during the violence of the American Revolution, Wiley and Micaiah Harpe are highwaymen who exemplify the word "amoral." Angry at the world, they go on a killing spree across the wildnerness state, taking Sally and two other women with them. A posse of frontiersmen attempts to locate the blackguards, but they are clever as they are cruel, eluding pursuit for over a year.

This gruesome story is deftly told by a Christian author who blends it with a tale of God's grace. Although the horrors of the murders are chronicled, there is no delight taken in depraved details. The blue cloak in the book symbolizes the link between Rachel and Sally, adding artistry to the tale. Not for the faint of heart, this is one novel you will keep thinking about long after you are finished....

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my open.

Gripping, eerie, and overall a brave novel. Not for the faint of heart, but definitely an eye-opener, as other books of the series have been.

I wasn't aware that this was part of the Christian genre. I saw the description and thought it sounded good. I don't normal go for that genre. It was an ok book. Not heavy on the religion. Still, I ultimately did not finish. Just didn't hook me. If you are fan of Christian literature, go for it. It was well written.

This is a hard read. It is well written to be sure, but the subject matter is not for the faint of heart. This horror and tragedy of this story are gripping and I definitely had to see how it ended. I can't imagine how the real people who lived through this coped. It is quite a story and one I had I never heard of before this book. What a tragic tale from our nation's history. Well written book but a dark one, given the subject matter. Shannon does do a good job at letting hope shine through the pages and the ending was a nice tie up of the elements of the story.

Oh my goodness, how evil men can be! Based on true facts, this was a shocking but well written story. I enjoyed McNear's writing and look forward to reading more from her hand that is less dark.

The Blue Cloak, by Shannon McNear was based on true facts heavily researched by the author. While the events were shocking it was a true depiction of what western expansionist endured in the later 1700's where law and order was shaky at best. This is the story of the Harpe brothers (historically it is not sure if they were brothers or cousins) who terrorized Kentucky and Tennessee with heinous crimes against settlers in the late 1790's and the lives of those who were affected by their terror.

I would like to thank Barbour Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview this book.

This is book 5 of the True Colors series, historical Stories of American Crimes, and each book is a separate read. The book is a true story of America's first serial killers. The story takes place back in 1797 in Knox County, Tennessee. The book begins at the wedding of Sally and Wiley. While Rachel, Sally's best friend attends the wedding and gives Sally her most prize possession, her Blue Cloak as a wedding gift to Sally. We then find out that Wiley and his cousin Micajah go on a murdering spree and end up taking off with women as hostages. The women witness very harsh and abusive actions while being held. As they stay on the run and keep up the killing spree, Ben is in town and on the trail after finding out that they may have killed his cousin. While Rachel is concerned about her best friend, she also has to wonder how God is in this and can she trust in Him? How many more will die and how much more will these women witness before justice will prevail? Will they survive?





I would recommend this book to those that like true history stories, however, it is a very sensitive reading with all the killing and abuse. I like the author's previous books, and this one too, but I was disturbed about the subjects in this book and their actions. If I had known the abuse, I may not have been able to pick up the book. With that being said, once I started to read, I couldn't put it down. Lots of mystery, suspense, definitely drama and a little romance (that was what saved me to keep reading).



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Celebrate Lit Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, "Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.

After reading another book in the True Colors series, I thought I knew what to expect when I started The Blue Cloak. I was wrong.

The tone was darker, more grisly, and less hopeful than The Yellow Lantern. At one point, I paused my reading of Blue to research a bit about the Harpe Brothers, because I wanted to know how much of the horror was real. All of it and more, unfortunately. The research I found was gruesome, so this made the grisly details of characters finding “nude and mutilated” bodies pretty realistic to what really happened. However, the dark and utter evilness of the crimes was not the tone I was expecting from a book under a Christian genre, true crime or otherwise.

Another thing unexpected and, frankly, inexcusable, in Christian fiction was the profanity that was sprinkled in throughout this book. Taking the Lord’s name in vain as well as using profane phrases were used many times in this story. This was heartbreaking to me, as it always is. Unfortunately, this is becoming far more common in Christian fiction books, but every time, these poorly chosen words grate against my ears.

On a positive note, I did admire how the author created a sense of empathy for the characters caught up in the middle of the crimes, those who were innocent yet had no choice but to be accessories to heinous crimes, if only by knowing of the crimes yet unable to say anything to the authorities. My heart broke for Sally especially, and it was my hope throughout the book that she would be rescued by her friend Rachel and anyone she could scrounge up to lend a hand.

I adored the mother-love Sally showed for her child. I can imagine how tough it would be to decide to try to escape or to just roll over and stay in the hardship in order to preserve her child’s safety. Such difficult choices I hope to never personally face.

This was not an enjoyable read for me, overall. Perhaps it wasn’t intended to be, considering the evil overtones and gruesome crimes.

Content: gruesome details of crime and murder; rape (insinuated but kept off-page); profanity; alcohol/drunkenness; taverns; breastfeeding; sexual abuse (including multiple and “shared” wives); tobacco

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley, but I ended up following along in that copy as I listened to an audio copy from the library. All opinions in this review are my own.

Due to the violence mentioned by a friend I buddy read with I will not be reading The Blue Cloak at this time.

Content: 18+ at least

While I appreciated the author's handling of the history in this story, and her ability to spin a good tale, I was honestly so repulsed by the serial killer subject matter that it won't become a favorite book. I really liked that it was so true to the historical account and I am glad to have learned about this era in American history. Some folks try to say there weren't true serial killers before the Victorian era and this historical tale smashes that idea to bits.

Rachel was a good lead but honestly Sally turned out to be the most memorable lead. And to think her story is true and really was that horrific! (Or even more so)

I really loved the attention to detail in the speech and actions of the time and I loved the vivid description of the frontier and frontier life. It made it feel like a real trip into the past.

There was one gripe with the audio because the prayers are not broken out very well. In the hard copy they are in italics but in the audio they are said like speech, so it makes the short prayers sound like swearing. I ended up switching to the ebook partway. Also, it annoyed me that a character would say a prayer using the term "by all that's holy" a couple times because that is just too close to swearing to be comfortable for me.

Overall, a story that probably is worth more stars for the writing style and historical research, but given the emotional work it took to get through, I'm leaving it at three stars/good.

Thanks to the publisher for a free copy. A favorable review was not required.

With even a dour subject of the Harpe Brothers, Shannon McNear gave insight to a time in American history few have heard about, albeit very difficult in Christian terms. To think people could be this cruel in today's age, because we know this kind of thing takes place today from the news, but to think it happened all those years ago too.

The lives of Susan, Betsy, and Sally Harpe were terrible, horrifying, mind-boggling, and sympathetic all at the same time, the things they endured cannot be imagined. The way Big and Little Harpe took, married, and really used these women is beyond comprehensible. But the goodness of Ben Langford and Sally's good friend, Rachel, never gave up on these women, even if it was revenge in a matter of speaking. Through posses chasing the Harpes through rugged terrain of backwoods 1790's Tennesse and Kentucky to bring these men to justice, countless men were determined to stop their reign.

I enjoyed this book very much, it certainly peeked my interest of this time. I would definitely recommend this to other readers.

This was a masterfully woven tale of actual true crimes in America’s history. I usually avoid reads this heavy but my love for history compelled me to give it a try.
The author has done her research and it is evident in each page. She does an exceptional job of stating facts while trying to keep the story from being too gory or detailed.
Having said that, it is heavy as most true crime stories are.

My takeaway: this story is a horrific fictional accounting of the sadistic Harpe murderers and their reign of terror over the KY/TN region. The message I felt from this story is that God is always watching and sin will always be found out. The women in this story were victims and I feel that God’s Grace was extended to them when they were given a fresh start, the same as it is to all of us.

My rating: five stars for exceptional storytelling, historical accuracy, and faith filled writing-even in the midst of such brutality, the Author brings forth God’s goodness and love.

This copy was given to me in exchange for my honest and open review. All opinions expressed here in are my own.

This was one of those books that I wished that I had read some reviews about before starting it. I would fall into the category of a "sensitive reader" which means I can't handle reading about too much cruelty or brutality. Most of the mysteries I read have a piece of cake next to the murder victim and don't have much if any graphic images in them. So now looking back at others’ reviews, I do see that many reviews do warn readers that parts of this book could be too much for some readers. The author even hints at this in her prologue, so I guess I could say I could have taken precautions and avoided the book all together. However, I'm not the type to skip a book in a series. There was a lot of abuse, brutality, and cruelty performed by the Harpe cousins in this book. It's not overly descriptive and I would almost go to say that the author had to include it because it is a true crime book about two serial killers after all. I think most readers would be able to handle reading the book, but I must warn you that there are at least two scenes that I cannot get out of my mind and make me hesitant to recommend the book to others who might be of a delicate nature like myself.

This book is set in the late 1700's along the Wilderness Road in Tennessee. One of the main characters (Rachel Taylor) is a witness to her best friend Sally's wedding to Wiley Harpe and knows that something doesn't feel right. Shortly after the wedding, Sally realizes herself that her new husband has been keeping secrets from her. Sally's life soon starts to spiral out of control, and she finds herself in a very dangerous situation.

Ben Langford arrives at Rachel Taylor's family's way station and discovers that his cousin is one of the Harpe cousins' latest victims. While Ben is determined to stop the Harpe cousins’ killing spree, he finds himself drawn to helping Rachel’s friend Sally escape her connection to Wiley. Will helping Sally escape her evil husband bring Ben closer to winning Rachel’s affection?

I wasn’t overly impressed by the romance story line in this book which impacted my score for this book. I feel like the romantic leads’ brief interactions with each other didn’t convince me that they could have such strong feelings for each other. I am not even sure that a romance side story was even necessary except to give readers a break from reading about abuse and brutality. Although the romance was lacking, I thoroughly enjoyed reading the author’s notes at the end of the novel and reading about how the author was able to weave true historical facts into a historical fiction story. Thanks to Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. All thoughts expressed are my honest opinions of the book.