Coincidence or something more sinister? All signs point to coincidence but....what if it's not. This is based on historical events which makes it all the more chilling.

Ok, I may have squealed when I saw this cover for this. Green is my favorite color, and the dress just really pops. You know what else pops? Tolsma’s story. Her artistic ability as an author really shines in this story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Green Dress by Liz Tolsma was a very interesting, suspenseful book. I thought that the book was a fast-paced, easy book to read that had me guessing all throughout the book. I had my various suspicions on who the culprit was and it turned out that I was right. This book is a fictionalized novel on a true crime that happened back in the 1800's. I thought Tolsma did a very good job recreating it without veering too far off the actual event. It was so heartbreaking that the death of so many happened at the hand of one who should have been caring for them.

Rating: 5 out of 5

This book was provided to me by NetGalley and Barbour Books in exchange for a review.

3.5 stars

The Green Dress is book 6 in the True Colours Series, it is a series that takes real (and sometimes unheard of) historical events and turns them into a historical fiction story. They aren't long books, which given the theme of some is fine. Right now there are approximately 12 books in the series and so far I have only read The Pink Bonnet, which after finishing that heartbreaking story made me pause in this series. Each book is a standalone so they can be read in any order and they are also written by a variety of Christian authors.

The Green Dress is the story of Harriet Peters, taking place in 1882 Boston. Her best friend has died suddenly and what follows is a story of her family and a mysterious illness that appears to be following them.

Given that this is based on fact makes the story all the more sad and horrendous. What follows was an entertaining read as I watched Harriet not just on a journey to figure out what was going on but also one that showed her commitment, strength and determination. Though I kinda figured out what was going on, it was the why and other bits that surprised me. Harriet's faith journey also followed her through this process with a touch of romance.

The Green Dress released in June 2020 and is part of my Reading Off My Kindle Challenge

I’ve read a couple of the books from the True Colors series, and each time, I’m always fascinated and shocked at the mysteries in this series. The Green Dress is no exception to this. I was horrified at the amount of people that died and the terrible sickness that took their lives.

The author does a great job at depicting the terribleness of the disease and the fear that each family member must’ve felt as they kept watching their relatives die, wondering if they would be next.

The criminal(s) in the book aren’t hidden from us. The book focuses on more how he/she/they will be caught and how exactly he/she/they are killing their victims. That being said, I wish that there was more mystery as to who were the perpetrators, since it seemed to be slightly predictable. However, I still thoroughly enjoyed this novel.

If you like mystery, then I would recommend not only the True Colors series, but this book. Following the characters and the crimes in The Green Dress is fascinating and will leave your heart pounding and your arms covered in goosebumps.

I had received a copy of this book as part of the Celebrate Lit Blogging Team and was required to give an honest review.

I love all of the books that are part of this series. This one is no different. The combination of historical aspects with modern story telling catches me. I stay hooked on the story, and the mystery is always good enough to make me want to pick up the next story. I realize that I don't mention specific details and honestly, I won't. Because I feel like if you want to read a book, you don't want to know everything that happens or what people hated because it might be your favorite. And that isn't fair.

This one is quite a ride! You know that there is danger in the house and that there is clearly a problem no one has noticed. It was so fascinating to a poisoning story for the perspective of a potential victim. Harriet was a great character to learn the family through even though she never existed in history. The truly sad part of the whole thing is that this book is probably 90% true. I just shake my head at the reality of it. It feels like true crime in novel form! I couldn’t stop once I got started. You should definitely read this if you like true crime.

I did receive this book via the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I love true crime and thought this book was so good. It was chilling and my eyes couldn't read the pages fast enough. Highly recommend if you like true creepy reads.

I have been enjoying this series about true crimes throughout history. This book, in particular, captured my attention because of the theme, and then I fell in love with the writer’s style of writing the story. From the first page, I was hooked on the characters, feeling the depth of their feelings. I loved how it captured the essence of the historical event and how it all came together at the end as well. This may be the first book I’ve read by this author, but it certainly won’t be the last. And I’m looking forward to the next book in the true crime series also.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit but was not under any obligation to write a review. All opinions are strictly mine.

As with the all the books in this series, I truly enjoyed The Green Dress. It was a novel that kept me interested from start to finish. The author has penned a story that will appeal to readers of true crime stories.
I received a copy from the publisher through Netgalley.

As I read The Green Dress, I shook my head in disbelief. This is the story of Sarah Jane Robinson, known as <b>The Boston Borgia</b>, an Irish-born American serial killer who poisoned her family members and other people from 1881 to 1886, with the help of her accomplices Thomas R. Smith and Dr. Charles C. Beers. In this story, Harriet Peters has been taken in by the Robinson family after she runs from home refusing to marry the man her father has selected for her. She becomes friends with Lizzie, the daughter of Sarah Jane and when she becomes sick, she nurses her. Nothing they do save Lizzie and she dies a painful death, the same as other members of her family. The doctor, Charles Beers, can't figure out how the "toxin" is killing the family members. Harriet brings in another doctor to get a second opinion, Dr. Michael Wheaton, who has some suspicions about what is happening. Sarah Jane, wants him out of her home and to stay away from the family. When two more family members get sick, Dr. Wheaton goes to the police. He is in fear for Harriet's life, especially since he hasn't seen her for awhile. Throw in some insurance money and there is a lot to be suspicious of.

Once again, I was not aware of The Boston Borgia, so looked it up, as I couldn't believe it was possible. Liz Tolsma took the story and added some romance to move the story along in a positive and hopeful way. It was Harriet and Dr. Wheaton (Dr. White in the actual case) that began to suspect that these were not natural deaths. At first Harriet did not believe Michael, but eventually, when she became ill, she knew he was telling the truth. I liked how the relationship between Michael and Harriet developed. The writing was wonderful and remained hopeful even in the dire circumstances. The book was clean with Christian leanings, although not preachy. This was a very emotional story, and hearing about the pain the victims were in was very difficult. Liz Tolsma does a great job creating tension. The reader knows what is happening, the suspense is when she will be caught and who the next victim will be. There was definitely a creepy, gothic vibe permeating this story. I do recommend this series, as I really enjoy how true crime is taken and a fictional story is built around it, but not obscuring the actual events.

The Green Dress is the second of four books written by Liz Tolsma in the multi-author True Colors series. Based on the true story of Sarah Jane Robinson, arrested in 1886 after poisoning various family members including her own children, The Green Dress blends true events and characters into a story of suspense with a romance between the fictional main characters.

Called to give a second opinion on a young woman with a mysterious illness that has taken many in her family, Doctor Michael Wheaton soon feels that there is something altogether more sinister going on. He is dismayed when, bound by a deathbed promise, Harriet Peters moves into the Robinson family home to care for the younger sister and cousin of her best friend. Despite his urgings and a voice inside telling her to leave, she gives in to the manipulations of Mrs. Robinson and her love for the children along with feelings of guilt and obligation.

Though he faces ridicule and the specter of childhood bullying over his mother’s insanity, Michael refuses to give up or to leave Harriet to her fate. And as another death occurs, Harriet refuses to be complacent as well, even at the risk to her own life.

With The Green Dress, author Liz Tolsma strikes just the right notes of light horror within a Romantic Suspense story, allowing the reader to understand motivations while also wanting to say “no, don’t do that” or “even the chief of police is suspicious, don’t go back!” My appreciation for the choices made in writing this story increased with the Author’s Note as it explains why one of the victims was not mentioned and how facts were altered to accommodate the fictional story arc for Michael and Harriet while keeping close to the historical record. If you enjoy Historical Inspirational Romance with suspense and true crime, this is a series to explore and The Green Dress is a fine place to start.

This review refers to a temporary digital galley I voluntarily read via NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher. A positive review was not required and these are only my own, honest opinions.

I read this book in a one sitting, couldn't put it down. I still can't believe that it based on real events. Though I did suspect the perpetrator I enjoyed reading this

Taking a real life incident and putting it into a great Christian read is what this series is all about. It was very predictable but still an enjoyable read.

What I think you should know:
The Green Dress by Liz Tolsma is part of the True Colors series, however it can be read as a stand alone because each book features a different true crime. It is a fictionalized story based on a crime that was committed in Boston in 1886. She also wrote The Pink Bonnet, a prior book in the series.

What You might need to know:
The book contains many facts from the real crime and includes the death of a child.

What I think about this book:
This is such a fascinating story, Tolsma did a wonderful job of fictionalizing a gruesome story in a way that still made it appropriate for a wide audience. Harriet gave a great perspective that kept me guessing who was the perpetrator of the crime. I enjoyed how the story progressed, it was complex, but simple. My heart hurt for Doctor Wheaton as he sought to establish himself as a trustworthy doctor in a community that held past hurt for him. I enjoyed seeing how their relationship developed in a way that was appropriate for the time period of the book. I love Tolsma’s prior works and was pleased to see that she wrote another great addition to this series.

I I received a complimentary copy of this book from Celebrate Lit, this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.

This is one of those books that keeps your heart in your throat the whole time. The pacing of the suspense was impeccable. I spent the whole book having suspicions about who was behind the mystery, but the author kept me guessing until the very end. I loved the well-defined characters, the romantic aspect that builds slowly, and the inspiration woven throughout, that gives strength and builds the faith of Harriet and Michael, the main characters. This "truth is stranger than fiction" story was one of my favorites in the True Colors Series (though I've enjoyed all of them). I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing but was not required to post a review. These thoughts and opinions are mine alone.

"Dear Lord, grant me wisdom. Give me strength. Show me who is committing such heinous acts. And stop any more from happening. Help me. Help me. Help me." (p. 178)

Author Liz Tolsma has written a chilling tale of a serial killer of the worst kind: a wife and mother who killed her husband, several children, and other family members, apparently to benefit from their life insurance policies. The Green Dress would seem to be the product of an author's active imagination but it is actually based on the true criminal case of Sarah Jane Robinson, a woman who killed eight people over a course of five years before she was finally stopped. Tolsma weaves the historical aspects of the Robinson case into a fascinating story that has two fictional characters trying to discover just what is happening in this household. Harriet Peters and Dr. Michael Wheaton are the people who begin to suspect that these illnesses, and eventual deaths, might be more than just coincidence or a family curse.

Tolsma offers a tantalizing glimpse of the sick mind behind such unthinkable acts and even though the details of the illnesses and deaths are disturbing, this story has so much more. Readers are also given a message of faith, hope, and the sweet promise of a happy future for Michael and Harriet. The Green Dress is an intriguing combination of fact and fiction and a wonderful addition to the True Colors True Crime series. I recommend it to all who enjoy historical Christian romance and I especially enjoyed how Tolsma used the green dress in the title to create another shocking revelation to this story!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via NetGalley. There was no obligation for a positive review. These are my own thoughts.

This is a clean read. Very suspenseful and enjoyable and a somewhat quick read. Good for a cool weekend read.

As in the other True Color Books. This one is a bit creepy and a page turner. How does a green dress play in a horrible crime? Read the book!

This series based on true crimes has been hit or miss for me. They are all interesting because they are based on historical happenings many of which I’ve never heard of. Unfortunately, The Green Dress was more of a miss for me. I felt like it was slow and repetitive and therefore it didn’t hold my interest.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.