I am either-or on the books in the True Colors series. Some I haven’t been impressed with at all. The Green Dress is not one of those. It is chillingly well-written, intriguing, and does a fantastic job keeping the tension, danger, and suspense until the very end. I loved how protective Hattie is over the children and how loving Micheal is to his mom. If you enjoy reading historical Christian romance and suspense, you need to read The Green Dress.

1886 Boston. Harriet Peters, a young, hat shop owner is devastated when her best friend Lizzie Robinson, dies shortly after a brief, but vicious bout of excruciating stomach pain. This seemingly contagious, mystery disease, took the lives of other members of Lizzie’s family not long before Lizzie became ill. The deaths leave the Robinsons reeling in grief.

Convinced by Lizzie’s mother that the family cannot do without her, the grieving Harriet is apprehensive about losing her independence and is determined to continue her shop orders but agrees to move in to help care for the young children left at the Robinson home.

New-to-town doctor, Michael Wheaton, is present at Lizzie’s bedside and is shaken by how ill she was before perishing. Wondering how a perfectly healthy young person can become deathly sick in such a short time, Michael’s suspicions grow, and he begins investigating.

As Harriet and Michael’s friendship blooms, Michael begins to care for her deeply and worries for her safety. Harriet’s trust in Michael grows and she begins to develop strong feelings for him. Will they survive if what Michael suspects is true?

The Green Dress is a superbly written historical fiction, based on true events. It threads fiction, history, crime, and faith, seamlessly.

I thoroughly enjoyed this history of true crime and highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing, for the read of Liz Tolma’s, The Green Dress.

Opinions expressed in my reviews are my own.

I am enjoying this series that lets readers into a world of crime and what it might have been like to be there when it happened. This story was particularly interesting to me because of the weapon of choice to murder. It is a slow and painful way to die.

Harriet is overwhelmed when she learns her dear friend becomes very ill. It was unnerving to learn other members of the family had died much the same way. Every time I read that someone had become ill I knew what was about to happen. The author does an amazing job of detailing the deaths and leaving a trail of suspects. The historical period was very vivid and I felt myself travel make in time to stand beside Harriet.

It was eerie to read that Mrs. Robinson continues to sew on a green dress. I had to find out what the significance the dress was to the story. I needed to know why Mrs. Robinson had premonitions about the deaths. It was a little weird that she thought her dead husband had something to do with the mystery. The story gave me chills as I continued to read. The author keeps her readers interested with subtle hints of the mystery and what the green dress had to do with everything. The ending is a shocker and be prepared to say “I didn’t see that coming.”

"I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review."

The Green Dress is based on strange, but true, historical events. It has a lot of different elements the reader could want in a book...mystery, drama, romance. I had not read any books in the True Color series before, but I certainly will in the future. Tolsma is a great writer. The characters come to life and any historical liberties she may have taken are believable and fit the storyline well. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical crime/mystery novels. I myself prefer true crime when it comes to historical reading, so this was just right for my taste. I read this book quickly and can't wait to read others by this author.

Thanks to NetGalley for a chance to read this fine book in exchange for a fair review.

Fiction Based on Strange, But True, History…..they say that truth sometimes is stranger than fiction and when you read this book you will agree. I have read all of this series and it is hard to believe that the crimes were committed by people who seem to have no conscience or were mentally ill, although they seemed normal. The Green Dress is based on an actual criminal case and the background of the real case is explained at the end of the novel. Tolsma does her research well and pens her novel with very believable and interesting characters. To think that a woman was sewing a dress for her next victim to be buried in. When the dress was finished it was time for the next death to occur. A most interesting book to keep you reading until the last chapter……I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Barbour Publishing and NetGalley, I was under no obligation to post a review but am happy to leave this review.

This book was absolutely amazing. I loved the story; it had me on the edge of my seat the whole way through. Harriet has such a sweet disposition and compassion for people. I loved her devotion to her friends and to the Robinsons. That devotion leads to her blindness about the Robinson's suspicious deaths. Michael is the new doctor in town trying to make a name for himself. Michael understands what it is like to be the underdog and abused. Harriet and Michael meet and have the start of a tender relationship that is attacked by Mrs. Robinson. Harriet, wanting to honor Mrs. Robinson, puts a stop to the relationship with Michael. Michael is persistent in his care and concern for Harriet. This book is full of twists in it that I did not expect. To believe that the this book is based on a real case from many years ago, boggles my mind. I highly recommend this book to those that like clean books, mystery, and thrillers based on true crimes.
I received a copy of this book from Barbour books through NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

The Green Dress by Liz Tolsma is a part of the True Colors Historical Stories of American Crime series. I have read some other books from this series and The Green Dress does not disappoint.

Harriet lives in Boston. The Robinson family has taken her in after she fled a horrible engagement arranged by her father. She occasionally misses her family, but the pain is eased by her sweet best friend, Lizzie. Suddenly Lizzie is ill. Harriet leaves her millinery shop to tend to Lizzie. Lizzie passes a horrible death. This has been yet another death in the Robinson household. So many in so few years. What is going on? Lizzie encounters the town doctor and confides in him for help and to help find the cause of all the deaths. Who will tend to the others in the Robinson household? Is Harriet willing to give everything she has worked for to those who took her in when she was weakest?

This book is enthralling and will hold your attention. It has all the elements - history, mystery, romance and drama. It is also based on a true historical event. I throughly enjoyed The Green Dress and would recommend it.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

Members of a family keep dying a painful death that doctors can’t diagnose. Harriett Peters moves in after her dear friend Lizzie Robinson dies to care for Lizzie’s young sister and cousin Tommy.
Mrs. Robinson took Harriett in when she may have ended up living on the street, so Harriett feels beholden to her, but Mrs. Robinson’s obsessiveness is extreme. In her loyalty, Harriett overlooks concerns voiced by Dr. Michael Wheaton. Her refusal to face the reality in front of her was frustrating.
With all the deaths, there’s a heaviness to the story. It was easy to guess the meaning of the green dress.
The Robinson family and their demise are historical facts, but not Harriett and Michael.

In a previous review of The Woman in the Green Dress, I shared that in once had a dream of my mother wearing a green dress before she passed. Here’s another book I found about a green dress! I’m sure there’s more, but we’ll move to this next one core any others, okay?

In the late 1800s, Harriet runs away from her family and hone because her abusive father wanted her to marry their even more abusive neighbor. She finds herself making friends with Lizzie Robinson and her family, who take her in. Lizzie’s mother helps Harriet get a job at the department store and later helps her open her shop where Harriet makes hats for the women in the area. Harriet also moves into the apartment above her shop.

One day, Lizzie is suddenly I’ll with severe stomach pains. Harriet attempts to nurse her best friend while everyone else is at work. Unable to recover, Lizzie dies after Harriet promises to watch the children, Lizzie’s cousin Tommy and her little sister Gracie. Lizzie moves back in with the Robinson’s in order for it to be more convenient for the children and Mrs Robinson insists the contagion is outside their home.

Months later, Tommy falls ill as well. He’s just a child at 7 years old, but has similar symptoms that Lizzie had. Harriet has made friends with the new doctor in town, Dr Michael Wheaton, and she asks him for his thoughts on Tommy’s symptoms and explains about previous individuals who also had similar symptoms. Dr Wheaton goes through all his medical books to find the cause of these mysterious symptoms. He even confers with his mentor, who is also suspicious. Without getting any better, Tommy also dies.

Dr Wheaton is very suspicious. He goes to the police to ask what he can do to solve this mysterious illness. It’s not until Lizzie’s brother Willie, who also falls ill, that Dr Wheaton and Dr White are able to get a sample of what’s causing this illness and gets it tested to see what’s in it. Next thing, Harriet herself finds herself ill. What happens to Willie and Harriet? Will the doctors find out what’s going on?

The Green Dress by Liz Tolsma was provided complimentary in exchange for an honest review. I give this book 5 out of 5 tiaras because it kept me at the edge of my seat curious what would happen next and what the results would show. It was at the very end of the book that I learned this is based off a real family that went through such traumatic events. How desperate for such a thing would happen!

Danger! The Green Dress is based on a true American criminal happening! I did not like Mrs. Robinson from the beginning! Members of her family keep dying but the family doctor does not know what the cause is. Her husband, sister, brother-in-law, nephew, daughter, son pass away within a few years time. She had earlier taken in a starving young immigrant, Harriet Peters. Harriet was a sweet young lady but she did not stand up for herself. Dr. Michael Wheaton was a great male protagonist who Harriet asked to see the young nephew. He has a new medical practice but is suspicious of this mysterious illness. The ending was somewhat obvious from the beginning but it was interesting how it came about. I received a complimentary e-book from Barbour Publishing and NetGalley. This is my honest opinion.

"The Green Dress" is a medium paced , set in the late 1880s in the city of Boston. The Robinsons were not mere acquitances of Harriet Peters , they are her saviour and Elizabeth "Lizzie" Robinson was her best and only friend. Lizzie died of a mysterious disease - symptoms being terrible stomach burns and constant spewing. Her father , aunt , uncle and younger sister had died of the same mysterious disease. Doctors failed in diagnosing and treating the sufferers.

Miss Peters tried her best saving her best friend- nursed her and even brought in a new doctor ,Dr Wheaton , to prevent her best friend from dying but she was to late. Lizzie left for her heavenly abode and Harriet promised her that the former will take care of the latter's nephew , Tommy, and younger sister , Gracie. In order to fulfill her promise she shifted back to the Robison Apartment but there was something very wrong . Dr Wheaton felt the same - he had a hunch and went on investigating - reading all possible medical books and journals.

The book reflects the devoting nature of Americans in the late 19th century . Liz Tolsma did a great job in shaping the plot and creating a cast of characters with wide shades of qualities. Dr . Beers was spooky from the very beginning - at least for me - good Lord I was so scared of him. Charley was so lovable and the children - I want to have tea parties with them ! This novel reflects the nature of crime in the land of America in the century bygone . The book deals with some serious issues - like greed for money , mental sickness and many more horrifying matters. The whole business is horrible yet fascinating to read. This is part of the "True Colours" series. It was a mind blowing - heart wrenching - gut twisting read. Go grab your copy now !

I am grateful to Net Galley and Barbour Publishing for providing me with the review copy!

I’m enjoying this series of books that are about true crimes in history. This story is one I had never heard before. The beginning I felt was a little slower but I really enjoyed the last half of the book and couldn’t put it down! I received this book from Net Galley in exchange for a honest review.

Told from the perspective of Harriet Peters, a young woman struggling to establish a milliner's shop in Somerville, MA, The Green Dress delves into the tragic death of Harriet's best friend, Lizzie Robinson. Soon after the tragic death of her friend, Harriet moves into the Robinson home to help care for Lizzie's nephew and younger sister.

Harriet asks Dr. Michael Wheaton, a recent medical school graduate, to help her friend Lizzie, and Michael starts to wonder if something nefarious is happening at the Robinson household when Thomas falls ill with the same mysterious symptoms that Lizzie had. Especially when he discovers that Lizzie and Thomas aren't the first ones to suffer and die.

If you like a good mystery, this one fits the bill. The main characters struggle with questions of faith and self-confidence. The religious platitudes following the death of different members of the Robinson family might be off-putting for non-Christians, but overall it's a good story.

Liz Tolsma is one of my very favorite authors. The subject matter of her books is always very interesting and developed with an eye to each character and their part in the story. I also love the way she incorporates the history of the book setting in her novels.

“The Green Dress” is the latest novel that I’ve read. I wasn’t sure about the nature of the story because Ms. Tolsma’s previous novels that I’ve read had to do with a particular time in history, usually during W.W.II. This one surprised me and caught my interest immediately.

The story takes place beginning in 1886 in Massachusetts. The Robinson family has been suffering devastating losses for the past few months. Firs,t the father, Mr. Robinson, passes away with horrendous pain and suffering. Then one by one, Mrs. Robinson’s sister, brother-in-law, two daughters, a son, and a nephew also die quickly and horrendously from the same disease or family trait.

Harriet Peters was taken in by the Robinsons, on the verge of starvation, after being cast away by her family. She and Lizzie Robinson became fast friends and there was nothing that Harriet would not do for the family who so graciously took her in. Lizzie, on her death bed, asked Harriet to look after the little ones, her cousin, Tommy, and her sister, Gracie. Before all of these deaths, Mrs. Robinson has had premonitions that her dead husband is calling the family members to him in death. Harriet moves in with the Robinsons‘ after Lizzie’s death to take charge of the two young children. It seems that the family is holding its collective breath until another is taken from them with the same malady.

Although Harriet and the doctor who attends the family knows something is causing these premature deaths, no one can put their finger on just what is causing this. As a reader of this novel, my suspicions are aroused from the first and I keep wanting to shout that I know what it is. All during this time, Mrs. Robinson is sewing on a green dress. Just what does the presence of the green dress signify? Even though this question may come to mind a couple of times while reading the novel, it isn’t until the end that its presence is explained.

I read this novel in two days. I could not put it down as has happened with other novels by Ms. Tolsma.

I couldn't put this book down! I loved it. I have thoroughly enjoyed this entire series - true crime with a Christian message. I like crime fiction but often find it gets a little graphic, or writers feel like it has to be "gritty". With this series, I know I don't have to be concerned about graphic detail or language. I have also learned so much through this series - It is obvious Ms. Tolsma did her research into the case. And, she brought it to life through her fictional re-imagining of the story.
Poison was a difficult murder weapon to deal with at a time in history when medicine was more limited, and testing took time and effort many physicians lacked the resources for.
I did feel like the ending of this story got rushed just a bit, once murder was finally confirmed. The how's and why's were kind of glossed over. But, all in all a fast paced well-written mystery, and a most enjoyable series!

Get out of the house while you can....

Imagine hearing that statement inside your head - several times. Would you be inclined to act on it if it meant life or death? The True Colors series teaches us some rather bizarre history, some of which is almost impossible to believe. It seems, from the observational point, that those unfortunate folks who found themselves in these situations would be inclined to leave town as soon as possible. However, as life is, most of us would have trouble believing that such evil exists and thus would remain.

Harriet Peters arrives in Somerville, Massachusetts all alone. Finding a new family in the Robinsons, she slowly built her life in a new place. When members of her new family die of a mysterious illness, she looks to the new doctor in town to figure out what is killing them. Will their investigation bring further harm or can a diagnosis be found?

Once again I have learned that history can be hard to believe at times. This digital copy was received through Barbour Publishing and NetGalley. My comments and impressions were in no way solicited.

The opening paragraphs set a quick pace. The author uses historical evidence to lead the reader into a page turning story of intrigue and death. The female lead, Harriett, has been living with the Robinson family for a few years. She quickly befriends Lizzy and they become like sisters. Unfortunately, several family members die a mysterious and painful death all of them exhibiting the same symptoms. Harriett worries she might be the next. She and Dr. Wheaton must hurry to find a cause or cure.
For the reader who enjoys nail biting historical fiction with a touch of romance, this is the book for you.
I received an advanced copy of this book from #TheGreenDress and #Netgalley. The opinions are my own.

A Chilling Tale of Family Murders

Harriet Peters is hastily summoned to her friend Lizzie Robinson on a bitterly cold night. Lizzie has developed the severe stomach pains that led to the deaths of several relatives including the recent death of Lizzie’s uncle. Needing to do something, Harriet races off to get a doctor. The closest is a new doctor in the area, Michael Wheaton.

Although he does his best, Michael is unable to save Lizzie, but watching the death, he thinks something is wrong. Too many members of the same family are dying.

On her deathbed, Lizzie makes Harriet promise to take care of the Robinson children. The only way Harriet can continue her millinery business and take care of the children is to move in with the family. Michael, who has become fond of Haarriet, is worried about her safety and together they decide to find out what is happening.

This is another well researched true crime story. The deaths of so many people and the danger to Harriet are emotionally chilling. The author does a good job of setting the scene and keeping the tension high. The romance between Michael and Harriet is chaste and sweet. It adds an air of normalcy to a truly horrifying situation.

If you like historical crime stories with a hint of romance, this is a good one.

I received this book from Barbour Publishing for this review.

The first 30-40% was a bit slow, especially after it was clear after the first death who killer was and why they did it (though towards 70% I was wondering if someone else was also involved). But the last 60% was quite fast paced and suspenseful. There was a lot of heartache as well within these pages.

I loved Micheal as the hero. He had his own fears and worries to overcome but was a strong fighter for those who can't. Harriet was a compassionate, lovable character but I found her a bit naive quite a few times.

The last comment from the murder to Harriet was quite chilling and shown how truly evil this person was.

Another fascinating read! The True Colors series is one based on true crimes but written from a Christian fiction perspective. I have enjoyed several of these books and although each entry is written by a different author, they're all captivating.

While Sarah Robinson deals with the loss of several family members from an unknown illness, Harriet, who is new to Boston, is drawn to the Robinsons. As she is welcomed into their home, Harriet begins to become suspicious of the illness that continues to take members of her de facto family away. Can she and Michael, a doctor that's also just arrived to the area, solve this riddle before more lives are lost?

This series is amazing and I look forward to new ones! I was an early reader, thanks to Barbour Books. All opinions are my own.