This is another good novel in the True Colors series, novels based on actual criminal events from time past. It takes place in Boston in the 1880s. The heroine is Harriet who had been taken in by the Robinson family in 1882, when Harriet first arrived in Boston. Several members of the extended Robinson family have died from the same malady. As the novel opens, another Robinson is dying, Harriet's good friend, Lizzie. Harriet enlists the aid of a new doctor in town and the situation becomes quite dangerous for her.

Tolsma is an accomplished historical fiction author and she does a good job of taking us into the tragic situation. The Author Notes at the end of the book reveal that most of the aspects of the novel are based on recorded facts. Tolsma does a good job of fleshing out the story by crafting the characters and building a budding romance between Harriet and the young doctor.

This is a good novel for readers who enjoy historical fiction done well.

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

The Green Dress by Wisconsin Christian author Liz Tolsma is part of a true crime series by different authors, each story featuring a crime that “shocked the world” and made headlines in its day. The Green Dress tells the unbelievable story of Sarah Jane Robinson who in the 1880’s methodically poisoned members of her own family (children, sister, brother-in-law, nephew, and possibly a land lord, to collect life insurance and other payments. In each of these true crime novels from Barbour Publishing, the authors have created fictional characters as witnesses to the criminal acts. In this story, Harriet Peters, a young women who has fallen on hard times when she arrives in Boston in 1882, is taken in by the large Robinson family. She quickly becomes best friends with Lizzie Robinson and is devastated when Lizzie falls ills and dies from the same unidentified illness that has killed other family members over a multi-year span. A chance meeting with a young doctor puts both on a path to finding out the truth about these unexplained deaths. Little does Harriet realize that her actions will endanger her own life. The book was a fast read, and I’ve always found Liz Tolsma’s books to be well-researched, enjoyable reads. That she is from Wisconsin is an added plus for this reader.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I love true crime, especially so the True Colors series from Barbour seemed right up my alley, and The Green Dress in particular introduced me to a serial killer I hadn’t previously known about, Sarah Jane Robinson.

Through the fictional leads, Harriet and Michael, a friend of Sarah’s and the local doctor respectively, I felt the growing unease about the mortality of those close to Sarah was well conveyed, balanced with a sense of goodness and hope to counteract the pure evil of her actions.

Both Sarah and Dr. Beers are so well drawn to elicit a chill up the spine of the reader as Tolsma hints at their malicious intent and actions. While to an extent they steal the show from the POV characters, this is only right given the tone of the book and the balance between Christian fic which leans toward a heavy spiritual center and romantic suspense which features those dastardly villains.

This is a wonderful book that has a compelling suspense plot that introduced me to a historical figure I now want to know more about. If you love true crime, especially women serial killers, then I think you’ll enjoy this book.

This is a wonderful addition to a series I have truly enjoyed.

Liz Tolsma has penned a suspenseful story of a serial killer in 1880's Boston. The book started a little slow for me, but the last half of the story had me glued to the page. Tolsma's skill of storytelling, combined with her flawless research is a recipe of success for mixing fact and fiction. While the story itself was suspenseful and at times dark, the faith thread was one of hope, lending the fictional heroine strength.

This story along with many of the crimes highlighted in Barbours True Colors: Historical stories of American Crime series were previously unknown to me. I love learning more of America's history, including some of its darker stories as well.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are mine.

What a fascinating, sad story! One of the reasons that I love Historical Fiction is that I learn something while being entertained. This story definitely did that! In The Green Dress members of the Robinson family keep dying. When their good friend Harriet moves into the family home to help care for the youngest of the family, things begin to seem suspicious. But the question is who could be hurting this family? And how? You'll have to pick up this excellent book to find out. I really enjoyed this book from beginning to end!

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

A real life adventure of serial killer involving
the blood chilling and horrific deaths of
members of the Robinson family mixed with
a fictional romance. This combination
makes for a moving historical fiction read.
This story grips you from the beginning.
It intensifies until the final word.
The story takes place in the town of
Somerville, Massachusetts, near Boston.
The time period is the late 1880s.
Milliner Harriet Peters had sought aide with
the Robinson family. Harriet has her own
shop but when her best friend is dying from
a strange, painful death, Harriet vows to
care for the younger children in the
Robinson household. Harriet moves back in
with the family. She watches as the
matriarch of the family has fainting spells
supposedly caused by the ghost of her
deceased husband predicting death of the
one that is ill. Nothing seems to help save
anyone once the severe stomach pain starts.
Death is the end result!!
Dr Michael Wheaton is a young doctor who
is trying to become established in town. He
gets called in to the Robinson’s by Harriet.
He feels something is amiss in the household.
He fears for Harriets safety.
Throughout the story the reader will note
Mrs Robinson making a green dress.
Stunning emotional and gripping read!!
The book is extremely ably plotted and skillfully
written with cleverly crafted characters, well
defined and interesting characters that will pull
on the reader’s emotions. The story will chill
your blood. The reader will feel the terrorizing
and horrifying events along with the all the
character taking part in the drama.
I volunteered on read The Green Dress.
Thanks to Barbour Publishing via Net Gallery
for the opportunity. My opinion is voluntary and
my own.

This book takes the true story of a serial killer and makes it come to life. With a setting that illustrates the time period and the desperate feelings of the characters within the story Liz Tolsma rewrote the history in a meaningful way. She managed to create suspense in who the killer was, keeping it a mystery between several different people while adding a hint of romance. Little bits of information throughout add intrigue and clues as to who will be the next to die and what is happening to each of the patients.

While this story was short, the suspense and anticipation was high. I would have enjoyed a little more added to the story. It did provided a nice read on a late night.

The Green Dress is about a woman who is staying with the Robinson family. There seem to be strange illnesses or deaths occur. It seems to be about a woman named Sarah Jane Robinson. What is going on in the house is strange.

Harriet seems to bring in a Dr. Weaton. She moved into the Robinson family household but things seem to happen more once Lizzie passes away. But we do not know who it is. As the story goes on and more death occurs. The suspicions rise. Who is killing the Robinson family members and why?

The author does a wonderful job of having you trying to figure out the culprit. You get a history of some of the members. What a way to show some true colors in some folks. This story has you wanting to turn the pages and rooting for the heroes to save the day. You are pulled in emotionally as well. I was guessing Dr. Beers or even Mrs. Robinson. Can Michael and Harriet save the Robinson family members or will it all go bad?

Barbour Publishing's True Colors series is a collection of novels, written by a variety of authors based on true historical stories of American Crime. Liz Tolsma's The Green Dress is the latest installment. It is a fiction piece based on the crimes committed against Sarah Jane Robinson's family, and which occurred in the years 1881-1886. In this story Harriet Peters becomes concerned about the illnesses and deaths of many of the family members of the family that took her in when she fled to Boston to avoid an arranged marriage. She enlists the aid of Dr. Michael Wheaton who becomes increasingly concerned for Harriet's safety. The Green Dress is a most wonderful addition to this intriguing series. It held me spellbound, and I believe most historical fiction and mystery fans will love it. I am grateful to have received a copy of The Green Dress from Barbour Publishing in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to write a positive review, ad received no monetary compensation.

This book is based on a true story in Boston in 1882. Harriet Peters meets Lizzie Robinson when she needs help the most in her life. She is estranged from her family after refusing to marry the man that she was promised to.. She has almost become part of the Robinson family and has come to care deeply for them. Everything is going fine until the deaths begin. The family members get some type of sickness that results in nausea, severe stomach illness, and then death. When Harriet's best friend Lizzie passes away, she meets the Dr and forms a relationship. Michael recognizes that something is wrong and fights endlessly to get to the bottom of it all. It is pretty obvious from the beginning what is going on, yet no one is figuring it out very quickly. The book was overall well written, but really lacking in mystery. The love story seems to come out of thin air and I left this book just wondering if everyone was just inept. I did like the tie-in with the green dress though. "I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review."

This book was okay, but not as fascinating or as intriguing as some of the others in this series. This particular title is based on a real life incident of several members of a family taking ill and dying under mysterious circumstances, and the race to figure out what the cause of the illness was. Unfortunately I figured out the end of the story very early on; I kept reading to see if I would be surprised by any plot twists, but I wasn't. All in all I have a feeling that maybe reading about the real-life case would be more fascinating than reading this fictional take on it. 2.5 stars, rounded up to 3 for being a mostly enjoyable, although predictable, story.

Set in 1886 near Boston, the occupants of a house on Hollister street are one by one coming down with a mysterious illness. This family befriends Harriet and takes her in when she's destitute. As time goes by, Harriet feels indebted to them and takes on the care of the small children when their mother dies. A lot of strange happenings in this house.
I received this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

I was honored to receive a copy of this ebook from the publisher for my honest review. The introduction I read did nothing to give you a clue what this book was about. I thought it was a work of fiction, but in the end of the book I found out this story is based on an actual story! Harriet, the main character, is called from her millinery shop when she finds out her best friend is dying. Her friend requests that she help with her younger siblings when she passes. Of course Harriet agrees and agrees to stay at the house to care for the children. No one understands why the family members are slowly dying. Mrs Robinson is the head of the family and seems to put to much stock in money, but no one questions what is happening until Michael, a new dr, feels like something strange is happening, So much happens in this book! The green dress is a good name for the book!

I love this series and this book was a great addition. How can do many deaths burden one family? This story was very captivating and kept me interested from the start.
Many thanks to Barbour Publishing and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Green Dress by Liz Tolsma is a historical fiction and is part of The True Colors book series. Harriet Peters' only friend is Lizzie Robinson. When she gets a note to come to her home, she immediately responds. Upon arrival she finds that her friend is on her death bed. Before Lizzie's death, Harriet says that she will care for her two children, Tommy and Gracie. Her death follows several other Robinson family members who have passed away in the same household due to mysterious circumstances. When Tommy becomes ill with similar symptoms, a young doctor, Michael Wheaton comes to the home. Soon, she becomes suspicious of all the deaths.

I appreciated the author's notes at the end documenting the history behind the story. It's always interesting to me when historical facts are tied in with fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and forwarded to me through NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a review.

What a page turner!! I could not put this book down once I got started. The suspense kept building and building as I thought first one person and then another was the guilty party. I have been hooked on The True Crimes series since I read The White City…and not one of these books has disappointed. In The Green Dress, we meet the Robinson family and their young friend, Harriet Peters, and Dr. Michael Wheaton. The book is set in 1886 Boston and we find ourselves in the midst of a mystery as one by one members of the Robinson family die horrible, painful deaths. What is this strange malady and why does it only seem to affect their family? Mrs. Robinson puts her complete trust in Dr. Beers, a retired doctor of somewhat questionable character. So far there have been four deaths and then Harriet’s friend, Lizzie Robinson, falls ill…quickly followed by 8 year old Tommy. When Lizzie became ill, Harriet called in young Dr. Wheaton because she didn’t trust Dr. Beers. Dr. Wheaton is just as puzzled as everyone else as to what is causing these deaths...the symptoms don’t fit any known disease. It’s a race against time as Dr. Wheaton and Harriet try to solve the mystery of these deaths before any other family members die…or maybe even Harriet! I highly recommend this book!!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

The Green Dress is a fictional story of the real life case of Sarah Jane Robinson, a widow who has lead a heart breaking life. Many of her family members have died from a similar but mysterious illness. Years ago, she took in young Harriet Peters, a runaway, and helped her get her start, so when Mrs Robinson's eldest daughter Lizzie grows ill, Harriet drops everything to assist Mrs Robinson in the care of the younger children. She feels sorry for Mrs Robinson, and also beholden to her because she'd done so much for her. When Tommy also begins to fall ill. Harriet invites her friend, Dr Wheaton to help her find out exactly what is going on in the Robinson house.

It's predictable, but it was a good read. I think the oddest thing about it to me is that it's considered Christian romantic suspense. There were moments between Harriet and Dr Wheaton, but in all I wouldn't consider this romantic. There's also very little mention of religion. I haven't read a lot of Christian Fiction, but I don't think this is what I expected from it. I would probably read more books in this series.

3.5/5
i received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my review.

"The Green Dress"
By
Liq Tolsma

My first thought about this book after reading the description was can this really be a True Crime. This a great addition to the "True Colors" series. This book is a book with suspense, wonder and love. It's a page turner a very hard to put down.

The Green Dress is set in Boston in the 1880. The story is about a sinister plot to kill off family members. The author wrote a well written book. I spend a lot of time wondering what's next, who is doing it and especially when the green dress would come into the story. There were several night's that I would get up to read the book!

Favorite quote: "None of us know what life is going to bring from day to day. We just live and walk in God's Grace through it all.

I give this book a give it a 5 🌟

I will highly recommend this book to family and friends on Facebook,Bookbud, Amazon, Barnes and noble, and Goodreads.

I received this complimentary copy from Barbour and I was under no obligation to write a review. All thoughts and opinions are mine.

The Green Dress by Liz Tolsma.
Publication Date: June 1, 2020

Description from NetGalley...
“Fiction Based on Strange, But True, History.”

“When Harriet Peters came to Boston in 1882, the Robinson family took her in like one of their own, and Harriet became closer to Lizzie Robinson than her own siblings. Now, four years later, Lizzie is deathly sick, failing quickly just like several others in her family have done over the past few years. How can so many in one family die from the same mysterious illness? Harriet doesn’t have answers, but she is determined to help the family, bringing in a new-to-the-neighborhood doctor, Michael Wheaton. As Harriet and Michael close in on the answer, putting their own lives at risk, can the cause be found before anyone else dies?”

Thank you to @NetGalley #barbourpublishing #barbourbooks for the digital ARC in return for my honest review.

My thoughts...
This is a Christian, True Crime, Historical Fiction book. This is my first book by this author and from the True Colors Crime series. This 1880s true crime story is fascinating in itself. The author provides some details of it at the end of the book. The story started to fall flat around the middle of the book. The characters were not as well-developed as I would have liked and there were circuitous conversations and thoughts that were used to make the plot more dramatic. It was easy to figure “whodunit,” but maybe that was the author’s intention. Overall, it’s a quick read and a chilling true crime story about how far people would go when powered by greed.

This fiction based upon true crimes series has brought to light little known tragedies from the past. In The Green Dress, readers are taken to 1886 Boston and the home of the Robinson family. Mysteriously, multiple family members are dying months apart of unknown causes.

Family friend Harriet, a young woman that ran away from her own family, provides the point of view for the story. It was fascinating. Horrible, but fascinating.