This whole series has been an excellent blend of fiction and history, and this one was no exception! I thought that the author did a fantastic job of keeping the suspense growing throughout the story.

I am a massive true crime fan so Jack the Ripper is a buzzword for me. This lived up to the expectation and surprised with the American crimes. I loved that the granddaughter of the queen was one of the investigators and she was on the case in Texas and London. The characters were great and the plot was very engaging. I couldn’t put it down and it put shivers down my spine. This is for everyone who want to read another possible side of the Ripper crimes.

I received an arc via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

Learning about serial killers both fascinate me and frighten me. It’s kind of like riding a roller coaster ride-it makes me scared, but I love the thrill. Reading this book was very similar to that.

I did really like this book. I think it’s one of my favorites in the True Colors series. I really liked Annie and Isaiah and their love story. Could I have done without the love story in general? Yes. I could have done without the love story in each of the True Colors books. But I think that Kathleen Y’Barbo executed it well. She didn’t let it steal from the mystery. Instead, she used it to move the mystery forward.

I think what I loved most about this book was that it was about Jack the Ripper. It made it creepy and suspenseful. And I also really liked how Annie was actually a relation of the Queen of England. It made the story more interesting.

My only complaint would be that the ending seemed really rushed. The ending could’ve been great, but it just seemed to fall flat for me. Other than that, I really did enjoy reading this book and learning more about Jack the Ripper.

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

If you’re looking for good clean mystery/romance look no further. The true colors series are each stand alone stories of little known true crimes throughout history.

This one dealt with the midnight assassin in Austin and Jack the Ripper in London. It leaves you wondering who done it. I like both the male and female main characters and wanted everything to work out for them.

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

The Black Midnight was another in the true crime (True Colors) series that was intriguing and left me wondering "who did it?" I loved the suspense, getting inside the head of the characters and the way it all ended. These books are so fascinating to me because they are based on real life stories in history but yet they expand on the story and make it as though I was there, experiencing it myself.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book but was not obligated to post a review. All opinions are strictly my own.

In the mood for some crime-related books, I decided for my first read for 2022 to be The Black Midnight by Kathleen Y'Barbo. A bit of background first is that the True Colors series are books that can be read as standalones and each story features a true crime that happened somewhere in the world mainly US/UK and told in a fictional account. The Black Midnight though is an exception as the book features multiple crimes and is told over two continents. The initial story introduces us to Alice Ann who is a special detective but also the granddaughter of Queen Victoria. The year is 1889 and a famous serial killer is stalking the streets of Whitechapel, UK aka Jack the Ripper, and the police are stumped. The Queen knows her granddaughter's skills and wants to on the down-low hire her granddaughter and her old friend to look at the case. Alice Ann takes a trip to Austin, Texas, and is face to face with her old partner and love interest Isaiah Joplin. Back in 1884, Alice took a job undercover as Ann with the detective agency The Pinkertons and was paired with Isaiah. During Austin, Texas was another series of murders similar to later Jack the Ripper - someone was killing and murdering Servant Girls - the media had a few names for him such as The Midnight Assassin and The Servant Girl Annihilator. He wasn't caught but there have been strong rumors that were talked about and portrayed in The Black Midnight, that the murders were connected and done by the same person aka Jack the Ripper. Another couple of murders that was talked about in Austin, Texas was the murders of society wives Eula Phillips and Susan Hancock. These were made to look like the same killer as the Servant Girl Annihilator but as they were society wives - their husbands were charged for the murders - Jimmy aka James Phillips and Moses Hancock. We, however, in all three of these crimes will never know the truth of the killers, but this book The Black Midnight was fun in speculating and helping me learn more about the cases. The True Colors series are perfect for any true-crime buff and beware - as it can lead you down a rabbit hole of exploration as like myself I hadn’t heard of The Servant Girl Murders / Society wife murders in Austin, Texas.

I wanted to love this one because it hints at Jack the ripper. But I couldn't make it past the first chapter because the heroine got on my nerves I couldn't stand her for a chapter let alone a whole book.

The Black Midnight is book 7 of the True Colors series which are all based on true crimes. While some of these books have been a bit too much for me, The Black Midnight wasn’t too descriptive or gory and was very interesting. I have always been intrigued by Jack the Ripper, so this story, and how it tried to ty the Jack the Ripper murders in with unsolved murders in Austin, TX, was one that really piqued my interest.

I received a complementary copy of this story. All opinions are my own.

In The Black Midnight, Kathleen Y'Barbo takes on two historical serial killers in two countries, Jack the Ripper in London and the less well known Midnight Assassin that terrorized Austin, Texas five years before.

Queen Victoria tasks her fictional great-granddaughter, a former Pinkerton agent, with discovering the identity of Jack the Ripper - even to the extent of investigating members of the royal family. The team Alice Ann von Wettin chooses consists of her mentor in the London Metropolitan police and Isaiah Joplin, her partner in the Midnight Assassin investigation whose romantic interest in "Annie" was not approved of.

As the story moves back in time to the Austin investigation, the events that unfold and the growing relationship between Alice Ann and Isaiah are the main focus, until the plot line returns to their present day in late 19th century London.

Taking these two timelines and the theoretical link between the two killers, wrapping a romance around the events, and altering a bit of history to include other theories, the author has crafted a compelling story that holds the reader's interest. I was slightly hesitant to read a Jack the Ripper story, but with a majority of the actual crimes described being that of the Midnight Assassin and most of the blood and violence off-page, it became a highly readable and enjoyable read - as expected with a Kathleen Y'Barbo story.

The Black Midnight is part of a multi-author series from Barbour Books that blend stories of true historical American crimes with romantic suspense. It stands out from the rest with the two timelines and for having not one, but two Pinkerton agents in a slow burning first and second chance romance, along with a sometimes amusing portrayal of an elderly Queen Victoria. Recommended.

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

I really enjoyed this book. I was glad to read another book in the True Crime Christian Historical Fiction series, as I so enjoyed the others I have read. In this book. we find a former Pinkerton agent, who also happens to be the great-granddaughter to Queen Victoria, Alice Anne von Wettin given the task of solving who is Jack the Ripper. As Annie was also involved with a murder series in Austin Texas which was pre-Jack the Ripper, but may be related or even be the same person, she seems to be the perfect person to be involved. Also becoming a part of the search is Isaiah Joplin, and Austin attorney, who worked with Annie in attempting to solve the Midnight Assassin in Austin. Interesting and descriptive story-telling, pulling the main characters into a man-hunt that soon turns the tables on them and puts them in danger. A book worth reading for sure! Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing Inc. for the opportunity to read and review this advance reader copy. #NetGalley #TheBlackMidnight

I have always been intrigued by the Jack the Ripper crimes so this book appealed to me immediately and it didn't disappoint. Well written, a good solid read.

The Black Midnight by Kathleen Y'Barbo is part of the True Colors series. This series brings to life historical true crime with romantic suspense. Ms Y'Barbo is a brilliant author and I am always delighted to read her books because they are so entertaining and well written. I was definitely not disappointed with this book. This story, set in the US, is a historical serial killer story that is absolutely suspenseful. Readers will not be disappointed. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

This was our book club pick for this month.

This story is an interesting fictionalized accounting of Jack the Ripper tied to murders in Austin, Texas or at least that is the supposition by two Pinkerton detectives, Annie and Ike. Annie is the great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria of England but is doing all she can to make a name for herself not tied to her family. Ike is a hardworking lawyer turned detective that develops an affection for Annie and she for him. However, her family holds her back from pursuing more with him because she doesn't think that great-grandma will approve and is concerned about possible ill effects it might have on her family.

A majority of the book is set in Austin setting the scene of the Midnight Assassin and Annie and Ike's investigation, albeit it off the books since the true Pinkerton agency was not hired, but they are there to discover the truth, if possible. I relished in the clues that were given and tried to decipher who the killer might be and while others in my book club honed in on the alleged killer, I did not. There were some questions we all had but it would be hard to share them with you without giving away some of the story since it was near the end of the book. Let's just say that security in the late 1800s was not the same as what we have now.

I really enjoyed reading the author's notes afterward because it gave me more insight into her thought process while writing the book and the research that she did so that she could portray citizens in the book that would have been prominent in society and names we might recognize. I like learning facts about history swirled in with a fictional story, but since neither killer was captured, who says this story couldn't have happened?

I received an ARC from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley. this review is my personal opinion.

In this book part of the real crime story, we have two crimes that according to some people may be the same unknown person. Kathleen Y’Barbo takes us first to London in 1889, Jack the reaper has killed and hasn’t been found, The story is split in two times, four years before the present story which helps us to understand the character and the historical background of the story. With many twists and turns, the story, tells an apparent relationship between the midnight killer from Texas and Jack the reaper from London. Although this crime remains unsolved, Kathleen Y’Barbo did a great job merging the details of the crime and also adding interesting characters. This book will keep you guessing right until the end.

An excellent mystery centered around possibly linked killings in Austin Texas, and London, England in the late 1800s. Annie and Isaiah work for the Pinkerton Agency investigating the crimes. We follow their story as coworkers and romantic interests. The suspense was superbly done by the author. It kept me guessing the whole way through. Rich scenery, aspects of real historical information, and well rounded characters add to the depth of the story. If you like history and suspense interwoven with romance, you're sure to love this book, part of a series of history cloaked in fiction. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

This is my fourth book by this author and I enjoyed it immensely. I call it two stories in one book. A split timeline. The characters from each story were engaging. I loved Dini and Quinn’s story but I also loved reading Hedda’s story. I loved that the author let us know there were some facts that were real. A great plot, a mystery, a romance and intriguing with a faith thread. I recommend this book if you want to read something that will keep you flipping those pages.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was not required to write a positive review. All my opinions are my own.

Based on a true story, The Black Midnight hits the ground running and doesn’t stop. I never knew about the connection between Jack the Ripper and The Midnight Assassin. It made for interesting reading. Add in a female Pinkerton related to the queen and you have the recipe for a thrilling tale.

The characters were well developed and very true to life with their personalities and interactions. While romance can be a bit awkward in a murder mystery, author Kathleen Y’Barbo did a really good job of meshing the two. If you enjoy such books I recommend reading this one.

I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.

The Black Midnight, written by Kathleen Y'Barbo was so well written I couldn't put it down. The historical aspect of a young Pinkerton Detective who is really the great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria was fabulous. With her partner, Isaiah Joplin, they go on a hunt for what they believe is the Midnight Assassin. The case takes Annie across from one country to another, all the while she is dealing with telling Isaiah the truth about herself, hiding her profession from her family & finding herself involved in intrigue, deceit, and murder. This book really draws you in and keeps you guessing. I was given a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

This was an interesting read. Obviously I have heard of Jack The Ripper but I was unfamiliar with the murders that took place a few years before in Austin Texas. Bringing those cases together made for a fun read. Annie and Isaiah were great characters and I really enjoyed the character of Hattie. The story was good and kept me interested. It's quick and easy, perfect for a weekend read.

I received this book through NetGalley and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

This is a historical fiction with a few facts changed to meet the story needs. I am leaning more towards calling it a romance story with some history. Obviously a lot of research went into this book and thankfully details of the murders on both sides of the pond were not discussed. Lovely descriptions of the Palace, some of its rooms, homes, lanscape and buildings in Austin,Texas are included. The book cover gives enough information regarding the story, so I won't repeat. The characters are interesting and there is a lot of dialogue in the story. There seems to be more around the events in Texas than that of England. It is a little slow reading for my tastes but was overall a fun book to read.
I was provided an advanced reader copy and was under no obligation to provide a review. The opinions expressed are my own. Thanks to the author, Barbour Publishing, and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.