The Black Midnight mixes historical fiction, romance and suspense into an intriguing novel. Anne Walters is a Pinkerton detective by day, but is secretly a British royal. She wants to live her life outside of family obligations. She gets assigned to Texas to work with Isaiah Joplin to hunt down a serial killer.

I’m typically not a fan of the 1800’s or romance themes. But I enjoyed everything about this novel. First – the suspense. The murders in Austin, TX become linked to a series of murders in England, which eventually leads to the hunt for Jack the Ripper. Anne and Isaiah work to connect the string of murders between the two continents. Also, Anne is a female Pinkerton detective, which was rare for women during this time period, not to mention someone with a royal background. Anne takes a strong lead in this novel, as a detective and as she stands up to her family.

As far as the romance, I enjoyed Anne and Isaiah discovering their feelings for each other. Of course it falls into the forbidden love category as Anne could never marry someone who wasn’t a royal and chosen by her family. Her desire to be independent and work as a detective clashes with the desire to please her family. And Isaiah appreciates Anne’s investigation skills and sees her for so much more than the roles women of this time period traditionally held.

I found this story intriguing from the historical aspect. I didn’t know much about Jack the Ripper, and I liked the author’s notes in the end with the research details. Kathleen Y’Barbo tacked a big topic and created a suspenseful story with heartwarming characters that will keep readers hooked until the very last page.

Overall: 5 stars (I loved it, couldn’t put it down)
Suspense: 5 stars (Non-stop edge-of-your-seat suspense from start to finish)

I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I am a huge fan of the True Colors historical fiction series. I enjoy the facts interwoven with fictional details. This volume focused on the Midnight Assassin in Austin, TX and Jack the Ripper, of course, in London. In this book, the crimes were principally investigated by a female detective, which would have been unheard of in the late 1800s, but she was portrayed as equally as competent as, if not more than, male detectives. A crime thriller short on gore, this book was fun and intriguing.

Kathleen Y’Barbo is a talented author who pens a descriptive and well research true crime fiction novel. This book tackles two seemingly unrelated cases that span an ocean and two continents. I’m a fan of this author’s work and enjoy her character development. My preference is non violent books so I didn’t enjoy the description of the crimes.

A wonderful gripping story across the oceans. The author kept me guessing &engaged with the characters. Some of the descriptions were not that great but didn't detract from the story.

This new 'true crime' novel poses the question whether the Midnight Assassin and Jack the ripper could be the same person. Though the murders were on different continents, there are some similarities. Annie and Isaiah work well together in this latest installment of the True Colors series. This well researched book proves interesting. Be sure to read the author's notes.

This is a wonderful addition to the True Color series. This book is well written and has a blend of murder, mystery and romance. The author did a wonderful job of blending fact with fiction and it made an exciting read. I recommend this book and the entire series. Thank you Barbour Publishing via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Enjoyable murder mystery—just sad that the murderer was never revealed. According to the notes at the end, no one really knows who the Midnight Assassin/Jack the Ripper really were. The unresolved nature of the story did bother me some. The story of Annie – the granddaughter of Queen Victoria – and Ike (her fellow Pinkerton agent) was interesting and I did find myself rooting for them. I did want to know who Annie’s father, grandfather, etc were in the lineage of the Queen and that was not revealed in the story. The details weren’t too gory—although I am aware that in reality the murders were really gruesome. The author admits to taking quite a bit of license with the story, but it was a good read as long as I remembered that it was mostly fiction.

This was a great installment in the "True Colors" series!

I wasn't sure what to expect about a book on Jack the Ripper, but appreciated that it wasn't gory or too detailed regarding murder descriptions. This was one I could easily read at night (which is not always the case with "True Colors" books, lol - not that I'm complaining by any stretch!).

In "The Black Midnight, I learned so much not only about this time period, but also the two murder sprees between London and Austin. Shocking that there's still so much we don't know!

Y'Barbo did a great job at blending fact and fiction together in this read. Well done.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I think this is my favorite book of this whole series so far.
I enjoyed the story and the characters. I did think it took awhile for the story to play out. I would like to see a series with Isaiah and Annie.
Thanks to Netgalley for the early copy

This was an enjoyable murder mystery. The way the book started in 1889 and then went back in time 5 years was interesting. Though only 20% was in 1889. This was more of a mystery of following the clues with the Pinkertons on who the murderer could be.

Annie and Ike were interesting characters and I enjoyed the scenes with the Queen.

The murder mystery and romance was both mild. The romance ending was satisfactory but the murder plot left me with wanting more (but reading the author’s notes at the end I can understand why).

***Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.***

🌟🌟🌟🌟
4 – 4.5 stars

This was another enjoyable installment in the True Colors historical series. The Black Midnight is based on The Midnight Assassin, a serial killer who terrorized the citizens of Austin, Texas in the 1880s...who MAY be linked to Jack the Ripper, who later terrorized the citizens of London several years later. A bit of artistic license is taken with the story's details, but nowhere enough to make the story unbelievable. Already looking forward to the next story!! 😊

The Black Midnight
by Kathleen Y'Barbo

Back of the Book: “Two Series of Murders Seem Mysteriously Connected

Step into True Colors -- a series of Historical Stories of Romance and American Crime

Three years before Jack the Ripper began his murderous spree on the streets of London, women were dying in their beds as The Midnight Assassin terrorized the citizens of Austin, Texas. Now, with suspicion falling on Her Majesty’s family and Scotland Yard at a loss as to who the Ripper might be, Queen Victoria summons her great-granddaughter, Alice Anne von Wettin, a former Pinkerton agent who worked the unsolved Austin case, and orders her to discreetly form a team to look into the London matter.

The prospect of a second chance to work with Annie just might entice Isaiah Joplin out of his comfortable life as an Austin lawyer. If his theories are right, they’ll find the The Midnight Assassin and, by default, the Ripper. If they’re wrong, he and Annie are in a bigger mess than the one the feisty female left behind when she departed Austin under cover of darkness three years ago.

Can the unlikely pair find the truth of who is behind the murders before they are drawn into the killer’s deadly game? From Texas to London, the story navigates the fine line between truth and fiction as Annie and Isaiah ultimately find the hunters have become the hunted.”

Impressions: The mystery of Jack the Ripper still circulates as a fascinating unsolved case today. I was intrigued to see where this story would go and I was not let down. This was a fun combination of fiction and non-fiction.

Liked: I liked the mystery of who might be the killer.

Disliked: The story was mostly a romance with little bits of mystery here and there. I was hoping to have a little more mystery.

Learned: Don’t assume the obvious is the answer.

Quotes: “If you feel your value lies in being merely decorative, I fear that someday you might find yourself believing that’s all that you really are. Time erodes all such beauty, but what it cannot diminish is the wonderful workings of your mind: your humor, your kindness, and your moral courage. These are the things I cherish so in you.”

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review shared here.

I am really enjoying these true crime books. I have always liked true crime stories and with favorite inspirational authors taking turns featuring one each is really awesome.

*My thanks to Barbour Publishing for a copy of this book. The opinion here is my own.

Alice Ann von Wettin (aka Annie) is the great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria, and as such wishes to please her family. She also desires to be a detective, so heads across the pond to the United States where she (unbeknownst to her family) becomes a Pinkerton detective. While her family imagines Annie to be enjoying high society on America's east coast, Annie is really investigating a serial killer in Austin, Texas. When she teams up with fellow Pinkerton agent Ike Joplin, emotional sparks fly. Ever-mindful of their duty to their employer, Annie and Ike uncover intriguing clues while trying to maintain a professional working relationship. When Annie's father discovers what Annie has really been up to, Annie is forced to return to London with the mystery, and her relationship to Ike, unresolved.

Three years after returning to England, Annie is summoned by Queen Victoria to help solve mysterious murders occurring in London's Whitechapel neighborhood. Tasked with forming a team of investigators to solve the crime, Annie calls upon her former colleague, Ike, to help find the serial killer. Were the serial killings in Austin and London committed by the same person? Will Ike and Annie finally find happiness together? Find out in this intriguing mystery, based upon two unsolved true crime mysteries, one of which involved the notorious, but never identified, Jack the Ripper. Accompanied by the author's informative historical notes after the novel's conclusion, this book would be especially appealing to fans of the Victorian era, true crime, and the art of a skillfully told historical fiction tale.

I really enjoy this series of fiction based on true crimes. The Black Midnight is very well written. Good plot and character development. I highly recommend this book and series. I received an arc from the publisher and this is my unbiased review.

I have loved every title in this True Crime series and I can't wait for more to come out. This one is equally as thrilling. It read fast and furious and I couldn't put it down! I may have stayed up way too late reading this one.

In America there are killings. They seem random and the killer keeps getting bolder. But then he stops and disappears. Plus there is some secret society going on who are covering up for the killer who is one of their own.

Two Pinkerton agents are sent to unofficially work the case. One of them just happens to be the granddaughter of Queen Victoria. Nothing can go wrong with that!

When her identity is discovered in America and she is also forbidden to have anything else to do with the handsome agent she's in love with, Alice Anne goes back to England. But her days of solving cases aren't behind her.

When her grandmother asks her to look for a connection between the murders in America and the killings that have been happening in London she jumps at the chance. And she enlists her handsome Pinkerton agent to come over and help her.

It's just a bonus that her presence back in his life makes his fiance run for the hills and he's single again. Now if only she can solve this case, stay alive, and get her family to approve of her match.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

Usually when you read a book with a romance and a mystery, one or the other isn’t done justice. However, The Black Midnight is the perfect romance/historical mystery blend. The book follows the great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria who has become a Pinkerton detective. She joins forces with Ike Joplin, another Pinckerton detective, in an attempt to solve a series of gruesome murders in Austin Texas, as well as to determine whether the same person could have committed London’s Whitechapel murders. They also work together to determine whether there can ever be a future together for a royal and a Texas lawman. A great story and a quick read!

Thanks go to NetGalley and Barbour Books for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Black Midnight is the seventh book in the True Colors series. I have read five other books in this series and enjoyed them all. The Black Midnight is a fictional account of the investigation of two still unidentified serial killers in the late 1800s in Austin, Texas (the Midnight Assassin) and in London, England (Jack the Ripper) which may or may not be related. The story features a steady-paced, romantic plot and well developed characters, but not as much action as I expected. Real people and events are skillfully incorporated into the fictional story. I enjoyed this read and recommend it.

I received a copy of this book in e-book form from the publisher via netgalley but am under no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions are my

The Black Midnight by Kathleen Y’Barbo is a marvellous historical murder mystery novel. It is part of the True colors series which is fabulous.
The author has woven her story around the Whitechapel murders of 1889 and the Austen, Texas murders of 1885. It is believed, in reality and in fiction that these murders may have been committed by the same person. As a historian living in England, I have read widely around the crimes of Jack the Ripper so I found the whole story absorbing and fascinating.
Underneath the surface a romance bubbles away. The reader senses the tension between being a professional and the attraction for another.
Wonderfully crafted characters help to bring the story to life. The reader travels from Buckingham Palace to Whitechapel and to Texas. There is a real contrast between the locations from the very poor to the very rich.
The Black Midnight was a totally absorbing read that I greedily devoured in just one sitting. It was superb.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

This book is another in "True Colors - a series of Historical Stories of Romance and American Crime," an unusual series that I really enjoy. The story begins with the great granddaughter of Queen Victoria working as a Pinkerton detective in Austin, Texas, in the 1880s during a serial killer crime spree. Annie fell in love with a colleague during that time but was forced to return to England for her royal duties. That killer was never found. Fast forward a few years later and Jack the Ripper is terrorizing London. Annie and her former beau are asked to help in this new, possibly related, investigation.

The theory of a murderer traveling between England and the United States to commit crimes was also the plot of the February release FELICITY CARROLL AND THE MURDEROUS MENACE, although the woman detective in that story was not a member of the royal family.

This book is a welcome addition to the True Color series, although I found this one a little less intriguing, probably because the crime on which it is based was unsolved, I like the blending of fact and fiction that works throughout this series, and I look forward to more books in the series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Barbour Books for providing an ARC.