The Gold Digger was another great book in the True Colors series. I love that these are based on real-life crimes. In this book, especially, it made the sinister nature of the crime so much more haunting. Despite the dark premise of the story, Tolsma still includes hope and happy moments that will warm your heart.

Great characters that pull your heart into the story. This is a well written story that starts out endearing you to the characters. As a sinister plot unfolds a sweet romance is just beginning taking the reader on quite the ride. There is so much to this story that keeps your mind volleying back and forth as to who is responsible for all the strange actions that occur. I was completely taken back at some of the horrific things that happened causing my heart to just break for the characters. This is a story that will keep you reading late into the night, a quest to answer the minds questions. The reader will enjoy the romance that grows and brings comfort in a world spinning out of control. This is definitely a book that will leave you with questions and keep you entertained!
Was given a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

My goodness, I was sucked in to this so easily and couldn't put it down. I have loved these Christian true crime thrillers. There were twists and turns and moments that made me have to take a second look.

Liz Tolsma is a master in this series and has done an amazing job. I appreciated the author notes regarding the history and what is true and what is fiction.

I will never understand the cruelty of some people, but these stories manage to find the hope and the faith at the end of the tunnel in the characters that are touched by these crimes.

I had never heard of this particular killer and was amazed at the way people ignored what was happening around them.

I was fascinated with this story and was drawn in by the writing and characterizations. The characters were compelling and the clues were such that not everything was given away immediately. If you don't know the true story, the twist at the end is not something you see coming so don't research anything until you've read this cleverly spun tale.

I received a complementary copy and these are my own thoughts and reactions.

I really enjoyed this story! I had never heard about this crime until I happened across it a few days before starting this book. Belle is a widowed woman who puts personal adds in the newspaper to have a man come to her farm and marry her to take care of her and her three children. The problem is many men come but none of them stay. Why do they leave? Belles sister Ingrid can’t understand why none of these men can see what a loving caring woman she is. One day a man comes to town searching for his brother who answered one of Belle’s adds who has not been heard from. The book tells an incredible story of disappearance, arson, murder, and theft! I give this book 5 stars and was given a copy from Netgalley for an honest opinion.

The Gold Digger by Liz Tolsma
I love all of Liz Tokens books and "The Gold Digger" is no exception. This is the 9th book in the "True Colors" series.

Synopsis- In the year of 1907, a woman Ingrid Street move to LaPorte, Indiana to help hers sister. Belle had lost two husbands and several children's. Ingrid started to wonder about her sister when Nils Lindherud showed up looking for his brother. He had answered an ad put in a paper by Belle looking for a new husband to help with the farm. The problem is several men show up but leave soon afterwards.

My thoughts - I really liked this book and the storyline. It made me think of all the characters and wonder if I liked them. It was a page turner with a suspect from the very beginning. Ingrid started to question the facts about her sister and rather the men every left the farm from the beginning.

Recommend - I will gladly recommend this book to everyone including family and friends.

Rating - I will rate this book a five out of five

i received this complimentary book from the publisher through netgalley. all thought and opinions are mine and mine alone!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC to review!
Rating (on a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being excellent)
Quality of writing: 4
Pace: 3
Plot development: 4
Characters: 3
Enjoyability: 3
Ease of Reading: 4

Overall rating: 3 out of 5

THE GOLD DIGGER by LIZ TOLSMA is a well written true crime suspense thriller which will keep you on the edge of your chair. Although the subject matter is decidedly gruesome, the author has tempered it with a sweet romance and a great Christian message of hope that shines through the darkness. The characters are well defined and I especially like Ingrid and Nils for their gentleness and kindness, and also for their courage and determination to get to the bottom of the mystery.
I really recommend the book to anyone who enjoys this genre.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Barbour Publishing. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

I normally don't read this kind of book. But I do love a good mystery and this book blew me away!!!!! Wow!
Gold Digger is about 2 sisters from Norway. One had been established, married and had a couple of children but paid for her younger sister to come join her in Chicago from Norway. When Belle's husband suddenly dies and their house and business burn down they decide to move to LaPorte, Indiana.
Belle surprises Ingrid with a business she can turn into a confectionery, (which Ingrid isn't thrilled about she would rather sell her photographs) and she will have her own apartment above the confectionery and the basement to use as a dark room to develop her photos. Ingrid is very nervous because she doesn't speak English very well and it's hard to speak to customers.
Belle advertises in the Norwegian papers in the lonely heart section of the paper for a husband. Many men have shown up but leave after a few days.
This story shows 2 stories in 1. The life of Belle and Ingrid and the life of Nils Lindherud from Detroit. His brother Sven answers Belle's ad for a husband and is excited about leaving his brother Nils auto dealership to work on Belle's pig farm.
After 6 weeks of not hearing from Sven his Mother and brother Nils become nervous. Nils does write Belle but gets no response, so he goes to LaPorte to investigate.
He meets Ingrid, and becomes interested but gets very suspicious of Belle, especially after he goes with Ingrid to Belle's farm and she kicks him off the property right away.
For months Nils travels between Detroit and LaPorte. There is an old farmhand Belle let go, Ray who is very suspicious.
This book will keep you on your toes the entire time, you think you know what's going to happen and then something else happens and you question what you think really happened!
The author's notes are wonderful, especially with the historical facts of this book. The whole thing blew me away, especially after I found out it was based on a true story. I couldn't put the book down and read this quickly because it sucked me in!
I want to thank NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for the advanced copy. I was not asked to give a positive review, just give my honest opinion, this is my honest opinion of the book.

A riveting tale of mystery and suspense based on a real crime spree in 1907 Indiana. Men go missing after answering an ad placed by a widowed hog farmer. One man's determination to find his missing brother just might uncover the truth. He will need help from the woman's sister though before others get hurt.

"Family was family and always came first."

This mystery seemed to unfold quickly, but with each turn, had me changing my mind as to who was the real culprit. Family loyalties and growing desperation made things more complex as it went along. The tension builds and had more than a few nail-biting scenes. The notes at the end shed light on the real crime and the historical details the author included were mind boggling.
Nils is a steady, but conflicted hero. He was under so much pressure to find answers, while juggling financial responsibilities at home, and striving to succeed in both. I like how the author used his circumstances to show how we need to rely on God for help, and the trap that making money can become. "When he tried to rely on himself, he was a miserable failure. He needed God's strength."

Recommend for readers who enjoy a Christian mystery with romance and some grit, based on real history. 4.5 stars

Family, that is part of this story. One a young woman who has come from Norway to be with her widowed sister and her family, the other is a man who comes searching for his missing brother. The story is how tragically it all meshes together.
Be sure to read the author's notes at the end of this book, and yes, this is a fictional story, but based on facts. This crime really happened. So very sad.
Why, I guess greed, and because they can?
You don't want to miss these True Crime series, they are riveting and page turning, but most of all or sadly they are true. yes, they really happened.

I received this book through NetGalley and the Publisher Barbour, and was not required to give a positive review.

Another historical fiction based on true crime in America. I have enjoyed this series a lot. This one I found a little heavier on the details of the crimes than in books past.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of the book and the opportunity to post an honest review!

I have read all the books in this true crime series to date. This is the second one where I familiar with the details. The author does a great job weaving the bone chilling tale of one evil woman into a read that will keep you turning the pages. The deaths and suffering caused by Belle Gunness is almost unbelievable. And yet, even the most evil can dupe so many around them. Personally, I can’t see her committing suicide and always believed she escaped her own fire and continued her evil ways, but it can’t be proved one way or the other.

This is the kind of book that leaves you wanting more. Another hit in the true crimes series. This one also had me looking into the real story more which is the hallmark of a good book. This book was interesting and kept me fully engaged. I spent my morning reading it. and it was time well spent.

There is so much I want to say about this book but that contains spoilers and this book is better read without them. I did get it for free in exchange for an honest review, but I would have paid to read it had I not as I have also really enjoyed the authors previous books in this series. I liked how the author threw in a few little redirects so that you were never quite sure of what was the true story.

My overall recommendation is to read this book and the rest of the True Crimes series. You're welcome!