Apologies for the delay in getting this review in, life got hectic and I over committed myself. 

I really love this series! This book was another wonderful addition to the series! The book moved a little bit too slow for my liking but Liz Tolsma does a great job creating an aura of mystery and suspense, keeping you hooked right until the end!

The Gold Digger is another great addition to the True Colors series. It is based on true events surrounding the female serial killer Belle Gunness. I was captivated by Ingrid’s story and was often on the edge of my seat wondering how she would deal with her sister, Belle. I enjoyed her interaction with Nils. The two made quite the duo. I thought the whole book was a thrilling ride and one that I could not have predictable. It was not easy to put down and was so very good. I loved it from the first page all the way to the very last one.

The Gold Digger is getting a very well deserved five plus stars from me. I highly recommend it for readers who enjoy reading clean historical suspense. I thought it was great. 

I received The Gold Digger from the publisher. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

The Gold Digger, written by Liz. Tolsma is the next installment of the True Crime Historical Series. Widowed Bella places personal ads in the newspaper looking for a husband. The problem is - men have started to come up missing. A brother of one of the missing men comes looking for answers. Based on true events without giving away spoilers, this is a page turning thriller. It draws you in and keeps you guessing. I was given a complimentary copy of this book by Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

About half way through this book I felt like I knew the ending and was expecting it to conclude. It get a little drawn out to me, as the reader, but the excited I’d pick back up near the very end. 
The plot is based on a true story, one that could only be real life events. The author did a good job filling in missing pieces from the true story and weaving together a more fluid piece. She did bring in the redemptive nature of the gospel and God’s forgiveness to mankind.

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book. These are my honest thoughts.

Right away, the creepy undertones of this story grabbed me by the throat. In some ways, this story reminded me of a darker version of Arsenic and Old Lace—except Mr. Cary Grant’s trademark humor and dashing good looks were absent. When I read the author’s note at the end, I found it was very eerie how many of the details within the novel were based on cold, hard facts. Rather than being the plot for an episode of Criminal Minds, this story was one that real-life people unfortunately had to live out. My heart aches for the victims and their loved ones.

This novel had a lovely cast of characters (despite the evilness of a couple of them). Ingrid was delightful in her innocence and hope for the brightest future possible. Her devotion to her family was remarkable and, at times, overly naïve. While the leading man thought she “had blinders on” when it came to certain events and people, I found the farther along I got in the story, the more outlandish and unrealistic it was that she would so adamantly stick to her belief that a certain person had “the most caring heart of any [person] on the planet.” By that point, it was clear as glass what had happened and who had done it—the person she very stubbornly refused to believe could ever hurt a flea. Denial is one thing; that would have been believable. Utter refusal to accept facts and evidence is completely something else, especially when the person in question had been nothing but surly, grumpy, and rude to a variety of people—including Ingrid herself—throughout the entire story. However, I still liked Ingrid. I loved that she loved baking but shied of the public, found passion for photography and wanted to make that her living, and saw the best in people.

Nils was amazing. I liked that his regret was palpable and his determination to uncover the truth tangible. I really connected with him and the journey he was on. Plus, he had a cool car.

Ray was a surly sort, but he played his part well. At times, he was nothing more than a cliché, but there were certain things that made him unique to other bad-guy sorts of characters.

The kids were lovely. Energetic, rambunctious, adventurous. Just lovely.

The tension throughout kept me reading long into the night. I fell asleep before I could finish, but I remedied that first thing the next morning. This story captured my interest on every page.

I especially enjoyed the fantastic Gothic atmosphere of this story. It had mystery and creepy undertones, stress and tension, a hopeful leading lady, and a dashing and heroic yet still vulnerable and imperfect leading man. All the ingredients of the Gothic genre were well used to tell this unusual and horrifying tale.

I have enjoyed Liz Tolsma's books before. I have also enjoyed this series of true crimes so this was a good choice.
The story flowed very well and kept my interest throughout. The characters were very well developed and the story was told in the least gruesome way possible. I was thankful for that.
The story is also a Christian book and it was well done and not preachy. It showed the way things go when you do and do not follow God.
The story was very well edited and proof-read. I did not notice errors in the book and that is important to me.
I would recommend this book to my friends. I give it a 4 out of 5 stars. Very well done, but not over the top.
I was given a copy of this book to read through NetGalley and Barbour Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

The GoldDigger by Liz Tolsma is a good mystery. The characters are well defined and believable. The 
likeable characters are very likable. The creepy characters are easily visualized due to the great 
descriptions. The plot is original and intriguing. I liked the historical setting. I found this book easy to 
read. I recommend this book for those that like historical fiction and mysteries. This story was based on 
true history with a fictional twist. I liked the fact the story kept you guessing as to who was really the 
murderer. The romance added to the story. Faith plays a significant role in the story, too. This book was provided through Celebrate Lit and the author for my review. The opinions expressed are my own thoughts.

THE GOLD DIGGER by Liz Tolsma

This is book 9 of the #TrueColorsSeries. I am not a fan of the #thriller genre. This book is full of suspense, anticipation and surprise. But this #historicalfiction based on a true crime keeps me interested. My heart was beating fast a couple of times. I thought I knew who did it but changed my mind several times until I am sure who it was. But like Ingrid, I was in denial. Very much in denial. There are so many things I didn't expect and still can't accept they happened. The love story was a sub genre. I'm glad of Ingrid and Nil's faith. It helped them all through out the whole gruesome ordeal. It helped me too!

This why #mentalhealthawareness is important. Don't forget to read the Afterward. It tells you details about the true story. I need a light read after this. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you @barbourbooks and #netgalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

Based on actual events that occurred in the early 1900s, Liz Tolsma brings us another chilling addition to the True Crime series.

Norwegian Ingrid Storset has traveled to LaPorte, Indiana to be closer to her sister, Belle Gunness. Bad luck in the love department has seemed to follow Belle for years. She has lost two husbands under strange circumstances, and despite regularly finding mail-order grooms, Belle has never been able to keep any of them around longer than a few days. Even stranger, her nieces and nephew seem oddly terrified of the one person they should be safest with. 

Nils Lindherud has worked hard on becoming successful at running his motorcar dealership and proving that he is nothing like his father. When his brother Sven suddenly leaves to marry a widow but fails to contact his family after he's arrived, Nils must leave his mother and his livelihood to find his missing brother. 

Will Ingrid and Nils be able to uncover the dark secrets surrounding Belle and her pig farm before anyone else gets hurt? What is really happening in LaPorte? Will they find love--and a future--or will the pain of the past overwhelm them? 

The Gold Digger was a hard one to put down. It pulled me in from the first page and kept me glued to the story right until the very end. It was easy to see that the author had thoroughly researched the story before putting her own spin on it, and I enjoyed her take on the events. Some parts were hard to swallow, especially as a mother, but all in all, it was a fantastic retelling of a tragic story. 

*I received a complimentary copy of The Gold Digger through the publisher and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. My positive review is not required.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, which is based on a true story. Belle Gunness lived in Northern Indiana in the early 1900's. She had a habit of seducing men to come to her farm, making sure they knew to bring all of their money. People in the town had an idea of what Belle was doing but didn't know to what extent. Many, including her sister, thought that the men would arrive and leave because the farm was too much work. They never in their wildest dreams would have guessed what it was that Belle was doing on that farm. It's still somewhat of a mystery today. 

I received an ARC from Barbour Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is book nine in the True Colors Series of Fiction Based on Strange But True History.  This crime takes place in the 1900's in Indiana on the Gunness Farm.  When Belle is going through hard times and being a grieving widow, she sends for her sister Ingrid to come and start her own business.  When Ingrid shows up, she is curious of all the men that her sister Belle has been interviewing to be her next husband and one that turns up missing.  What has happened to him?  Ingrid has suspicions and concerns of what is really going on here.....

I would recommend this if you like a good mystery with suspense, drama, twist and turns.... it is another great page turner from this series.  If you love to keep guessing at the ending and be surprised, then you will love this book as much as the others in the series.  The book doesn't give you any idea what the ending will be until the very end as all the others.

I've really enjoyed the books I've read in this series and this one was no exception.
Great stories about some dark history.

One woman.  Lots of men disappearing.  What is really going on?  Belle has all kinds of suitors that come to her house and then leave for parts unknown never to be heard from by their families again.  Where do they really all go?  Who is behind them disappearing? 

Ingrid is recently arrived from her home country to live with her sister.  She can’t believe her sister would be involved in anything bad.  She simply is picky when it comes to the men she wants to marry because they have to be able to offer help on her hog farm.  It’s a hard life but she does it on her own without a man so she can afford to. 

When Belle purchases a building for Ingrid to start up a candy shop in she’s both happy for her sister and dismayed because she doesn’t want to have to talk to people!  I can relate to her there.  She has an accent, still struggles with English some, and is a shy woman with a bit of a stutter.  Plus, her real love is photography.  She’s even sold a few photos to the newspaper. 

When the brother of Belle’s latest candidate shows up saying they have never heard from him after he said he was coming here and he’s here to find him things get interesting.  Can Ingrid and Nils find him?  His car is found which means he did not voluntarily leave but Belle maintains he went to California.  When bad things start happening to Nils and Ingrid can they prove the truth before they are killed? 

This was a great book and it makes you shudder to think this is real and based on things that really happened.  Real-life is often stranger than fiction!  I really enjoyed this book.  The author writes so you can’t put it down and though you think you know what’s happening and who did what you’re left still guessing at the end of the book.  

Maybe we’ll never know the truth. 

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received through Celebrate Lit. 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.

Any story that captures my attention and causes me to embark on my own research is a story worth reading.

Liz Tolsma’s newest release, The Gold Digger, is a truly gruesome tale told in a creative, but mild, fashion that anyone can enjoy. The True Color series is very appealing because it creates fictitious stories, based on true American crime, and brings erie, haunting tales to life. 

Early into the story, it was very evident by her writing that Liz Tolsma researched this book very thoroughly. I really enjoyed how true to the real life events she kept this story and how she created the characters of Nils and Sven based on two brothers who actually were a part of the tragic, sinister events that happened on the Gunness farm in the early 1900’s.

This story was well planned, well written and I devoured the suspense with incredible curiosity surrounding Belle, her farm, the children and the tragic events that played out. 

Because this is a faith-based series, and therefore clean reading, the books are mild in the depth, intensity and gore of the true crime. They are appropriate for mature teens and trend towards a more simple, light read. They also include a sweet romance aspect which balances out the heavy, more sinister part of the story, in turn making the fiction surrounding the crime tasteful and creative, which wins points for me! Overall, I enjoyed this story and it sparked a deep enough curiosity that I spent a few hours after finishing the book to research the true events of the Guness farm murders and the Black Widow of LaPorte, Indiana. I would definitely recommend this story to those who enjoy suspense, historical fiction and mysteries.

The Gold Digger by author Liz Tolsma is a captivating retelling of a true unsolved crime. This book is part of the True Colors series about bizarre yet true crimes. It is an historical, mystery, with intrigue, suspense and romance. I was riveted.

Set in early 1900s in LaPorte, Indiana, this is Book 9 in the series that says “Fiction Based on Strange-But True History.” It is a twisted “mail order husband” story about wealthy Belle Gunness. She has lost two husbands and many children to accidents or strange illness and disappearances. Her sister, Ingrid, comes from Norway to help her grieving sister.

Things are not as they seem. Ingrid becomes suspicious and is in danger. Too many unexplained things are happening. Her sister has changed. What is really going on at this cold, dark, farm?

I enjoyed the author’s style of writing. The story had a nice, even pace that made it easy to follow and understand. The characters were definitely quirky and well described. The historical events were unbelievable and yet they did happen. I found this to a very emotional tale.

This book will stay with readers long after it is finished. I was immediately engaged in this unusual true tale. Could it really be true? History says it is. It grabbed my attend, and I could not put down this macabre book.

I definitely recommend this for older readers. History and mystery buffs will thoroughly enjoy this. Romance lovers will, too. It will be a great book for Book Clubs. I gave it a 5 out of 5 star rating. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit, but these are my true words.

This is a first for me in the True Color series of bizzare stories based on real events.
I've not read anything like this and it's been a while since I read a good thriller.
Talk about intense, this story had me putting it aside sometimes and teaching for something else considering how disturbing it was but then it began to pull me in and I wanted to know more and now I'm curious. I love how the author carried the story and though inconclusive, I like that she tried to put it out there.
I know if definitely be looking to read more books from this series. It's definitely not your cozy mystery but an intense read all the same.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Celebrate Lit for a blog tour. All opinions expressed are solely mine.

Liz Tolsma has brought this story to a whole new light! A mystery that I will never forget! It left me wondering, who is the real monster of this story? And, how will it end? When I first began reading this book and looked at the book cover and title, GOLD DIGGER, I thought this story was about getting gold. I wasn't too far off. It was the way they went about getting it that was so horrible. Was one person making all the decisions? Then I thought it had to be someone else causing these morally bad incidents. Were some in on it together? I have to commend the author's skillful writing that brought out the remarkable details of this amazingly unique plot; Especially the one event that happened in chapter Twenty-Eight. It was filled with such grizzly details, I cried when I read it, because it was so shockingly surprising! That took excellent work on the author's part, because some of the events were very sorrowful.. There was so much violence, and cruelty. A well developed plot that stayed with the main theme of the story.
It all began in La Porte, Indiana on Tuesday, October 1, 1907, when these two sisters moved from another country to the United States and opened up a confectionery. A story about Belle Gunness, her children, her sister, Ingrid Storset, Ray Lamphere, and Niles Lindherud. From there things start to get a little sticky. If you like horror stories, then this one is right up your alley. I liked it! Impressive plot! Remarkable story! In fact, would make a great movie because of the excellent plot! 
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

The Gold Digger by Liz Tolsma is the ninth book in the True Colors series and definitely worth reading if you love romantic suspense stories based on true history. I'm absolutely loving this series and this one was hard to put down.
Ingrid moves to Indiana from Norway in order to help her sister out after she loses two husbands and several children, but things don't seem to be right and Ingrid is thinking that her sister is up to no good.
When Nils shows up in town looking for his brother who was one of the men that answered her sister's personal ad, but disappears, Ingrid knows that she needs to find out what is actually happening in town and if her sister has anything to do with it.
I'm definitely looking forward to reading more of the stories in this series!

I was given an ARC from the author/publisher. All conclusions are mine and mine alone.

The Gold Digger
by Liz Tolsma
Barbour Publishing, Inc. 
Barbour Books
 Christian  |  Historical Fiction  |  Mystery & Thrillers 
Pub Date 01 Dec 2020 


I am reviewing a copy of The Gold Digger through Barbour Books and Netgalley:


Ingrid Storset travels from Norway to support her grieving sister who owns a farm in LaPorte, Indiana. Well-to-do widow Belle Gunness has lost two husbands and several children.  



Belle Provides Ingrid with enough money to start a small business Ingrid is confused by the string of men Belle claims to be interviewing for her next husband.  When Nils Lindherud comes to town looking for his missing brother, who said he was going to marry Belle, Ingrid fears her sister has been up to no good.


I give The Gold Digger five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

In these true crime books, you know bad things will happen and you suspect who is guilty (or often know), but the author skillfully fleshes out the tale with its gruesome climax. The characters come to life on the page, along with a touching fictional story added of a growing relationship between Ingrid Storset and Nils Lindherud, who came to LaPorte, Indiana, in search of his brother. Ingrid’s sister, Belle, has drawn many men in the hopes of marrying again, but they keep disappearing. Did they run off, or has something nefarious happened to them? The author keeps you guessing as to who did away with them because the former hired hand may also be involved some way. The drama makes you wonder what would cause someone to murder others in cold blood. The novel is written in a clear, powerful way without gross details of the crimes. This well-written historical account offers a satisfying read since it doesn’t leave horrible pictures in your mind and includes the hope Christ offers. I received a copy from Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.