The Purple Nightgown is a book I will read more than once , it was that good.
Many moments that will have you thinking .

With each introduction to the True Colors of the Historical Stories of American Crime, they have gotten darker and darker. Which personally, I have LOVED. Many Christian fiction straws away from dark horrible stories, but this series, seems to be diving into it more. I love this. I love a good psychological thriller, so it is nice to see some more stories that dive into deeper and more horrible stories. The Purple Nightgown by A. D. Lawrence was scary, yet horrific all at the same time. I loved how this author crafted a character who was going through this horrible incident, yet was still crying out to God for help. It was a good reminder for the readers that is what we should be doing too. God is not the last resort; He should be the first resort. The writing was fabulous. I traveled with Stella to Doctor Hazzard's place and was also horrified at what I saw. Of course, the story has a predictable ending with the nice bow for readers, so they feel comforted. Overall, this is definitely a must read. I enjoyed it and can't wait for the next one!

I received a complimentary copy of The Purple Nightgown by A. D. Lawrence from Barbour Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

Fasting for health benefits has been practiced for thousands of years but in 1911 Linda Burfield Hazzard took it to extremes at Wilderness Heights, also known as Starvation Heights by locals in Olalla, Washington.

Stella Burke was desperate for a cure for her migraine headaches so when she saw Linda Hazzard’s book Fasting for the Cure of Disease she had new hope. Her childhood friend and driver, Henry Clayton, and her lady’s maid Jane, were dubious, but Stella was determined. She was totally unprepared for the nightmare ahead.

The characters were believable. I either loved them or hated them with few exceptions. Robby was one of my favorites. Uncle Weston confused me as he went from hard nosed to soft and pliable. I think Linda Hazzard was true to the real character. Not someone I would want to know.

If you enjoy novels based on real history with some horror , drama and hold your breath moments, this could be a book for you.

This is a good addition to the True Colors Series published by Barbour Publishing who supplied me with an ARC through NetGalley.

I am absolutely loving this series of true crime novels. I have found out about incidents that are entirely new to me and this was no different. The start was a little slow, but quickly picked up and with it, the tension increased. I found myself racing through every page and hoping that our heroine would survive the book.

The (real) murderer was compelling and very evil. The way that the victims were treated was handled well for a Christian fiction novel while maintaining the realism necessary for a suspense novel. The subject was handled well and made for an entertaining read.

Once I got into the story I couldn't put it down. My heart was racing and I found myself absorbed in the story and frankly trying to influence the story,


I look forward to each and every one of these books in this multi author series.

I received a complimentary copy of this from NetGalley and this is my honest review

5 Stars: 5/5 Star Rating

I've read one other book in the True Colors series and I have to say that I love this book in the series! Wow! As horrific as the story is, the book and story could not be more well-written. The characters were so real and I couldn't help but like Stella and Henry. I was rooting for them to be together and just kept hoping for it, but Stella is on a journey to find help from the awful, nearly constant migraines that she is experiencing in 1912. I can't imagine being so hopeful of treatment and finding that you're in a place of death and abuse.

This book is well worth the read ! Check it out! I don't think you'll be disappointed. This book is based on a true story.

I received a digital copy of this book from netgalley and Barbour Fiction. All opinions expressed are my own.

Mercy. What if you had a debilitating migraine headache that was causing you stress and causing you to miss out on life’s adventures? Wouldn’t you do almost anything to alleviate that pain, to get back to living?
That’s exactly the dilemma Stella finds herself in. Her headaches are so bad she resorts to the assurance of Linda Hazzard’s clinic that promising miraculous healing.
Stella’s best friend Henry tries to dissuade her from going, but Stella is rich, headstrong and spoiled. After Stella arrives at the clinic, she discovers the clinic isn’t all it’s reported to be. The program is actually one of starvation.
Without the modern convenience of 911 or a cell phone, Stella is trapped. How in the world is she going to escape this living nightmare? Will Henry, her childhood love, arrive in time? Will God hear her prayers for rescue? This is a lesson. If something seems too good to be true, you might learn the lesson or die trying.
This intriguing occurrence takes place in Olalla, WA in the early 1900’s. This is another true crime story in the True Colors series.
Thank you, Barbour Publishing, and NetGalley for an ARC of this thrilling book.

The Purple Nightgown by A.D. Lawrence is a Christian historical crime suspense that will get your heart racing. It is the tenth book in the True Colors series but can be read as a stand-alone.
The effects of the novel on the reader’s mind is heightened because the crimes are based on true crimes from the early twentieth century. I actually found the book mentally very scary – it could happen to any one of us and this is horrifying.
We see the importance of trusting God and believing His words. We may feel alone but God walks alongside us for He has promised to never leave us.
Prayer is important. “Prayer was a gift.” Sometimes we do not know what to pray but God hears the longings of our heart. “Despite the wordlessness of her prayer, peace wrapped her in a warm embrace.” God’s peace is a gift too. We can experience it in spite of external circumstances.
The pursuit of wealth and power pollutes lives. There is nothing wrong with having money and using it for good. It is the love of money that corrupts.
Within the novel we see the importance of taking care of the poor. There are some philanthropic hearts within the tale whose eyes are opened to the suffering on their own doorstep.
The leading lady is forward thinking, supporting the ideas of the suffragettes in 1911. She has an inner strength and a relationship with God that sustains her. Her character flaw is her stubborn will that at times blinds her to good hearts but she basically has a heart of gold that sees others and not dollar signs.
The Purple Nightgown was a frightening read as we witness evil masquerading as good walking alongside actual goodness in society. We need to stay focused on God and trust Him at all times. Sometimes the battle is not ours but His. We need only to stand still.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

Excellent read! The author does an amazing job weaving her fictional characters in with real life people and events. The beginning of the story drew me in and it was a race against time to find out if the heroine makes it to end of the story. Each time I questioned, “why doesn’t the main character do something?”, the author addressed my question in the storyline.
The beliefs of Linda Hazzard (even her name should be a warning) were tied up in greed, a stone cold heart, and perhaps some mental twisted beliefs. But her belief that all physical ailments result from the gut follow similar views today. We may not suggest starving people to death to rid them of their toxins, but deprivation of certain foods are certainly well accepted and applauded in our day.
Reading real live crime is different than a complete fictional storyline. But, we live in a sinful, fallen world, and the reality is that terrible crime takes place and justice is not always served.

One thing I like about the True Colors Series is that the stories are built around true crimes. In The Purple Nightgown Stella Burke, a well to do young lady suffers from migraine headaches. It is 1911 and she's in search of a miracle cure, which leads her to Dr. Linda Hazzard who has written a book on fasting for better health. Even though Stella is discouraged from going to a fasting sanitorium, run by Hazzard by her lifelong friend, Henry, she tricks him into letting her go. The treatment she finds there is horrible and has to find a way to escape or die. The author explains in the end of the book that Linda Hazzard and this place of torture really did exist in Ollala, Washington. I enjoyed the pacing, the love story and A.D. Lawrence does an excellent job of showing the evilness of Linda Hazzard. She puts her main character right into the clutches of the villain and then shows how faith plays a vital role in survival.

The Purple Nightgown by A. D. Lawrence is part of the True Crimes True Colors series.. I have read other books in this series so I knew what to expect but you are still never prepared for the shocking storylines. The books are based on actual events that happened in history. The Purple Nightgown was extremely upsetting because I can see people still falling for the concept of fasting for health today. Without going into details of the characters and plot, suffice it to say this story will leave you slightly outraged at the ending. The premise is based on a doctor named Hazzard who opens a sanitorium in Washington State in the early 1900s. Dr. Hazzard claims she can cure any type of illness with her fasting and cleansing program. Fasting is another word, in her practice, for starving to death and cleansing means colonics that last up to 3 hours. Of course, she has her ulterior motives for doing this and only the very wealthy can afford to come to her "spa." Woven into the details of the facts of the story is a somewhat simple love story of your typical wealthy heiress and poor servant. It's amazing how naive a young woman could be in those days. I found myself very irritated at Stella, the heiress of the book, and wondered how she could not see what was right in front of her face. But if you get past that particular storyline the rest of the book is very enjoyable. Well, enjoyable may not be the right word. Maybe fascinating would be better. Because these books are based on true events it's always interesting to see how everything is wrapped up at the end. I appreciate how the authors give us a little bit of the backstory and factual outcome of the historical people in the book. The Purple Nightgown would be a good place to start if you are unfamiliar with the series. They are stand alone so it doesn't really matter which book you pick. The Purple Nightgown is a good addition to the True Crime True Colors series. I voluntarily received a copy of this book through NetGalley

This is one of those stories from history that makes you wonder what is wrong with people that they could do such a thing to others. The characters in the book were either lovable or creepy. I really enjoyed reading this book.

Not just a true crime story, but also a love story (and, really, so much more) which for me was a nice surprise bonus. My only problem would be with the repetitive nature of the writing. Not always, but for certain themes, it just felt like things were said more often than necessary, even for emphasis.

That being said, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to my friends. It did not shy away from God, prayer, and faith.

The Purple Nightgown was a fantastic read! I couldn't put it down! I live in Washington state, so I was interested when I heard about this book.

Stella Burke suffers from crippling headaches and is desperate for a cure. She has tried every remedy and gimmick she finds, and nothing works. When she reads a book called Fasting for the Cure of Disease, Stella is certain that this is the answer to getting her life back. She decides to travel from San Fransisco to Seattle to join the fasting clinic. To her friend, Henry Clayton, something doesn't feel right and he tries to dissuade her. Stella stubbornly sticks to her plan and checks into the fasting spa. But when Stella tries to leave, she finds she is a prisoner of the health clinic and its evil founder.

The Purple Nightgown captured me from the first page and finished it in one night. It has likable characters, good descriptions of people and places, and delicious suspense.

The Purple Nightgown is the first novel I have read out of the True Colors series, and now I am intrigued enough to read more stories of true American crime. I had a difficult time putting the book down! I will say I was a little concerned if the book would be too gory or disturbing given the genre, but will it is very suspenseful, it is not overly unpleasant. It is shocking to think that most of the details in the story regarding Linda Hazzard’s methods are true. The romance between Stella and Henry is sweet and I was rooting for them throughout the entire story. I look forward to reading more in the series.

The Purple Nightgown was a thrilling story. It was the first true crime novel I’ve ever read and it literally kept me up at night. Stella and Henry have been friends since childhood but their social economic status separated them and prevented them from taking their relationship in a romantic direction. Henry resolved himself to being Stella’s chauffeur as she took different outings in an attempt to rid her body of the migraines that plagued her. Hope seemed to be in reach when she started reading a book by Dr. Linda Hazzard, if toted the miracle cure of fasting to aid in ridding the body of toxins thus curing all ailments. Stella’s dream came into reach even further when she discovered that Dr. Hazzard had a treatment facility right outside Seattle. Of course, even though Henry wasn’t keen on the idea he agreed to take Stella to the facility to see if it was a good place to receive treatment. In Stella’s desperation for a cure she resolved to stay for treatment even though Henry thought it was a sketchy place. The horrors that Stella witnesses at this facility will most likely play over and over in my head.

A.D Laurence did a mesmerizing job of weaving together and intricate and thrilling novel that left me thankful that this was my first true crime novel. It had all the elements, which made me “deliciously scared” and also intrigued by the inevitable romance that developed between Henry and Stella.

Another intriguing story, with suspense and romance, based on real crimes. This one had moments edging on horror, yet not without hope. The author draws a clear picture of the main character's desperation to be healed from debilitating migraines; desperate enough to try anything.

"She wasn’t alone. Not really. God, in all His vastness and unbounded love, saw her."
Stella's experience at the institute grows darker on one hand, as she feels trapped there and alone. Her epiphanies of faith bring a wonderful contrast of light in the darkness, as she realizes God has not abandoned her. The tension grows tighter in the last half and the main characters rise to the challenges, overcoming fears, taking risks to help others. Henry proves himself to be a terrific hero and a true friend. He had me cheering him on, especially towards the end.
I was especially interested in this installment of the True Crimes series because it took place in the county where I live. I had heard about the institute and shudder to think of what went on there. Ollala was quite remote at the time.
Recommend to readers who like historical suspense with faith and a little romance.
4.5 stars

This True Colours series has been a pleasure to read! Set in the 1900's and based on stories of true crime, they are full of suspense and mystery.

The Purple Nightgown tells the story of Stella Burke, a young heiress who suffers from migraines. In her desperate search for health, she decides to admit herself to Linda Hazzard's spa, whose claim is restoration of perfect health. While her friend, Henry advocates against it, voicing his concerns about the danger, she pays no heed and goes ahead with her plan.

She will learn the cost of ignorance and entitlement on her character, suffering the consequences of her choices. But will she find the healing she was looking for?

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC, and the opportunity to post an honest review.

THE PURPLE NIGHTGOWN by A.D. LAWRENCE is a true crime story that takes place in 2011.
Stella Burke suffers badly from migraines. When she reads Linda Hazzard's book, Fasting for the Cure of Disease, she gets Henry Clayton, her uncle Weston's chauffeur who is her best friend, and Jane, who has looked after her since she was a child,to take her to meet Dr Hazzard. Despite Henry's bad feeling about Linda Hazzard, she decides to go for treatment in her clinic in Wilderness Heights. When Stella sees what is going on there and experiences "treatments" that are pure torture, she wishes she had listened to him.
It is a story about greed and cruelty of the worst kind, but Stella's faith in God sustains her.
Both Stella and Henry have compassion for those in need, especially for orphaned children. Henry was taken in by Stella's parents when he was a child, for which he is very grateful, and he cannot bear to see children who have no hope and nowhere to go.
I highly recommend The Purple Nightgown as a suspenseful thriller with a strong Christian message.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Barbour Publishing. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

Lawrence does a fantastic job at bringing early-1900s San Francisco to life! I love San Fran--especially its history and geography--and enjoyed how she paints the city in earlier years. And how fun to see parts of western Washington appear, too; a neat surprise. (Having grown up in Washington, I did chuckle a bit at some of the commentary on Washington weather and geography; Olalla is quite a bit southwest of Seattle, on the Kitsap Peninsula, and neither is particularly close to "the coast" [which I assume to be the Pacific coast, as we wouldn't label Puget Sound "coastal" per se]).

Washington geography aside, "The Purple Nightgown" tells about a piece of history even us Washingtonians don't know much (if anything) about. A shocking story, to be sure, and I could definitely appreciate Lawrence's reference to Anne Shirley being "deliciously scared" in the afterword! (I'd even already been drawing parallels between one character here and Marilla Cuthbert, so the L.M. Montgomery reference was doubly apropos.)

Fast pacing, interesting characters, and well-researched history combine for a compelling read. Well done.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This True Colors series is absolutely fascinating. I've always been interested in true crime stories and this is right up my alley! I have a book based on the story featured in The Purple Nightgown. That book is Starvation Heights and it's very comprehensive. I love how Lawrence brings the story to life here. I look forward to the next in this series.

*My thanks to Barbour Publishing for a copy of this book via Net Galley. I was not compensated and the opinion in this review is my own.