The Silver Shadow by Liz Tolsma is the eleventh book in the True Colors series and a must read if you love to read books about romance and true American crime.
Denver during the 1900's a shadowy figure is out to harm the local women. Polly Blythe a hard driven newspaper reporter along with a local police officer Edwin Timmer team up to find a serial killer before he/she strikes again.
I've absolutely loved this series and look forward to reading more in the future.

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

Another great installment of the True Colors series. Women are being hurt for reasons no one understands except the attacker. Wanting to further her newspaper career, Polly hopes to figure out who the attacker is and to help stop the attacks. Edwin, a police detective, is haunted by his father's death and is constantly trying to solve all crimes as retribution for not being able to help his father. Can Polly and Edwin find the attacker? Or will one, or both, of them die during the search? Grab your copy today to see if you can figure out who the attacker is!

The Silver Shadow by author Liz Tolsma is Book 11 in the True Colors crime series. This historical crime series explores what the details might have been. The crimes are true albeit bizarre.
Author Liz Tolsma has quickly become one of my favorite authors. Her smooth style of writing kept my interest throughout the entire book. The characters are believable and identifiable. With her deft pen she easily drew me into the story. I could feel the tension and the characters’ emotions.

This is the story is set in Denver in the early 1900s. We meet Polly, a newspaper journalist from the East and only woman writer at the Denver paper. She wants to write more than social fluff.

Women are being frightened and stalked by a mysterious “Silver Shadow” in Denver. He targets women walking alone in the evening and night. He believes that God wants him to send a message to women to stay at home and take care of their families. Police Detective, Edwin, is on the case to solve the mystery and arrest the Silver Shadow. The sparks fly between him and Polly as they work together on this case.

There are twists and turns in the mystery, suspense, romance, historical Christian novel. The inspirational and life lessons are not hidden, and they are wonderful. I loved this book. The series is fantastic and should not be missed.

I highly recommend this book. It gets a 5 star rating from me.

“God had given him the job to bring order to the world again. And that’s just what he would do.” Every crime has a motive, and it can be surprising the justification perpetrators give to a crime. The year is 1900, and women have begun the fight for the right to vote. Many men feel that a woman’s place is in the home, either under her husband or her father’s protection and jurisdiction.
Polly Blythe is trying hard to disprove her father of that notion as she struggles for a place in the newsroom of the Denver Post. Can she succeed against the odds in a man’s world, as an evil force begins to target people surrounding her and finally Polly herself?
I think the wonderful unfolding of the relationship between Polly and police detective Edwin Price held me captive from the first. I loved the whole Price family. And villains? Tolsma gives us plenty to dislike heartily, and I just couldn’t put the book down no matter how late the hour. Be ready for unexpected twists and one thrilling chill of a ride!
I received a copy of the book from the author and publisher via Celebrate Lit and NetGalley. No remuneration was received, and no positive review was required. All thoughts are my own.

The Silver Shadow is another contribution to Barbour’s True Crime series by Liz Tolsma. Set in turn-of-the-century Denver Colorado in 1900, the story features a suspect who accosts women who are alone on the street after dark, usually by hitting them in the head and disappearing immediately. As very little true information is now available about the crimes, this installment is primarily a work of fiction based on what little is known.

Newspaper reporter Polly Blythe is determined to make a name for herself writing “real news” rather than stories about social events that are normally assigned to women reporters. When she learns of the evening attacks on women, not only does she decide she can make a name for herself writing about them but soon becomes frustrated with the police department’s lack of progress in the case and becomes determined to find the perpetrator herself.

Edwin Price, the detective working on the case has made little progress and soon finds himself listening as Polly tries to convince him that the cases are connected. When the case gets too close for comfort when a friend and family member are attacked, Edwin joins Polly in a quest to permanently stop the attacks.

With a plot that moves at a steady pace, interesting characters, increasing danger, growing mystery, and a touch of romance thrown in for good measure, The Silver Shadow had no problem holding my attention. It was fun trying to guess along with Edwin and Polly who was behind the attacks and I was happy with how the story ended.

I have thoroughly enjoyed all the True Crimes series books that I have read and hope that the series will continue

The Silver Shadow was another creepy true crime story that has the women of Denver, Colorado fearing for their lives. There is a lunatic on the loose who has a strong hatred for women and their freedom. He is very cold and calculating and doesn't care who they are. He is passionate for putting women back in their place, as he sees fit. So he bludgeons them on the back to their head, some die all are very wounded.

Polly Blythe is a young reporter trying to make her way in a man's world and trying to make her father proud. She wants this story and is bound and determined to tell the truth without sensationalizing the facts. She meets police officer Edwin Timmer and he reluctantly agrees to help her. Then the attacks become very personal, for both of them.

Again this was an interesting crime story with still so many questions surrounding the outcome (in real life). Did they get the right creep and how many women really were attacked? Polly and Edwin made quite a team and both were fighting for a place in society that would let them do what they both were best at. I liked that both became bolder and stood up for their rights.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

What lingers in the shadows…

If you have followed my reviews throughout this series, you know how I feel about it. These authors are talented and their stories are gripping. The Silver Shadow is no different. In fact, it might be the best (but I won’t make that official because I haven’t taken a second look at the others).

We know the verse, “What ever is done in the dark will be brought into the light.” Or something like that. Polly and Edwin work to bring this person to justice in The Silver Shadow but they seem to work more in parallel instead of together. That proves to be an issues in their investigations.

Polly is desperate and a little reckless but her heart and intentions are in the right place. She wants these attacks on the women of Denver to stop and she is a bull dog in sticking to her intuition that tells her it is one person.

Edwin, he is admirable but he is singularly focused because of his personal pain. I felt like his reasoning for not agreeing with Polly’s hunch was only an excuse to keep her out of the investigation. Not that I could blame him. Women being out after dark were the target of these attacks.

The third point of view that popped up from time to time proved to offer a chilling element to the story that might have you on your guard when out on your evening walks.

Page-turner, gripping, heart pounding, engaging—all words I would associate with this story and I know I am not alone.

***I was given a copy of this book from the publisher through CelebrateLit. A positive review was not required but freely given.

Intriguing story line and wonderful characters. This book has everything I want in a creepy yet delightful tale of sinister history. I love Polly's determination not to give in to fear. She's made her way up in the world and finally gotten the job of her dreams, but the silver shadow is out to put women in "their rightful place". Polly and Edwin will have to move fast and trust each other if they want to catch him.
The mystery of the attacker lends an intenseness to the story that draws Polly and Edwin together. I enjoyed the bit of a Cinderella vibe Polly gave off as she and Edwin were of different social classes. Despite his higher social standing, Edwin is fierce about his job as a policeman and needs to solve this case before the people he loves most can suffer even more than they have already.
Polly has a tendency to rush into things. She seems to have little concern for herself as long as she gets closer to her goal of proving herself worthy. Edwin believes himself to be a failure as well, and seeing them bolster the other throughout the story helped boost the romance and keep me turning pages.
I received a copy of this book through the publisher via NetGalley. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

The Silver Shadow
by Liz Tolsma
Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Barbour Fiction
Christian | Historical Fiction | Mystery & Thrillers
Pub Date 01 May 2021

I am reviewing a copy of The Silver Shadow through Barbour Publishing and Netgalley:


The year is 1900, Denver is still a dangerous place after the silver crash of 1893. Polly Blythe is an ambitious young Denver Newspaper reporter determined to find that big story that will launch her career.




August.24.1900 Polly gets her big break when two women are knocked over the head, only a two minute walk apart from one another. But a policeman named Edwin Timmer dismisses Polly’s belief that they are dealing with a serial criminal, that is until the criminal strikes again.





The attacks become personal when one of Polly’s best friends is attack, making her want to get the story out even more, but she’s dealing with an editor who believed woman should stay at home, as well as a Father who feels the same way.



Will Polly Blythe the reporter, and policeman Edwin Timmer team up to find the culprit before he strikes too close for comfort?



I give The Silver Shadow five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

The Silver Shadow is written by Liz Tolsma. This is part of the True Colors series. The series is based on various historical events. They are written by different authors. The series is all tied together by the riveting stories of historical suspense. The stories are all stand alone - however, you will want to read every one of them.

This one is based off true crimes that occurred in Denver in 1900. We meet reporter, Polly Blythe. She is wanting to get the big break of her career and she gets it when someone starts attacking women. Polly feels like there is a repeat offender behind all of this. The crimes hit close to home for Polly when one of her friends is injured. Polly wants to bring justice to her friend - but at what cost.

We also meet policeman Edwin Timmer. Edwin does not believe Polly's theory. He actually tries to discourage it. However Polly is insistent. They start to have chemistry as they hunt for those responsible.

Every book that I have read in the series has introduced me to historical events that I did not know existed. I always like to look the events up and see how closely they match what the author has written. The author in this case, has done great research. Her characters are well written and the book had me guessing until the end. I really don't want this series to end. I have enjoyed all of stories. (I think there are still a few more to come)

I received a copy of this book through the Celebrate Lit Blogging Program, all thoughts are my own.

Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men?

This is the most unusual book of the True Colors series thus far, in my opinion, which only makes it all the more intriguing. I purposely avoid book summaries, except for perhaps a very bare-bones version, when choosing which books to read, and in the case of this series, I usually recognize the case very early on. As “The Silver Shadow” progressed, however, and I still remained clueless, I really had to fight the urge to peek ahead!

Something that struck me from the beginning is that this case reminded me of Jack the Ripper, albeit less gruesome, due to the female targets and the nocturnal timing of the crimes, as well as the fact that the perpetrator was able to strike and escape each time. Liz Tolsma, as she details in her author’s note, takes artistic liberty with “The Silver Shadow” because little is known about the crimes themselves. So little, in fact, that only one text appears to mention them: “Famous Crimes the World Forgot” by Jason Lucky Morrow. A quick Internet search of my own turned up only one article, which also references this text. I won’t spoil the story by revealing the ultimate outcome; suffice it to say that this historic crime spree offers plenty of fodder for the imagination.

Tolsma provides some of the specifics of the crimes of “The Silver Shadow” committed between August 1900 and March 1901 in Denver, Colorado, crafting a fictionalized storyline around a young female reporter named Polly Blythe and police detective Edwin Price. Tapping into the mindset of the time period, Tolsma writes Polly as a burgeoning careerwoman fighting against the patriarchy in order to prove herself and achieve success. Polly opines: “It’s not that I’m after fame and fortune. I want recognition of hard work. Acceptance as a capable, intelligent reporter. That’s what I would like.” Which puts her directly at odds with the Silver Shadow, who believes that women “had to learn how to stay home and put their husbands and their families first.” Polly’s dogged determination challenges Detective Price to not only solve the case and protect the women of Denver, but also to come to terms with an old burden.

An absorbing combination of psychology, romance, and mystery make “The Silver Shadow” a must-read for fans of the genre while simultaneously demonstrating the emergence and subsequent repercussions of women’s rights in society. The insights into the perpetrator’s mind keep readers guessing and offer a speculated motive. A summary of the victims in the author’s note at the end of the story is very helpful for gaining perspective on the case as a whole. I do wonder about one of the fictional characters in the novel, whose story I don’t feel is fully resolved. Also, a pedantic point that is very likely no fault of the author but has niggled my senses: on the back cover, the detective’s name is given as Edwin Timmer, but his surname throughout the book is Price.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Celebrate Lit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.

Polly wants to find the man who hurt her friend. Now her friend is like a shadow of her former self having reverted back to a childhood state. Can anyone catch him? And why is he going around and bashing women over the head who are out and about? What’s the connection?

When Polly goes to the police station to try to get information about the case to write about it in the newspaper officer Edwin Timmer seems to not want to talk to her and doesn’t care about her ideas. But as these attacks keep happening they must work together to win the race against the clock.

This was a great read. It read really quickly and I was almost sad to see the book end because I was loving my journey with Polly and Edwin. They’re both such strong characters and had so much to add to the story. I highly encourage you to read this book!

The Silver Shadow is book 11 of a true-crime series but you don’t have to read them in order as none are connected other than the fact that they are all true crime stories that are now works of fiction.

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.

In 1900-01 Denver, a dozen women were struck in the head, some fatally, while walking alone at night. Author Liz Tolsma imagines the circumstances surrounding these unsolved crimes in The Silver Shadow.

I don't usually read true crime, but I make an exception for the True Colors novels because it's fascinating to read the ways authors weave elements of faith into stories of historical crimes. This novel was especially interesting because very few facts surrounding these brutal attacks are known.

The story is told from three points of view: Polly Blythe, a young woman who is striving to become a newspaper reporter in a male-dominated workplace and society; Edwin Price, a police detective from an influential family who's investigating the crimes against women; and the man dubbed the Silver Shadow who attacks women walking alone at night because he believes a women's place is at home with her husband and children. Each character is motivated by past losses which are repeatedly stated throughout the book.

This is a plot-driven novel with straightforward writing which held my interest since the perpetrator was a mystery until the end. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. All thoughts are my own.

3.5 Stars

As the author states in the notes at the end of the novel, The Silver Shadow is the most fictionalized version of a true crime than any other book in the series. This is because of the lack of source materials.

Liz Tolsma does a remarkable job of weaving a suspenseful story with many historical names and influences in 1900 and 1901 Denver. While this book isn’t as disturbing as some of the other books in the series, it does still astound the reader as to how some humans can injure others for their own reasons.

And while I enjoyed the slow burn romance between Polly and Edwin, there were a few instances in the book that had me scratching my head. Overall, this was a nice addition to the series, but the fact that I can’t go look into the true facts of the crime made it lose some of the appeal of the other books in the series had for me.


Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

I'm pretty sure The Silver Shadow is Liz Tolsma's best book to date.  I don't say that lightly, because I LOVED The Green Dress more than probably all of the other books in the series (one still torments me a bit, though).  Maybe it was just when I read it, or even that I just really resonated with the characters on a new level, but this one stands out more than all of Tolsma's books. Polly Blythe (whose name really reminds me a lot of "Nellie Bly" of The Gray Chamber) is a beautiful combination of bold, feisty, uncertain, and vulnerable. 

The crime--riveting. While motives and the actual culprit were fictionalized, I think Tolsma used the most actual people from the time in her book than in any other book, despite her claim that it is the most fictionalized of the ones she's written.  The fact that they never actually caught the killer, and she brought one to justice, of course makes that claim reasonable.

Of everything in the book though, two things stand out most to me.

First, personal motivations.  I found that each character's motivations for why they did what they did--particularly Edwin, his family, and Polly--were deep and layered.  It wasn't a simple case of a girl wanting to prove she could do a job as good as a man.  One by one, Polly's motivations were peeled back until you found a core beneath them that breaks your heart.  The same is true for many of the characters.

Second, the characters' faith. Each character had a different element of faith they demonstrated in quiet, natural ways that feel as if you're watching faith in action by people who have no idea anyone would be observing.

Recommended for lovers of historical fiction, true crime, and excellent writing that keeps you riveted to the page... and makes you look over your shoulder when you're walking out alone after dark. ;)

The Silver Shadow is based on truth as a man is hitting women over the head with a metal pipe on the streets of Denver in 1900! Newspaper reporter Polly is determined to be a successful reporter and doesn't always use wisdom as she tries to help the police capture the man responsible for the muggings. Polly and police officer Edwin learn we need to leave things in God's hands. I received a complimentary e-book of The Silver Shadow from Barbour Publications through Net Galley. This is my honest opinion.

Shadowy Figure Is Intent on Harming Denver’s Women

Book 11 in the True Colors series—Fiction Based on Strange-But True History

Denver of 1900 is still a dangerous place to be following the silver crash of 1893. And of out of the dark comes a shadow intent on harming wom



en. Ambitious young Denver newspaper reporter Polly Blythe is searching for the big story that’s going to launch her career. On Friday evening, August 24, 1900, she gets her break when two women are cracked over the head within a two-minute walk of each other. But policeman Edwin Timmer thwarts Polly’s ideas of a serial criminal. . .until the shadowy figure strikes again. Will the reporter and the policeman team up to find the culprit before he strikes too close for comfort?
My Thoughts: The True color series never disappoints, and author Liz Tolma delivers a suspenseful story. This is a true historical mystery that contains some fictional characters. The main character Polly Blythe is determined to make her own way in life. She has a winning personality that everyone likes. Readers who like mysteries will certainly enjoy the twists and turns of this one, as the author keeps the reader trying to guess what will happen next.

I am throughly enjoying these true crime stories and I’ve read everyone to date. The Silver Shadow begins in August 1900 in Denver. Women are being clubbed on the back of their heads while traveling alone at night. The Shadow sneaks up behind them, hits them and disappears as quickly as he attacks. None of the victims can get a description to aid in finding him.
I enjoyed getting to know Polly. She was an ambitious young woman reporting for the newspaper. She wanted her father to be proud of her but kept failing miserably. Women were supposed to “stay in their place at home.” Rarely were they found doing a “man’s job”. Polly was outspoken and fearless. She would stand up to any man for any reason.
Edwin was a detective in the Denver Police Department. Polly insisted on helping Edwin find the Silver Shadow. The Shadow was a slippery character with evil on his mind.
All the twists and turns that kept the reader guessing made the story enjoyable. Some of the true facts were incorporated along with the fictionalized ones. That’s why reading the author’s notes in the back of the book is so important to me. This was a winner in my “book” and I highly recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through Celebrate Lit but was not required to write a review positive or otherwise. All opinions are strictly my own.

Author Liz Tolsma has written another compelling true crime story. (Although it’s number 11 in the series, they are all standalones.) Based on a true crime that happened in 1900, this one was a bit easier for me to read. Although there were many moments of suspense, it wasn’t as gruesome as some others in the series.

Strong characters, both Polly and Edwin were determined in their own ways. I really liked both of them. Tolsma wrote them in such a way that they were life-like as they faced life's challenges. I found myself often wondering how I would have handled things. The secondary characters were also well written and likeable. Well, a couple of them were foolish but that you have to have characters like that so you have a true representation of life.

Tolsma had so little history to go on that I believe she did a really good job with this “could have been” story. And a clean romance thrown into the mix added good tension to the story. I recommend it!

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

What an interesting story. Liz does such a great job of creating these stories and this one was no exception.

I had no idea who was doing these “muggings”, Liz really had me guessing and wondering if it was someone we had already met in the story or someone completely random.

The sweet romance between Polly and Edwin was engaging.

Overall, a very enjoyable read.

A copy of this book was given to me through Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.