The White City ~ Review

The White City
True Colors #1
By Grace Hitchcock

Winnifred Wylde has a knack for observing what others miss and when she sees a woman abducted at the Chicago World's Fair she is determined to put a stop to these abductions. There is just one problem with her plan - the Chicago police, including her father Inspector Wylde, don't take her claims seriously. Her father blames her over-excitable imagination on the novels she spends her time reading.

Not one to be put off Winnie decides to matters into her own hands and solve this case on her own. But after 22 years her father knows that Winnie won't let this go and he assigns newly arrived from New York Detective Jude Thorpe to keep an eye on her. Playing nanny was the last thing Jude Thorpe expected to be stuck with but all too soon he finds his bodyguard duties the bright spot in his day.

But when Winnie goes undercover more is at stake than anyone every realized - not only is her life on the line so too is her heart.

This book is right at 250 pages but it is a fast-moving story so it feels much shorter. The story progression does not lag even when the action slows for the everyday duties Winnie is expected to fulfill as a lady of 1893. The main characters are likable and well developed. And as for the villain, let's just say ewww and even more so as his character is factually based. The build-up of suspense is just right and for those who prefer cleaner suspense, this just might be what you are looking for as it is not graphic or overly violent. It is interesting to see how societal dictates were so important in how one's life was expected to proceed - marry this person they have status, don't go out without an escort, dress up for dinner. Overall this was an intriguing and fascinating step back in time that I felt well worth the time spent between its covers.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. All thoughts expressed are my own.


About the Book:

Mysterious Disappearances 

Taint the 

Chicago World’s Fair

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

While attending the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893, Winnifred Wylde believes she witnessed a woman being kidnapped. She tries to convince her father, an inspector with the Chicago police, to look into reports of mysterious disappearances around the White City. Inspector Wylde tries to dismiss her claims as exaggeration of an overactive imagination, but he eventually concedes to letting her go undercover as secretary to the man in question—if she takes her pistol for protection and Jude Thorpe, a policeman, for bodyguard.

Will she be able to expose H. H. Holmes’s illicit activity, or will Winnifred become his next victim?