MoonglotexasGrace Hitchcock creates a world one doesn’t want to leave in The White City. Set as the Chicago World Fair opens in 1893, our leading lady Winnifred sees before her a woman kidnapped and yet, aside from her word, she has no evidence so is brushed aside by the local police force. Her father, and inspector, knows better than to believe she’ll let it slide and assigns her a detective. The two fast end up in the midst of a mystery. I know a little of the true crime behind this novel so found the portrayal of the happenings around it all the more eerie as Winnifred steps straight into danger.
Alongside the mystery, romance is mingling amongst the characters, each of which is beautifully developed and enjoyable. Christianity is woven throughout and used to show the light of hope in darkness.
Fast-paced, I couldn’t put this one down and particularly enjoyed Winnifred’s passion for books, in her I saw much of myself! If historical mysteries are your thing, this is one not to be missed! I can’t wait to explore the rest of this series and look forward to many more great books from Grace Hitchcock. It’s a five out of five on the en-JOY-ment scale for me.
From the back cover:
Mysterious Disappearances Taint the Chicago World’s FairStep 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?
I received a complimentary copy of the book from Barbour Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
