Review + Tour GIVEAWAY: The White City by Grace Hitchcock

About the Book

Book: The White City
Author: Grace Hitchcock  
Genre: Christian Historical/Suspense  
Release Date: March, 2019  

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?

Click here to order your copy.  

My Thoughts

The White City, book #1 in a new “true crime” series by Barbour Publishing, is a great debut by Grace Hitchcock. The writing is fresh, with a gentle humor throughout, and characters are well drawn. There’s plenty of suspense in this story inspired by a man known as America’s first serial killer, and romance is a major theme as well.

I loved the vivid historic detail and was quickly drawn into the setting of Chicago’s World Fair during the summer months of 1893. Winnifred, daughter of Inspector Wylde of the Chicago police, is simply delightful. She’s brave, enthusiastic, and an avid reader of romantic adventures! Jude, the officer assigned to protect her while she poses as the suspect’s secretary, is a great match for her, both on and off the job. He’s intelligent, kind, caring, and self-sacrificing. There’s a little romance triangle with the addition of a secondary character who I enjoyed, but it’s really all about Jude and Winnifred. I loved how both strive to put their faith into action in every situation.

Lighthearted moments give a good balance to a story about a serial killer, and the author captured the complexity of his nature - charisma, cunning, and propensity for violence. The story is more about detecting methods than crime details. In today’s high-tech world of crime solving, it’s fun to be swept back to a time where skills like observation and questioning played such a huge part, and many crimes did get solved that way.

The White City is both interesting and entertaining, a great beginning to what promises to be a fascinating series. I look forward to more of Grace Hitchcock’s writing.

Recommended.

I received a copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

About the Author

Grace Hitchcock is the author of three novellas in The Second Chance Brides, The Southern Belle Brides, and the Thimbles and Threads collections with Barbour Publishing. The White City is her debut novel and releases March 2019 with Barbour Publishing. 

She holds a Masters in Creative Writing and a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in History. Grace lives in southern Louisiana with her husband, Dakota, and son. 

Visit Grace online at GraceHitchcock.com. 

Guest Post from Grace

True Colors—Fiction Based on Strange, But True, American Crime Stories 

True, riveting stories of American criminal activity are explored through 6 unique stories of historical romantic suspense in the exciting new True Colors series. 

In book one, The White City, Winnifred Wylde believes she witnessed a woman being kidnapped while attending the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893. 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 detective, for bodyguard. 

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

The Real Criminal Behind the Story 

While Winnifred Wylde is a fictional character, Doctor H. H. Holmes was very real and became infamously known as America’s first serial killer. Learn more about him HERE.  

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Grace is giving away a grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of The White City!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the image above or the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/dd7d/the-white-city-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Just the Write Escape, March 14

A Baker’s Perspective, March 14

The Lit Addict, March 14

janicesbookreviews, March 14

The Power of Words, March 15

Multifarious, March 15

Back Porch Reads, March 15

Livin’ Lit, March 16

Lis Loves Reading, March 16

Just Your Average reviews, March 16

Rev. Rebecca Writes, March 17

For the Love of Literature, March 17

Bibliophile Reviews, March 17

Reflections From My Bookshelves, March 18

Through the Fire Blogs, March 18

By The Book, March 18

A Reader’s Brain, March 18

Girls in White Dresses, March 19

Stories By Gina , March 19

EmpowerMoms, March 19

Inklings and notions, March 19

All-of-a-kind Mom, March 20

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, March 20

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 20

Bigreadersite, March 21

Genesis 5020, March 21

Blossoms and Blessings, March 21

The Becca Files, March 21

Emily Yager, March 22

Where Crisis & Christ Collide, March 22

Pause for Tales, March 22

Inspired by fiction, March 23

Mary Hake, March 23

Book by Book, March 23

Real World Bible Study, March 23

Blogging With Carol, March 24

Stephanie’s Life of Determination, March 24

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, March 24

Maureen’s Musings, March 25

amandainpa, March 25

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 25

Older & Smarter?, March 26

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 26

Chas Ray’s Book Nerd Corner , March 26

Godly Book Reviews, March 27

For Him and my Family, March 27

Texas Book-aholic, March 27