Pinkerton detective Alice Anne, great-granddaughter to Queen Victoria, investigated a series of murders in Austin, Texas in 1884, along with her partner Isaiah Joplin. The perpetrator was never caught, but the pair team up four years later to try to solve a similar series of murder in the Whitechapel district of London. Are the killers the same, and will a culprit be caught for either case?

I think the biggest issue with this book was in the subject matter. Each of the books in the True Colors series focuses on a different true crime from history, with real historical facts melded with fictional characters and situations. The difficulty, though, is in making an interesting, fulfilling story out of a crime that was never solved, as is the case with the real murders this book is set around. While I understand the author’s desire not to make up a conclusion that didn’t really happen, I think I would have preferred fictionalized closure to the “we really don’t know anything,” hemming & hawing mess this book devolved into.

As the detectives investigate, we are constantly presented with theories followed by, “But maybe not.” Over and over, this is all that happens in the case. It made the story feel slow and pointless, and as if the entire investigation was just a wash (which I realize might have been how the real investigators felt back then, but it doesn’t make for interesting fiction). My favorite example of this is said by the queen herself: “‘The truth always has its day,’ Granny said with a shrug. ‘Until it does not.'” What is even the point of making a statement like that?

There were some strange inconsistencies throughout the book too–for example, early in the book it says that Alice Anne (known as Annie for most of the book) was using an American accent, I assume to blend in, since she was keeping her identity a secret. But later in the book, a reporter muses about the oddity of this Pinkerton detective with the British accent. This is one example of a few things that made me stop and look back to see if I’d missed or mis-remembered something.

Overall, the book was a quick read, but not a very satisfying one for me. The ending was muddled and felt very rushed, after a climax that I don’t even get the purpose of. I think a majority of what I disliked about the book was due to the unsolved crime it was based around, but like with a previous True Colors book I read, perhaps this was simply a bad choice for the subject of a fictional romance book. I found it difficult to care about the relationship, and especially the culmination of the romantic storyline, because the rest of the book was so confusing and underwhelming.

Thank you to Netgalley and Barbour Publishing, Inc. for providing me a copy of this book to review. ( )

I have been looking forward to reading The Black Midnight for awhile and love that I finally got the chance. The Jack the Ripper or Whitechapel murders have always been a fascination with me, especially since they remain unsolved to this day, so reading about the Pinkerton detectives trying to solve these cases was a treat.

I was instantly charmed by Alice Anne, or Annie as she is known throughout most of the book. Though she is a member of the royal family, and great-granddaughter to Queen Victoria, she is not stuffy or pretentious, but is a woman with her own mind, and refuses to not live what she isn't passionate about, even if that means hiding the truth from the monarchy, her family.

Being paired with fellow Pinkerton detective Isaiah "Ike" Joplin is sheer perfection, their partnership filled with playful banter and undeniable chemistry. The description of the murders are tastefully described and there are multiple players that keep the story shrouded in mystery and intrigue, keeping you constantly guessing who the killer could be.

My only complaint about the entire novel is my disappointment with the ending. Building up on the hunt for the killer, as well as the will they/won't they of Ike and Annie's relationship, I was expecting more fireworks, so to speak. The end of the investigation was lackluster at best, and Ike and Annie's story felt incomplete. When I read the last sentence and turned the page to see the author's note I was heartbroken, having to leave many details to my imagination instead of the author's pen. I would've loved to have heard her views instead of having to rely on my own.

Despite my disappointment, I thoroughly enjoyed The Black Midnight! It was a quick read for me with wonderful characters, decent writing, and a story that captures the imagination and makes me want to completely nerd out and do more research, not only on the Whitechapel Murders, but the famed midnight assassin as well.

*I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the Barbour Books through NetGalley. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest, and my own. ( )

When I started the book, I didn’t expect it to contain more than one true historical event and a secret society. I also thought that it would take place more in the timeframe of Jack the Ripper and London rather than the majority of it being a recounting of sorts with Alice Anne and Isaiah’s past working The Midnight Assassin case. Going into The Black Midnight I knew nothing of The Midnight Assassin (aka Servant Girl Annihilator) or the secret society from London. Like many, many others I am at least familiar with the broad aspects of the Jack the Ripper case in Whitechapel.

Annie is a woman whose honest wish is to be able to follow her heart – in all things. Since she is the great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria that limits her options severely, so she’s had to become a little bit more sneaky in her endeavors. Isaiah is a hard-working and devoted detective who just happened to get blindsided by a certain lovely British Pinkerton detective. The romance aspect of this book is PG – just a wholesome love story. I loved Miss Hattie and her lazy impish wolfhound.

Every time I pick up a book from the True Colors series I end up learning at least one thing. So far this book is my favorite of the three that I’ve read. I connected more with Annie and Isaiah than the previous sets of characters. I enjoyed the historical setting of Austin which isn’t something that I usually find in the books I read and I enjoyed yet another trip to historical London.

This is the third book in the True Colors series that I’ve read and they have all been excellent. I would highly recommend this book (and series) to readers who enjoy historical fiction, Christian fiction, crime fiction about true events with a dash of old fashioned romance. I would like to thank Barbour Publishing, NetGalley, and Kathleen Y’barbo for the opportunity to read this excellent book – all opinions are my own. *Rounded from 4.5 stars* ( )

I loved how this author took readers along with Annie and Austin’s search for Jack the Ripper without making it gory. I enjoyed hanging out with the two Pinkerton agents, Anne, being the great granddaughter of Queen Victoria and the other agent was Isaiah Joplin. They work together trying to hunt down the man behind these horrific murders in Austin, Texas. Each of these agents takes this search serious but could not overlook the feelings they have for each other as their search goes on.

I enjoy this authors versatility in the novels she writes. I enjoyed this clever mystery with a sweet romance in the mix. I liked how the author talks about the research she did for this story, she says what is real and what she had to bend to make the story work in notes to readers. She says, “Because I’m a history nerd, I love sharing with my readers some of that mountain of research I collect…..”The term Jack the Ripper came from the signature on a letter sent by the purported killer to the Whitechapel Vigilance Committee, along with a preserved human kidney.”

This is just a peek at the fascinating information she gathered about these investigations. This novel is part of the True Colors series. Each book explores criminal activity through stories of historical romantic suspense. All this is intriguing. I look forward to reading more in this series. This novel would be good for your next book club pick. There is so much to discuss.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog www.bookfun.org ( )

The latest installment of the True Colors series takes readers to Texas and a spree of murders that took place over a year’s time in the city of Austin.

While this is Kathleen Y’Barbo’s first book in the series, she is well-qualified to write about Texas history. The Black Midnight combines fact with fiction, royalty with Pinkerton agents, and suspense and romance in an engaging tale that held my interest from start to finish.

Y’Barbo’s research is evident, and while the reader knows the murders were grizzly, the details are left to the imagination. The author notes at the end inform the reader of the facts of the book, a few additional facts, and what was made up/adjusted for the sake of fiction.

Like with every other book in this series, when I was finished with the fictional story, I immediately went to research further facts about a part of American history that I knew little about.

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. ( )