Series: True Colors: Book 7
Publisher: Barbour Books
Release Date: August 1, 2020
Genre: True Crime Fiction
Three years before Jack the Ripper began his murderous spree on the streets of London, women were dying in their beds as The Midnight Assassin terrorized the citizens of Austin, Texas. Now, with suspicion falling on Her Majesty’s family and Scotland Yard at a loss as to who the Ripper might be, Queen Victoria summons her great-granddaughter, Alice Anne von Wettin, a former Pinkerton agent who worked the unsolved Austin case, and orders her to discreetly form a team to look into the London matter.
The prospect of a second chance to work with Annie just might entice Isaiah Joplin out of his comfortable life as an Austin lawyer. If his theories are right, they’ll find the The Midnight Assassin and, by default, the Ripper. If they’re wrong, he and Annie are in a bigger mess than the one the feisty female left behind when she departed Austin under cover of darkness three years ago.
Can the unlikely pair find the truth of who is behind the murders before they are drawn into the killer’s deadly game? From Texas to London, the story navigates the fine line between truth and fiction as Annie and Isaiah ultimately find the hunters have become the hunted.
The prospect of a second chance to work with Annie just might entice Isaiah Joplin out of his comfortable life as an Austin lawyer. If his theories are right, they’ll find the The Midnight Assassin and, by default, the Ripper. If they’re wrong, he and Annie are in a bigger mess than the one the feisty female left behind when she departed Austin under cover of darkness three years ago.
Can the unlikely pair find the truth of who is behind the murders before they are drawn into the killer’s deadly game? From Texas to London, the story navigates the fine line between truth and fiction as Annie and Isaiah ultimately find the hunters have become the hunted.
My Review 💛
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.
My Rating: ★★★★★
Other Books in the True Colors Series
Be sure to check out my reviews of other books in this series: The Pink Bonnet, The Yellow Lantern, and The Gray Chamber
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About the Author
A tenth-generation Texan and certified paralegal, she has been nominated for a Career Achievement Award as well a Reader’s Choice Award and is the winner of the Inspirational Romance of the Year by Romantic Times magazine.
To connect with her through social media, check out the links on her website at www.kathleenybarbo.com.
*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.
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