
MY REVIEW:
The Silver Shadow is another contribution to Barbour’s True Crime series by Liz Tolsma. Set in turn-of-the-century Denver Colorado in 1900, the story features a suspect who accosts women who are alone on the street after dark, usually by hitting them in the head and disappearing immediately. As very little true information is now available about the crimes, this installment is primarily a work of fiction based on what little is known.
Newspaper reporter Polly Blythe is determined to make a name for herself writing “real news” rather than stories about social events that are normally assigned to women reporters. When she learns of the evening attacks on women, not only does she decide she can make a name for herself writing about them but soon becomes frustrated with the police department’s lack of progress in the case and becomes determined to find the perpetrator herself.
Edwin Price, the detective working on the case has made little progress and soon finds himself listening as Polly tries to convince him that the cases are connected. When the case gets too close for comfort when a friend and family member are attacked, Edwin joins Polly in a quest to permanently stop the attacks.
With a plot that moves at a steady pace, interesting characters, increasing danger, growing mystery, and a touch of romance thrown in for good measure, The Silver Shadow had no problem holding my attention. It was fun trying to guess along with Edwin and Polly who was behind the attacks and I was happy with how the story ended.
I have thoroughly enjoyed all the True Crimes series books that I have read and hope that the series will continue
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Book: The Silver Shadow Author: Liz Tolsma Genre: Christian Historical/Suspense Release date: May 2021 Click here to get your copy! |
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A Shadowy Figure Is Intent on Harming Denver’s Women
Book 11 in the True Colors series—Fiction Based on Strange-But True History
Denver of 1900 is still a dangerous place to be following the silver crash of 1893. And of out of the dark comes a shadow intent on harming women. Ambitious young Denver newspaper reporter Polly Blythe is searching for the big story that’s going to launch her career. On Friday evening, August 24, 1900, she gets her break when two women are cracked over the head within a two-minute walk of each other. But policeman Edwin Timmer thwarts Polly’s ideas of a serial criminal. . .until the shadowy figure strikes again. Will the reporter and the policeman team up to find the culprit before he strikes too close for comfort?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Liz Tolsma is the author of several WWII novels, romantic suspense novels, prairie romance novellas, and an Amish romance. She is a popular speaker and an editor and resides next to a Wisconsin farm field with her husband and their youngest daughter. Her son is a US Marine, and her oldest daughter is a college student. Liz enjoys reading, walking, working in her large perennial garden, kayaking, and camping. Please visit her website at www.liztolsma.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter (@LizTolsma), Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest. She is also the host of the Christian Historical Fiction Talk podcast.
MORE FROM LIZ:
One of the most popular questions I’ve gotten from many readers of the True Colors Crime series is how do I come up with the ideas for the books? For the first two, Becky Germany, acquisitions editor at Barbour Publishing, had the ideas. That made my life easy. I just had to fictionalize it, and I had a book. But when I was putting together the proposals for The Gold Digger and The Silver Shadow, it was up to me to find the true crimes I wanted to use.
I went online and scoured historical crime blogs and books for ideas. I wanted crimes that I could work easily with, that made for compelling stories. As I was doing this, my husband and two daughters and I were driving home from Georgia. We were somewhere in Indiana. Don’t ask me why I remember this when I can’t remember what I had for dinner last night, but I do.
And then on Google Books, I discovered a book about crimes the world had forgotten. The first one in there sounded so good. Not too grisly, something that no one would be able to guess the culprit very easily. It was perfect. Imagine my excitement when Becky told me they would be publishing The Silver Shadow.
Then I sat down to research it more. And I could hardly find anything! What? Where was all the information on this? There had to be more. That chapter in the one book couldn’t be all there was. He had to get his information from somewhere.
Eventually I did come across some articles from various Colorado newspapers with a few details. Not many at all. None from any of the Denver papers, even though that’s where the crimes were committed.
In the end, that’s all the information I discovered. In a way, it was freeing. I could write whatever I wanted, and no one would be the wiser. Even if they did some research and some digging, there wasn’t much to find. I was able to take the facts that I did have, combine that with what I found out about Denver in 1900, and put it together in a story. I tried to use historical details wherever I could, but of my four True Colors Crimes books, this is the most fictional of them all.
BLOG STOPS:
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, May 25
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Reviewingbooksplusmore, May 25
For the Love of Literature, May 26
Bigreadersite, May 26
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, May 26
Texas Book-aholic, May 27
Genesis 5020, May 27
Christian Bookaholic, May 27
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 28
Vicky Sluiter, May 28
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 28
The Write Escape, May 29
Betti Mace, May 29
Inklings and notions, May 29
Southern Gal Loves to Read, May 30
For Him and My Family, May 30
Rebecca Tews, May 30
Older & Smarter?, May 31
deb’s Book Review, May 31
Blogging With Carol, May 31
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, June 1
Remembrancy, June 1
Locks, Hooks and Books, June 2
Pick a Good Book, June 2
Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, June 2
Connie’s History Classroom, June 3
Godly Book Reviews, June 3
Mary Hake, June 3
Through the Fire Blogs, June 4
Melissa Wardwells Back Porch Reads, June 4
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, June 4
KarenSueHadley, June 5
Amanda Tero, Blog, June 5
Tell Tale Book Reviews, June 5
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 6
Grace-Filled Writer, June 6
Pause for Tales, June 6
Little Homeschool on the Prairie, June 7
Blossoms and Blessings, June 7
Daysong Reflections, June 7
GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate her tour, Liz is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card and copy of The Silver Shadow!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/10c96/the-silver-shadow-celebration-tour-giveaway
This sounds like a good historical page-turner.
After reading all of the reviews on this one..I’m definitely adding to my tbr! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for sharing your wonderful review! I’m enjoying the True Colors series.