(3.5 / 5)

In the wilds of Tennessee and Kentucky in the late 1700s, Rachel’s newly married close friend gets caught up in a nightmare. Sally’s groom and his cousin, Big and Little Harpe, become outlaws and leave a trail of destruction, dragging their family along with them. Rachel is worried for her friend, as well as for her new acquaintance Ben Langford. Ben came to the frontier to keep his cousin out of danger, but sadly discovered that Thomas was one of the Harpes’ first known victims. Now he only wants justice for his cousin, and Rachel wants to see her friend freed from her murderous husband’s grasp.

This is the third book in the True Colors series that I have read. For the first half of this book, I felt that it was a bit better than the other two (The Yellow Lantern & The Gray Chamber). The main characters were relatable, my heart broke along with Sally’s as things went from bad to worse, and the romance was sweet, if not a little weird given the backdrop.

The book was well-researched. An author’s note at the beginning even made it clear that McNear knew this was a difficult subject, and there is a real question of “how dark is too dark for Christian fiction?” I think the answer is…this. This story of the Harpes and what they did to potentially 50 men, women, and children in their time might just have proven too dark to use as a setting for a Christian romance. I’m not one who was all that put off by what was in the book, though a bit of it was definitely more disturbing than the rest, however, because the author understandably couldn’t go too in-depth in these matters, the story just came off very shallow. I think that is an indication that this bit of history just should have been passed on for this series.

However, I was planning to give this book 4 stars until just after the halfway point, when a really confusing scene happened that made me feel like an entire other scene had been deleted from the book, and the author forgot to re-write a callback to it. And then, by the end of the book, I became weary by the repetitiveness of the characters’ thoughts and prayers (that feels so bad to say, but honestly, at times it just felt like it was copied & pasted from earlier). Overall, though, the book was well-written, with just a few gripes.

So this is the part where I normally sum up my thoughts and then make recommendations for who should read the book. As I said above, the book has some more graphic spots, but overall tends to gloss over the details of the crime and depravity of the Harpes. Still, it’s not for the faint of heart, and many Christians would likewise find it too much. But if it sounds like something you’re interested in, especially if you’re a fan of Christian romance, I’d definitely say give it a try.

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

Review us up on my blog ( )

Wow! To stun me speechless is saying something and that's exactly how I felt when I put down The Blue Cloak by Shannon McNear. Shannon is a masterful storyteller, drawing you into the darkness, cloaking you vivid imagery, and evoking a myriad of emotions, from sheer horror to hope, and everything in between.

The Blue Cloak was a lot more dark and menacing than I had anticipated, but was still a riveting, albeit tough read. Talk about truth being stranger than fiction! There are moments I felt truly disgusted, other times I saw the beauty of forgiveness and grace. My emotions continued to jump all over the place as I read, spurred on by a fast paced plot and incredible writing by the immensely talented Ms. McNear. I was constantly saying to myself, "I can't believe this actually happened!" the tale that unbelievable.

Though The Blue Cloak is classified as a Christian Fiction I would proceed with caution, as this is a story with incredibly dark subject matter. The brutality is inhumane and the overall situation truly unimaginable, but the author did approach this harsh subject with the utmost tact, not being overly graphic, and letting the gruesome tale tell itself.

Sally was a character that I couldn't root hard enough for, her story sticking with me long after I put the book down, and I fell in love with Rachel, and her character. I also greatly appreciated the author's notes that gave more insight into this chilling story, and would highly recommend this novel, though with the caveat that this novel is not for everyone, and if you are sensitive to depictions of abuse I would skip this installment and go for another book in the True Colors series.

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

Experience the wilderness and brutality of the eighteenth-century frontier in Shannon McNear’s The Blue Cloak.

Throughout the area, the Harpes satisfy their murderous inclinations and create havoc, uncertainty, and terror. Rachel Taylor’s friend, Sally Rice, recently became wife to Wiley Harpe, while Ben Langford’s cousin fell victim to the killing spree. With clear reasons to want justice, they grapple with the evil lurking around them, do what they can to put an end to it, and even find hope amidst the tragedy.

The Blue Cloak brings to life an astounding piece of history I had never heard before, and seeing it play out kept me intrigued. The Harpes exemplify the challenge of keeping evil in check, and yet, through it all, God works and brings about good. It is a solid historical-fiction story—even if the writing felt a little distant from it, at times—and look forward to exploring more True Colors crimes.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own. ( )

The old saying truth is stranger than fiction is alive and well with The Blue Cloak. This fictional account of the first serial killers in American history draws on the account of the Harpes, two brothers (or cousins) who terrorized the people of Tennessee and Kentucky in the late 1790s. Modern-day murderers had nothing on these ruthless men. Shannon McNear does a great job of balancing the evil that lived in their actions with the faith and determination of those seeking to bring them to justice. The novel is a bit dark, but the graphic details are kept at a minimum. I admit to googling while reading this book — and McNear has the facts down while creating two wonderful fictional main characters that kept the story going as well as bringing light to an otherwise dark tale. And it is that balance that makes this book very readable. True crime can be gruesome, but with McNear’s narrative the reader sees that good always triumphs. I found the story incredible and riveting — I never dreamed that such things occurred in our nation’s early history. But there is never anything new under the sun, and evil exists at all times. It is good to read a story where justice prevailed and redemption reigned.

If you like history (McNear pays attention to details) and true crime, then I recommend The Blue Cloak to you. You won’t be about to put it down!

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

(Thanks to Celebrate Lit for a review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.) ( )