The Blue Cloak

Content: 18+ at least

While I appreciated the author's handling of the history in this story, and her ability to spin a good tale, I was honestly so repulsed by the serial killer subject matter that it won't become a favorite book. I really liked that it was so true to the historical account and I am glad to have learned about this era in American history. Some folks try to say there weren't true serial killers before the Victorian era and this historical tale smashes that idea to bits.

Rachel was a good lead but honestly Sally turned out to be the most memorable lead. And to think her story is true and really was that horrific! (Or even more so)

I really loved the attention to detail in the speech and actions of the time and I loved the vivid description of the frontier and frontier life. It made it feel like a real trip into the past.

There was one gripe with the audio because the prayers are not broken out very well. In the hard copy they are in italics but in the audio they are said like speech, so it makes the short prayers sound like swearing. I ended up switching to the ebook partway. Also, it annoyed me that a character would say a prayer using the term “by all that's holy” a couple times because that is just too close to swearing to be comfortable for me.

Overall, a story that probably is worth more stars for the writing style and historical research, but given the emotional work it took to get through, I'm leaving it at three stars/good.

Thanks to the publisher for a free copy. A favorable review was not required.