The Blue Cloak is the latest installment of the True Colors series. Set after the American Revolution, the novel follows Rachel Taylor and Benjamin Langford as they face the terror wrought by the Harpe brothers. I had never heard of the Harpe brothers until I read this book. I think it’s necessary to say that if you’re sensitive to dark content, this book may not be for you. Even McNear wrote in an author’s note that she had difficulty with the topic. But I felt she handled it very well.
The characters are well-developed. McNear manages to use the characters’ interactions with one another to develop them. From the beginning, the reader gets a glimpse of Rachel’s relationship with Sally. Sally’s character proves important to the narrative, especially since she’s based on a real person. But I don’t want to risk spoiling anything. That relationship shows Rachel’s caring and loyal nature, a trait that had me rooting for Rachel very quickly. Similarly, Ben’s relationship with his cousin Thomas brought out Ben’s character without endless exposition. The romance between him and Rachel seems well-paced. Rachel did annoy me a bit at one point, but her concerns seemed understandable considering her friend’s experiences.
McNear did a great job of keeping the reader abreast of real-life events surrounding the Harpe brothers’ murders. The novel itself is well-researched and includes a lot of historical detail. I think she dealt with everything in a real but tasteful way — at least as tasteful as you can when murder is involved. I also liked the way she handled Sally’s experiences. Sally’s struggles illuminate an issue that still resonates with readers today: Why don’t victims of abuse leave? I appreciated that McNear addressed this in her author’s note.
Overall, I think readers of mystery and romantic suspense will enjoy this book. And history lovers will appreciate the attention to detail as well as the respect for historical accuracy.
The Blue Cloak releases March 1. To pre-order it, click on the book image above.
For more of the True Colors series, check out my review for The Gray Chamber by Grace Hitchcock.
