(3.5 / 5)

I enjoyed this book for the most part. The characters were mostly interesting, though this is the type of case where I liked some of the side characters more than the main characters. The way the plot unfolded was fairly predictable, but there were enough surprises to keep it interesting.

This is the second book I have read in the True Colors series, and like the other one, despite being written by a different author, this one was far more focused on the romance than on the true crime plot line. Edyth’s plight to escape the asylum and her uncle’s grasp wasn’t just a vehicle for the romance, fortunately, but I still felt that the crime part of this book could have been stronger. I think this is further reflected in the fact that Edyth was not at the asylum long enough for her to be quite how she was later in the book (trying to be vague to avoid spoilers). This particular issue really may have just been my own opinion, and I am not saying that what she did suffer in the asylum would have been easy to handle. It just didn’t seem to be as severe as it was portrayed later.

I enjoy a good romance, especially if it’s clean and sweet. I prefer subtle, but with a romance-genre book, I rarely get that. This, however, is barely billed as a romance, yet was so far the opposite of a subtle romance plot, I got to a point where I didn’t care that much about the relationship between Edyth and Bane. It was so over-the-top sappy sweet, and just about all either of them seemed to ever think about was each other…it was just too much for me.

The official synopsis mentions a woman that Edyth meets in the asylum and her true identity, which frankly, I think was a mistake to explain in the synopsis. Her true identity is revealed so late in the story that it makes little sense to me that I knew it the entire time, simply because of the synopsis. This kind of thing always bugs me, but maybe it’s just a pet peeve.

As I said at the beginning of the review, the book wasn’t bad. I ended up scanning through some of the repetitive declarations of feelings between the two lead characters and didn’t feel like I missed much. The ending did drag on a bit, but I enjoyed it enough to say that I can recommend it for fans of Christian romance (heavy on the romance), but I wouldn’t recommend it too strongly for fans of crime novels.

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

Edyth Foster is a young and rather wealthy eccentric not pressured to marry or behave the way society insists a woman must behave. Keep in mind it's 1887, and women do not ride velocipedes, nor do they fence. She lives with her Uncle and his new bride whose found a loophole in her parents' will and will do anything possible to have her committed. Does anyone even have a clue what her uncle has done? While at the asylum, she makes friends with Nellie Bly, an undercover journalist reporting on the horrors happening there.

Although the characters in this novel are a work of fiction, The circumstances of being committed and the treatment at the asylum is in fact true. I cried many tears for Poppie and her horrible treatment in that place. I'm pretty sure if they had given her counseling she'd have come to terms with the loss of her father. This was a creative and heart rending novel so be sure to have lots of kleenex handy. ( )

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The romance was done well, albeit a little quickly. The storyline was fascinating and frightening. Based on true history it was shockingly easy to have women committed even though they weren't truly mad. Not to mention that women weren't really allowed to be independent even if they were wealthy. Ms. Hitchcock did a brilliant job bringing the history to life and giving us really good characters. She also made them sympathetic without making them weak. All in all, a very good read.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher and voluntarily chose to review it. ( )

The Gray Chamber is fictional story based upon true and atrocious events as its backbone. Blackwell Island in New York is the home of a mental hospital built to house patients potentially until their last breath. Edyth and her fortune left to her by her parents are under the guardianship of her uncle until she turns 25. She has no immediate intentions to conform to society's expectations of a lady or enter a marriage that would strangle her free spirit. Believing her place in society as secure she enjoys activities that society deems eccentric for a woman to enjoy - fencing and riding her velocipede about town. Edyth's happiness and security is threatened when her uncle finds a terrifying loophole in her parents will - her uncle has Edyth taken by force to live out her days in the insane asylum on Blackwell Island. As Edyth has estranged herself from high society will anyone even notice that she's gone?

This book was a fast read for me - equal parts historical fiction, suspense, true crime and a dash of romance. I really do love novels with strong female characters that are eccentric and/or nonconforming of society's standards women should apparently obey. Edyth's character will capture the heart of those who love this type of character - and she is anything but weak. The horrific treatment of patients (even those not surrendered or forced into an asylum) by doctors and scientists alike is just abhorrent for so many different reasons. I would highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy historical fiction, Victorian era novels, social injustice books and with strong female characters. This book isn't overly religious in my opinion - just that religion was more a part of daily life as well as the time period the book takes place in. This book is part of a series of novels based upon true crime: True Colors: Historical Stories of American Crime of which there are currently three other novels.

If you're curious you can read Ten Days in a Mad-House published by female undercover news reporter Nellie Bly (it's also a Kindle Unlimited title) and you can find at least some of her news articles online as well but they're a little hard on the eyes to read (at least for me). The island itself is now known as Roosevelt Island and the hospital's entrance - the Octagon, was refurbished as the lobby for high-end residential housing which you can visit. Another interesting article regarding historical psychology I stumbled upon is Civil Commitment in the United States written by Megan Testa, MD and Sara G. West, MD on the NCBI website. I would like to thank NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for providing me with a copy of The Gray Chamber to give an honest review of and experience - it is one that I thoroughly enjoyed. ( )

Edyth Foster does not favor traditional female pursuits and instead, chooses to fence, cycle, and get into all sorts of unintended mischief. When greed for her fortune overcomes her uncle, her eccentricities seem to support his claim of madness, and she ends up in Blackwell Island’s lunatic asylum. When everything she does reinforces her “diagnosis,” how can she ever hope to get out?

Historical stories set in an asylum are maddening, to say the least. Edyth has little reason to hope from within the walls of her prison—faced with endless threats, abuse, and “treatments”—yet she never gives up. With intrepid reporter Nellie Bly at her side, dashing fencing instructor Raoul Banebridge at work on the outside, and a necessary reminder of her faith, she is never as alone as she feels.

With all the complications of Edyth’s experience, Grace Hitchcock’s The Gray Chamber proves to be quite the suspenseful (and romantic) read. I will admit that the cheesy-sounding dialogue lessen my enjoyment a tad, but the overall stress of the situation still kept me enthralled from beginning to end. I look forward to reading more True Colors novels as they release.

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. ( )