About the Book

Book: The Gold Digger

Series: True Colors, Book 9
Author: Liz Tolsma
Genre: Christian/Historical/Suspense
Release Date: December, 2020

Pages: 256

Men Are Disappearing in LaPorte, Indiana

Book 9 in the True Colors series—Fiction Based on Strange-But True History

Fiction Based on Strange, But True, History

In 1907, shy but loyal Ingrid Storset travels from Norway to support her grieving sister, Belle Gunness, who owns a farm in LaPorte, Indiana. Well-to-do widow Belle, who has lost two husbands and several children, provides Ingrid with enough money to start a small business. But Ingrid is confused by the string of men Belle claims to be interviewing for her next husband. When Nils Lindherud comes to town looking for his missing brother, who said he was going to marry Belle, Ingrid has a sinking feeling her sister is up to no good.

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My Thoughts

I have read now three out of the twelve books from the True Colors series and I must say that this may be my favorite when it comes to suspense and mystery!! Wowza! It was like reading something out of the movie Misery. Anyone remember that movie? That's what this felt like except this was a true story. That is what I enjoy about this series. It is based on true crimes that have happened in history. This was also my first book by Liz Tolsma and I must say I really enjoyed her writing. Very descriptive and engaging. This is definitely one of those books that is hard to put down as you want to know what is happening next and who the culprit is.

This story is about Belle Gunness a widower twice-over in La Porte, IN. She runs a hog farm and has a sister Ingrid. Ingrid is shy and getting adjusted at being in a new country. She loves her sister and doesn't see the peculiarities that surround her. Her sister is always in search of a new husband and puts ads in the paper. Men come to the farm but mysteriously enough they never stay and no one sees them go. Not even the former farm hand Ray who is obsessed with Belle and will do pretty much anything to get her attention.

When Nils brother goes missing after answering one of the ads, Nils comes to find out where he is. He meets Ingrid and they strike up a friendship. We do get some romance between Nils and Ingrid but that definitely is not the focus of the book. However it is sweet and needed to balance out the other parts of the story.

Now if you are looking for a cozy mystery this is not your book. This book definitely is definitely strange, terrifying and twisted. It is unresolved so this is definitely not going to leave you with a happy ending. I am so glad that the author put an Afterword in this story. It was needed to understand the history of the story a bit more.

My Rating: 4 Stars/ Really intriguing! Really Liked it!

(I received this book from Celebrate Lit. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)

About the Author

Liz Tolsma is a popular speaker and an editor and the owner of the Write Direction Editing. An almost-native Wisconsinite, she resides in a quiet corner of the state with her husband and is the mother of three. Her son proudly serves as a U.S. Marine. They adopted all of their children internationally, and one has special needs. When she gets a few spare minutes, she enjoys reading, relaxing on the front porch, walking, working in her large perennial garden, and camping with her family.

More from Liz

This story was so much fun to write, and the research was so interesting. It has to rank up there with one of my favorite books to write. That’s what makes my job the best around.

There are a great number of characters in The Gold Digger who are historical. Many of the places I mention are also historical. I had the pleasure of spending a day in LaPorte, Indiana, to research the book and take some pictures they had in the museum there. Research is one of my favorite aspects to writing. I could have spent much, much longer losing myself in the museum and in the archives. Good thing my cousin, who I was staying with, called me to let me know that it was getting dark and she had dinner ready, otherwise who knows how long I would have been there. Probably until they kicked me out!

One thing that the people of LaPorte would want you to know is that they really are nice people and that their town is a nice town. Lots of good people have been born there or have lived there over the years, including Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, William Mayo, who founded Mayo Clinic, and William Scholl, who found Dr. Scholl’s. They kept emphasizing to me while I was there what a great place LaPorte is. Judging by their friendliness and helpfulness, I would have to agree.

To help you better visualize the characters and setting, here are some photographs of the real people and places that appear in The Gold Digger.

Enjoy the book!

Liz