Publication Date: October 29, 2024
From bestselling historical true-crime author Sharon Virts comes a gripping tale of murder and deceit.
In Reconstruction-era Baltimore, members of the city’s elite keep turning up dead. Below the polished surface of high society, there are illicit affairs, jilted lovers, financial hardships, and countless motives for murder. When Jane Gray Wharton’s husband, Ned, dies unexpectedly while overnighting at his brother’s home, Jane has no reason to question the circumstances of his death. But on a visit to the same house a few weeks later, both Jane and her daughter fall gravely ill, and Jane begins to suspect foul play.
Though a trained chemist and former nurse, Jane is haunted by a history of delusion, loss, and institutionalization. As the unexpected and devastating deaths begin to multiply, Jane’s grip on reality starts to slip. When a respected army officer falls terribly ill after visiting the Whartons’ Baltimore home, Jane’s greatest fears become all too real. The time has come to act—but who will believe her? And can she even trust her own mind?
Inspired by true events involving one of Baltimore’s most powerful families, The Grays of Truth is the story of one woman’s quest for answers in her fight for redemption—and to save the man she loves.
Sharon Virts’ dark whodunnit mystery, The Grays of Truth, is a tale fraught with death, a dysfunctional family, wealth, and, at times, a refreshing true love.
Set directly after the American Civil War, Lady Jane Gray Wharton is trapped in an unhappy arranged marriage. Her husband, Ned, is dictatorial in nature and absolute in his dominance. The redeeming factor Lady Jane looks to for comfort is their daughter, Mary Louise.
When Rebecca Ketchum, Lady Jane’s best friend, is taken seriously ill, Jane, with her wartime nursing experience, is called in for assistance. Unfortunately, Rebecca doesn’t rally and plunges the family and Lady Jane into mourning.
In the ensuing months and even the next couple of years, members of Lady Jane’s own family, including Lady Jane herself, fall ill, all with the same stomach-upsetting, debilitating illness that claims multiple lives. A local doctor is called in, but his examinations are cursory, with no clear conclusion as to the real cause of so many deaths. Questions and suspicions swirl but are quickly swept under the rug at the behest of high-ranking government officials because of the powerful influence of the Warton family.
Suffering multiple losses, Lady Jane somehow manages to find true love and is at last on the brink of embarking on a life away from the misery and death she’s witnessed too often. Unfortunately, Lady Jane’s happily ever after may not happen when her fiancé finds himself in the same house where so many other deaths have occurred. A brave Central District Police Captain, Jacob “Jake” Frey hopes to step in and prevent a cruel and vindictive murderer from taking any more lives. In addition to being cruel, however, the murderer is also clever, making it increasingly difficult to stop them.
With its vivid scenes, graphic details, and dramatic atmosphere building, The Grays of Truth is intense, from the opening sentence to the equally dramatic ending. While the story is graphic, the pace seems slow in places, getting sidetracked in the first few chapters with the naming of numerous characters, some never mentioned again. The clothing and transportation methods of the period are described in detail, enabling the readers to immerse themselves fully in the story.
An intense mystery filled with heartache, vitriol, and a cast of forceful characters, The Grays of Truth is a dark whodunnit murder mystery that will leave you gasping, cringing, and doublechecking your drink.
Bestselling historical fiction author Sharon Virts is a successful entrepreneur and visionary who, after more than twenty-five years in business, followed her passion for storytelling. She has received numerous accolades for her commitment to historic preservation, earning national recognition for both her business achievements and philanthropic endeavors.
Beyond her business acumen, Sharon is a gifted visual artist, intertwining her artistic expression with extraordinary storytelling to breathe life into intricate characters and vivid settings that captivate the heart and ignite the imagination. She has authored two bestselling novels, Masque of Honor and Veil of Doubt.
A dedicated mother to James, Lucas, Zachary, and Nicholas, stepmom to Ben and Avery, and “Nana” to Charlie and Bodhi, Sharon lives at the historic Selma Mansion in Virginia with her husband, Scott Miller, and their three Labrador retrievers, Polly, Cassie, and Leda.
