The Women in White - Fiction Review

Goodreads: The Women in White by Sarah Pekkanen

Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)
Source: Publisher

Description: Extrasensory perception.
The Gift.
A Sixth Sense.
Or something else….

In 1964, four remarkable young women at a prestigious university became the subjects of parapsychology experiments by a visionary scientist. On the cusp of a historic breakthrough, the women mysteriously vanished and the program was erased from history. Decades later, Riley Bell, newly divorced and desperate for a fresh start, accepts a caretaker job for an elderly widow named Betty. Riley steps into a home that is frozen in another era - no microwave, television, or cell phones, and Betty has never heard of the internet. Why has Betty lived in such profound isolation for so many years, and why does she need Riley now? As the story unfolds across two timelines - Betty’s 1960s era of 5 o’clock martinis and high-stakes experiments, and Riley’s quest to uncover the truth about the missing women - old secrets rise to the surface. And the only way to survive is to confront the mystery that has lingered for sixty years.

Genre: Fiction - Suspense

Why I Picked This Book: This sounded interesting and I've had good luck with this author in the past.

My Impression:  I could not put this book down.  Like I would have to convince myself that it was way past my bedtime and when I hit the next chapter, I HAD to put the book down so I could get some sleep.  I almost always read just a few more chapters after that conversation.  I wouldn't necessarily classify this as a thriller.  There's a bit of cat and mouse and the atmosphere of the entire book is unsettling but for the bulk of the book the main characters aren't really in any kind of danger.  The story is told in two timelines.  One is set in 1964 and focuses on Betty and her friends as they fall more in more in control of a madman.  The second is present day as Riley tries to figure out just what happened to Betty all those years ago.

The pacing is fast and the story kept me hooked from page one.  I liked Riley and Betty and enjoyed watching them get to know each other.  As more and more of the past is revealed I couldn't wait to figure out just what happened.  

This was a fast paced read that I enjoyed from beginning to end.  It's unsettling and while what happens in the 1964 timeline is horrifying it's not one that will have you double checking the locks.  I really enjoyed it and will definitely be reading more of this author.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Absolutely!  I'm really looking forward to reading more from her backlist and will be looking for new books.

Would I Recommend this Book? If you like stories filled with suspense this is a good read.  

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review. As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *