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Hill of Secrets
In a desert outpost, nuclear scientists and their families face the toll of the secrets they keep from the world and from each other in this gripping wartime novel from debut author Galina Vromen.
Los Alamos, 1943. The US Army has gathered scientists to create the world’s first nuclear weapon. Their families, abruptly moved to the secret desert base with no explanation, have simple orders: Stand by. Make do. Above all, don’t ask questions.
Christine, forced to abandon her art restoration business in New York for her husband’s career, struggles to reinvent herself and cope with his increasing aloofness.
Gertie, the inquisitive teenage daughter of a German Jewish refugee physicist enlists Christine to help her unravel hidden truths and deal with parents haunted by their past.
Gertie’s father, Kurt, anguished by what the Nazis have done to his family and bent on defeating them, carries burdens he longs to share but cannot confide in his wife—leading him to find comfort elsewhere.
And Jimmy, a young army technician, falls for Gertie but is unsure if even her deep affection can overcome his agonizing self-doubts.
Will so much secrecy save them or destroy them?
Los Alamos, 1943. The US Army has gathered scientists to create the world’s first nuclear weapon. Their families, abruptly moved to the secret desert base with no explanation, have simple orders: Stand by. Make do. Above all, don’t ask questions.
Christine, forced to abandon her art restoration business in New York for her husband’s career, struggles to reinvent herself and cope with his increasing aloofness.
Gertie, the inquisitive teenage daughter of a German Jewish refugee physicist enlists Christine to help her unravel hidden truths and deal with parents haunted by their past.
Gertie’s father, Kurt, anguished by what the Nazis have done to his family and bent on defeating them, carries burdens he longs to share but cannot confide in his wife—leading him to find comfort elsewhere.
And Jimmy, a young army technician, falls for Gertie but is unsure if even her deep affection can overcome his agonizing self-doubts.
Will so much secrecy save them or destroy them?
357 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 24, 2024
3965 people are currently reading
12676 people want to read
About the author
Galina Vromen
1 book57 followersGalina Vromen began writing fiction after more than twenty years as an international journalist in Israel, England, the Netherlands, France, and Mexico. After a career with Reuters News Agency, she moved to the nonprofit sector as a director at the Harold Grinspoon Foundation.
Vromen launched and directed two reading readiness programs in Israel, Sifriyat Pijama (the Hebrew version of the Grinspoon Foundation’s PJ Library Program) and Maktabat al-Fanoos in Arabic. During her tenure, the two programs gifted twenty million books to young children and their families and were named US Library of Congress honorees for best practices in promoting literacy.
Vromen’s stories have been performed on NPR’s Selected Shorts program and appeared in magazines such as American Way, the Adirondack Review, Tikkun, Ilanot and Reform Judaism. She has also written a guidebook to Vienna and worked as a translator (Hebrew to English and French to English). She earned an MA in literature from Bar-Ilan University in Israel and a BA in media and anthropology from Hampshire College in Massachusetts.
Vromen and her husband divide their time between Massachusetts and Israel.
Vromen launched and directed two reading readiness programs in Israel, Sifriyat Pijama (the Hebrew version of the Grinspoon Foundation’s PJ Library Program) and Maktabat al-Fanoos in Arabic. During her tenure, the two programs gifted twenty million books to young children and their families and were named US Library of Congress honorees for best practices in promoting literacy.
Vromen’s stories have been performed on NPR’s Selected Shorts program and appeared in magazines such as American Way, the Adirondack Review, Tikkun, Ilanot and Reform Judaism. She has also written a guidebook to Vienna and worked as a translator (Hebrew to English and French to English). She earned an MA in literature from Bar-Ilan University in Israel and a BA in media and anthropology from Hampshire College in Massachusetts.
Vromen and her husband divide their time between Massachusetts and Israel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 408 reviews
October 1, 2024
I was excited about this book when I saw it. I thought it would be intriguing to learn more about this piece of history, especially after having watched the recent movie Oppenheimer. In the end I did not enjoy the amount of emotional drama that I felt like the book was more about.
The first third of the book was slow setting up the characters and location, but then the rest of the book just felt to me like sexual and emotional drama. One young adult character discovered his desires were homosexual instead of for the girl that was falling in love with him. Another couple was having an extramarital affair and even said that their emotional attachment was good for their individual marriages before mostly breaking it off. Then another character struggled with depression and even attempted suicide. Someone asked for assisted euthanasia. Then the book ended with the knowledge that the affair had resulted in a baby despite them determining to remain with their respective spouses.
Honestly, I probably would not have finished the book had I not been given the opportunity to read this as an advanced copy and I wanted to write an honest review of my opinion on the book.
Cautionary content: homosexual desires, adultery, depression, suicide, assisted euthanasia, lying,
**If you want more content reviews like this, follow me here on Goodreads or on my Facebook reading journey group: Books With Me - https://www.facebook.com/groups/75567...
The first third of the book was slow setting up the characters and location, but then the rest of the book just felt to me like sexual and emotional drama. One young adult character discovered his desires were homosexual instead of for the girl that was falling in love with him. Another couple was having an extramarital affair and even said that their emotional attachment was good for their individual marriages before mostly breaking it off. Then another character struggled with depression and even attempted suicide. Someone asked for assisted euthanasia. Then the book ended with the knowledge that the affair had resulted in a baby despite them determining to remain with their respective spouses.
Honestly, I probably would not have finished the book had I not been given the opportunity to read this as an advanced copy and I wanted to write an honest review of my opinion on the book.
Cautionary content: homosexual desires, adultery, depression, suicide, assisted euthanasia, lying,
**If you want more content reviews like this, follow me here on Goodreads or on my Facebook reading journey group: Books With Me - https://www.facebook.com/groups/75567...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2024
A fantastic historical novel about a rarely written about time in history, featuring an endearing cast of characters. Meticulously researched and beautifully written, it stayed with me long after I turned the final page.
April 3, 2024
4.5 stars!
This adult historical novel is set in Los Alamos in New Mexico during the World War II where scientists were secretly preparing an atomic bomb to fight the Axis powers and bring an end to the war. It revolves around several characters.
It is only fair to start with Christine since the novel too starts with her. Following her husband Thomas to the middle of nowhere, she feels lost. Despte having given up everything to be with him, she feels underappreciated by him often. In this loneliness, she meets Gertie, a teenager, and they both form a bond. She is a complex women and becomes very unlikable later in the story. I do understand her thoughts wrt her husband but several of her actions cannot be condoned, particularly since she feels no remorse. In her pov, she tries hard to justify her actions, feeling entitled to them, not realizing the consequences and the morality. She doesn't have much of an arc after that. But I don't feel bad about that. How could she possibly have an arc after everything that happened? She does perform certain acts that make me respect her but mostly, she was an unlikable character for me. But I like that the author shaped her character like that to illustrate flawed characters who remain headstrong about their choices, for better or for worse. It shows the complexity of humans.
Let's talk about Gertie. Initially, she starts off as a seemingly mature teenager, with deep thoughts and a tenacious curiosity. But the author made sure that her age was represented properly. She still threw tantrums, was boy crazy and hormonal, as is expected of a 16yr girl. There are still things she doesn't understand. At other times, her emotional clarity shocks several adults. Overall, it was great reading her and about her.
Jimmy is a junior technician at the facility. He is an admirable character. He was a confused person. On one hand, he was dating Gertie, while unconsciously maintaining a distance. On the other hand, he was questioning his identity. His likes and preferences. N most of all, his attraction to a certain somebody.
Kurt Koppel, a Jewish immigrant and Gertie's father, is a complex man as well. There is a sadness and restlessness in him that defies sleep and keeps him forlorn. He tries to 'save' himself in an unlikable manner. I don't condone it. When he finally gains back footing, more tragedies pull the rug from under his feet. He never really has enough breathing room to completely recover.
Sarah Koppel, the wife, is forever depressed pondering over the condition of her 23 relatives she left behind in Germany. The environment around her forever seems grey and dull, which tries to suck energy from everything in its vicinity. I certainly don't blame her for it. With such devastating circumstances, it is hard to feel cheery about life. This sadness drags her down to dark roads.
I loved the author's note explaining what exactly was real and what was fictitious. She also explains her reasoning for certain creative changes.
There was never a dull moment. I was super intrigued throughout and went through a plethora of emotions. It has sadness, it has budding romance as well as the sense of loss. Despite the hubbub of activities, there is a constant dread about the situation. The alarm and the sense of urgency prevails. The family members of the scientists knew nothing about what was happening. They only knew that there were important secrets. An entire hill of secrets!
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me an advanced digital copy of the story.
This adult historical novel is set in Los Alamos in New Mexico during the World War II where scientists were secretly preparing an atomic bomb to fight the Axis powers and bring an end to the war. It revolves around several characters.
It is only fair to start with Christine since the novel too starts with her. Following her husband Thomas to the middle of nowhere, she feels lost. Despte having given up everything to be with him, she feels underappreciated by him often. In this loneliness, she meets Gertie, a teenager, and they both form a bond. She is a complex women and becomes very unlikable later in the story. I do understand her thoughts wrt her husband but several of her actions cannot be condoned, particularly since she feels no remorse. In her pov, she tries hard to justify her actions, feeling entitled to them, not realizing the consequences and the morality. She doesn't have much of an arc after that. But I don't feel bad about that. How could she possibly have an arc after everything that happened? She does perform certain acts that make me respect her but mostly, she was an unlikable character for me. But I like that the author shaped her character like that to illustrate flawed characters who remain headstrong about their choices, for better or for worse. It shows the complexity of humans.
Let's talk about Gertie. Initially, she starts off as a seemingly mature teenager, with deep thoughts and a tenacious curiosity. But the author made sure that her age was represented properly. She still threw tantrums, was boy crazy and hormonal, as is expected of a 16yr girl. There are still things she doesn't understand. At other times, her emotional clarity shocks several adults. Overall, it was great reading her and about her.
Jimmy is a junior technician at the facility. He is an admirable character. He was a confused person. On one hand, he was dating Gertie, while unconsciously maintaining a distance. On the other hand, he was questioning his identity. His likes and preferences. N most of all, his attraction to a certain somebody.
Kurt Koppel, a Jewish immigrant and Gertie's father, is a complex man as well. There is a sadness and restlessness in him that defies sleep and keeps him forlorn. He tries to 'save' himself in an unlikable manner. I don't condone it. When he finally gains back footing, more tragedies pull the rug from under his feet. He never really has enough breathing room to completely recover.
Sarah Koppel, the wife, is forever depressed pondering over the condition of her 23 relatives she left behind in Germany. The environment around her forever seems grey and dull, which tries to suck energy from everything in its vicinity. I certainly don't blame her for it. With such devastating circumstances, it is hard to feel cheery about life. This sadness drags her down to dark roads.
I loved the author's note explaining what exactly was real and what was fictitious. She also explains her reasoning for certain creative changes.
There was never a dull moment. I was super intrigued throughout and went through a plethora of emotions. It has sadness, it has budding romance as well as the sense of loss. Despite the hubbub of activities, there is a constant dread about the situation. The alarm and the sense of urgency prevails. The family members of the scientists knew nothing about what was happening. They only knew that there were important secrets. An entire hill of secrets!
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me an advanced digital copy of the story.
April 24, 2024
First of all, the cover of this book is simply GORGEOUS. The writing is scrumptious. I hadn't thought of families living under tight surveillance in New Mexico as they worked on the most deadly weapon known to mankind and a whole new world opened up to me. I am giving this NetGalley ARC 5 stars, but would like to mention that the overuse of the nickname Oppie (instead of Oppenheimer) is extremely off-putting. Consider changing that, it seems very childish and ridiculous, belittling the otherwise nearly flawless writing.
September 7, 2024
Thank you Amazon First Reads for this GIFT of a novel! Historical fiction, set in 1943 Los Alamos during development of the atomic bomb.
Written in a way that there is a little bit of something for every reader. The story is told through multiple character POVs, and as it unfolds they all intertwine together in what turns out to be a real page turner. There is real emotion here, moral questioning, and ultimately a very raw insight into the consequences of World War 2 and the scientific discoveries that were made during that time.
Special thanks to the author for her note on historical background at the end. Here, she explains the fact vs. fiction from her book and saved me a full night of googling and ultimately what could have been a very deep rabbit hole. Even so, I'm very much looking forward to more historical fiction/nonfiction.
Written in a way that there is a little bit of something for every reader. The story is told through multiple character POVs, and as it unfolds they all intertwine together in what turns out to be a real page turner. There is real emotion here, moral questioning, and ultimately a very raw insight into the consequences of World War 2 and the scientific discoveries that were made during that time.
Special thanks to the author for her note on historical background at the end. Here, she explains the fact vs. fiction from her book and saved me a full night of googling and ultimately what could have been a very deep rabbit hole. Even so, I'm very much looking forward to more historical fiction/nonfiction.
October 23, 2024
Sigh. It got two stars because I finished it. Kindle Unlimited is so hit or miss.
I wanted to enjoy this because the premise of reading a historical fiction/romance in the time of developing the atomic bomb in New Mexico seemed unique.
The first half of the book was so slow I almost DNF’d. The second half I should have DNF’d but I was like well, I’m already here let’s knock this out.
Who is super tired of the “My husband hasn’t gotten me pregnant for 3 years I must not be fertile tee hee let’s have a tryst in a shed oh no I’m pregnant now “ trope? Me. It’s me.
I’m tired. See also, my husband is super hot so I’m not banging the nerdy neighbor (who I’ll repeatedly tell you is bald and unattractive) because I’m shallow. We have a CoNeCTioN. Also his wife is deep in a major depressive episode, poor man.
So there’s some philandering happening on a military base, get out of here!
Then the teenage daughter of the philandering scientist dad and depressed mom (who is the only worthwhile character in the whole book, tbh, aside from gay-boyfriend), who is 16, falls in love with her 23 year old (ew) secretly (of course) gay math tutor. But nobody’s getting the ick from the age gap because it’s 1943.
So then I was like let’s see how the author artfully handles this man’s sexuality under the pressure of being a military scientist in the 1940s. Readers—she nuked him. Literally. There was an accident in the lab and he was exposed to radiation and died.
Please never try to write a spicy scene and use the word “muff” unironically.
I wanted to enjoy this because the premise of reading a historical fiction/romance in the time of developing the atomic bomb in New Mexico seemed unique.
The first half of the book was so slow I almost DNF’d. The second half I should have DNF’d but I was like well, I’m already here let’s knock this out.
Who is super tired of the “My husband hasn’t gotten me pregnant for 3 years I must not be fertile tee hee let’s have a tryst in a shed oh no I’m pregnant now “ trope? Me. It’s me.
I’m tired. See also, my husband is super hot so I’m not banging the nerdy neighbor (who I’ll repeatedly tell you is bald and unattractive) because I’m shallow. We have a CoNeCTioN. Also his wife is deep in a major depressive episode, poor man.
So there’s some philandering happening on a military base, get out of here!
Then the teenage daughter of the philandering scientist dad and depressed mom (who is the only worthwhile character in the whole book, tbh, aside from gay-boyfriend), who is 16, falls in love with her 23 year old (ew) secretly (of course) gay math tutor. But nobody’s getting the ick from the age gap because it’s 1943.
So then I was like let’s see how the author artfully handles this man’s sexuality under the pressure of being a military scientist in the 1940s. Readers—she nuked him. Literally. There was an accident in the lab and he was exposed to radiation and died.
Please never try to write a spicy scene and use the word “muff” unironically.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 20, 2024
Meh. Almost a DNF, but having grown up in Los Alamos, I stuck with it in the hopes it might get better…but, au contraire. Superficial characters, insipid sex scenes, simplistic emotions. More romance novel or soap opera than historical fiction.
September 5, 2024
4.25. This book was well written. It began what I thought would be a light Womens’ fiction account of what it was like for families at Los Alamos. More serious things began to happen, both from the personal decisions the characters made but also from the events that happened in the laboratory. I can’t imagine the pain and struggle these scientists felt as they began to realize what their discovery could and finally did do. I felt very upset after reading but I am glad to take the time to learn more and think about this time in our history.
August 15, 2025
Set in a desert outpost, the novel explores a lesser-known event of World War II. It focuses on the lives of the families of scientists involved in developing the atomic bomb. As a work of historical fiction, the novel delves into the challenges faced by the scientists and their families as they deal with the secrecy and consequences of their work and adapt to the pressures of their relocation. The writing is compelling, and the author creates a cast of authentic characters. What truly stands out is the scope and depth of the research of historical events invested by the author.
May 19, 2024
Set in Los Alamos during WWII, Hill of Secrets explores the lives of the families of the scientists working on the atomic bomb. While the men grapple with the knowledge of the destruction their “gadget” can cause, their wives and children are left to make sense of their uprooted lives. They’re given strict orders to not ask any questions. As the lives of the residents of Los Alamos are intertwined, more and more secrets must be kept from each other. This debut novel poses the question, is ignorance bliss?
This novel was captivating from the start. The author did a great job of setting up the characters making me want to know more about them right away. There was a good amount of character development and I like that the perspective from so many people gave a fuller picture of the experience at the outpost. The downside to focusing on so many characters seemed to be that details were left out. Some characters’ thoughts or actions seemed out of the blue at times.
Overall, I loved the themes of the book and getting a different kind of WWII novel than we are used to seeing. I look forward to reading more from Galina Vromen.
This novel was captivating from the start. The author did a great job of setting up the characters making me want to know more about them right away. There was a good amount of character development and I like that the perspective from so many people gave a fuller picture of the experience at the outpost. The downside to focusing on so many characters seemed to be that details were left out. Some characters’ thoughts or actions seemed out of the blue at times.
Overall, I loved the themes of the book and getting a different kind of WWII novel than we are used to seeing. I look forward to reading more from Galina Vromen.
January 20, 2025
This novel is about the families of those associated with the Manhattan project, which developed the nuclear bombs used on Japan in WWII. The book commences in 1941, soon after America entered the war following Pearl Harbour. Christine is the wife of a man who is seconded to the project. She has given up her original studies to become a chemist for his sake, then when they lived in New York and she had embarked on a career in selling artworks after retraining, she again had to abandon that to accompany her husband to the desert town. Bored, she befriends a 16-year-old girl, Gertie, daughter of her husband's superior and of his depressed wife, who is sad for the very good reason that the family members left behind in Germany have not been heard from for some time and she fears the worst (the truth about the Holocaust was only starting to come out).
The story weaves around the personal relationships of Christine and others. I don't wish to divulge spoilers, but she starts off as a sympathetic character but by the end I found her unlikeable because of certain personal decisions she makes. I also found the 'resolution' of one particular plot strand - a young man who is attracted to other men - rather a an easy way out for the author whereas it would have been possible to develop the story in a different direction. There is also anachronistic use of the term 'gay' which at that time did not mean someone with same-sex attraction and really only came to be adopted as such in the 1960s. It jarred when I was reading. I did find it interesting though in the afterword to learn that Maria, the character who makes pots that Christine buys to sell and helps to popularise, was a real person. Overall, though, the book was a bit too much of a soap opera for me, and I can only rate it an OK 2 stars.
The story weaves around the personal relationships of Christine and others. I don't wish to divulge spoilers, but she starts off as a sympathetic character but by the end I found her unlikeable because of certain personal decisions she makes. I also found the 'resolution' of one particular plot strand - a young man who is attracted to other men - rather a an easy way out for the author whereas it would have been possible to develop the story in a different direction. There is also anachronistic use of the term 'gay' which at that time did not mean someone with same-sex attraction and really only came to be adopted as such in the 1960s. It jarred when I was reading. I did find it interesting though in the afterword to learn that Maria, the character who makes pots that Christine buys to sell and helps to popularise, was a real person. Overall, though, the book was a bit too much of a soap opera for me, and I can only rate it an OK 2 stars.
March 25, 2024
Thank you #NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!
This was a multi-layered story set in Los Alamos during the creation of the atomic bomb. I loved how in depth every character was written, and how relatable they all were in some way! I particulary loved Christine’s story line and her character development. This truly was a tale of love, secrecy, human morality, and more. At times, the story felt a bit repetitive or as if it were dragging, and I do wish the atomic bomb and it’s psychological after-effects (guilt) on the people involved in its creation was discussed, but overall, I really enjoyed this book!
This was a multi-layered story set in Los Alamos during the creation of the atomic bomb. I loved how in depth every character was written, and how relatable they all were in some way! I particulary loved Christine’s story line and her character development. This truly was a tale of love, secrecy, human morality, and more. At times, the story felt a bit repetitive or as if it were dragging, and I do wish the atomic bomb and it’s psychological after-effects (guilt) on the people involved in its creation was discussed, but overall, I really enjoyed this book!
March 30, 2024
The plot for this book is very interesting, it was very thought provoking and the balance between the fictional characters and set in the backdrop of history I enjoyed.. I admit I knew little about Openheimer and this was informative. The characters are well rounded and likeable, and the writing brought to life the landscape and surroundings. The book flowed and was a pleasure to read, and I especially liked the authors notes on which characters were real. Overall an enjoyable book.
September 12, 2024
Struggled to get through this. Too much like a soap opera.
December 4, 2024
Loved learning about this aspect of World War II. It was the story of the Manhattan Project, although that name was never used in the book. It was the story of the city of Los Alamos where scientists and their families lived in a secret city while developing the atomic bomb, as told from the viewpoint of a couple of the women there.
September 13, 2024
This book is full of secrets, secrets that will change lives if the truth is revealed. This novel is written about the families who men are scientists working on a secret project, which is easily figured out to be the atomic bomb.
We meet wives resettled in an area very different from their past, living with rations and husbands who spend more time in the lab then at home. They find ways to fill their days, some more successfully than others. Family life is not always all roses, seldom in some circumstances.
This novel focuses more on the dependents of the scientists than what goes on in the lab as that is a big secret. Warm friendships, nighttime assignations abound in this well-written, fast-paced novel. I enjoyed seeing this WWII version of daily life, so different than other settings in books also featuring WWII.
We meet wives resettled in an area very different from their past, living with rations and husbands who spend more time in the lab then at home. They find ways to fill their days, some more successfully than others. Family life is not always all roses, seldom in some circumstances.
This novel focuses more on the dependents of the scientists than what goes on in the lab as that is a big secret. Warm friendships, nighttime assignations abound in this well-written, fast-paced novel. I enjoyed seeing this WWII version of daily life, so different than other settings in books also featuring WWII.
October 15, 2024
Just finished Galina Vromen's debut novel. Set against the backdrop of the Manhattan Project in 1943 Los Alamos, this historical fiction masterfully intertwines the personal narratives of its characters with the weighty moral implications of developing the atomic bomb. Vromen's prose is both evocative and precise, bringing the clandestine world of wartime scientific research to life (and the love story....)
What truly elevates this work is Vromen's deft handling of complex themes. She explores the intersection of scientific advancement, wartime ethics, and human relationships with remarkable nuance. The characters are multifaceted and deeply realized, their personal struggles resonating powerfully against the backdrop of world-altering events.
Loved it!!
What truly elevates this work is Vromen's deft handling of complex themes. She explores the intersection of scientific advancement, wartime ethics, and human relationships with remarkable nuance. The characters are multifaceted and deeply realized, their personal struggles resonating powerfully against the backdrop of world-altering events.
Loved it!!
September 19, 2024
This is more of a 2.5 rounded up. Really promising plot with excellent research for the historical bits. Unfortunately, the fictional parts fell flat for me. First part was very slow, and I had trouble relating to or even liking any of the characters. My favorite character is Maria, the pottery artist, and in the afterwards I learned she is a real person and all of the biographical parts about her are true! The extra half star is because I'm interested in learning more about this time/place in history.
September 21, 2024
I got an advanced copy of Hill of Secrets by debut author Galina Vromen free from Amazon First Reads. This was a historical fiction book set during World War II in Los Alamos where scientists were secretly working on trying to make the first atomic bombs. This book was well written and I thought the author did a great job showing how all the secrecy effected all the different characters. This was a great book and I highly recommend it!!
September 29, 2024
I wanted to like this more than I did. The time and historical context are what drew me to it in the first place, but the affair, unnecessary homosexual suggestions, poor emotional maturity and development by all the characters, and the ending lost it for me.
May 23, 2025
Los Alamos, 1943. Hill of Secrets by historical fiction author Galina Vromen is a debut historical fiction novel that shines a light on a piece of American history that in ways preludes WWII but ultimately has direct implications on the war.
Hill of Secrets takes a look at how even the smallest secrets could possibly shatter close relationships, or if not shatters then tests the bonds possibly to the point of breaking.
If you're a fan of the movie "Oppenheimer", or have any interest in the Manhattan Project then this novel would be right up your alley.
Hill of Secrets takes a look at how even the smallest secrets could possibly shatter close relationships, or if not shatters then tests the bonds possibly to the point of breaking.
If you're a fan of the movie "Oppenheimer", or have any interest in the Manhattan Project then this novel would be right up your alley.
September 28, 2024
Great read on families affected with building of the nuclear bombs
This was an interesting take on life at Los Alamos while building the bombs. We forget about the families and the effect on them.
This was an interesting take on life at Los Alamos while building the bombs. We forget about the families and the effect on them.
September 26, 2024
great historical piece of fiction.
I almost ended up at Los Alamos but after the war. Did visit it once. I don’t know how those involved stood it. Horrible to feel guilty for dropping the second bomb. Poor Oppie. Anyway, Galina did a good job on this.
I almost ended up at Los Alamos but after the war. Did visit it once. I don’t know how those involved stood it. Horrible to feel guilty for dropping the second bomb. Poor Oppie. Anyway, Galina did a good job on this.
November 1, 2024
I received a complimentary copy of this excellent tale from Amazon Prime First Reads. I have read this work of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this novel. I am pleased to recommend Galina Vromen to friends and family. She writes an intense, very well-researched tale, told very well.
As a native New Mexican who spent 50 of my 76 years in the state, this period of intense invention and growth were embedded in my soul, important in every aspect of my life, and Galina Vromen presents it very well in her novel Hill of Secrets. The 'second'trial' of the gadget was in Alamogordo, NM, my current residence, a small town huddled in the foothills of three mountain ranges and still living with the side-effects of that test.
REVIEWED on September 29, 2024, at Goodreads. Reviewed October 3, 2024, at AmazonSmile, and BookBub. Not available for review on B&N or Kobo.
As a native New Mexican who spent 50 of my 76 years in the state, this period of intense invention and growth were embedded in my soul, important in every aspect of my life, and Galina Vromen presents it very well in her novel Hill of Secrets. The 'second'trial' of the gadget was in Alamogordo, NM, my current residence, a small town huddled in the foothills of three mountain ranges and still living with the side-effects of that test.
REVIEWED on September 29, 2024, at Goodreads. Reviewed October 3, 2024, at AmazonSmile, and BookBub. Not available for review on B&N or Kobo.
September 19, 2024
If you saw the movie “Oppenheimer,” you really learned little about the community the people lived in. It was so secretive and letters were redacted. If you didn’t see the movie, this book lets one glimpse life around Los Alamos while the bombs were being made. It really makes one think about the consequences of our advances.
September 17, 2024
Hill of Secrets is engaging, suspenseful and heartfelt. It’s unusual for the reader to know so much more than the characters, but in this book, we know what the “gadget” is and the destruction it will cause. The writing is fantastic and the characters are all so real and believable. I highly recommend Hill of Secrets!
September 13, 2024
Humanity Meets Science
I originally chose to read this book based on the human quality of inter tangled relationships. Little did I know I would become the voyeur of an entire secret community of very real personalities, morals and aspirations of the people who were brought to life by such a talented writer. There are a few books that stay with you throughout your lifetime. Tom Sawyer, Five Smooth Stones, Gone With the Wind are those types of books. Today, I can add this one. My recommendation? Read this and embrace an additional enhancement to your experience.
I originally chose to read this book based on the human quality of inter tangled relationships. Little did I know I would become the voyeur of an entire secret community of very real personalities, morals and aspirations of the people who were brought to life by such a talented writer. There are a few books that stay with you throughout your lifetime. Tom Sawyer, Five Smooth Stones, Gone With the Wind are those types of books. Today, I can add this one. My recommendation? Read this and embrace an additional enhancement to your experience.
September 10, 2024
Robert Oppenheimer and Los Alamos a must read
Many people have known about the atomic bombs that we released in World War ll, And certainly many have seen the movie Oppenheimer and the destruction the two bombs released in Japan. This historical fiction book written by this author was researched and so much truth was included. Truly a must read !
Many people have known about the atomic bombs that we released in World War ll, And certainly many have seen the movie Oppenheimer and the destruction the two bombs released in Japan. This historical fiction book written by this author was researched and so much truth was included. Truly a must read !
September 11, 2024
Interesting viewpoint of the wives of the men creating the bomb in New Mexico during WWII. I enjoyed the story from their side.
March 21, 2024
4.5 stars.
This was a stunning debut, full of rich characters and an incredibly interesting time in history. I really enjoyed how Vromen focused on the community of characters and dedicated time to flesh out every aspect. Christine is a wonderfully complex main character, who is thrown into this life she didn’t choose because of her husband’s career as a scientist. It’s very clear that the novel follows the development of the atomic bomb, but the focus is on the characters instead. It felt claustrophobic to read, as I’m sure the characters felt stuck in this microcosm of society, and in turn as the real scientists and their families must have felt.
Weaving together multiple perspectives, Vromen builds a world that is so well developed, every single character felt real and raw. I particularly enjoyed Jimmy’s story and his struggles with his own identity and the consequences of his actions later on. All the other co-characters, Gertie, Kurt and Sarah, are brilliant additions that really round this story out. A gripping novel about secrecy, love and war.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #HillOfSecrets #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
This was a stunning debut, full of rich characters and an incredibly interesting time in history. I really enjoyed how Vromen focused on the community of characters and dedicated time to flesh out every aspect. Christine is a wonderfully complex main character, who is thrown into this life she didn’t choose because of her husband’s career as a scientist. It’s very clear that the novel follows the development of the atomic bomb, but the focus is on the characters instead. It felt claustrophobic to read, as I’m sure the characters felt stuck in this microcosm of society, and in turn as the real scientists and their families must have felt.
Weaving together multiple perspectives, Vromen builds a world that is so well developed, every single character felt real and raw. I particularly enjoyed Jimmy’s story and his struggles with his own identity and the consequences of his actions later on. All the other co-characters, Gertie, Kurt and Sarah, are brilliant additions that really round this story out. A gripping novel about secrecy, love and war.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #HillOfSecrets #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
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