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Tangles: A Cold War Love Story and Mystery
“In a well-crafted debut, Smith-Blum provides the reader a ringside seat to the birth of the nuclear age…a beautifully written, important story…Tangles packs a punch and hits close to home.” –Robert Dugoni, New York Times bestselling author of The Tracy Crosswhite Series
Oppenheimer was just the beginning.
When a harpooned whale offers proof the Hanford Nuclear Reservation is endangering all life in the Columbia River Basin, Luke Hinson, a brash young scientist, seizes the chance to avenge his father’s death but a thyroid cancer diagnosis derails Luke’s research. Between treatments, he dives back in, making enemies at every turn. On an overnight trek, Luke discovers evidence that Mary, his former neighbor, embarked on the same treacherous trail, and her disappearance, a decade prior, may be tied to Hanford’s harmful practices mired in government-mandated secrecy.
A love story wrapped in a mystery, this stunning Cold War home-front tale reveals the devastating costs of the birth of the nuclear age, and celebrates the quiet courage of wronged women, the fierce determination of fatherless sons, and the limitless power of the individual.
Tangles is a genre-defying must-read for our time.
Oppenheimer was just the beginning.
When a harpooned whale offers proof the Hanford Nuclear Reservation is endangering all life in the Columbia River Basin, Luke Hinson, a brash young scientist, seizes the chance to avenge his father’s death but a thyroid cancer diagnosis derails Luke’s research. Between treatments, he dives back in, making enemies at every turn. On an overnight trek, Luke discovers evidence that Mary, his former neighbor, embarked on the same treacherous trail, and her disappearance, a decade prior, may be tied to Hanford’s harmful practices mired in government-mandated secrecy.
A love story wrapped in a mystery, this stunning Cold War home-front tale reveals the devastating costs of the birth of the nuclear age, and celebrates the quiet courage of wronged women, the fierce determination of fatherless sons, and the limitless power of the individual.
Tangles is a genre-defying must-read for our time.
287 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 3, 2024
70 people are currently reading
5446 people want to read
About the author
Kay Smith-Blum
3 books68 followersKay Smith-Blum is a former business owner and Seattle School Board President. A lover of the natural world and an avid gardener, Smith-Blum founded Environmental Endeavors, the first greenhouse program in Seattle Public Schools. A fan of mid-20th-century history, Smith-Blum has penned two other manuscripts set in Texas, but the recent upheaval over leaking waste tanks at the Hanford site drew her in. A meticulous researcher, Smith-Blum felt compelled to write the Hanford story in a way that would educate and entertain readers, redefining historical fiction. The result is her debut novel, TANGLES, coming December 3, 2024. Smith-Blum’s published short works may be found in multiple literary journals. A companion short story to TANGLES is included in the 2024 anthology (a compilation that Smith-Blum co-edited), Feisty Deeds: Historical Fictions of Daring Women. Named the Western WA Woman Business Owner in 2013, Smith-Blum has lived in Washington State for four decades. She works out her writer’s block in her sons’ gardens and the nearest lap pool.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 164 reviews
November 23, 2025
Wow, what a read. Engaging and educational at the same time, it discusses the horrific depths the government will go to in order to cover up culpability, and the effects these cover ups caused to families just trying to make their way. It is not a happy book, but there are elements of joy throughout, along with a persistence to keep pushing forward.
Thank you to Kay Smith-Blum for giving me a copy of her book to review.
Thank you to Kay Smith-Blum for giving me a copy of her book to review.
November 23, 2024
Wow this book will open your eyes and show you a part of history that was covered up.
Tangles that alternates between decades and perspective, that is set in Washington. Kay Smith-Blum does a remarkable job opening the door to a part of history that shows the dangerous conditions in which workers and even their families who were exposed during the development of nuclear weapons in the late 1940s and plutonium during the cold war. This not only affected their health and also impacted by the then which was relatively unknown the risks of a prolonged radiation exposure.
Synopsis-
When a harpooned whale offers proof the Hanford Nuclear Reservation is endangering all life in the Columbia River Basin, Luke Hinson, a brash young scientist, seizes the chance to avenge his father’s death but a thyroid cancer diagnosis derails Luke’s research. Between treatments, he dives back in, making enemies at every turn. On an overnight trek, Luke discovers evidence that Mary, his former neighbor, embarked on the same treacherous trail, and her disappearance, a decade prior, may be tied to Hanford’s harmful practices mired in government-mandated secrecy.
A love story wrapped in a mystery, this stunning Cold War home-front tale reveals the devastating costs of the birth of the nuclear age, and celebrates the quiet courage of wronged women, the fierce determination of fatherless sons, and the limitless power of the individual.
Tangles that alternates between decades and perspective, that is set in Washington. Kay Smith-Blum does a remarkable job opening the door to a part of history that shows the dangerous conditions in which workers and even their families who were exposed during the development of nuclear weapons in the late 1940s and plutonium during the cold war. This not only affected their health and also impacted by the then which was relatively unknown the risks of a prolonged radiation exposure.
Synopsis-
When a harpooned whale offers proof the Hanford Nuclear Reservation is endangering all life in the Columbia River Basin, Luke Hinson, a brash young scientist, seizes the chance to avenge his father’s death but a thyroid cancer diagnosis derails Luke’s research. Between treatments, he dives back in, making enemies at every turn. On an overnight trek, Luke discovers evidence that Mary, his former neighbor, embarked on the same treacherous trail, and her disappearance, a decade prior, may be tied to Hanford’s harmful practices mired in government-mandated secrecy.
A love story wrapped in a mystery, this stunning Cold War home-front tale reveals the devastating costs of the birth of the nuclear age, and celebrates the quiet courage of wronged women, the fierce determination of fatherless sons, and the limitless power of the individual.
November 18, 2024
I had the pleasure of receiving an ARC of Tangles by debut novelist Kay Smith-Blum. This suspenseful historical novel, which is inspired by true events, is written in first person from the point of view of two main characters Mary & Luke. Smith-Blum deserves kudos for her research & for raising awareness of the disregard and negative impact that a corrupt corporation & government agencies had on the environment and human life during the Cold War era. Tangles is an entertaining story that will keep you engrossed until the very last page.
Amily D’Nas
Author Beneath the Swaying Willow
Amily D’Nas
Author Beneath the Swaying Willow
November 7, 2024
I won this from LibraryThings giveaway. This was an interesting story that apparently had a lot of truth to it. I highly recommend this to any reader. Characters and their relationships were developed and easy to follow. It also touched on domestic abuse and other issues so many people have to deal with. Excellent story.
December 16, 2024
TITLE: TANGLES
AUTHOR: Kay Smith- Blum
PUB DATE: 12.03.2024
Oppenheimer was just the beginning.
When a harpooned whale offers proof the Hanford Nuclear Reservation is endangering all life in the Columbia River Basin, Luke Hinson, a brash young scientist, seizes the chance to avenge his father’s death but a thyroid cancer diagnosis derails Luke’s research. Between treatments, he dives back in, making enemies at every turn. On an overnight trek, Luke discovers evidence that Mary, his former neighbor, embarked on the same treacherous trail, and her disappearance, a decade prior, may be tied to Hanford’s harmful practices mired in government-mandated secrecy.
THOUGHTS:
I love historical fiction mysteries and this debut by Smith-Blum set in 1940-1960s is a setting and topic I have not read much about, but certainly is gripping to catch my attention from the first page. Though a fictional tale, the topic is based on historical events and facts in a well - researched topic. It was horrific to see the devastation and health risks people suffered during the nuclear arms race. Smith-Blum writes with passion on a subject that is clearly near and dear to her heart, that is felt through the characters in her novel.
AUTHOR: Kay Smith- Blum
PUB DATE: 12.03.2024
Oppenheimer was just the beginning.
When a harpooned whale offers proof the Hanford Nuclear Reservation is endangering all life in the Columbia River Basin, Luke Hinson, a brash young scientist, seizes the chance to avenge his father’s death but a thyroid cancer diagnosis derails Luke’s research. Between treatments, he dives back in, making enemies at every turn. On an overnight trek, Luke discovers evidence that Mary, his former neighbor, embarked on the same treacherous trail, and her disappearance, a decade prior, may be tied to Hanford’s harmful practices mired in government-mandated secrecy.
THOUGHTS:
I love historical fiction mysteries and this debut by Smith-Blum set in 1940-1960s is a setting and topic I have not read much about, but certainly is gripping to catch my attention from the first page. Though a fictional tale, the topic is based on historical events and facts in a well - researched topic. It was horrific to see the devastation and health risks people suffered during the nuclear arms race. Smith-Blum writes with passion on a subject that is clearly near and dear to her heart, that is felt through the characters in her novel.
July 31, 2025
I throughly enjoyed this book! The amount of research the author did to write this is astounding! Since I was born in Idaho ( I still bleed blue) and then moved to Washington state I had a deeper connection to this book! I would definitely recommend anyone who enjoys historical fiction to read this book! On a personal note I am so happy that I have met Kay Smith-Blum at a book signing and have a signed copy of this book, thank you!
September 30, 2024
I received this book as part of LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
TW for this book: Domestic violence, death of a child
At the risk of being vague, my review is hopefully spoiler free.
Actual personal star rating out of 5: 4.5
First, the amount of research that went into this book was appreciated. I live in the Inland Northwest, graduated from Eastern Washington University, and was interning at the Washington State Digital Archives when the Downwinders Archive was being processed. Plutopia by Kate Brown was required reading in grad school. The topic of Hanford is one most residents know well.
It took me a day to read to Tangles. That is the fastest I’ve read a book in ages. It had me from the beginning. The way Smith-Blum was able to humanize the events that took place at Hanford was brilliant and it brought home how the government’s blatant disregard for its citizens was truly devasting. It was not an “oops, we didn’t know” situation. The United States government knew what it was doing. It deliberately, and without remorse, poisoned entire communities. Entire ecosystems destroyed in the name of power. Generations will suffer because of the damage.
Tangles interweaves the story of the events with the story of a young wife (Mary) in an abusive marriage, and the young neighbor boy (Luke) who has a crush on her that she does not discourage. This is where the story lost half a star for me. No, I did not have an issue with the age difference. My issue was that there is so much Erin Brockovich-like detective work that I did not feel a lot of depth of emotion for the characters. When the relationship between the two finally hits a climax, so to speak, I was annoyed when it was obvious what was happening next.
Mary is living a dangerous life, both with her awful husband, and with her clandestine investigating to find out what is happening in the plant. In the future, it’s Luke trying to put together evidence of the government’s misdeeds for his dissertation, while dealing with a medical diagnosis and the echoes of his relationship with Mary. This is all filled with other people who are involved in both storylines. It was all intriguing and obviously, it kept me reading, but I am not sure it needed all the twists and turns it had. I took quarter of a star because it was a challenge to keep the people and events straight in my mind.
If the main plot of the book was Hanford, then the book was perfect. If the plot was supposed to be the relationship between Luke and Mary, it fell short for me. The scientific data dumps left little room to fill out the humans and make me want to care about them.
The other quarter of a star was lost due to language. The explanation of how to “properly” say Boise and Moscow was kind of obnoxious. The overuse of the word “prolly” was annoying. I am aware that the word was in use in the 1940s, but I have my doubts on it being used that often and Mary seemed to be the only one to ever use it.
This is a book I would absolutely recommend because I don’t think other readers would have the same problems I did with it.
TW for this book: Domestic violence, death of a child
At the risk of being vague, my review is hopefully spoiler free.
Actual personal star rating out of 5: 4.5
First, the amount of research that went into this book was appreciated. I live in the Inland Northwest, graduated from Eastern Washington University, and was interning at the Washington State Digital Archives when the Downwinders Archive was being processed. Plutopia by Kate Brown was required reading in grad school. The topic of Hanford is one most residents know well.
It took me a day to read to Tangles. That is the fastest I’ve read a book in ages. It had me from the beginning. The way Smith-Blum was able to humanize the events that took place at Hanford was brilliant and it brought home how the government’s blatant disregard for its citizens was truly devasting. It was not an “oops, we didn’t know” situation. The United States government knew what it was doing. It deliberately, and without remorse, poisoned entire communities. Entire ecosystems destroyed in the name of power. Generations will suffer because of the damage.
Tangles interweaves the story of the events with the story of a young wife (Mary) in an abusive marriage, and the young neighbor boy (Luke) who has a crush on her that she does not discourage. This is where the story lost half a star for me. No, I did not have an issue with the age difference. My issue was that there is so much Erin Brockovich-like detective work that I did not feel a lot of depth of emotion for the characters. When the relationship between the two finally hits a climax, so to speak, I was annoyed when it was obvious what was happening next.
Mary is living a dangerous life, both with her awful husband, and with her clandestine investigating to find out what is happening in the plant. In the future, it’s Luke trying to put together evidence of the government’s misdeeds for his dissertation, while dealing with a medical diagnosis and the echoes of his relationship with Mary. This is all filled with other people who are involved in both storylines. It was all intriguing and obviously, it kept me reading, but I am not sure it needed all the twists and turns it had. I took quarter of a star because it was a challenge to keep the people and events straight in my mind.
If the main plot of the book was Hanford, then the book was perfect. If the plot was supposed to be the relationship between Luke and Mary, it fell short for me. The scientific data dumps left little room to fill out the humans and make me want to care about them.
The other quarter of a star was lost due to language. The explanation of how to “properly” say Boise and Moscow was kind of obnoxious. The overuse of the word “prolly” was annoying. I am aware that the word was in use in the 1940s, but I have my doubts on it being used that often and Mary seemed to be the only one to ever use it.
This is a book I would absolutely recommend because I don’t think other readers would have the same problems I did with it.
August 11, 2025
What struck me most about this book is how it takes a complex, often overlooked chapter of American history, the hidden fallout from the 1940s nuclear development program, and makes it deeply human. This story had so much depth as it explored the lives of the residents of a small town that had the unfortunate fate to be close to a site shrouded in secrecy. The shifting timelines between the 1940s and 1960s bring the story’s scope to life, showing both the immediate and lasting effects on the people living near the plant. It’s more than a historical account; it’s a layered narrative of love, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of truth. The research behind it is clear, but it’s the emotional depth that keeps you turning the pages. An unforgettable reminder that history’s biggest secrets often come with a human price.
July 28, 2024
Who could imagine that Washington state had a secret hideaway the size of a small town during World War II? In Tangles, Kay Smith-Blum brings The Area’s goals of weapon-quality uranium production to light in this historical fiction book that highlights the repercussions on the human element of such a driven project. Beginning in 1947, and smoothly transitioning from there to the 1960s and back, the story centers on two particular families and their descendants, as they grapple with the terrible after-effects of working with radiation. Both generations face the consequences of following their ethics in attempting to forestall the resulting pollution to local land, waters, and people. What could have been a fact-filled retelling of the actual Hanford tragedy, was deftly turned by Smith-Blum into a personal, heart-wrenching story of real people. Rich in details, the story submerges the reader immediately in both times and a place showing the dangers of ignoring consequences. A warning for all of us.
--Mary Ann Noe, Author of Deserving of Murder, and others
--Mary Ann Noe, Author of Deserving of Murder, and others
October 5, 2024
A Gripping Dive into the Hanford Nuclear Coverup
This book takes a deep dive into the history of the Hanford nuclear facility and the alarming government coverup of its early safety procedures and waste disposal practices. Through meticulous research, the author sheds light on the significant release of radioactive materials into the air and the Columbia River, which led to higher cancer rates and other ailments in the surrounding areas population.
What really sets this book apart is how the story is told through two main characters, Luke and Mary, making a complex and technical subject deeply personal and relatable. The author does a remarkable job of mastering the professional jargon of that time and distilling it for the reader without oversimplifying the issues at hand.
For a first-time author, tackling such a challenging and important topic is an impressive feat. I found it to be a compelling and accessible read that both informs and engages. Highly recommended for anyone interested in an easy to read environmental history, governmental accountability, or simply a well-told story.
This book takes a deep dive into the history of the Hanford nuclear facility and the alarming government coverup of its early safety procedures and waste disposal practices. Through meticulous research, the author sheds light on the significant release of radioactive materials into the air and the Columbia River, which led to higher cancer rates and other ailments in the surrounding areas population.
What really sets this book apart is how the story is told through two main characters, Luke and Mary, making a complex and technical subject deeply personal and relatable. The author does a remarkable job of mastering the professional jargon of that time and distilling it for the reader without oversimplifying the issues at hand.
For a first-time author, tackling such a challenging and important topic is an impressive feat. I found it to be a compelling and accessible read that both informs and engages. Highly recommended for anyone interested in an easy to read environmental history, governmental accountability, or simply a well-told story.
July 28, 2024
Haunting, Powerful
Kay Smith-Blum offers up a trenchant tale of hope, fear and longing that penetrates the heart. I couldn't stop reading this dark, well-researched tale of how government priorities steamroller lives they are supposed to serve and protect. "Hey," they'd say. "It's wartime, baby!"
Fresh and beautiful writing elevates the story. Relationships deepen (although the bad husband seems a bit stock). Entertainments go on. Nature struggles, in historic fiction that feels real as today. It's all in the details: a hidden document or two, radios playing on porches, a sideways glance, a buried time capsule. The feel of a needle prick, or of warm skin on skin.
Horrifying scenes are intensely personal, occasionally light, sometimes hurtful and yet readers cannot turn away. Smith-Blum makes us care. Even embrace the book's bittersweet end.
Kay Smith-Blum offers up a trenchant tale of hope, fear and longing that penetrates the heart. I couldn't stop reading this dark, well-researched tale of how government priorities steamroller lives they are supposed to serve and protect. "Hey," they'd say. "It's wartime, baby!"
Fresh and beautiful writing elevates the story. Relationships deepen (although the bad husband seems a bit stock). Entertainments go on. Nature struggles, in historic fiction that feels real as today. It's all in the details: a hidden document or two, radios playing on porches, a sideways glance, a buried time capsule. The feel of a needle prick, or of warm skin on skin.
Horrifying scenes are intensely personal, occasionally light, sometimes hurtful and yet readers cannot turn away. Smith-Blum makes us care. Even embrace the book's bittersweet end.
December 5, 2024
What a fascinating and captivating read.
Thought-provoking and a bit scary to be honest, a very important topic, that will make you think about all the damage we are doing to our planet and the consequences we are living because of it. You won’t be able to stop reading.
Thank you Suzy Approved Book Tours for this tour invite.
𝗧𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲𝘀 released December 3, 2024.
Thought-provoking and a bit scary to be honest, a very important topic, that will make you think about all the damage we are doing to our planet and the consequences we are living because of it. You won’t be able to stop reading.
Thank you Suzy Approved Book Tours for this tour invite.
𝗧𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲𝘀 released December 3, 2024.
December 1, 2024
Kay Smith-Blum, the Author of “Tangles” has written an eye-opening, enlightening, thought-provoking and intriguing historical novel. The genres for this novel are Historical Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, and Thriller. The author explores the Cold War and Nuclear and Radioactive testing and the ramifications. The Government involvement and cover up and secrets for years is both terrifying and frightening. My early reflections at school were the shelter drills, where we went under the desks and faced away from the windows, with our eyes covered by our hands. Many of my fears centered around radioactive effects and poisoning, if there were a war. Of course this was many years ago, and came to the front of my mind, while I was reading this book.
In this well written story of the nuclear age, scientists discover a dead whale, and other dead fish and animals around a site that is contaminated with nuclear waste. After further investigation, the scientists realize the water and food that the people consume in this area is contaminated.There are unexplained deaths of sick people, and either miscarriages or deformed babies. It seems that the Hanover Nuclear Reservation is contaminating the Columbia River Basin. Some of the Scientists realize this and want the continued use stopped, and this to be cleaned up. Some of the government agencies and other manufacturers feel there is a need to protect the public and keep on testing as weapons are manufactured in Russia and other countries. There seem to be “eyes” and “ears” everywhere, and some people are fired from their jobs, or looked at as traitors. It is a dangerous job to work and keep track of the statistics, and the materials.
I appreciate how the author vividly discusses the various characters, and their interactions with each other. Among this chaos, the author takes us on a journey as we witness the various things that happen in families. The author discusses important topics such as abuse, the importance of honesty and communication, the importance of family, friends and community. There are twists and turns, surprises, danger, accidents and murder. This is an intense thriller with suspense and mystery. I highly recommend this memorable book.
In this well written story of the nuclear age, scientists discover a dead whale, and other dead fish and animals around a site that is contaminated with nuclear waste. After further investigation, the scientists realize the water and food that the people consume in this area is contaminated.There are unexplained deaths of sick people, and either miscarriages or deformed babies. It seems that the Hanover Nuclear Reservation is contaminating the Columbia River Basin. Some of the Scientists realize this and want the continued use stopped, and this to be cleaned up. Some of the government agencies and other manufacturers feel there is a need to protect the public and keep on testing as weapons are manufactured in Russia and other countries. There seem to be “eyes” and “ears” everywhere, and some people are fired from their jobs, or looked at as traitors. It is a dangerous job to work and keep track of the statistics, and the materials.
I appreciate how the author vividly discusses the various characters, and their interactions with each other. Among this chaos, the author takes us on a journey as we witness the various things that happen in families. The author discusses important topics such as abuse, the importance of honesty and communication, the importance of family, friends and community. There are twists and turns, surprises, danger, accidents and murder. This is an intense thriller with suspense and mystery. I highly recommend this memorable book.
November 20, 2025
I was gripped by this debut historical fiction/mystery/thriller novel by Kay Smith-Blum from the first page until the last.
A gritty and heartbreaking story beautifully written and told from dual timelines, Mary from the 1940's and Luke from the 1960's.
A fictional tale, based on real events from Cold War period, after the end of WWII at Hanford Nuclear Reservation Centre in Washington. Where many early safety procedures and waste disposal practices were inadequate, resulting in radioactive materials being released in significant amounts into the air and the Colombian River. Resulting in high rates of illness, cancer, and mutilations in both animals and children. There was a huge cover up and people were sworn to secrecy, with fear of losing their jobs.
I love how Kay told the story through Mary and Lukes voices, it made the story so relatable. I found it to be an easy and engaging read whilst tackling an important topic, that is very relevant.
It was a heart wrenching and wonderfully detailed story of real people and there families and friends and I could image myself living along side them.
Mary and Luke try to find and reveal the truth of what it happening, with the help of some friends. At the same time Mary also has her own problems to deal with being married to an abusive husband but it never stops her wanting to help others.
Having not heard about this horrific tragedy it was eye opening and thought provoking alongside a compelling story of love, loyalty and loss but also resilience, freedom and hope.
I think this book crosses many genres and therefore would be enjoyed by many people and it's one I highly recommend.
A gritty and heartbreaking story beautifully written and told from dual timelines, Mary from the 1940's and Luke from the 1960's.
A fictional tale, based on real events from Cold War period, after the end of WWII at Hanford Nuclear Reservation Centre in Washington. Where many early safety procedures and waste disposal practices were inadequate, resulting in radioactive materials being released in significant amounts into the air and the Colombian River. Resulting in high rates of illness, cancer, and mutilations in both animals and children. There was a huge cover up and people were sworn to secrecy, with fear of losing their jobs.
I love how Kay told the story through Mary and Lukes voices, it made the story so relatable. I found it to be an easy and engaging read whilst tackling an important topic, that is very relevant.
It was a heart wrenching and wonderfully detailed story of real people and there families and friends and I could image myself living along side them.
Mary and Luke try to find and reveal the truth of what it happening, with the help of some friends. At the same time Mary also has her own problems to deal with being married to an abusive husband but it never stops her wanting to help others.
Having not heard about this horrific tragedy it was eye opening and thought provoking alongside a compelling story of love, loyalty and loss but also resilience, freedom and hope.
I think this book crosses many genres and therefore would be enjoyed by many people and it's one I highly recommend.
February 1, 2025
3.5 ⭐️ rounded up to 4!
So, this isn’t the typical genre that I would read, but don’t let that mistake you. I really enjoyed it! This book is filled with many levels including thought provoking history, tragedy, heartbreak, and a dash of romance. The author does a beautiful job at alternating between timelines and perspectives that makes you feel like you’re right there and experiencing it all.
The character growth, love lost and found were all portrayed very well. I did feel myself connecting with Mary’s POV a little more than Luke’s. I really enjoyed how everything tied in together and how what we were learning through Luke’s research and uncovering of events complemented Mary’s perspective perfectly.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to all my book besties who enjoy historical fiction, mystery and a little romance mixed in!
Thank you so much to the author and CK Publicity for the gifted book!
So, this isn’t the typical genre that I would read, but don’t let that mistake you. I really enjoyed it! This book is filled with many levels including thought provoking history, tragedy, heartbreak, and a dash of romance. The author does a beautiful job at alternating between timelines and perspectives that makes you feel like you’re right there and experiencing it all.
The character growth, love lost and found were all portrayed very well. I did feel myself connecting with Mary’s POV a little more than Luke’s. I really enjoyed how everything tied in together and how what we were learning through Luke’s research and uncovering of events complemented Mary’s perspective perfectly.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to all my book besties who enjoy historical fiction, mystery and a little romance mixed in!
Thank you so much to the author and CK Publicity for the gifted book!
November 10, 2024
Tangles is a riveting novel set in Washington that alternates between two perspectives and decades. Mary, an employee at “The Area” (Hanford Site), provides a look at the early involvement of the U.S. in the Atomic Age. Luke’s perspective in the 1960s, as a Ph.D. student, highlights the growing intensity of conflict over the implications of nuclear development within the United States. As their stories are woven together, I was gripped by the mystery of Mary’s disappearance and Luke’s discoveries. Fittingly, the novel doesn’t provide adequate closure. As the implications and consequences of nuclear waste are still prevalent today, I was left feeling a bit undone and contemplative when it came to a close. This was a very fast read for me, I highly recommend it to those interested in the early Cold War period, government cover-ups, and environmental protection.
I am grateful to NetGalley and Black Rose Writing for providing me with an advanced reader copy of Kay Smith-Blum’s Tangles.
I am grateful to NetGalley and Black Rose Writing for providing me with an advanced reader copy of Kay Smith-Blum’s Tangles.
July 29, 2024
A Piece of History Every American Should Know
This book would not let me put it down. I had recently seen the 2023 Oscar-winning film Oppenheimer. So, when I read Tangles I quickly realized it came as a timely addition to this piece of American history showing the other side of the creation and production of the atomic bomb which affected innocent employees and their families on the U.S. home front.
I became very engrossed in the plot reminiscent of the films The Summer of ‘42 and Erin Brockovich. Smith-Blum’s writing style placed me in both timelines. A fast-paced read, I admit in the beginning I was confused by the two different timelines, but once I caught on, everything fit together nicely. The reverse May-December love story pulled on my heartstrings and I cared about the characters and all they went through.
Overall, it was a thoroughly engaging read about a part of history I didn’t know about.
This book would not let me put it down. I had recently seen the 2023 Oscar-winning film Oppenheimer. So, when I read Tangles I quickly realized it came as a timely addition to this piece of American history showing the other side of the creation and production of the atomic bomb which affected innocent employees and their families on the U.S. home front.
I became very engrossed in the plot reminiscent of the films The Summer of ‘42 and Erin Brockovich. Smith-Blum’s writing style placed me in both timelines. A fast-paced read, I admit in the beginning I was confused by the two different timelines, but once I caught on, everything fit together nicely. The reverse May-December love story pulled on my heartstrings and I cared about the characters and all they went through.
Overall, it was a thoroughly engaging read about a part of history I didn’t know about.
November 24, 2024
Kay Smith-Blum presents a compelling tale of how American history reveals our vulnerable human side and the ugly truth of our destructive nature. In this dual timeline full of twists and turns, we experience the unfolding of environmental pollution of epic proportions. Smith-Blum expertly combines relatable characters with goals and dreams with the aggressive pursuit of scientific knowledge shrouded by secrecy. This story reflects how the nuclear age impacted the lives of so many, including the innocent, unsuspecting people of Eastern Washington at a time when The Cold War had the world on edge. The unique voice, creative spin, and historical accuracy in this story combine for a winning debut novel I simply couldn't put down!
September 21, 2024
In Tangles, Kay Smith-Blum writes an intricate and moving tale about the extraordinarily secretive, and dangerous, conditions to which workers and their families were exposed during development of nuclear weapons in the late 1940s and plutonium during the cold war. The fallout, both radioactive and deeply personal for those whose health was impacted by the then-relatively unknown risks of prolonged radiation exposure, are woven into a compelling and emotional story in Smith-Blum’s debut novel. Told in alternating chapters through the eyes of the two principal characters, the story packs one wallop after another right up to the very end of the book.
November 17, 2024
4.5 stars. I was born in Washington, and much of my family still lives in the PNW, so I was shocked that I had never heard of this tragic cover-up before reading this book. This book manages to educate on the Hanford Nuclear Waste disaster while also weaving in a compelling story set in dual timelines with dual POV. The romance storyline isn't heavy-handed, instead giving the scientific background center stage. I loved the hint of mystery, and was spellbound by the emotional depth and intelligence of this story. I was gifted a copy of this book for an unfiltered review. TW: DV, childhood cancer
January 19, 2025
Loved this debut novel by Kay Smith-Blum. It beautifully weaves together a fictional drama that jumps back and forth across time, set against the backdrop of true events surrounding the US government’s cover-up of the devastating long-term health and environmental dangers created by the Hanford Nuclear Reservation and the rush for nuclear supremacy at any cost.
December 15, 2024
Not knowing much about the Cold War, this book was a vast wealth of all kinds of knowledge about this time in US history. Well paced, well written, and engaging, this book was able to provide insight into the Cold War and all things nuclear. Excellent read!
October 23, 2024
A beautifully written historical novel with tragedy and heartbreak delicately woven in, but it is the characters’ persistence and love—the will to have a better future that will leave each reader with a book hangover.
October 29, 2024
Author Kay Smith-Blum pulls back the curtain on America’s pursuit of the atomic bomb in her novel TANGLES, revealing the unintended (and at times intended) devastating effects on its own people. It is an eye-opening story spanning crucial decades where the government’s cover-up of fall-out from its thrust for nuclear supremacy is almost more disturbing than the actual radiation damages themselves. The story of people bravely confronting a larger government conspiracy parallels a more personal connection of emotionally-conflicted citizens caught up in a missing-persons puzzle, marital discord, and searing spousal abuse. Well-written and absorbing, TANGLES is a revelation on many levels that remains captivating until the last page.
Scott Eveloff MD, author of The Golem’s Holocaust and Do Not Resuscitate.
Scott Eveloff MD, author of The Golem’s Holocaust and Do Not Resuscitate.
November 16, 2024
Perhaps only a lifetime environmental advocate could write a passionate 20th-century historical novel, packed with Hanford's nuclear fallout suspense and wrapped in a love story. Author Kay Smith-Blum's debut, TANGLES, spans two timelines and two star-crossed narrators in the dark shadow of radiation contamination, during the race for the atomic bomb.
The losses mount up over two decades in TANGLES. In 1944, when a US government plutonium processing plant on the Columbia River releases emissions, the fallout sickens its secretive Area employees, and causes obscene rates of infant mortality, leukemia, thyroid disease, and cancer deaths among residents of the surrounding farmlands. The consequences are uneasily noted by Mary, whose dreams of a science career were thwarted by marrying the Hanford Area spokesman. As Mary transcribes classified technical test results for the Army’s secret Project, her suspicions mount. She finds more in common with her young neighbor, Luke, the son of a sickened Hanford employee, than she shares with her unsympathetic husband.
In 1963, the radioactive hazards continue to contaminate all who drink from the waters and breathe the air in the Columbia River basin, but the Hanford plant continues its nuclear mission under the Atomic Energy Commission. Its poisonous past must be kept secret at all costs. When the plant’s fallout claims a dead fin whale, following the death of his father, Luke's hunt for revenge is on—and Mary's mysterious disappearance is uppermost in his mind.
The tension rises quickly in TANGLES, as Mary and Luke discover their forbidden attraction and the daunting dangers they face by exposing World War II and Cold War duplicity. Kay Smith-Blum’s thrilling tale of loss and love untangles the lesser-known tragedy of Hanford, long overshadowed by the success of Los Alamos, and fiercely rights long-buried wrongs. If only the deadly buried legacy did not remain today.
The losses mount up over two decades in TANGLES. In 1944, when a US government plutonium processing plant on the Columbia River releases emissions, the fallout sickens its secretive Area employees, and causes obscene rates of infant mortality, leukemia, thyroid disease, and cancer deaths among residents of the surrounding farmlands. The consequences are uneasily noted by Mary, whose dreams of a science career were thwarted by marrying the Hanford Area spokesman. As Mary transcribes classified technical test results for the Army’s secret Project, her suspicions mount. She finds more in common with her young neighbor, Luke, the son of a sickened Hanford employee, than she shares with her unsympathetic husband.
In 1963, the radioactive hazards continue to contaminate all who drink from the waters and breathe the air in the Columbia River basin, but the Hanford plant continues its nuclear mission under the Atomic Energy Commission. Its poisonous past must be kept secret at all costs. When the plant’s fallout claims a dead fin whale, following the death of his father, Luke's hunt for revenge is on—and Mary's mysterious disappearance is uppermost in his mind.
The tension rises quickly in TANGLES, as Mary and Luke discover their forbidden attraction and the daunting dangers they face by exposing World War II and Cold War duplicity. Kay Smith-Blum’s thrilling tale of loss and love untangles the lesser-known tragedy of Hanford, long overshadowed by the success of Los Alamos, and fiercely rights long-buried wrongs. If only the deadly buried legacy did not remain today.
November 1, 2024
Based on the description I was not expecting to be so into this one but I was. Historical fiction is not my favorite genre but I've recently adored two of them set in 1950s America. Man, what we have done to the earth we live on with the full knowledge of the government and corporations.
Really good debut for this author.
Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review - book publishes 12/3/24
Really good debut for this author.
Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review - book publishes 12/3/24
December 12, 2024
“Tangles: A Cold War Love Story and Mystery” by Kay Smith-Blum tells a story of government secrecy and lives lost, or forever changed, due to exposure to extreme hazards. We are taken on the journeys of two different people, Mary and Luke, as they navigate the challenge that is radiation poisoning and what it means for them and those they love. The story is set during and after the Cold War and jumps between the 1940s and the 1960s. In the 1940s we follow Mary in her attempt to uncover the dangers of radiation. The 1960s follows Luke as he attempts to finish the exposure of what went down 20 years before and how much damage it caused then and is still causing.
It took me a couple of chapters to truly get invested in this story, but I am extremely glad that I kept reading. It brings to light how much cause and effect plays a role in everything. Our health, the animals we own, the food we grow, and even nature itself (rivers, grass, trees, etc). Specifically, this book is referring to the atomic bomb creation and how the radiation from it affected everything around it. Smith-Blum made sure to add scientific details to add credibility to the claims being made throughout the story and also included specific examples of what happens to animals and people when radiation leaks into everything.
As far as Mary and Luke, the main characters, we get to experience their relationship and the depths of growth it has throughout the story. We follow both of them on their journeys of discovery and growth. While they are set in different times (20 years apart), they are still very connected through mutual relationships and exposure to the deadly chemicals all around them.
I personally recommend “Tangles” by Kay Smith-Blum for an adult audience as the themes in the book can be hard for a younger audience. I specifically recommend it to those who enjoy science, historical fiction, and mystery. There is minimal adult language and only references to intimate scenes. As a note to more sensitive readers, there are adult themes of domestic abuse, death, cancer, and birth defects. However, “Tangles” was well worth the read for me!
TRIGGER WARNING:
Potential readers, please be wary of any sensitivities you may have. There is quite a bit of domestic abuse in this story and there are some disturbing descriptions about some of the side effects of radiation poisoning in both animals and people. All of this is necessary to fully understand what is happening in the story, however, sensitive readers may struggle to push through it.
It took me a couple of chapters to truly get invested in this story, but I am extremely glad that I kept reading. It brings to light how much cause and effect plays a role in everything. Our health, the animals we own, the food we grow, and even nature itself (rivers, grass, trees, etc). Specifically, this book is referring to the atomic bomb creation and how the radiation from it affected everything around it. Smith-Blum made sure to add scientific details to add credibility to the claims being made throughout the story and also included specific examples of what happens to animals and people when radiation leaks into everything.
As far as Mary and Luke, the main characters, we get to experience their relationship and the depths of growth it has throughout the story. We follow both of them on their journeys of discovery and growth. While they are set in different times (20 years apart), they are still very connected through mutual relationships and exposure to the deadly chemicals all around them.
I personally recommend “Tangles” by Kay Smith-Blum for an adult audience as the themes in the book can be hard for a younger audience. I specifically recommend it to those who enjoy science, historical fiction, and mystery. There is minimal adult language and only references to intimate scenes. As a note to more sensitive readers, there are adult themes of domestic abuse, death, cancer, and birth defects. However, “Tangles” was well worth the read for me!
TRIGGER WARNING:
Potential readers, please be wary of any sensitivities you may have. There is quite a bit of domestic abuse in this story and there are some disturbing descriptions about some of the side effects of radiation poisoning in both animals and people. All of this is necessary to fully understand what is happening in the story, however, sensitive readers may struggle to push through it.
March 2, 2025
Spoilers: Kay Smith-Blum’s novel, Tangles, tells two separate stories and links them with the theme of something pleasant and beautiful torn apart by greed and gain. One story focuses on the changing environment and the other is that of lovers separated and unable to connect.
Along with the two plots, the book has two narrators separated by almost twenty years. The first is in the 1940’s and features Mary Boone, a secretary. She is trying to survive an abusive marriage during WWII. She works at the new power plant in Hanford, Oregon which is preparing new weapons against the Axis Powers. People around her start getting sick so she investigates the origins of the illnesses despite objections from her employers, the U.S. government, and her husband, Matt who is the plant spokesperson.
The second narrator is Luke Hinson, a young scientist in the early ‘60’s. His studies are halted when he is diagnosed with a highly suspicious form of thyroid cancer. This diagnosis leads him to his own research into the environment. As Mary and Luke continue their investigations, they find the same solution: the Hanford Nuclear Reservation tainted the environment for twenty years and is slowly killing the environment including its plants, animals, and people. Besides their concerns about the local environment, Mary and Luke share more personal connections. They were once neighbors and despite their huge age gap, the two share a mutual attraction that evolves into friendship and eventually romance with heavy complications.
The duel stories and narrators could have made the book confusing but actually works well. I would argue that it works even better than if we only had one narrator and one time span. In alternating Mary's story with Luke’s we see both the beginning and the end of this story. We see how greedy industrialists first poisoned the environment and then the results of long term illnesses years later. We also see how Mary and Luke’s relationship evolved from being casual acquaintances to Mary eventually becoming the one that got away for Luke. The two narrative halves work together to make the book a complete whole picture of a decaying environment and rocky but meaningful relationship.
This book connects the stories about the environmental investigation and Luke and Mary’s romance in ways that make them interchangeable. They are separate threads that, as the title suggests, are tangled together, affecting each other and the people around them. Neither story could exist without the other, just like neither narrator could finish their story without each other.
Both the natural setting and Luke and Mary’s relationship start out beautiful and become tainted by outside forces. The Oregon setting is filled with trees, woodland, animals, and small towns. Enough progress for people to raise families and find work but not enough to overwhelm and spoil the nature around them, at first. The plant begins the way most industries do, with promises of the future with more jobs and a chance to fight the US’s enemies which were the Axis during WWII then the Soviets during the Cold War. In a community that has plenty of natural resources but is just getting through the Great Depression and facing a war where many men are called up to serve and civilians work in government jobs, But like any offer that’s too good to be true, they don’t stop to think of the consequences.
The citizens don’t think of what nuclear waste would do to the waters around them, how it would get into the food supply and inside birds, animals, and people. They don’t think about the health risks and illnesses that will shorten life spans or prematurely end lives or that future generations will be affected for years, even decades afterwards. They don’t think that the community that they once held dear and thought would benefit from this plant would break apart because of early deaths, separation, and people moving away from a place that is not only unhealthy but is filled with too many haunting memories.
It’s not entirely the fault of the citizens for not knowing.They are not told of the consequences. The officials in their usual drive to maintain plausible deniability and keep everything under wraps hide the truth from the residents. Oh that polluted lake? Oh that’s natural. People showing symptoms of cancer? Well have they checked their family history? It certainly has nothing to do with what they eat and drink.
The officials make sure that the worst news doesn’t get out and they aren’t above threatening doctors to give different diagnoses, changing statistics, threats, coercion, or murder to make everyone believe that everything is fine and there is nothing to worry about. Beating the United State’s enemies is the most important factor and anything else is secondary. The fact that there won’t be any workers at this plant, because they are either ill, dying, or moved on because of the scarcity of resources never occurs to them. The environment and people’s health are destroyed for others’ gains.
The environment and health aren’t the only things that are destroyed. The bond between Mary and Luke builds and falls apart by outside forces. They relate to each other despite having a tremendous age gap because they are both lonely and suffering. Mary is in an abusive marriage and her parents are dead or dying. Luke’s father has died and he has a loving but sometimes distant relationship with his mother. They both reach turning points in their lives where they have to make serious decisions about their future. At first their bond is simply a friendship between two people that are in similar circumstances and can ask and offer advice based on their personal experiences.
Now there are many that may question their evolving romance because of their age gap and in many ways, they would be justified in doing so. Their relationship can be seen as grooming and certainly crosses many boundaries. It’s not an easy decision for either character and to their credit both Mary and Luke are concerned about the ramifications and consequences of such a union. It’s not a relationship of passion and unbridled sexuality. It’s more of one of two lost souls that were hurting and at their most vulnerable and most emotionally naked and honest, they came together. It happened and they can’t go back and change it. The only thing that they can do is accept the consequences and live with the results.
Just like with the nature surrounding them, outside forces disrupt any future plans that Luke and Mary have. They are separated in the worst way imagined and the truth is concealed for years. It takes a long time, over a decade of loss and regret before any type of reconciliation or reclamation is made between them. When it finally does happen, there is a restoration of balance but also a wistful longing of what might have been if they had acted sooner and did not hide the truth from each other.
Perhaps in a strange way just like the Plant officials were keeping the locals ignorant in their goals of fighting foreign enemies and keeping the US safe, Mary and Luke were keeping each other ignorant in the goal of fighting their own enemies and keeping each other safe. In both plots and both narrations, withholding secrets in the name of safety and security ended up becoming the cruelest action of all.
Along with the two plots, the book has two narrators separated by almost twenty years. The first is in the 1940’s and features Mary Boone, a secretary. She is trying to survive an abusive marriage during WWII. She works at the new power plant in Hanford, Oregon which is preparing new weapons against the Axis Powers. People around her start getting sick so she investigates the origins of the illnesses despite objections from her employers, the U.S. government, and her husband, Matt who is the plant spokesperson.
The second narrator is Luke Hinson, a young scientist in the early ‘60’s. His studies are halted when he is diagnosed with a highly suspicious form of thyroid cancer. This diagnosis leads him to his own research into the environment. As Mary and Luke continue their investigations, they find the same solution: the Hanford Nuclear Reservation tainted the environment for twenty years and is slowly killing the environment including its plants, animals, and people. Besides their concerns about the local environment, Mary and Luke share more personal connections. They were once neighbors and despite their huge age gap, the two share a mutual attraction that evolves into friendship and eventually romance with heavy complications.
The duel stories and narrators could have made the book confusing but actually works well. I would argue that it works even better than if we only had one narrator and one time span. In alternating Mary's story with Luke’s we see both the beginning and the end of this story. We see how greedy industrialists first poisoned the environment and then the results of long term illnesses years later. We also see how Mary and Luke’s relationship evolved from being casual acquaintances to Mary eventually becoming the one that got away for Luke. The two narrative halves work together to make the book a complete whole picture of a decaying environment and rocky but meaningful relationship.
This book connects the stories about the environmental investigation and Luke and Mary’s romance in ways that make them interchangeable. They are separate threads that, as the title suggests, are tangled together, affecting each other and the people around them. Neither story could exist without the other, just like neither narrator could finish their story without each other.
Both the natural setting and Luke and Mary’s relationship start out beautiful and become tainted by outside forces. The Oregon setting is filled with trees, woodland, animals, and small towns. Enough progress for people to raise families and find work but not enough to overwhelm and spoil the nature around them, at first. The plant begins the way most industries do, with promises of the future with more jobs and a chance to fight the US’s enemies which were the Axis during WWII then the Soviets during the Cold War. In a community that has plenty of natural resources but is just getting through the Great Depression and facing a war where many men are called up to serve and civilians work in government jobs, But like any offer that’s too good to be true, they don’t stop to think of the consequences.
The citizens don’t think of what nuclear waste would do to the waters around them, how it would get into the food supply and inside birds, animals, and people. They don’t think about the health risks and illnesses that will shorten life spans or prematurely end lives or that future generations will be affected for years, even decades afterwards. They don’t think that the community that they once held dear and thought would benefit from this plant would break apart because of early deaths, separation, and people moving away from a place that is not only unhealthy but is filled with too many haunting memories.
It’s not entirely the fault of the citizens for not knowing.They are not told of the consequences. The officials in their usual drive to maintain plausible deniability and keep everything under wraps hide the truth from the residents. Oh that polluted lake? Oh that’s natural. People showing symptoms of cancer? Well have they checked their family history? It certainly has nothing to do with what they eat and drink.
The officials make sure that the worst news doesn’t get out and they aren’t above threatening doctors to give different diagnoses, changing statistics, threats, coercion, or murder to make everyone believe that everything is fine and there is nothing to worry about. Beating the United State’s enemies is the most important factor and anything else is secondary. The fact that there won’t be any workers at this plant, because they are either ill, dying, or moved on because of the scarcity of resources never occurs to them. The environment and people’s health are destroyed for others’ gains.
The environment and health aren’t the only things that are destroyed. The bond between Mary and Luke builds and falls apart by outside forces. They relate to each other despite having a tremendous age gap because they are both lonely and suffering. Mary is in an abusive marriage and her parents are dead or dying. Luke’s father has died and he has a loving but sometimes distant relationship with his mother. They both reach turning points in their lives where they have to make serious decisions about their future. At first their bond is simply a friendship between two people that are in similar circumstances and can ask and offer advice based on their personal experiences.
Now there are many that may question their evolving romance because of their age gap and in many ways, they would be justified in doing so. Their relationship can be seen as grooming and certainly crosses many boundaries. It’s not an easy decision for either character and to their credit both Mary and Luke are concerned about the ramifications and consequences of such a union. It’s not a relationship of passion and unbridled sexuality. It’s more of one of two lost souls that were hurting and at their most vulnerable and most emotionally naked and honest, they came together. It happened and they can’t go back and change it. The only thing that they can do is accept the consequences and live with the results.
Just like with the nature surrounding them, outside forces disrupt any future plans that Luke and Mary have. They are separated in the worst way imagined and the truth is concealed for years. It takes a long time, over a decade of loss and regret before any type of reconciliation or reclamation is made between them. When it finally does happen, there is a restoration of balance but also a wistful longing of what might have been if they had acted sooner and did not hide the truth from each other.
Perhaps in a strange way just like the Plant officials were keeping the locals ignorant in their goals of fighting foreign enemies and keeping the US safe, Mary and Luke were keeping each other ignorant in the goal of fighting their own enemies and keeping each other safe. In both plots and both narrations, withholding secrets in the name of safety and security ended up becoming the cruelest action of all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 9, 2024
Take one slice of corporate and government collusion in the concealment of dangers inherent in mass production of nuclear weapons; add a slice of stealthy collaboration between noble scientists and environmentalists struggling to bring the truth to light. In between, tuck a tender story of family, love, and loss, and what you have is Tangles - a delectable serving that appeals equally well to vastly different literary tastes.
Unveiling the true purpose of the “Classified” stamp as a tool “to shovel dirt over the truth,” Smith-Blum does not flinch from stark exposure of dangers to healthy humans, animal life, and the natural environment; but she is never heavy-handed. The secret lies in her certainty about her subject-matter, her conviction about who her characters are, and her surefooted strides across multiple timelines - each episode presented with just enough revelations to make the reader long for more. The fact that Tangles is based on real incidents whose implications continue to resonate will leave readers with serious issues to contemplate, long after the last page is turned.
Unveiling the true purpose of the “Classified” stamp as a tool “to shovel dirt over the truth,” Smith-Blum does not flinch from stark exposure of dangers to healthy humans, animal life, and the natural environment; but she is never heavy-handed. The secret lies in her certainty about her subject-matter, her conviction about who her characters are, and her surefooted strides across multiple timelines - each episode presented with just enough revelations to make the reader long for more. The fact that Tangles is based on real incidents whose implications continue to resonate will leave readers with serious issues to contemplate, long after the last page is turned.
September 29, 2024
TANGLES is a thought-provoking and engaging read that opened my eyes to a part of history I wasn’t aware of. I enjoyed being transported to a different era and having the story unfold through multiple POVs. Check it out!
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