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The Women in White
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The next thriller from #1 bestselling author Sarah Pekkanen combines a decades-old mystery with spine-tingling paranormal elements in this twisty novel of the seen and unseen.
Extrasensory perception.
The Gift.
A Sixth Sense.
Or something else….
In 1964, four remarkable young women at a prestigious university became the subjects of parapsychology experiments by a visionary scientist. On the cusp of a historic breakthrough, the women mysteriously vanished and the program was erased from history.
Decades later, Riley Bell, newly divorced and desperate for a fresh start, accepts a caretaker job for an elderly widow named Betty. Riley steps into a home that is frozen in another era - no microwave, television, or cell phones, and Betty has never heard of the internet.
Why has Betty lived in such profound isolation for so many years, and why does she need Riley now? As the story unfolds across two timelines - Betty’s 1960s era of 5 o’clock martinis and high-stakes experiments, and Riley’s quest to uncover the truth about the missing women - old secrets rise to the surface. And the only way to survive is to confront the mystery that has lingered for sixty years.
Extrasensory perception.
The Gift.
A Sixth Sense.
Or something else….
In 1964, four remarkable young women at a prestigious university became the subjects of parapsychology experiments by a visionary scientist. On the cusp of a historic breakthrough, the women mysteriously vanished and the program was erased from history.
Decades later, Riley Bell, newly divorced and desperate for a fresh start, accepts a caretaker job for an elderly widow named Betty. Riley steps into a home that is frozen in another era - no microwave, television, or cell phones, and Betty has never heard of the internet.
Why has Betty lived in such profound isolation for so many years, and why does she need Riley now? As the story unfolds across two timelines - Betty’s 1960s era of 5 o’clock martinis and high-stakes experiments, and Riley’s quest to uncover the truth about the missing women - old secrets rise to the surface. And the only way to survive is to confront the mystery that has lingered for sixty years.
Audible Audio
Expected publication August 4, 2026
About the author
Sarah Pekkanen
30 books7,722 followersI'm a #1 New York Times bestselling author of 15 solo and coauthored books, including HOUSE OF GLASS, which is a Goodreads Choice award nominee and Amazon best book of the year and THE LOCKED WARD, which is hailed by Lee Child as "psychological suspense at its very best."
My upcoming novel is THE WOMEN IN WHITE.
I'm also the author or coauthor of these bestselling thrillers: GONE TONIGHT, THE GOLDEN COUPLE, THE WIFE BETWEEN US, AN ANONYMOUS GIRL, and YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
I've written eight novels that are contemporary fiction, not thrillers: THE EVER AFTER, THE PERFECT NEIGHBORS, THINGS YOU WON'T SAY, CATCHING AIR, THE BEST OF US, THE OPPOSITE OF ME, SKIPPING A BEAT, and THESE GIRLS. My linked free short estories, published by Simon&Schuster exclusively for ereaders, are titled "All is Bright," and "Love, Accidentally."
When I'm not writing or spending time with my three kids, I'm a passionate advocate for rescue animals. I serve as Ambassador of RRSA India, a shelter and sanctuary for abused and injured street dogs and other animals in Anand, India. And I'm the founder of the nonprofit charity IndiaStreetPaws.com.
I also serve on the board of the International Thriller Writers. Readers and writers - come join us at Thrillerfest in NYC every spring!
Please find me on Insta and Facebook for more!
My website is www.sarahpekkanen.com
(Here on Goodreads, my policy is to only review books I really like. If I don't enjoy the book, I won't write about it - it's just my personal policy.)
My upcoming novel is THE WOMEN IN WHITE.
I'm also the author or coauthor of these bestselling thrillers: GONE TONIGHT, THE GOLDEN COUPLE, THE WIFE BETWEEN US, AN ANONYMOUS GIRL, and YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
I've written eight novels that are contemporary fiction, not thrillers: THE EVER AFTER, THE PERFECT NEIGHBORS, THINGS YOU WON'T SAY, CATCHING AIR, THE BEST OF US, THE OPPOSITE OF ME, SKIPPING A BEAT, and THESE GIRLS. My linked free short estories, published by Simon&Schuster exclusively for ereaders, are titled "All is Bright," and "Love, Accidentally."
When I'm not writing or spending time with my three kids, I'm a passionate advocate for rescue animals. I serve as Ambassador of RRSA India, a shelter and sanctuary for abused and injured street dogs and other animals in Anand, India. And I'm the founder of the nonprofit charity IndiaStreetPaws.com.
I also serve on the board of the International Thriller Writers. Readers and writers - come join us at Thrillerfest in NYC every spring!
Please find me on Insta and Facebook for more!
My website is www.sarahpekkanen.com
(Here on Goodreads, my policy is to only review books I really like. If I don't enjoy the book, I won't write about it - it's just my personal policy.)
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Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I cannot lie, I am absolutely addicted to Sarah Pekkanen thrillers. I loved her collaborations with Greer Hendricks, devoured The Wife Between Us, and followed her solo writing journey with excitement. Gone Tonight is still my favorite of her works and remains unforgettable for me. But when a sentence begins with “but,” you know something less positive is coming, and unfortunately, here it is. I did not enjoy this book as much as I expected, and it may be the least compelling of her novels that I have read so far.
Please do not get me wrong. My expectations were very high, and perhaps I was not in the perfect reading mood at the time. The Manchurian Candidate–style psychological testing concept mixed with parapsychology is, on paper, a fascinating and provocative idea. However, the execution felt somewhat light. I genuinely expected something more shocking and more surprising, especially moments that would make me gasp out loud the way Betty’s gift initially did. I was hoping for twists that would shake me to the core, but the outcome ultimately felt riddled with plot holes. The final revelations, in particular, felt slightly haphazard and left me questioning too many elements rather than feeling satisfied.
That said, there were aspects I truly enjoyed. I loved Betty’s point of view, and the storyline centered on gifted sisterhood between four women in their mid sixties worked beautifully for me. The emotional bond between these women and the eerie history they shared was far more engaging than the present day storyline. The connections and intersections between older Betty and Riley did not capture my interest as strongly as the past timeline. I found those sections somewhat dull, which caused me to lose momentum. As a result, I read this book much more slowly than usual. Normally, you know my reading pace is fast, and I would have finished this in a few hours in one sitting. Instead, it took me two to three days, which says a lot about my overall engagement. That said, this is only my opinion, and I am seeing a great deal of praise for this book. The structure, with its short chapters, imminent cliffhangers, and dual timelines and perspectives, still gives it strong potential for readers who enjoy that style.
Let me briefly recap the plot, even though you should absolutely read the blurb yourself. As always, I will add my own commentary along the way. Riley Bell is desperate for a job. She is living out of her car, has lost nearly everything, and her future dreams have collapsed after marrying a gambler who now owes dangerous people money. These men are threatening him and targeting Riley as well, on top of relentless debt collectors. When she lands a live in caretaker position for Betty Sadler, a reclusive woman in her mid eighties, it feels like a miracle. The job not only offers income but also a roof over her head. Against heavy competition from far more experienced candidates, Betty chooses Riley and wants her to start immediately.
What Riley does not realize is that despite being confined to a wheelchair, Betty is far more capable than she appears, and her mind is razor sharp. She has not left her house in nearly six decades and seems to crave companionship more than actual care after losing her husband. What she truly needs, however, is Riley’s investigative instinct. Riley soon discovers that Betty was once a test subject in a Duke University Parapsychology Lab study known as the Ganzfeld experiment. The tests were conducted by Dr. Trimble, a man obsessed with leaving his mark on history by exploiting the extraordinary abilities of four young women. Alongside Betty, there was Kathleen, gifted in telepathy, Ivy, who excelled at precognition, and Helen, who possessed clairvoyance. Whatever happened behind the closed doors of that lab bonded the women more closely than sisters, at least in Betty’s eyes.
As Riley digs deeper, initially for the sake of her job, she begins to realize that the past may be far more dangerous than she imagined. Once she starts uncovering secrets, she cannot stop. Is Betty hiding something sinister from her. Is she a victim or a perpetrator. Is someone attempting to resurrect the program and create new victims. These questions drive the mystery forward, even when the execution does not fully deliver on its promise.
Overall, this is still an intriguing read, especially if you enjoy mysteries involving government conspiracies, secret parapsychology experiments, twisty storytelling, and themes of female empowerment. While it did not completely work for me, I am still giving it a solid three stars and remain eager to see what Sarah Pekkanen delivers next.
A very huge thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing one of the most anticipated thrillers of 2026 with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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Please do not get me wrong. My expectations were very high, and perhaps I was not in the perfect reading mood at the time. The Manchurian Candidate–style psychological testing concept mixed with parapsychology is, on paper, a fascinating and provocative idea. However, the execution felt somewhat light. I genuinely expected something more shocking and more surprising, especially moments that would make me gasp out loud the way Betty’s gift initially did. I was hoping for twists that would shake me to the core, but the outcome ultimately felt riddled with plot holes. The final revelations, in particular, felt slightly haphazard and left me questioning too many elements rather than feeling satisfied.
That said, there were aspects I truly enjoyed. I loved Betty’s point of view, and the storyline centered on gifted sisterhood between four women in their mid sixties worked beautifully for me. The emotional bond between these women and the eerie history they shared was far more engaging than the present day storyline. The connections and intersections between older Betty and Riley did not capture my interest as strongly as the past timeline. I found those sections somewhat dull, which caused me to lose momentum. As a result, I read this book much more slowly than usual. Normally, you know my reading pace is fast, and I would have finished this in a few hours in one sitting. Instead, it took me two to three days, which says a lot about my overall engagement. That said, this is only my opinion, and I am seeing a great deal of praise for this book. The structure, with its short chapters, imminent cliffhangers, and dual timelines and perspectives, still gives it strong potential for readers who enjoy that style.
Let me briefly recap the plot, even though you should absolutely read the blurb yourself. As always, I will add my own commentary along the way. Riley Bell is desperate for a job. She is living out of her car, has lost nearly everything, and her future dreams have collapsed after marrying a gambler who now owes dangerous people money. These men are threatening him and targeting Riley as well, on top of relentless debt collectors. When she lands a live in caretaker position for Betty Sadler, a reclusive woman in her mid eighties, it feels like a miracle. The job not only offers income but also a roof over her head. Against heavy competition from far more experienced candidates, Betty chooses Riley and wants her to start immediately.
What Riley does not realize is that despite being confined to a wheelchair, Betty is far more capable than she appears, and her mind is razor sharp. She has not left her house in nearly six decades and seems to crave companionship more than actual care after losing her husband. What she truly needs, however, is Riley’s investigative instinct. Riley soon discovers that Betty was once a test subject in a Duke University Parapsychology Lab study known as the Ganzfeld experiment. The tests were conducted by Dr. Trimble, a man obsessed with leaving his mark on history by exploiting the extraordinary abilities of four young women. Alongside Betty, there was Kathleen, gifted in telepathy, Ivy, who excelled at precognition, and Helen, who possessed clairvoyance. Whatever happened behind the closed doors of that lab bonded the women more closely than sisters, at least in Betty’s eyes.
As Riley digs deeper, initially for the sake of her job, she begins to realize that the past may be far more dangerous than she imagined. Once she starts uncovering secrets, she cannot stop. Is Betty hiding something sinister from her. Is she a victim or a perpetrator. Is someone attempting to resurrect the program and create new victims. These questions drive the mystery forward, even when the execution does not fully deliver on its promise.
Overall, this is still an intriguing read, especially if you enjoy mysteries involving government conspiracies, secret parapsychology experiments, twisty storytelling, and themes of female empowerment. While it did not completely work for me, I am still giving it a solid three stars and remain eager to see what Sarah Pekkanen delivers next.
A very huge thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing one of the most anticipated thrillers of 2026 with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️ 4.25 ⭐️ They were known as women in white. Betty Sadler was called girl four. But she wasn't a number, she was the most extraordinary woman and she mattered.
What an amazing blend of historical fiction and psych thriller/suspense! In a span of 302 pages, get ready to be wholesomely consumed by the central mystery and consequences of scientific/human experimentation. By no means this is a scientific novel and I can assure you that it is not heavy with medical jargon. At its heart, it's a story that shines light on unethical human experimentation and exploitation of women and their autonomy and rights. Americas' history is marked by medical advances that came at an expanse of vulnerable populations; we are not innocent. Let me tell you that through-out history, unethical medical experimentation and research has been performed without knowledge of consent for decades. Just look up the smallpox and how its vaccine came about, the Tuskegee syphilis study, radiation experiments during the Cold War, The Nuremberg Trials (Nuremberg Code), bubonic plague in Japanese villages, I can go on and on..It's one of my most favorite topics to talk about. The Women in White is no different.
Four gifted women became the subject of parapsychology experiments by a visionary scientist in 1964. The research focused on parapsychology, the extrasensory perception and some other mental abilities. Then all of the sudden they vanished and the historic program was erased from history. Years later, a woman hired as a caretaker, Riley Bell, steps into a household that seems to be frozen in another era, avoiding all technology and keeping many secrets. Betty Sadler was one of the experimented women from 1964 trials. In a span of 60 years, no one has uncovered the truth until the caretaker begins digging around and asking questions no-one has dared to ask before. The novel is quite fast paced and explores many themes: memory, power, friendship, psychic phenomena and most importantly the challenges faced by women of 1960s era.
I appreciated a very accurate portrayal of women, the societal expectations and norms, reproductive freedom and challenges of motherhood and the psyche of women--what they thought and how they acted in different scenarios. Its was all very interesting to read and listen to and kept me very engaged. I think 1960's is a monumental decade for women as there has been a greater/more transformative shift in terms of the demand for equal rights and education as well as rise in the feminist movement. After all, its thanks to these women we now have the contraceptive pills that won us the control of reproductive decisions.
As for the experimentations themselves, four women each possessed a different gift: precognition, telepathy, psychokinesis and clairvoyance. The amount of emotional depth this story carried made the characters even more compelling. They were all unforgettable women in their own right. Each woman had somewhat of a quiet devastation to her that helped you sympathize yet feel her resilience. I thought it was an amazing portrayal of a woman's resilient nature.
Betty, Ivy, Kathleen, Helen
My whole heart ached for them. The novel exceeded my expectation and needs to be on your TBR for this August!
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martins Press and the author, Sarah Pekkanen for an early copy!
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for an early ALC!
Narrator: Saskia Maarleveld
Duration: 7 hours 57 minutes
Speed: 1.5x
Publication: August 4, 2026
What an amazing blend of historical fiction and psych thriller/suspense! In a span of 302 pages, get ready to be wholesomely consumed by the central mystery and consequences of scientific/human experimentation. By no means this is a scientific novel and I can assure you that it is not heavy with medical jargon. At its heart, it's a story that shines light on unethical human experimentation and exploitation of women and their autonomy and rights. Americas' history is marked by medical advances that came at an expanse of vulnerable populations; we are not innocent. Let me tell you that through-out history, unethical medical experimentation and research has been performed without knowledge of consent for decades. Just look up the smallpox and how its vaccine came about, the Tuskegee syphilis study, radiation experiments during the Cold War, The Nuremberg Trials (Nuremberg Code), bubonic plague in Japanese villages, I can go on and on..It's one of my most favorite topics to talk about. The Women in White is no different.
Four gifted women became the subject of parapsychology experiments by a visionary scientist in 1964. The research focused on parapsychology, the extrasensory perception and some other mental abilities. Then all of the sudden they vanished and the historic program was erased from history. Years later, a woman hired as a caretaker, Riley Bell, steps into a household that seems to be frozen in another era, avoiding all technology and keeping many secrets. Betty Sadler was one of the experimented women from 1964 trials. In a span of 60 years, no one has uncovered the truth until the caretaker begins digging around and asking questions no-one has dared to ask before. The novel is quite fast paced and explores many themes: memory, power, friendship, psychic phenomena and most importantly the challenges faced by women of 1960s era.
I appreciated a very accurate portrayal of women, the societal expectations and norms, reproductive freedom and challenges of motherhood and the psyche of women--what they thought and how they acted in different scenarios. Its was all very interesting to read and listen to and kept me very engaged. I think 1960's is a monumental decade for women as there has been a greater/more transformative shift in terms of the demand for equal rights and education as well as rise in the feminist movement. After all, its thanks to these women we now have the contraceptive pills that won us the control of reproductive decisions.
As for the experimentations themselves, four women each possessed a different gift: precognition, telepathy, psychokinesis and clairvoyance. The amount of emotional depth this story carried made the characters even more compelling. They were all unforgettable women in their own right. Each woman had somewhat of a quiet devastation to her that helped you sympathize yet feel her resilience. I thought it was an amazing portrayal of a woman's resilient nature.
Betty, Ivy, Kathleen, Helen
My whole heart ached for them. The novel exceeded my expectation and needs to be on your TBR for this August!
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martins Press and the author, Sarah Pekkanen for an early copy!
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for an early ALC!
Narrator: Saskia Maarleveld
Duration: 7 hours 57 minutes
Speed: 1.5x
Publication: August 4, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Riley is just divorced and desperate for a job. Betty Sadler, eighty-one years old and wheelchair bound needs a caretaker. She has a good feeling about Riley, and asks her "How soon can you start?"
She moves in and finds that Betty is living in the past century, and its not only the decor that is frozen in time. She only has a landline, no internet, no microwave and even has a beehive hairstyle.
The story is inspired by real Parapsychology Laboratory research done at Duke University. Betty and her 4 friends were involved in some questionable experiments. Riley and Betty soon embark on trying to uncover the mystery of what happened to her and her friends. Dr. Trimble absolutely horrified me.
It was a unique premise that gave creepy vibes. The author keeps it pretty light though (which is okay with me). The pacing is a bit uneven, but I still enjoyed it overall.
Thanks to NG for my ARC. OUT on August 2026
She moves in and finds that Betty is living in the past century, and its not only the decor that is frozen in time. She only has a landline, no internet, no microwave and even has a beehive hairstyle.
The story is inspired by real Parapsychology Laboratory research done at Duke University. Betty and her 4 friends were involved in some questionable experiments. Riley and Betty soon embark on trying to uncover the mystery of what happened to her and her friends. Dr. Trimble absolutely horrified me.
It was a unique premise that gave creepy vibes. The author keeps it pretty light though (which is okay with me). The pacing is a bit uneven, but I still enjoyed it overall.
Thanks to NG for my ARC. OUT on August 2026
April 7, 2026
My dear friends, I present to you my new favorite Sarah Pekkanen novel! Guys, this story is truly amazing and the level of research she did for this was superb! Bravo, Sarah 👏👏👏
This is a historical fiction mystery based on experiments performed on people in the past.
1964, four women are brought together and become subjects of parapsychology experiments by a visionary scientist. The women have disappeared other than one, Betty.
Present time, Riley Bell accepts a caretaker position for Betty. But Betty has something else in mind for her. Can she find her long lost friends?
There is so much to unfold within this story, so, I think that’s all you need to know. Go in blind as much as you can. I started this book and finished it in under 24 hours. It’s that good! I buddy read it with @bibliopeeks and I’m so glad I did!
Characters to root for, a rich and engrossing story, and it deserves nothing less than 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!
Pre-order your copy, you will not be disappointed!
Pub Date - 8/4/26
Grateful to St Martins Press, NetGalley and Sarah Pekkanen for the gifted copies
June 19, 2026
Riley is down on her luck and needs a job fast. Luckily, she is hired by Betty to be her caretaker. Betty is widowed and based on her house decor and lack of modern technology, she appears stuck in the 60s. Feeling nostalgic, she asks Riley to help her connect with her old friends. What Riley discovers is more than just old friendships but one that included parapsychology experiments.
While this held my attention with a storyline, I felt that there could’ve been more depth given showing the relationship between the four women. You could ascertain the closeness, but you couldn’t necessarily feel it. The short, quick chapters, while good for keeping the reader engaged, left me wanting a bit more. The sudden shift between each point of view didn’t give me enough feeling for each of the women. I actually had a hard time keeping them straight besides Betty and Riley. The story itself was really good, and I enjoyed the historical quotes at the beginning of each chapter. I thought they fit in really well. As for the ending, it was okay, but I was hoping for something a bit different.
Overall, this was definitely intriguing with a lot of interesting tidbits. 3.5 rounding up to 4 stars
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 22, 2026
The Women in White introduces us to Riley, who is in a rough spot, recently divorced and homeless thanks to her ex-husbands gambling addiction. Riley takes a live in position as a caretaker to Betty, who is a recently widowed elderly lady. Betty has been living a secluded & protected life for years and now since her husband has passed, she is wanting to find her 3 friends she did psychological testing with at a local university with husbands' boss, Dr. Trimble, decades back. Riley agrees to help Betty find her friends and from there, the story starts unfolding with some good twist and turns thrown in. Riley and Bettty really form a great friendship and work together well. This book is told in 2 different timelines between past and present and it worked very well for this storyline. You can tell the author did a lot of research before writing this book. It did have some creepy vibes and was overall, a great suspenseful book!
Thank you St. Martin's Press, and Net Galley, for a copy in return for my honest review.
Thank you St. Martin's Press, and Net Galley, for a copy in return for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I don't usually gravitate towards thrillers, or historical fiction, and while this is both it also delves deep into psychology and the human brain, which is something I'm fascinated by.
It is told in multiple povs and two timelines, one is the present following a woman who's been hired as a caretaker for this old lady, and the other is the old woman's past, told in her pov but also her friends'. It is very compelling and I couldn't put the book down. It was mesmerizing while also being terrifying and cruel.
Both timelines were equally engaging, and that's something I don't see very often with this structure. I desperately wanted to know what happened to Betty and her friends but the mystery of current times was also keeping me on my toes.
Overall I really enjoyed this book, it had everything a mystery needs, including a guessable villain(which a did figure out pretty early on, but that's just how it usually goes lol). I would recommend it if you are interested in thrillers or just psychological experiments and what they do to people, it'll for sure make you think.
Thank you Netgalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC.
It is told in multiple povs and two timelines, one is the present following a woman who's been hired as a caretaker for this old lady, and the other is the old woman's past, told in her pov but also her friends'. It is very compelling and I couldn't put the book down. It was mesmerizing while also being terrifying and cruel.
Both timelines were equally engaging, and that's something I don't see very often with this structure. I desperately wanted to know what happened to Betty and her friends but the mystery of current times was also keeping me on my toes.
Overall I really enjoyed this book, it had everything a mystery needs, including a guessable villain(which a did figure out pretty early on, but that's just how it usually goes lol). I would recommend it if you are interested in thrillers or just psychological experiments and what they do to people, it'll for sure make you think.
Thank you Netgalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
PUBLISH DATE: Aug 4, 2026
The Women in White by Sarah Pekkanen ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎧 Audiobook & eBook
WHAT DID I JUST READ?! I absolutely loved this book.
What’s funny is that I originally requested the ebook and kept struggling to pick it up. Then I started the audiobook and was hooked almost immediately. The narration was exceptional. The narrator brought the characters to life, kept me engaged, and made it easy to stay invested in both the past and present timelines. This is one of those audiobooks where the narration truly enhanced the experience.
Going in, I somehow missed the paranormal genre label. If I’m being honest, that probably would have made me hesitate because paranormal fiction is not something I typically gravitate toward. What I found instead was a fascinating historical mystery centered around friendship, family, research, intuition, and the lasting impact of choices made decades earlier.
While the story explores parapsychology, ESP, intuition, and “gut feelings”, it never felt dark, evil, spirit-focused, or heavily supernatural to me. The focus was much more on research, scientific experimentation, relationships, and the people involved. In many ways, it felt closer to a historical mystery than the paranormal novels I usually imagine when I see that genre label.
One of my favorite parts was learning that, while the story itself is fiction, many of the studies, articles, and historical references woven throughout the novel were inspired by real parapsychology research. The author’s note sent me down a fascinating rabbit hole researching actual laboratories, studies, and even other controversial research projects from that era. I loved that the book made me curious enough to keep learning after I put it down.
I also found myself thinking about some of the same ethical questions I enjoy in dystopian fiction. Not because this is a dystopian novel, but because it explores the consequences of experimentation, the pursuit of knowledge, and the impact institutions can have on individual lives and relationships.
Most importantly, I cared deeply about these characters. Betty, Riley, Ivy, Helen, Kathleen, and the connections between them completely pulled me into the story. The mystery kept me guessing, my theories were wrong, and I loved every minute of it.
The ending wrapped things up well, but I still wasn’t ready for it to be over. Not because anything was missing, but because I wanted more time with these characters and this world.
This was an easy 5-star read and 5-star listen for me.
Content Warnings: Postpartum depression, pregnancy, marital difficulties, grief, emotional neglect, research ethics/manipulation, mental health themes, and discussions of ESP, intuition, parapsychology, and reincarnation. Minimal to no language. No sexual content.
PUBLISH DATE: Aug 4, 2026
BOOK TITLE: The Women in White
AUTHOR: Sarah Pekkanen
PUBLISHER: St Martin's Press (ebook) MacMillan Audio (audiobook)
FORMAT: ebook & audiobook
PAGES: 304
I received a complimentary digital ARC [Advanced Readers Copy] of this book via NetGalley. Thank you to the Publisher and the Author for the opportunity to read and review this title prior to publication. As always, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
The Women in White by Sarah Pekkanen ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎧 Audiobook & eBook
WHAT DID I JUST READ?! I absolutely loved this book.
What’s funny is that I originally requested the ebook and kept struggling to pick it up. Then I started the audiobook and was hooked almost immediately. The narration was exceptional. The narrator brought the characters to life, kept me engaged, and made it easy to stay invested in both the past and present timelines. This is one of those audiobooks where the narration truly enhanced the experience.
Going in, I somehow missed the paranormal genre label. If I’m being honest, that probably would have made me hesitate because paranormal fiction is not something I typically gravitate toward. What I found instead was a fascinating historical mystery centered around friendship, family, research, intuition, and the lasting impact of choices made decades earlier.
While the story explores parapsychology, ESP, intuition, and “gut feelings”, it never felt dark, evil, spirit-focused, or heavily supernatural to me. The focus was much more on research, scientific experimentation, relationships, and the people involved. In many ways, it felt closer to a historical mystery than the paranormal novels I usually imagine when I see that genre label.
One of my favorite parts was learning that, while the story itself is fiction, many of the studies, articles, and historical references woven throughout the novel were inspired by real parapsychology research. The author’s note sent me down a fascinating rabbit hole researching actual laboratories, studies, and even other controversial research projects from that era. I loved that the book made me curious enough to keep learning after I put it down.
I also found myself thinking about some of the same ethical questions I enjoy in dystopian fiction. Not because this is a dystopian novel, but because it explores the consequences of experimentation, the pursuit of knowledge, and the impact institutions can have on individual lives and relationships.
Most importantly, I cared deeply about these characters. Betty, Riley, Ivy, Helen, Kathleen, and the connections between them completely pulled me into the story. The mystery kept me guessing, my theories were wrong, and I loved every minute of it.
The ending wrapped things up well, but I still wasn’t ready for it to be over. Not because anything was missing, but because I wanted more time with these characters and this world.
This was an easy 5-star read and 5-star listen for me.
Content Warnings: Postpartum depression, pregnancy, marital difficulties, grief, emotional neglect, research ethics/manipulation, mental health themes, and discussions of ESP, intuition, parapsychology, and reincarnation. Minimal to no language. No sexual content.
PUBLISH DATE: Aug 4, 2026
BOOK TITLE: The Women in White
AUTHOR: Sarah Pekkanen
PUBLISHER: St Martin's Press (ebook) MacMillan Audio (audiobook)
FORMAT: ebook & audiobook
PAGES: 304
I received a complimentary digital ARC [Advanced Readers Copy] of this book via NetGalley. Thank you to the Publisher and the Author for the opportunity to read and review this title prior to publication. As always, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Want to Read
January 14, 2026I absolutely love Sarah Pekkanen's books, so you can only imagine how happy I was to get this ARC. Thank you so much, St. Martin's Press, for sending me this early.
Pub Date: Aug 04, 2026
As always, all thoughts are my own. 🖤✨
Pub Date: Aug 04, 2026
As always, all thoughts are my own. 🖤✨
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Paranormal experiments and perfectly ordinary misogyny.
3.5 stars rounded up.
Sarah Pekkanen is one of those authors whose books automatically find their way onto my reading list. That being said, The Women in White fell a little short of my admittedly high expectations.
The novel unfolds across two timelines. In 1964, four young women participate in a series of controversial parapsychology experiments at a prestigious university before mysteriously vanishing. Decades later, newly divorced Riley Bell accepts a caretaker position with an elderly widow named Betty, whose life seems frozen in time. As Riley begins to unravel Betty's past, the mystery of the missing women slowly resurfaces.
The dual-timeline structure works well, gradually revealing how the two storylines intertwine. For me, though, the strongest part of the novel was the 1960s timeline. The friendship between the four women, the atmosphere surrounding the experiments, and the growing sense of unease held my attention far more effectively than Riley's present-day investigation. While Riley and Betty's relationship serves as the framework holding the mystery together, I never felt quite as invested in their interactions as I was in the women at the center of the historical narrative. As a result, the novel occasionally lacked the relentless momentum that characterizes some of Pekkanen's most gripping thrillers.
What surprised me most was that the twists themselves weren't the most unsettling part of the novel - they were actually surprisingly tame. The truly disturbing element was the casual misogyny woven throughout the 1960s storyline. While this is nothing new, the casual dismissal of their intelligence, the control disguised as concern, and the way powerful men sought to dictate women's choices and ambitions felt far more chilling than any of the book's thriller undertones. And while the speculative elements add an intriguing layer to the story, at its heart, this feels less like a (supernatural) thriller and more like a novel about power and autonomy.
I was fortunate enough to experience the audiobook as well, expertly narrated by Saskia Maarleveld. Her performance adds an extra layer of atmosphere to the story and managed to keep me fully immersed and engaged even during sections that might otherwise have dragged a bit.
While The Women in White may not be Sarah Pekkanen's twistiest or most propulsive book, it remains an entertaining blend of historical fiction, mystery, and the supernatural that carries a bit more gravitas than the average popcorn thriller. Pekkanen also asks interesting questions about perception, belief, memory, and the things we cannot fully explain. The 1960s storyline alone is worth the journey, and while the novel didn't quite reach the heights I was hoping for, it offers enough intrigue, atmosphere, and emotional resonance to make it a worthwhile read.
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for providing me with an ARC and an ALC, respectively, in exchange for my honest review.
"The Women in White" is slated to be published on August 4, 2026.
3.5 stars rounded up.
Sarah Pekkanen is one of those authors whose books automatically find their way onto my reading list. That being said, The Women in White fell a little short of my admittedly high expectations.
The novel unfolds across two timelines. In 1964, four young women participate in a series of controversial parapsychology experiments at a prestigious university before mysteriously vanishing. Decades later, newly divorced Riley Bell accepts a caretaker position with an elderly widow named Betty, whose life seems frozen in time. As Riley begins to unravel Betty's past, the mystery of the missing women slowly resurfaces.
The dual-timeline structure works well, gradually revealing how the two storylines intertwine. For me, though, the strongest part of the novel was the 1960s timeline. The friendship between the four women, the atmosphere surrounding the experiments, and the growing sense of unease held my attention far more effectively than Riley's present-day investigation. While Riley and Betty's relationship serves as the framework holding the mystery together, I never felt quite as invested in their interactions as I was in the women at the center of the historical narrative. As a result, the novel occasionally lacked the relentless momentum that characterizes some of Pekkanen's most gripping thrillers.
What surprised me most was that the twists themselves weren't the most unsettling part of the novel - they were actually surprisingly tame. The truly disturbing element was the casual misogyny woven throughout the 1960s storyline. While this is nothing new, the casual dismissal of their intelligence, the control disguised as concern, and the way powerful men sought to dictate women's choices and ambitions felt far more chilling than any of the book's thriller undertones. And while the speculative elements add an intriguing layer to the story, at its heart, this feels less like a (supernatural) thriller and more like a novel about power and autonomy.
I was fortunate enough to experience the audiobook as well, expertly narrated by Saskia Maarleveld. Her performance adds an extra layer of atmosphere to the story and managed to keep me fully immersed and engaged even during sections that might otherwise have dragged a bit.
While The Women in White may not be Sarah Pekkanen's twistiest or most propulsive book, it remains an entertaining blend of historical fiction, mystery, and the supernatural that carries a bit more gravitas than the average popcorn thriller. Pekkanen also asks interesting questions about perception, belief, memory, and the things we cannot fully explain. The 1960s storyline alone is worth the journey, and while the novel didn't quite reach the heights I was hoping for, it offers enough intrigue, atmosphere, and emotional resonance to make it a worthwhile read.
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for providing me with an ARC and an ALC, respectively, in exchange for my honest review.
"The Women in White" is slated to be published on August 4, 2026.
May 28, 2026
Sarah Pekkanen books are always a stand out for me, her writing is fantastic and her subjects are unique. I know when starting a new one that I will be in for a wild ride with some interesting characters and storylines and The Women in White was no different.
I loved the dual timelines to tell this story. Back in the 1960s we have 4 young women who seem to have psychic abilities. A professor at the university gets them in for what seems to be voluntary testing but they do not seem to be able to say no to him. What starts out innocently enough turns dark and frightening. In the present day we meet one of the women, now 81 and newly widowed , Betty. She has hired down and out Riley to move in and help care for her. She asks Riley to help track down her fellow volunteers which leads to all sorts of questions and dramas.
I really felt for these women who were treated so badly and taken advantage of. They felt they had no rights and reading this made me so angry, but glad that times have changed. The author must have done an immense amount of research going into writing this book about such a complex subject.
The audio book was narrated by the fabulous Saskia Maarleveld who is always a selling point when I am picking an audio book. She is always amazing.
Thank you so much to St Martin’s Press for my early copy of this book to read. Publishes on August 4th.
I loved the dual timelines to tell this story. Back in the 1960s we have 4 young women who seem to have psychic abilities. A professor at the university gets them in for what seems to be voluntary testing but they do not seem to be able to say no to him. What starts out innocently enough turns dark and frightening. In the present day we meet one of the women, now 81 and newly widowed , Betty. She has hired down and out Riley to move in and help care for her. She asks Riley to help track down her fellow volunteers which leads to all sorts of questions and dramas.
I really felt for these women who were treated so badly and taken advantage of. They felt they had no rights and reading this made me so angry, but glad that times have changed. The author must have done an immense amount of research going into writing this book about such a complex subject.
The audio book was narrated by the fabulous Saskia Maarleveld who is always a selling point when I am picking an audio book. She is always amazing.
Thank you so much to St Martin’s Press for my early copy of this book to read. Publishes on August 4th.
June 4, 2026
THE WOMEN IN WHITE
By Sarah Pekkanen
Narrated by Saskia Maarleveld
Inspired by real academic parapsychology experiments conducted in the 1960s, The Women in White unfolds through dual timelines: present day and 1964.
In the present, Riley works as a caretaker for Betty, a reclusive elderly woman with a mysterious past. Betty asks Riley to locate her former friends—the “Women in White”—a group of women who participated in university parapsychology experiments six decades earlier. What began as academic curiosity eventually became something far more controlling and unsettling.
Why has Betty spent so many years isolated from women who were once her closest friends? What really happened during those experiments? And why do old secrets seem to be resurfacing now?
Written in a straightforward style, the novel features short chapters and multiple points of view that keep the story moving at a steady pace. The tone is mysterious and occasionally eerie, particularly in the sections involving the parapsychology research. While the pacing remains consistent throughout, it picks up somewhat toward the end.
I’ve enjoyed several of Sarah Pekkanen’s previous novels more than this one. The premise immediately intrigued me, but the story never fully pulled me in the way I had hoped. I especially enjoyed the friendships and sense of sisterhood among Betty and the other women, and I found the 1964 timeline much more compelling than the present-day storyline. I also expected more twists and surprises than the book ultimately delivered.
Overall, it’s a solid read, but I was hoping for a stronger emotional connection and a few more unexpected turns.
Many readers have loved this novel, and I encourage you to seek out some of their reviews as well.
As for the audiobook, Saskia Maarleveld once again delivers an excellent performance. She remains one of my favorite narrators and consistently brings depth and authenticity to every story she tells.
I combined both the audiobook and ebook for this reading experience.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC, and to Macmillan Audio for the ALC.
By Sarah Pekkanen
Narrated by Saskia Maarleveld
Inspired by real academic parapsychology experiments conducted in the 1960s, The Women in White unfolds through dual timelines: present day and 1964.
In the present, Riley works as a caretaker for Betty, a reclusive elderly woman with a mysterious past. Betty asks Riley to locate her former friends—the “Women in White”—a group of women who participated in university parapsychology experiments six decades earlier. What began as academic curiosity eventually became something far more controlling and unsettling.
Why has Betty spent so many years isolated from women who were once her closest friends? What really happened during those experiments? And why do old secrets seem to be resurfacing now?
Written in a straightforward style, the novel features short chapters and multiple points of view that keep the story moving at a steady pace. The tone is mysterious and occasionally eerie, particularly in the sections involving the parapsychology research. While the pacing remains consistent throughout, it picks up somewhat toward the end.
I’ve enjoyed several of Sarah Pekkanen’s previous novels more than this one. The premise immediately intrigued me, but the story never fully pulled me in the way I had hoped. I especially enjoyed the friendships and sense of sisterhood among Betty and the other women, and I found the 1964 timeline much more compelling than the present-day storyline. I also expected more twists and surprises than the book ultimately delivered.
Overall, it’s a solid read, but I was hoping for a stronger emotional connection and a few more unexpected turns.
Many readers have loved this novel, and I encourage you to seek out some of their reviews as well.
As for the audiobook, Saskia Maarleveld once again delivers an excellent performance. She remains one of my favorite narrators and consistently brings depth and authenticity to every story she tells.
I combined both the audiobook and ebook for this reading experience.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC, and to Macmillan Audio for the ALC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Sarah Pekkenan meets historical fiction and it was pure magic.
The Women in White is fascinating and completely engrossing. It's dual timeline and multi POV was addictive and so propulsive. Every chapter end had me yearning for more, and I loved getting bounced back and forth between then and now.
The character development was superb, I will miss Betty immensely. She is so three dimensional, I cannot believe she isn't real.
There is a bit of a mystery/thriller aspect to this story, which I felt was a bit underdeveloped. If readers are after the thriller aspect, they may be disappointed, but I completely leaned into the historical fiction side, let it envelop me, and I enjoyed every moment.
To be honest, I've always been a skeptic of psychics, but Sarah may have just made a believer out of me with this heavily researched book.
The Women in White is fascinating and completely engrossing. It's dual timeline and multi POV was addictive and so propulsive. Every chapter end had me yearning for more, and I loved getting bounced back and forth between then and now.
The character development was superb, I will miss Betty immensely. She is so three dimensional, I cannot believe she isn't real.
There is a bit of a mystery/thriller aspect to this story, which I felt was a bit underdeveloped. If readers are after the thriller aspect, they may be disappointed, but I completely leaned into the historical fiction side, let it envelop me, and I enjoyed every moment.
To be honest, I've always been a skeptic of psychics, but Sarah may have just made a believer out of me with this heavily researched book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Having loved Gone Tonight and House of Glass, I was thrilled to read an advanced copy of The Women in White by Sarah Pekkanen through NetGalley. Inspired by real experiments on people with psychic abilities, the premise immediately drew me in.
A recently divorced woman becomes caretaker to an elderly widow and is pulled into a decades-old mystery involving four young women who vanished during parapsychology experiments. The dual timeline and multiple points of view kept things interesting, and I loved the domestic details of 1960s housewife life – porcupine cheese ball, anyone?
Dark but not without hope and resilience, the story features a twist I didn’t see coming and a satisfying ending. Perfect for readers who enjoy slow-burn mysteries with emotional depth and strong female friendships.
A recently divorced woman becomes caretaker to an elderly widow and is pulled into a decades-old mystery involving four young women who vanished during parapsychology experiments. The dual timeline and multiple points of view kept things interesting, and I loved the domestic details of 1960s housewife life – porcupine cheese ball, anyone?
Dark but not without hope and resilience, the story features a twist I didn’t see coming and a satisfying ending. Perfect for readers who enjoy slow-burn mysteries with emotional depth and strong female friendships.
March 24, 2026
I received this book from Goodreads giveaway.
I really enjoyed this book. I fell in love with the women in white. The ladies had amazing attitudes despite the trials they went through and supported each other. It was sad to see what happened and what tore them from one another because these things truly do happen in life. Despite the trials I do like the way, the author end of the book.
I give this five star review because it captured me. I couldn’t put the book down until I was finished. Completely got me invested into this book.
Thank you, Sara Pekkanen this is truly a great book
I really enjoyed this book. I fell in love with the women in white. The ladies had amazing attitudes despite the trials they went through and supported each other. It was sad to see what happened and what tore them from one another because these things truly do happen in life. Despite the trials I do like the way, the author end of the book.
I give this five star review because it captured me. I couldn’t put the book down until I was finished. Completely got me invested into this book.
Thank you, Sara Pekkanen this is truly a great book
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a fun one to read! If you are fascinated by top-secret, MKUltra-like mind experiments, you'll love it!
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC!
Want to Read
June 17, 2026ARC received! Thank you, Macmillan Audio. I think this one sounds fantastic. I'm super excited for it!
June 11, 2026
I loved both The Locked Ward and House of Glass, so I was very excited when I got the email that The Women in White had become available on NetGalley! This story has such a unique and interesting concept for a thriller novel.
The chapters alternate between two timelines, present day and 1964. We follow Betty, a young woman being “tested” for her ESP abilities in the past and Riley, who becomes a caretaker for Betty in the present. Riley learns that Betty’s friends, that were also part of the testing program with her, had gone missing years ago. Riley then helps Betty find her friends and discovers what took place in the past. The way the two timelines converge kept me turning the pages until I had the book finished in under 24 hours! If you enjoy an eerie character driven plot with dual timelines that also has a historical aspect, then this one is for you. Sarah Pekkanen has written another outstanding novel!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing the advance copy.
The chapters alternate between two timelines, present day and 1964. We follow Betty, a young woman being “tested” for her ESP abilities in the past and Riley, who becomes a caretaker for Betty in the present. Riley learns that Betty’s friends, that were also part of the testing program with her, had gone missing years ago. Riley then helps Betty find her friends and discovers what took place in the past. The way the two timelines converge kept me turning the pages until I had the book finished in under 24 hours! If you enjoy an eerie character driven plot with dual timelines that also has a historical aspect, then this one is for you. Sarah Pekkanen has written another outstanding novel!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing the advance copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is a story of four women with pyschic/ESP abilities and how a crazed doctor essentially used them to the point of torture for his research, findings and success.
This book has multiple points of view told in dual timelines. In the present, we follow Riley who has moved in with Betty to be her caretaker. In the past, we learn about Betty, Kathleen, Ivy and Helen. They have all been selected to work with Dr. Trimble at Marquis College in his psychology research.
It seems Betty is still living in the past. Her home is outdated, she has no television or internet. She didn't know about cell phones. Betty asks Riley to help her find her friends. Riley agrees but discovers so much more.
I loved this story. I know it is meant to be suspenseful/thrilling but it is also about friendship and being there for one another.
It is also crazy that there are so many references in the book to actual studies conducted by Duke.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book has multiple points of view told in dual timelines. In the present, we follow Riley who has moved in with Betty to be her caretaker. In the past, we learn about Betty, Kathleen, Ivy and Helen. They have all been selected to work with Dr. Trimble at Marquis College in his psychology research.
It seems Betty is still living in the past. Her home is outdated, she has no television or internet. She didn't know about cell phones. Betty asks Riley to help her find her friends. Riley agrees but discovers so much more.
I loved this story. I know it is meant to be suspenseful/thrilling but it is also about friendship and being there for one another.
It is also crazy that there are so many references in the book to actual studies conducted by Duke.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 23, 2026
I really enjoyed this book, it was a good pace and filled with suspense and mystery. I really liked the storyline and the setting. The time period was a perfect addition to the story because it just added more to the fact that the women were not believed. It was well written and loved reading about the 4 women characters. The ending was a little cheesy but I'm glad it ended off on a good note with Betty. Would recommend this to my friends. Thank you netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 30, 2026
I loved this book until it broke my trust.
For two-thirds of the novel, the story slid into my brain like melted butter. It was effortless, immersive, and deeply compelling. The alternating chapters between Riley in the present and Betty’s life in the 1960s worked beautifully. I especially loved the rich sense of time and place in the flashbacks. The food, the fashions, the language, and the social expectations of women were all vividly and thoughtfully portrayed. It made me reflect on my own mother’s generation in a way that felt personal and meaningful.
The emotional core of the novel is also a strength. I grew attached to both Riley and Betty, and I found their relationship genuinely moving. Watching their connection develop was one of the most satisfying parts of the book. Even small details, like the adoption of the dog at the end, added warmth and heart.
Unfortunately, the final third of the book lost the tightness and internal consistency that made the first two-thirds so strong. Several elements are set up early on with clear intention, but they are never fully explained or resolved.
One example that stood out to me was the issue of cell phone access. Early chapters make a point of establishing that Betty’s house is a dead zone. Riley even has to walk down the street to get a signal. This is emphasized enough that it feels purposeful. Later, however, Riley is suddenly able to text and make calls from inside the house. There is no explanation or acknowledgment of the change. Because the limitation was so clearly established, I expected it to matter. It seemed like it might even connect to the novel’s exploration of psychic ability, but it ultimately goes nowhere.
More significantly, I struggled with the central premise of Betty’s decades-long isolation. The explanation that her husband was protecting her from potential government interest may account for a period of time, but it does not fully support the idea that an intelligent, aware woman would remain almost completely cut off from the outside world for so many years without question or resistance.
On a practical level, the logistics also begin to fall apart. Over the course of decades, it becomes difficult to believe that there would be no meaningful exposure to the modern world through everyday life, or that the realities of maintaining a home would never require outside intervention.
Because so much care was taken in building the world and its rules early on, these inconsistencies stood out and ultimately broke the narrative trust the author had so successfully created.
This is what makes the experience frustrating, because so much of the book is excellent. The writing is engaging. The characters are memorable. The premise is intriguing. For most of the novel, it felt like a five-star read. In the end, the unresolved logical gaps and rushed final act made it feel uneven.
A five-star experience with a three-star ending. I’m rating this book 3 1/2 stars and as always, I round up.
Thank you, NetGalley, for giving me a free digital ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
For two-thirds of the novel, the story slid into my brain like melted butter. It was effortless, immersive, and deeply compelling. The alternating chapters between Riley in the present and Betty’s life in the 1960s worked beautifully. I especially loved the rich sense of time and place in the flashbacks. The food, the fashions, the language, and the social expectations of women were all vividly and thoughtfully portrayed. It made me reflect on my own mother’s generation in a way that felt personal and meaningful.
The emotional core of the novel is also a strength. I grew attached to both Riley and Betty, and I found their relationship genuinely moving. Watching their connection develop was one of the most satisfying parts of the book. Even small details, like the adoption of the dog at the end, added warmth and heart.
Unfortunately, the final third of the book lost the tightness and internal consistency that made the first two-thirds so strong. Several elements are set up early on with clear intention, but they are never fully explained or resolved.
One example that stood out to me was the issue of cell phone access. Early chapters make a point of establishing that Betty’s house is a dead zone. Riley even has to walk down the street to get a signal. This is emphasized enough that it feels purposeful. Later, however, Riley is suddenly able to text and make calls from inside the house. There is no explanation or acknowledgment of the change. Because the limitation was so clearly established, I expected it to matter. It seemed like it might even connect to the novel’s exploration of psychic ability, but it ultimately goes nowhere.
More significantly, I struggled with the central premise of Betty’s decades-long isolation. The explanation that her husband was protecting her from potential government interest may account for a period of time, but it does not fully support the idea that an intelligent, aware woman would remain almost completely cut off from the outside world for so many years without question or resistance.
On a practical level, the logistics also begin to fall apart. Over the course of decades, it becomes difficult to believe that there would be no meaningful exposure to the modern world through everyday life, or that the realities of maintaining a home would never require outside intervention.
Because so much care was taken in building the world and its rules early on, these inconsistencies stood out and ultimately broke the narrative trust the author had so successfully created.
This is what makes the experience frustrating, because so much of the book is excellent. The writing is engaging. The characters are memorable. The premise is intriguing. For most of the novel, it felt like a five-star read. In the end, the unresolved logical gaps and rushed final act made it feel uneven.
A five-star experience with a three-star ending. I’m rating this book 3 1/2 stars and as always, I round up.
Thank you, NetGalley, for giving me a free digital ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
January 11, 2026
As soon as I saw the email from St Martin’s Press that said I had been invited to read this title, I downloaded it and couldn’t wait to start reading. (Thank you, St Martin’s, for thinking of me!)
I love Sarah Pekkanen’s thrillers, so I didn’t even read the blurb; I went into the story completely blind.
At first, it didn’t seem like a thriller, but the tension kept ramping up and there were so many twists and turns to the plot that I couldn’t wait to see where the story would go. I literally could not turn the pages fast enough. I never intended to read the book in a single day, but I just had to know what would happen.
The present timeline had its own creepiness, but the past timeline was seriously creepy. I liked the four “women in white” as they are called in the story and the friendship that develops between them. I enjoyed the main character in the present as well. Usually when a story in told in dual timeline, I prefer one timeline over the other, but I enjoyed both here.
This was exciting and creepy and basically everything I want in a thriller. Just be warned - it is sad and depressing in spots. If you don’t mind that, this one is definitely worth the read. Highly recommend!
I love Sarah Pekkanen’s thrillers, so I didn’t even read the blurb; I went into the story completely blind.
At first, it didn’t seem like a thriller, but the tension kept ramping up and there were so many twists and turns to the plot that I couldn’t wait to see where the story would go. I literally could not turn the pages fast enough. I never intended to read the book in a single day, but I just had to know what would happen.
The present timeline had its own creepiness, but the past timeline was seriously creepy. I liked the four “women in white” as they are called in the story and the friendship that develops between them. I enjoyed the main character in the present as well. Usually when a story in told in dual timeline, I prefer one timeline over the other, but I enjoyed both here.
This was exciting and creepy and basically everything I want in a thriller. Just be warned - it is sad and depressing in spots. If you don’t mind that, this one is definitely worth the read. Highly recommend!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
After reading this book, I can't help but wonder if NetGalley or someone is running an experiment to see how many people respond, read, and finish this excellent book in the 24 hour limit? Is it really a 24 hour limit? How many of us dropped everything and read it within the 24 hours and deeply enjoyed it? With my own background long ago in Psychology, I found this book extremely disturbing and riveting at the same time. Good job Sarah and thank you for a satisfying ending. I appreciate the research notes as well. Now the question is, do you believe in ESP? I do and encourage others to not ignore these nudges.
February 11, 2026
This one really deserves the half star that I can't give it, so maybe I should round up to 4 stars. I loved the back and forth with the pov - switching from present day with Riley's perspective as she takes on the job of caring for elderly Betty and Betty's point of view in the 1960s as a newly married young woman who has just signed up to volunteer as a research subject. The para-psychological aspect was fascinating, and the added quotes from actual scientific papers really added to the story. The tension and mystery surrounding what happened between the two story lines and the thrill of the end really worked here. I love Pekkanen's other work, so I had high expectations for this, but I feel at times the writing didn't have the depth or maturity that the subject matter called for... There is momentum in the story, but not that nuance that really creates the right mood and atmosphere... Overall, I enjoyed it!
Many thanks for Netgalley and St Martins Press (always!) for the opportunity to read this newest work from one of the queens of suspense.
Many thanks for Netgalley and St Martins Press (always!) for the opportunity to read this newest work from one of the queens of suspense.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5⭐️
This is told in a past pov/present-day pov (no idea what this is actually called?) between Betty, who was part of parapsychology in the 60s and Riley, who has recently moved in with a now 80 year-old Betty to be here caregiver. The past pov was much more interesting tbh, with Betty as a young woman getting involved with the experiments and the relationships with her three friends.
I won't like though the past pov made me fume now and then. I understand it was the 60s and these women held very little power, but they just continued to go along with the experiments! Like the crazy doctor just pushed his way in to running their entire lives and everyone just seemed to be okay with that?
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing team for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is told in a past pov/present-day pov (no idea what this is actually called?) between Betty, who was part of parapsychology in the 60s and Riley, who has recently moved in with a now 80 year-old Betty to be here caregiver. The past pov was much more interesting tbh, with Betty as a young woman getting involved with the experiments and the relationships with her three friends.
I won't like though the past pov made me fume now and then. I understand it was the 60s and these women held very little power, but they just continued to go along with the experiments! Like the crazy doctor just pushed his way in to running their entire lives and everyone just seemed to be okay with that?
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing team for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 31, 2026
4.5 stars review to come
April 2, 2026
I really liked this book!! I am not usually drawn in to paranormal stories but this one really pulled me in!! The author gave many real examples of research at universities and the government where studies and experiments have been done on patients and this helped make the storylines more compelling and believable. I loved the characters Riley and Betty and the back and forth between the current day and the 60’s when the experiments were being done on Betty and the other women.
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC! I think it is destined to be a hot!!
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC! I think it is destined to be a hot!!
May 26, 2026
3.5 stars this book was giving Stranger Things but the ending was pretty lackluster.
April 15, 2026
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This story flashes back and forth between present day and the 1960s. In present day Riley, a young woman is hired to take care of a Betty- a wheel chair bound octogenarian. Riley is desperate for the job and is surprised to get it so easily.
There is a minor mystery here ( felt a bit rushed) but the heart of the story takes place in the 60s. As a newlywed, Betty has attracted the attention of Dr Trimble who is studying psychic abilities at a nearby University. It would seem that Betty has always had an uncanny ability to just “know” things. She along with three other women are selected to participate in Psychic experiments. The experiments get more and more intense and restrictive ( they are not allows the leave the basement laboratory for days at time, are sleep deprived, must all dress in identical white dresses). The women being compliant “good girls" began to suffer mentally and physically. I had a hard time reading some of the scenes where they were being mentally abused. I wanted to throttle them for not standing up for themselves and saying “enough”, but realize that was the cultural norm for that period. Their husbands were oddly ok with whatever this sadistic man did to their wives- even when they were pregnant.
Having read and loved other books by Sarah Pekkanen- this one didn’t tie up the plot holes or deliver the shocking twists as well as I expected. I rated 3 stars because it was an enjoyable and interesting read even if it didn’t live up to it’s potential.
This story flashes back and forth between present day and the 1960s. In present day Riley, a young woman is hired to take care of a Betty- a wheel chair bound octogenarian. Riley is desperate for the job and is surprised to get it so easily.
There is a minor mystery here ( felt a bit rushed) but the heart of the story takes place in the 60s. As a newlywed, Betty has attracted the attention of Dr Trimble who is studying psychic abilities at a nearby University. It would seem that Betty has always had an uncanny ability to just “know” things. She along with three other women are selected to participate in Psychic experiments. The experiments get more and more intense and restrictive ( they are not allows the leave the basement laboratory for days at time, are sleep deprived, must all dress in identical white dresses). The women being compliant “good girls" began to suffer mentally and physically. I had a hard time reading some of the scenes where they were being mentally abused. I wanted to throttle them for not standing up for themselves and saying “enough”, but realize that was the cultural norm for that period. Their husbands were oddly ok with whatever this sadistic man did to their wives- even when they were pregnant.
Having read and loved other books by Sarah Pekkanen- this one didn’t tie up the plot holes or deliver the shocking twists as well as I expected. I rated 3 stars because it was an enjoyable and interesting read even if it didn’t live up to it’s potential.
January 31, 2026
I don’t know what happened to this book around the 60% mark, but it absolutely fell apart. The premise was solid, and then the story just… unraveled.
Scenes became unclear and disjointed, forcing rereads not out of intrigue but confusion. Some scenes are weighed down with pointless detail, while others—where clarity actually matters—are barely sketched in. It feels unfinished, like whole connective pieces never made it into the final draft.
There are the inconsistencies and implausibilities that completely break immersion: Riley’s phone magically works in Betty’s house after being firmly established that it doesn’t, the girls are housed in a basement dormitory yet somehow respond to the doctor “calling from the kitchen,” in 1964 Betty gets a recorded voice “the number you have reached is no longer in service.”, and then there’s the moment when Riley suggested she might hide behind a door to knockout a person (I won’t spoil it with a name) with a chair. Really? A person AND a chair tucked discreetly behind a door? At that point, I stopped questioning the plot and started questioning the editing. I was constantly getting annoyed with the ridiculousness and then the explanations of the ridiculousness.
I nearly DNF’d this at 75%, again at 84%, and again near 90%, but stubbornly finished. The ending felt rushed, sloppy, and honestly a little insulting after all that buildup. What could have been a strong novel instead fizzles out in a mess of confusion and implausibility.
📖⭐️⭐️👎🏻
Scenes became unclear and disjointed, forcing rereads not out of intrigue but confusion. Some scenes are weighed down with pointless detail, while others—where clarity actually matters—are barely sketched in. It feels unfinished, like whole connective pieces never made it into the final draft.
There are the inconsistencies and implausibilities that completely break immersion: Riley’s phone magically works in Betty’s house after being firmly established that it doesn’t, the girls are housed in a basement dormitory yet somehow respond to the doctor “calling from the kitchen,” in 1964 Betty gets a recorded voice “the number you have reached is no longer in service.”, and then there’s the moment when Riley suggested she might hide behind a door to knockout a person (I won’t spoil it with a name) with a chair. Really? A person AND a chair tucked discreetly behind a door? At that point, I stopped questioning the plot and started questioning the editing. I was constantly getting annoyed with the ridiculousness and then the explanations of the ridiculousness.
I nearly DNF’d this at 75%, again at 84%, and again near 90%, but stubbornly finished. The ending felt rushed, sloppy, and honestly a little insulting after all that buildup. What could have been a strong novel instead fizzles out in a mess of confusion and implausibility.
📖⭐️⭐️👎🏻
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