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The Woman with Two Shadows
For fans of Atomic City Girls and The Secrets We Kept, a fascinating historical debut of one of the most closely held secrets of World War II and a woman caught up in it when she follows her missing sister to the mysterious city of Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
Lillian Kaufman hasn't heard from her twin sister since Eleanor left for a mysterious job at an Army base somewhere in Tennessee. When she learns, on an unexpected phone call, that Eleanor is missing, Lillian takes a train from New York down to Oak Ridge to clear up the matter.
It turns out that the only way into Oak Ridge is to assume Eleanor's identity, which Lillian plans to do swiftly and perfectly. But Eleanor has vanished without a trace―and she's not the only one. And how do you find someone in a town so dangerous it doesn't officially exist, when technically you don't exist either?
Lillian is thrust into the epicenter of the gravest scientific undertaking of all time, with no idea who she can trust. And the more she pretends to be Eleanor, the more she loses her grip on herself.
Lillian Kaufman hasn't heard from her twin sister since Eleanor left for a mysterious job at an Army base somewhere in Tennessee. When she learns, on an unexpected phone call, that Eleanor is missing, Lillian takes a train from New York down to Oak Ridge to clear up the matter.
It turns out that the only way into Oak Ridge is to assume Eleanor's identity, which Lillian plans to do swiftly and perfectly. But Eleanor has vanished without a trace―and she's not the only one. And how do you find someone in a town so dangerous it doesn't officially exist, when technically you don't exist either?
Lillian is thrust into the epicenter of the gravest scientific undertaking of all time, with no idea who she can trust. And the more she pretends to be Eleanor, the more she loses her grip on herself.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 26, 2022
223 people are currently reading
8894 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews
July 26, 2022
Lillian Kaufman hasn’t heard from her twin sister Eleanor since she left for her new job at an army base in Tennessee, and she can’t understand why her sister who wants to be an actress is working there? She receives a phone call, Eleanor is missing and the whole situation is rather odd and she decides to visit Oak Ridge.
When she arrives in Knoxville, she boards the company bus and pretends to be Eleanor. Lillian is smart, it shouldn’t be too hard to quickly find her sister and return to New York to continue her studies. Her roommate thinks Lillian is Eleanor, she doesn't question where she's been, and it looks like all her belongings are still present. Eleanor has vanished into thin air, how a person disappear in such a place, surrounded by barbed wire and with high security. Eleanor isn’t the only person to go missing, a cleaner called Betty, her boyfriend went to bases hospital, he’s gone without leaving a trace, and Lillian is determined to solve the mystery of both disappearances.
Where Eleanor works is a large white building, Lillian can’t understand why so many women are sitting on chairs and turning nobs and dials on machines twenty four hours a day? She has no idea they're generating fissile uranium and plutonium to create the atomic bomb and the hospital is using radioactive substances on people.
Lillian is drawn into the most secretive scientific undertaking of it’s time, she has no idea who she can trust, and two men Eleanor has had romantic relationships with are both working at Oak Ridge! Mr. Max Medelson and a Dr. Andrew Ennis and could either one of them have something do to with Eleanor’s disappearance?
I received a copy of The Woman with Two Shadows by Sarah James from Edelweiss and Sourcebooks in exchange for an honest review. The story certainly had a lot of potential, with the mystery around what was happening at Oak Ridge, such a large facility and how it was kept a secret from everyone. My main issue was with the relationship between the sisters, I couldn’t understand Lillian’s attitude towards Eleanor, she seemed rather selfish to me, and I wish the authors debut novel focused more on the secret work they were doing at Oak Ridge, and four stars from me.
When she arrives in Knoxville, she boards the company bus and pretends to be Eleanor. Lillian is smart, it shouldn’t be too hard to quickly find her sister and return to New York to continue her studies. Her roommate thinks Lillian is Eleanor, she doesn't question where she's been, and it looks like all her belongings are still present. Eleanor has vanished into thin air, how a person disappear in such a place, surrounded by barbed wire and with high security. Eleanor isn’t the only person to go missing, a cleaner called Betty, her boyfriend went to bases hospital, he’s gone without leaving a trace, and Lillian is determined to solve the mystery of both disappearances.
Where Eleanor works is a large white building, Lillian can’t understand why so many women are sitting on chairs and turning nobs and dials on machines twenty four hours a day? She has no idea they're generating fissile uranium and plutonium to create the atomic bomb and the hospital is using radioactive substances on people.
Lillian is drawn into the most secretive scientific undertaking of it’s time, she has no idea who she can trust, and two men Eleanor has had romantic relationships with are both working at Oak Ridge! Mr. Max Medelson and a Dr. Andrew Ennis and could either one of them have something do to with Eleanor’s disappearance?
I received a copy of The Woman with Two Shadows by Sarah James from Edelweiss and Sourcebooks in exchange for an honest review. The story certainly had a lot of potential, with the mystery around what was happening at Oak Ridge, such a large facility and how it was kept a secret from everyone. My main issue was with the relationship between the sisters, I couldn’t understand Lillian’s attitude towards Eleanor, she seemed rather selfish to me, and I wish the authors debut novel focused more on the secret work they were doing at Oak Ridge, and four stars from me.
July 22, 2022
The book is based on an interesting premise of being set in a secret military facility during WWII and having twins of whom one impersonates the other. Unfortunately, I just didn't find the story engaging nor the characters likeable.
Lillian is a physics student, who looks after her widowed mother. Eleanor is her identical twin, but who unlike Lillian is very much sociable and into theatre and drama. When Lillian gets a call from Eleanor's boyfriend Max to say she has disappeared while working at a military facility, Lillian feels obliged to head there and find out more. When she arrives she is mistaken for Eleanor and decides to play along.
I can see that others have really enjoyed this book, and I have to say it is well written and researched. For me, it was just missing something and while I cannot personally recommend it, don't let me deter anyone else who may be interested in reading it.
Thank you SourceBooks Landmark and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this digital ARC.
Lillian is a physics student, who looks after her widowed mother. Eleanor is her identical twin, but who unlike Lillian is very much sociable and into theatre and drama. When Lillian gets a call from Eleanor's boyfriend Max to say she has disappeared while working at a military facility, Lillian feels obliged to head there and find out more. When she arrives she is mistaken for Eleanor and decides to play along.
I can see that others have really enjoyed this book, and I have to say it is well written and researched. For me, it was just missing something and while I cannot personally recommend it, don't let me deter anyone else who may be interested in reading it.
Thank you SourceBooks Landmark and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this digital ARC.
May 24, 2022
Why did you do me like that with that ending 🥺.
First off this advanced copy has whiter pages than a kindle and is soft as butter. I just wanted to hold it and that was before I started reading it! A wonderful story I devoured in a day! A fun intriguing read! I haven’t spoken to my sister in more than monosyllables for more than ten years. I might call her, maybe later.
First off this advanced copy has whiter pages than a kindle and is soft as butter. I just wanted to hold it and that was before I started reading it! A wonderful story I devoured in a day! A fun intriguing read! I haven’t spoken to my sister in more than monosyllables for more than ten years. I might call her, maybe later.
September 12, 2022
This book is based on a real place Oak Ridge, Tennessee established in 1942 by the government as a secret location (specifically the Clinton Engineering Works) to carry out top secret experiments.
NYC twins Lillian and Eleanor are identical only in looks, their personalities are as different as two people can be. Lillian is the brainy one and Eleanor is the artsy one (…Lillian wanted to solve equations and Eleanor wanted to brush her eyebrows. - Pg.247).
It is Eleanor who goes off to Oak Ridge following her boyfriend who volunteers when the government calls.
Shortly thereafter the boyfriend calls and informs Lillian that Eleanor is missing and Lillian goes to find her.
When she arrives she is mistaken for Eleanor and immediately fits right in with girls Eleanor has been living with for months. She even manages to take on Eleanor’s job without anyone noticing that she has no idea what the hell she is doing.
Page 90 – June 1945 – Lillian has just arrived: first paragraph “…she’d have to tiptoe to avoid waking the roommate whose name she still didn’t know.” Second paragraph: “…afraid Emmy would see her…”
Then we have a threesome romance involving spurned lovers.
To call this a novel of WWII is TOTALLY misleading.
The premise of this book is so preposterous as to make it a comedy. I read to the end only to find out what happened to Eleanor. Two stars is generous and only because I read to the end.
NYC twins Lillian and Eleanor are identical only in looks, their personalities are as different as two people can be. Lillian is the brainy one and Eleanor is the artsy one (…Lillian wanted to solve equations and Eleanor wanted to brush her eyebrows. - Pg.247).
It is Eleanor who goes off to Oak Ridge following her boyfriend who volunteers when the government calls.
Shortly thereafter the boyfriend calls and informs Lillian that Eleanor is missing and Lillian goes to find her.
When she arrives she is mistaken for Eleanor and immediately fits right in with girls Eleanor has been living with for months. She even manages to take on Eleanor’s job without anyone noticing that she has no idea what the hell she is doing.
Page 90 – June 1945 – Lillian has just arrived: first paragraph “…she’d have to tiptoe to avoid waking the roommate whose name she still didn’t know.” Second paragraph: “…afraid Emmy would see her…”
Then we have a threesome romance involving spurned lovers.
To call this a novel of WWII is TOTALLY misleading.
The premise of this book is so preposterous as to make it a comedy. I read to the end only to find out what happened to Eleanor. Two stars is generous and only because I read to the end.
March 24, 2022
First let me thank Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for me honest review. I was happy to read this book, and I am happy to provide my honest review.
I knew nothing going into this book about the camp in Tennessee and its association with the Manhattan Project. So right off the bat this book had an interesting premise, hence my interest.
What I enjoyed: finding out more about the inner workings of the Manhattan project, and realizing just how large in scope the project was. I found it interesting that they were conducting experiments on people with radioactive materials, and that they were doing this well past the time of Germany's surrender.
The perspective of the scientists on this project, who sought to push the technology in spite of the obvious moral dilemma a weapon of that magnitude posed is compelling. How do we not see these scientists as mad men?
I was disappointed in the lack of exploration into the medical experimentation, frankly that was such an interesting component to this story, its what held my attention, but Lillian's trip into the hospital and their learning what happened to Betty's boyfriend, was so short and abrupt that there was really no conclusion. It was like, this happened, it horrible, but that's it, time to move on to the love story.
Lillian is not a likable character. I think the author tried to make her complex, the dichotomy of the twins was certainly interesting. But Lillian herself was not at all likable. And the love story between her and Ennis, is sort of a strange addition. The character of Ennis himself, was probably my favorite. He was complex, he had secrets, he was the madman scientists pushing the envelope beyond what is deemed moral.
I don't know, I felt like this story didn't go in the direction I thought it would, and therefore the story wasn't quite as compelling as I had hoped. The writing itself was good, it certainly kept my attention. I would have enjoyed more exploration into the human experimentation and the results of the testing of the bombs. And of course an afterward where the characters are force to come to some sort of grip with their role in the morality of creating the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki? did they feel remorse for that? Was the tragedy of the story merely a casualty in the name of progress and intellectual superiority?
I knew nothing going into this book about the camp in Tennessee and its association with the Manhattan Project. So right off the bat this book had an interesting premise, hence my interest.
What I enjoyed: finding out more about the inner workings of the Manhattan project, and realizing just how large in scope the project was. I found it interesting that they were conducting experiments on people with radioactive materials, and that they were doing this well past the time of Germany's surrender.
The perspective of the scientists on this project, who sought to push the technology in spite of the obvious moral dilemma a weapon of that magnitude posed is compelling. How do we not see these scientists as mad men?
I was disappointed in the lack of exploration into the medical experimentation, frankly that was such an interesting component to this story, its what held my attention, but Lillian's trip into the hospital and their learning what happened to Betty's boyfriend, was so short and abrupt that there was really no conclusion. It was like, this happened, it horrible, but that's it, time to move on to the love story.
Lillian is not a likable character. I think the author tried to make her complex, the dichotomy of the twins was certainly interesting. But Lillian herself was not at all likable. And the love story between her and Ennis, is sort of a strange addition. The character of Ennis himself, was probably my favorite. He was complex, he had secrets, he was the madman scientists pushing the envelope beyond what is deemed moral.
I don't know, I felt like this story didn't go in the direction I thought it would, and therefore the story wasn't quite as compelling as I had hoped. The writing itself was good, it certainly kept my attention. I would have enjoyed more exploration into the human experimentation and the results of the testing of the bombs. And of course an afterward where the characters are force to come to some sort of grip with their role in the morality of creating the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki? did they feel remorse for that? Was the tragedy of the story merely a casualty in the name of progress and intellectual superiority?
February 15, 2022
THE WOMAN WITH TWO SHADOWS is a twisting, atmospheric page-turner. Sarah James’s debut, which is set against a part of America’s World War II history long shrouded in secret, feels fresh and new, filled with complex characters and plenty of intrigue. You won’t be able to put this one down!
June 12, 2022
“We built something terrible. We’ve made the world terrible. How can you not see that? How can you not feel the weight of that inside you?”
This is an ABSOLUTELY FASCINATING debut historical novel about one of the most closely held secrets of WW2 and a woman caught up in it when she follows her missing sister to the mysterious city of Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
If you are a STEM teacher or simply interested in learning more about the Manhattan Project, this book will most definitely appeal to you.
Like the author, I found it surprising that a group of the smartest Americans in 1943-1945, ones who daily question everything and rely on evidence, could so easily press pause and ‘stop thinking’ when it suited them. Here was a town of several thousand people doing various seemingly menial, but extremely necessary jobs, day in and day out without knowing how they were helping the war effort. How could they live like that?! Wouldn’t you want to know?! Only a handful could be trusted with the secret of the atom bomb and were threatened if they ever talked about their job to outsiders! Oak Ridge, TN was a secret city. It wasn’t on a map, its existence was never acknowledged by the government during the war, and almost none of the residents know that they were working on a new type of bomb, only some kind of war effort. I’m curious to find out how the knowledge of what they had been doing affected them after Hiroshima.
Since learning about the Manhatten Project, I’ve questioned how history would have been different had the scientists and calutron girls working on the fusion reactions known what they were developing.
If you enjoy mysteries, cover-ups, missing people, and conspiracy theories, this is a good read! I loved the name-dropping of famous mathematicians and scientists and appreciated the fabulous lessons the author presented in furthering our knowledge in this field. Congratulations to the author for a great title and to the graphic design team for a fabulous cover.
I’m still thinking about Lillian putting on Eleanor’s boots and the realization that occurred!
Somewhat forgotten after the war, the calutron girls’ stories are making a comeback. Now I’m excited to read Kiernan’s “The Girls of Atomic City” and Beard’s “The Atomic City Girls.”
This advance copy was gifted to me by Sarah James, SOURCEBOOKS Landmark, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
This is an ABSOLUTELY FASCINATING debut historical novel about one of the most closely held secrets of WW2 and a woman caught up in it when she follows her missing sister to the mysterious city of Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
If you are a STEM teacher or simply interested in learning more about the Manhattan Project, this book will most definitely appeal to you.
Like the author, I found it surprising that a group of the smartest Americans in 1943-1945, ones who daily question everything and rely on evidence, could so easily press pause and ‘stop thinking’ when it suited them. Here was a town of several thousand people doing various seemingly menial, but extremely necessary jobs, day in and day out without knowing how they were helping the war effort. How could they live like that?! Wouldn’t you want to know?! Only a handful could be trusted with the secret of the atom bomb and were threatened if they ever talked about their job to outsiders! Oak Ridge, TN was a secret city. It wasn’t on a map, its existence was never acknowledged by the government during the war, and almost none of the residents know that they were working on a new type of bomb, only some kind of war effort. I’m curious to find out how the knowledge of what they had been doing affected them after Hiroshima.
Since learning about the Manhatten Project, I’ve questioned how history would have been different had the scientists and calutron girls working on the fusion reactions known what they were developing.
If you enjoy mysteries, cover-ups, missing people, and conspiracy theories, this is a good read! I loved the name-dropping of famous mathematicians and scientists and appreciated the fabulous lessons the author presented in furthering our knowledge in this field. Congratulations to the author for a great title and to the graphic design team for a fabulous cover.
I’m still thinking about Lillian putting on Eleanor’s boots and the realization that occurred!
Somewhat forgotten after the war, the calutron girls’ stories are making a comeback. Now I’m excited to read Kiernan’s “The Girls of Atomic City” and Beard’s “The Atomic City Girls.”
This advance copy was gifted to me by Sarah James, SOURCEBOOKS Landmark, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
December 28, 2021
I just find this book as meh at best, and infuriating at worst. I, personally, cannot relate to this main character. Lillian is definitely neurodivergent, but her ND presents as calculating, single-minded, strategic, and cold. This isn't necessarily bad, but it does make her selfish, and I cannot relate to this. My neurodivergency is near opposite to Lillian's, and I cannot image betraying my sister, let alone my twin in the way Lillian did in this book.
I didn't really find the story that believable, either, especially Lillian's interest in a man who abused her sister. Maybe this story is accurate to events in WWII, but reading this book did not give me confidence that this is how events played out.
I'm sure that there will be readers who enjoy this story and can even relate to Lillian, but I am not one of them. Hopefully, our patrons who check this book out will find the story likeable, but I would not rush to recommend this book to them.
I didn't really find the story that believable, either, especially Lillian's interest in a man who abused her sister. Maybe this story is accurate to events in WWII, but reading this book did not give me confidence that this is how events played out.
I'm sure that there will be readers who enjoy this story and can even relate to Lillian, but I am not one of them. Hopefully, our patrons who check this book out will find the story likeable, but I would not rush to recommend this book to them.
August 1, 2022
2.5 stars rounded down. So disappointing.
I was really, really looking forward to this book. I even pre-ordered it, and, well, what a waste. My family is from Clinton, TN and my great aunt was a switchboard operator at Oak Ridge during WWII. My Grandma, who was a child then, would sneak into Oak Ridge to go visit her sister. So seeing this book talk about the same holes in fences that my Grandma would use was the only saving grace of this book.
All the characters are trash. I had figured out whodunnit pretty quick, and, did I mention how all the characters were trash? Outside of Betty, not a single sympathetic one in the bunch.
I wish I could recommend this. Alas, I cannot.
I was really, really looking forward to this book. I even pre-ordered it, and, well, what a waste. My family is from Clinton, TN and my great aunt was a switchboard operator at Oak Ridge during WWII. My Grandma, who was a child then, would sneak into Oak Ridge to go visit her sister. So seeing this book talk about the same holes in fences that my Grandma would use was the only saving grace of this book.
All the characters are trash. I had figured out whodunnit pretty quick, and, did I mention how all the characters were trash? Outside of Betty, not a single sympathetic one in the bunch.
I wish I could recommend this. Alas, I cannot.
August 3, 2022
📚 Hello Book Friends! THE WOMAN WITH TWO SHADOWS by Sarah James was a slow burn mystery. It is about a woman who is determined to solve the mystery of her twin’s disappearance by taking her place in a highly secretive military operation in 1945. Lillian’s efforts were remarkable, but the ending was not as satisfying. I enjoyed the background story about the making of the first atom bomb. Lots of interesting facts were offered in the book. Overall, it is a good read.
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December 3, 2022
This novel reads almost like a thriller - Lillian and Eleanor are twin sisters who have fallen out. Nevertheless, when Eleanor is missing (after signing up to work for the army at a secret facility in Tennessee), Lillian endeavors to retrace her sister's steps to find out where she might have gone. Things take an unexpected turn, however, when Lillian is mistaken for her sister and she ends up taking up her sister's job and even her relationship with a temperamental physicist. As Lillian seeks her sister, she uncovers a number of secrets about the Oak Ridge facility in Tennessee and the man her sister was seeing. Overall, this novel made for a compelling, almost impulsive story that easily hooked me as a reader.
June 18, 2022
Lillian and Eleanor are twins and complete opposites. Lillian is brainy, smart, planning to go to Harvard for graduate school, she is socially awkward and a introvert, prefering to be in a lab or with a book than interacting with other people. Eleanor is a outgoing social butterfly who is intent upon pursuing an acting career, loves the latest fashions and whose social calendar is always full. After a betrayal and falling out between the two sisters Eleanor takes a mysterious job somewhere in Tennessee.. Lillian hasn't heard from her in months when she gets a frantic phone call that Eleanor has disappeared.
From that point on I will tell no more so as not to give any spoilers.I enjoyed this story it did hold my interest and some of the historical facts, like the size of the army base village where the Manhattan Project was developed, the scope of it was amazing, they had their own city, hidden away, a fully functional city like any other in the country, just secret. The secrecy amazes me, that something that size could even be kept a secret is amazing.
What I did not like about this book was for one, Lillian, her character is not likeable, she is selfish and self-centered. I also do not think the scientists were portrayed very realistically, but who knows, that is just my opinion. The story does grab you and leads you through a twisting, turning path to the deadly conclusion which just made me angry at the end! This book is nicely paced and I read it in a day.
I will give it a 4 star rating and recommend to historical fiction fans who want a fast paced adventure along with a dose of historical facts.
Thank you to the publishers at Source Books Landmark and to Net Galley for the free ARC, I am leaving my honest review in return.
From that point on I will tell no more so as not to give any spoilers.I enjoyed this story it did hold my interest and some of the historical facts, like the size of the army base village where the Manhattan Project was developed, the scope of it was amazing, they had their own city, hidden away, a fully functional city like any other in the country, just secret. The secrecy amazes me, that something that size could even be kept a secret is amazing.
What I did not like about this book was for one, Lillian, her character is not likeable, she is selfish and self-centered. I also do not think the scientists were portrayed very realistically, but who knows, that is just my opinion. The story does grab you and leads you through a twisting, turning path to the deadly conclusion which just made me angry at the end! This book is nicely paced and I read it in a day.
I will give it a 4 star rating and recommend to historical fiction fans who want a fast paced adventure along with a dose of historical facts.
Thank you to the publishers at Source Books Landmark and to Net Galley for the free ARC, I am leaving my honest review in return.
December 23, 2022
*SPOILERS*
GOOD:
- It was interesting to read a tad about physicists, the development of the atom bomb, and radioactive materials during the '40's.
- Lillian was an interesting character.
THE BAD:
- The title has nothing to do with the book. Sure, Lillian is a twin, and the shadow reference is probably referring to the shadows of atom bomb victims in Japan. But that's a real stretch. And the Japan bombing do not occur in this book.
- The novel does take place near the end of WWII, but to me it didn't feel like a WWII novel. Contrary to other references her in this review, it was more of a relationship, family, love story, mystery kind if novel.
- In reading the Author's note regarding true facts and historical research, it's my belief that certain facts were grossly exaggerated for the sake of the novel's short timeframe.
CONCLUSION: Worth a beach read day, but don't expect anything to historically or emotionally highbrow.
GOOD:
- It was interesting to read a tad about physicists, the development of the atom bomb, and radioactive materials during the '40's.
- Lillian was an interesting character.
THE BAD:
- The title has nothing to do with the book. Sure, Lillian is a twin, and the shadow reference is probably referring to the shadows of atom bomb victims in Japan. But that's a real stretch. And the Japan bombing do not occur in this book.
- The novel does take place near the end of WWII, but to me it didn't feel like a WWII novel. Contrary to other references her in this review, it was more of a relationship, family, love story, mystery kind if novel.
- In reading the Author's note regarding true facts and historical research, it's my belief that certain facts were grossly exaggerated for the sake of the novel's short timeframe.
CONCLUSION: Worth a beach read day, but don't expect anything to historically or emotionally highbrow.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2023
I really enjoyed this book, but the ending was less than satisfying. It kept me turning the pages all the way to the end, but I expected that the ending could have had more of a twist or a more solid resolution.
January 19, 2024
Parts were good. A few parts were great. Momentum was mostly good. But the ending was awful. At least it was for me. Felt the ending was rushed. Also, REALLY disliked every single character besides Betty.
August 15, 2025
The Woman with Two Shadows is a thrilling historical fiction novel based in 1945 about a woman's missing twin and the Manhattan Project.
Lillian Kauffman is a physics student studying to get into Harvard when she receives a call from her sister's boyfriend that her identical twin sister, Eleanor, has gone missing while working at an army base in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Lillian immediately goes to Oak Ridge and finds that her sister may have been caught up in something more clandestine. In order to uncover the truth, she must assume her sister's identity while working in the U.S. Army's secret engineering site. As the circumstances surrounding her sister's disappearance seem suspicious, she enlists the help of a brilliant physicist, Andrew Ennis. While working alongside Andrew, shocking secrets are revealed that put her and her sister's life in peril.
This book had such an interesting plot, and I enjoyed the elements surrounding the Manhattan Project. Since my mind was searching for something more sinister, I was disappointed when the book was wrapping up too nicely, but in the very last chapter, Sarah James throws in a jarring plot twist that completely redeemed the entire book. I was pleasantly surprised with the ending and felt like the very last chapter had the full momentum that the middle chapters lacked. What an entertaining novel! It did have a bit of language and suggestive scenes (fade to black romantic scenes), but the story itself was well done.
If you enjoy historical fiction novels surrounding the fusion bomb, you will enjoy this book.
Lillian Kauffman is a physics student studying to get into Harvard when she receives a call from her sister's boyfriend that her identical twin sister, Eleanor, has gone missing while working at an army base in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Lillian immediately goes to Oak Ridge and finds that her sister may have been caught up in something more clandestine. In order to uncover the truth, she must assume her sister's identity while working in the U.S. Army's secret engineering site. As the circumstances surrounding her sister's disappearance seem suspicious, she enlists the help of a brilliant physicist, Andrew Ennis. While working alongside Andrew, shocking secrets are revealed that put her and her sister's life in peril.
This book had such an interesting plot, and I enjoyed the elements surrounding the Manhattan Project. Since my mind was searching for something more sinister, I was disappointed when the book was wrapping up too nicely, but in the very last chapter, Sarah James throws in a jarring plot twist that completely redeemed the entire book. I was pleasantly surprised with the ending and felt like the very last chapter had the full momentum that the middle chapters lacked. What an entertaining novel! It did have a bit of language and suggestive scenes (fade to black romantic scenes), but the story itself was well done.
If you enjoy historical fiction novels surrounding the fusion bomb, you will enjoy this book.
July 17, 2022
3.5 stars. The premise of this story really intrigued me, and there were a lot of parts I liked. In particular, the suspense of what happened to Eleanor and what was happening in Tennesse made me invested in this storyline. However, knowing that the inspiration for this story was the Manhattan Project, I feel the author dropped the ball and missed an opportunity to really develop what was happening behind the scenes (purposely vague to avoid spoilers). Instead, she kind of glossed over it and continued on with the storyline. I would have liked a bit more of the "historical," but the author seemed to really prioritize the "fiction." I also think that a more linear storyline might have helped enhance the reading experience-- the interspersed flashbacks were a little disorienting and confusing at times.
Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for my ARC. Publication date: 7/26/22
Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for my ARC. Publication date: 7/26/22
July 9, 2022
The Woman with Two Shadows will slowly draw you into the mysterious disappearance of Lillian's twin sister Eleanor.
When Lillian receives that terrible phone call that Eleanor is missing she drops everything and hurries to Manhattan where Eleanor is working on a secret mysterious job.
Lillian is easily able to impersonate her twin so the hunt for Eleanor begins.
Who can Lillian trust.
The story picks up the pace , the tension mounts and that's all I can say without giving anything away.
The Woman with Two Shadows is a fantastic debut novel and I can't wait to see what Sarah James writes next.
Thanks to Net Galley and Sourcebook Landmark for a intriguing read I wont soon forget.
When Lillian receives that terrible phone call that Eleanor is missing she drops everything and hurries to Manhattan where Eleanor is working on a secret mysterious job.
Lillian is easily able to impersonate her twin so the hunt for Eleanor begins.
Who can Lillian trust.
The story picks up the pace , the tension mounts and that's all I can say without giving anything away.
The Woman with Two Shadows is a fantastic debut novel and I can't wait to see what Sarah James writes next.
Thanks to Net Galley and Sourcebook Landmark for a intriguing read I wont soon forget.
May 26, 2024
It literally took me over a year to finish this book.
It isn’t bad but it definitely could not keep my attention. I thought at first I just wasn’t in the mood for the WWII setting, but upon reflection, don’t think that is the case
I thought the main character was so terribly boring. Even considering the story from the point of view of an overly pragmatic mind, I did not find Lilian’s motives or thought processes interesting, or genuine. Trying to look at it from the overly selfish and thoughtless main character perspective also didn’t have me engaged.
It took too long to get even remotely interesting. I have never taken this long to read 381 pages before. I’m glad I finished it and more than happy to move on without this book lurking in the shadows, waiting to be finished.
It isn’t bad but it definitely could not keep my attention. I thought at first I just wasn’t in the mood for the WWII setting, but upon reflection, don’t think that is the case
I thought the main character was so terribly boring. Even considering the story from the point of view of an overly pragmatic mind, I did not find Lilian’s motives or thought processes interesting, or genuine. Trying to look at it from the overly selfish and thoughtless main character perspective also didn’t have me engaged.
It took too long to get even remotely interesting. I have never taken this long to read 381 pages before. I’m glad I finished it and more than happy to move on without this book lurking in the shadows, waiting to be finished.
December 28, 2024
This is was an interesting read in that I didn’t quite enjoy it at any point, but once I was decently into it, I couldn’t put it down. I didn’t like any of the characters, the main character’s goals changed so many times in the story I lost track of what was originally happening, everyone died, everyone is a terrible person, and the original goal from the beginning…we’re not even told if that happens. There is no happy ending in this book for anyone. I don’t recommend, but I’ll happily talk about it in more detail with you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2022
The bones of this story are good, taking place as the first atomic bomb is being developed in 1945. There were lots of opportunities to explore important issues like the morality of creating a bomb with such killing potential, like plutonium testing on mostly unsuspecting people, even like the difficulties faced by women wanting a career in physics. Unfortunately, none of those were examined with much depth so the novel felt lightweight. The characters were well developed; the unlikeableness (is that even a word?) of each did add to their believability.
Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC to read and review.
Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC to read and review.
January 15, 2023
From debut author Sarah James, we get a thrilling and well-written story crafted against an interesting backdrop of the Manhattan Project. I enjoyed the premise and the setting. The main character is unique and honest about her opinions and flaws, offering a different perspective to life.
April 19, 2023
This was a difficult book to get into. I had to really push myself to read it as it didn't flow for me. The premise of the book was good--something I have not read about before, so it was instructional. And the ending was just so-so.
February 4, 2023
Identical twins in appearance only weave a web of life and love with a background of early atomic age.
September 2, 2025
Got my attention right away and kept me going. The sad part is that the background to the story is true ( Manhattan Project ), but the story is something else. Intense
August 9, 2024
I found the plot intriguing. It was also interesting to read the notes at the end on some of the historical truths the story was based on.
March 31, 2023
Lillian and Eleanor Kaufman are twins living in NY and they can’t be any more different. Eleanor is social and interested in theatre. Lillian is a loner and spends her time studying physics. But now, Lillian is worried because she hasn’t heard from Eleanor since she took a job with the military in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. A phone call from Tennessee telling Lillian that Eleanor is missing sends her rushing South to discover what happened. Lillian finds high security at Oak Ridge and she finds she must pretend to be Eleanor to get inside and get answers. Once inside, there are many mysteries to unravel and no sign of Eleanor. Also, Lillian is shocked at what the government seems to be working on. An interesting debut by Sarah James.
February 14, 2024
I felt the story was not engaging and was tedious. Ending was disappointing . In general, I would not recommend
August 26, 2022
I enjoyed the historical aspect of this book but it was sometimes boring. I wish I could say I enjoyed it completely but I can't. I pushed through the boring and repetitive parts and enjoyed the research the author put into the history of Oak Ridge's not-so-humble beginning.
March 9, 2023
This was not what I thought it was going to be. I expected more!
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