In the hills of Tennessee, two women work at a Manhattan Project site during World War II and uncover truths that irrevocably change their lives in this captivating new story from award-winning Southern fiction author Michelle Shocklee.
1944. Maebelle Willett arrives in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, eager to begin her new government job and send money home to her impoverished family. She knows little about the work she will be doing, but she’s told it will help America win the war. Not all is what it seems, however. Though Oak Ridge employees are forbidden from discussing their jobs, Mae’s roommate begins sharing disturbing information, then disappears without a trace. Mae desperately attempts to find her but instead comes face-to-face with a life-altering revelation—one that comes at significant cost.
1979. Laurel Willett is a graduate student in Boston when she learns about the history of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where thousands unknowingly worked on the atomic bomb. Intrigued because she knows her Aunt Mae was employed there, Laurel decides to spend the summer with her aunt, hoping to add a family connection to her thesis research. But Mae adamantly refuses to talk about her time in the Secret City. Mae’s friends, however, offer to share their experiences, propelling Laurel on her path to uncovering the truth about a missing woman. As Laurel works to put the pieces together, the hidden pain and guilt Mae has tried so hard to bury comes to light . . . with potentially disastrous consequences.
Standalone Southern historical fiction great for fans of Lisa Wingate, Donna Everhart, and Lynn Austin. A compelling dual-timeline novel set during WWII and the 1970s about the weight of secrets and the power of forgiveness. Includes discussion questions for book groups
Book Details
Publisher : Tyndale Fiction- Genre : Christian Historical Fiction
- Publication date : September 9, 2025
- Language : English
- Print length : 368 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1496484223
****I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, NetGalley, book tours, and or authors. A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.****
My Review
The Women of Oak Ridge tells a great dual timeline story across 1944 and 1979. It centers on Oak Ridge, Tennessee. A secret Manhattan Project base there made uranium for atomic bombs in World War II. Workers and residents knew little about the true work. All operations ran under strict secrecy.
In 1944, young Maebelle Willett steps up for her country during the war. She takes a job at Oak Ridge and sends her wages home to her family, barely surviving in a mining town. Naive Mae stumbles into a wild mess. Her roommate Sissy goes missing, secret files turn up, blackmail occurs, and spies close in, only adding to the danger. Mae's choices left me baffled, wondering what I would have done in her shoes.
By 1979, Mae lives alone as an older woman, still in Oak Ridge. Her niece, Laurel, visits her aunt as she is working on her dissertation on the happenings that took place in Oak Ridge. Laurel investigates how workers from 1944 felt once they learned their role in the bomb. Mae will not share anything about her past. Laurel senses her aunt holds deep fears and hidden truths about that time in her life.
The history was interesting as I didn't know much about this town or the Manhattan Project. Not much happens at first, then events turn exciting in the middle when several mysterious events occur. There were good transitions between the two timelines. I was surprised by the ending and how things were resolved. There is a lot of tension and mystery that unfold in both eras. This novel makes me want to learn more about this part of WWII and the Manhattan Project.
****Meet Author Michelle Shocklee****
Michelle Shocklee is the author of several historical novels including ALL WE THOUGHT WE KNEW, the 2025 Christy Award Book of the Year; APPALACHIAN SONG, a 2024 Christy Award Finalist; COUNT THE NIGHTS BY STARS, winner of the 2023 Christianity Today Book Award in Fiction; and UNDER THE TULIP TREE, a Christy Award & Selah Award finalist. As a woman of mixed heritage--her father's family is Hispanic and her mother's roots go back to Germany--she has always celebrated diversity and feels it's important to see the world through the eyes of one another. Learning from the past and changing the future is why she writes historical fiction. With both her sons grown and happily married, Michelle and her husband make their home in Tennessee. She loves to hear from readers, so please connect with her at: www.MichelleShocklee. com
~*~*~*~*Purchase The Women of Oak Ridge ~*~*~*~*
HERE:
Paperback-https://a.co/d/4yz5Yin
Kindle-https://a.co/d/dZL77DU
No comments:
Post a Comment