A compelling novel of the secrets that hold us captive, set in Oakridge, a secret city during WWII working on the Manhattan Project.
Told in two timelines, following Maebelle Willett in 1944, and Mae's niece Laurel in 1979, who is doing research for a college project about Oakridge and the secret cities during the war. Mae is excited to be striking out on her own, working to support the war effort in a secretive project, but when her roommate disappears, what she finds changes the course of her life forever. Laurel doesn't understand why her aunt won't talk about her time working at the plant in Oakridge, but as she listens to the stories of the locals, disturbing questions begin to appear that have ties to her aunt.
An engrossing, well-researched historical novel, it was so fascinating to learn about secret city full of young men and women working toward a common goal that they didn't even understand, something I'm not sure that we could pull of today on so large a scale. I liked that Laurel was sensitive and respectful of her aunt's wishes, and it was interesting to see the aftermath through the lens of looking back. My heart went out to Mae for how the secrets affected her whole life, but I admired her courage, and it was easy to see that in such a project the lines of the law were not clear cut.
An intriguing and at times suspenseful read, gripping in the best way. Very well researched, with strong female protagonists. It was very hard to put down, exploring how secrets can keep us captive and truth can set us free. Highly recommend!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
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