Book Review: The Women in White by Sarah Pekkanen

The Women in White by Sarah Pekkanen is an intriguing mystery that moves between different timelines, gradually revealing the secrets surrounding a group of young women who disappeared decades ago.

The story alternates between the present and the 1960’s, when four women at a prestigious university become subjects in an experimental parapsychology program led by a scientist convinced he is on the verge of a groundbreaking discovery. Then, the women vanish, and the entire program seems to disappear with them. Sixty years later, Riley Bell is looking for a fresh start after her divorce when she takes a caretaker position for Betty, an elderly woman who has deliberately remained isolated from the modern world. As Riley begins to question Betty's unusual lifestyle, she also starts uncovering connections to the mysterious women from the past.

I enjoyed the way the story moved between the two timelines and allowed the mystery to unfold from different perspectives. The 1960s sections have a particularly interesting atmosphere, with the university setting, the experimental research, and the sense that something extraordinary—and potentially dangerous—is happening just beneath the surface.

Interestingly, I think I found myself more invested in some of the supporting characters than the main character, Riley. Their stories and personalities added some of the emotional depth that kept me engaged, particularly as the various pieces of the mystery began coming together.

The ending was where the book really became heartfelt for me. While the mystery is certainly the driving force of the story, the emotional revelations ultimately gave it more weight than simply solving the question of what happened to the missing women. There is a sense of loss, connection, and the consequences of choices that linger long after the mystery itself is resolved.

Overall, The Women in White was an interesting and engaging read, particularly for readers who enjoy mysteries that combine multiple timelines, secrets from the past, and a touch of the unexplained. For me, it was the characters and the emotional side of the story that ultimately made the biggest impression.