REVIEW OF: WOMEN IN WHITE by SARAH PEKKANEN

 

Published: August 4, 2026 

Genre: Historical Thrillers,
Women's New Adult 
& College Fiction, 
Domestic Thrillers 

 

GENUINE … AUTHENTIC … SOMEONE IS EXPERIMENTING AGAIN SO HOPE IT’S NOT YOU!

 

Thirty-two-year-old Riley Bell is applying for a job as caretaker. While chances are slim that she’ll be chosen, with her marriage bursting apart, she needs a steady income. The gamble pays off and she’s hired by Mrs. Betty Sadler. The two women celebrate with a cup of hot tea as Sadler begins an interesting conversation about a government research project that she was involved in.  But as the minutes roll by, the words lessen in warmth until an eerie cold vibe is in the air—one that tells Riley to leave while she still has the chance.   

 

Thus begins the intriguing mystery WOMEN IN WHITE by Sara Pekkanen. The story analyzes the paranormal experiments our government sanctioned in the 1960s. While most accredited academics were careful not to push volunteers past their limits, others were enthused about reducing humans to the level of lab rats. That sort of character is where Dr. Trimble of Marquis University comes in. Handpicking the women that included Betty Sadler, they constituted the team Trimble used for his ventures into the unknown. Collectively called THE WOMEN IN WHITE, the name referred to the uniform they were forced to wear. According to the good doctor, the wearing of identical clothing erased individuality and projected the unity of one. While the women didn’t know if it were true, they quickly discovered the doctor promised one thing but delivered another. More a dictator than  someone wise and well-intentioned, his idea of research meant never-ending exhausting work and putting families and loved ones at risk.

 

I found myself enjoying Sara Pekkanen’s writing and applaud her on a great job done. She was particularly effective in describing the perilous journey taken as it is replete with the ruination of lives, loves, hopes, dreams, and tomorrows. Her style is authentic, the remarkable aspect to her writing is her ability to write in a straightforward and very genuine way. It works so perfectly with the way the book is sectioned off, and toggles between the present with past.

 

I definitely can recommend THE WOMEN IN WHITE. Great topic that is beautifully written. Once you start, you’ll soon be craving more. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC copy that was entertaining throughout.

 

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