The Women in White by Sarah Pekkanen

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The details…

  • Title  :  The Women in White
  • Author   :   Sarah Pekkanen
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ St. Martin’s Press
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 4, 2026
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1250349559
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1250349552
  • Available formats‏ : ‎ ebook, paperback, hardcover, audiobook 
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
  • Audiobook  :  10 hours and 48 minutes, published by Macmillan Audio
  • Genre  : mystery thriller
  • Themes  :  secrets, paranormal, eerie history, mis-sixties, sisterhood, emotional bonds, investigation , telepathy, clairvoyance, danger, government conspiracies, secret parapsychology experiments, female empowerment 

The blurb from the publisher…

The newest next thriller from #1 Bestselling Author Sarah Pekkanen combines a decades-old mystery with spine-tingling paranormal elements in this twisty novel of the seen and unseen.

Extrasensory perception.

The Gift.

A Sixth Sense.

Or something else….

In 1964, four remarkable young women at a prestigious university became the subjects of parapsychology experiments by a visionary scientist. On the cusp of a historic breakthrough, the women mysteriously vanished and the program was erased from history. Decades later, Riley Bell, newly divorced and desperate for a fresh start, accepts a caretaker job for an elderly widow named Betty. Riley steps into a home that is frozen in another era – no microwave, television, or cell phones, and Betty has never heard of the internet. Why has Betty lived in such profound isolation for so many years, and why does she need Riley now? As the story unfolds across two timelines – Betty’s 1960s era of 5 o’clock martinis and high-stakes experiments, and Riley’s quest to uncover the truth about the missing women – old secrets rise to the surface. And the only way to survive is to confront the mystery that has lingered for sixty years.

My thoughts….

Intriguing, twisty, suspenseful mysteries often use atmosphere to pull readers in. It could be an eerie house perched on the edge of town, folklore about a mysterious group of people that have vanished, or the whisper of the supernatural surrounding a strange event. However, seasoned mystery readers know that mood alone does not make a thriller memorable. Structure does. Tension must escalate. Clues must be placed with care. And most importantly, the resolution must feel fitting rather than bestowed. In The Women in White, Sarah Pekkanen builds her story on an irresistible premise: four young women vanish in 1964 after participating in parapsychology experiments, and decades later a newly divorced woman, Riley Bell, steps into a caretaker job that may be tied to that long-buried mystery. It has all the makings of a real page-turner; readers who enjoy intriguing plots, interesting characters, and strange phenomena will burn through its pages.

The novel’s concept is certainly one of its greatest strengths. The dual timelines, a 1960s experiment and a present-day investigation, create built-in intrigue. The historical elements, in particular, are immersive. That, along with the bonds between the four women, grounds the storytelling, giving the past timeline both urgency and emotional weight. The paranormal element, framed as “The Gift,” adds a distinctive edge that separates the novel from more conventional domestic thrillers. The result is a narrative that braids history, friendship, and the unexplainable into something both intimate and suspenseful.

Pekkanen favors short chapters throughout the novel, and she is very purposeful about it. They help distinguish the alternating perspectives and ultimately keep the pages turning. However, this structure occasionally disrupts the steady tightening of tension, creating suspense that rises and recedes rather than continuously escalates. As a result, the 1960s narrative often feels more gripping than Riley’s present-day thread, which can seem comparatively slower. For thriller enthusiasts who expect a constant ratcheting of stakes, that uneven pacing slightly softens the overall suspense. It is not a deal breaker by any means, but it is worth noting.

Beyond structure and pacing, the novel’s greatest gamble lies in how it handles the supernatural. The ambiguity surrounding psychic phenomena enhances the mood and deepens the psychological unease. For some readers, this dimension will enrich the mystery, making it all the more compelling. For those that prefer the tension be kept sharp through clearly defined boundaries and consequences, it may prove slightly less satisfying. Ultimately, however, Pekkanen prioritizes mood over mechanics, leaving readers to decide whether that ambiguity enhances the experience or diffuses it. Even so, this, once again, is not a deal breaker. The story’s strengths outweigh this stylistic choice; there is no need to miss the forest for the trees.

In terms of character development, the novel is at its strongest in the 1960s timeline, particularly with the four women and with Betty, whose layered presence bridges past and present. Their motivations feel textured and deeply human, shaped by longing, ambition, and fear. Riley’s arc, however, feels somewhat less defined. While her vulnerability and search for reinvention align thematically with the novel’s central tensions, some readers may wish her transformation were more sharply drawn. In a thriller such as this, the protagonist’s internal evolution should amplify the external stakes. When emotional change moves in sync with the mystery’s unraveling, the resolution feels doubly earned.

As for the ending, it delivers emotional closure more than jaw-dropping shock. Many readers will find it thematically satisfying: long-suppressed truths surface, relationships are reframed, and the secrets of the past are finally brought into the light. While some may question the level of surprise in the climax, the final revelations carry genuine weight. Rather than chasing an explosive twist, Pekkanen opts for meaningful closure, prioritizing resonance over spectacle. It is a deliberate choice, and it works, leaving readers with an ending that lingers beyond the final page.

Final Remarks…

The Women in White is a suspense novel that does not hinge solely on what remains unseen but on how deliberately those truths are revealed. For readers who appreciate layered intrigue, it offers something between psychological suspense and character-driven drama. In the end, Pekkanen demonstrates that atmosphere, theme, and character are not mere embellishments to mystery but its foundation, creating an emotional resonance that endures well beyond the final page.

Strengths…

  • Original, immersive storytelling 
  • Atmospheric setting 
  • Interesting characters with strong bonds
  • Layered secrets 
  • Engaging dual timeline

This book is available from…

A bit about the author…

Sarah Pekkanen is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of 15 solo and coauthored books, including House of Glass, which is a Goodreads Choice award nominee and Amazon best book of the year. 

She lives just outside of Washington, D.C. with her family. When she’s not writing or spending time with her three kids, she’s a passionate advocate for rescue animals. She serves as Ambassador of RRSA India, a shelter and sanctuary for abused and injured animals and street dogs, and is the founder India Street Paws, a nonprofit charity for animals.

To learn more about Sarah, check out her website, Facebook, Instagram or X account.

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