Review of The Physicist’s Daughter

From the publisher of The Physicist’s Daughter

New Orleans, 1944.

Sabotage. That’s the word on factory worker Justine Byrne’s mind as she is repeatedly called to weld machine parts that keep failing with no clear cause. Could someone inside the secretive Carbon Division be deliberately undermining the factory’s Allied war efforts?

Raised by her late parents to think logically, she also can’t help wondering just what the oddly shaped carbon gadgets she assembles day after day have to do with the boats the factory builds. When a crane inexplicably crashes to the factory floor, leaving a woman dead, Justine can no longer ignore her nagging fear that German spies are at work within the building, trying to put the factory and its workers out of commission.

Unable to trust anyone—not the charming men vying for her attention, not her unpleasant boss, and not even the women who work beside her—Justine draws on the legacy of her unconventional upbringing to keep her division running and protect her coworkers, her country, and herself from a war that is suddenly very close to home.

My review

The Physicist’s Daughter feels like a very scientific mystery. The narrative is very analytical, detailed, and thorough. This approach is very much a double-edged sword.

On the plus side, I loved Justine’s character. The WWII setting felt very authentic, as did the plot. There was a level of intrigue brought about by Justine being watched by spies, which the writer told us about via point of view shifts. The operative word in that sentence is ‘told’. There’s a huge amount of telling in this story. Enough that it felt as though every action was rationalized by every character. (Yes, we were in every important character’s head at one point or another).

Even though I eventually found the writing style to be too scientific, I give the author kudos for her portrayal of women’s roles at home during this fascinating time period.

FTC Full Disclosure: A review copy of this book was provided by its publisher.

Learn more about the Mary Anna Evans at maryannaevans.com. Want more author news? If so, click here to read more Behind the Story interviews from your favorite authors.