Tangles

December 11, 2024December 11, 2024 by onemoreexclamation

Welcome to the Tangles by Kay Smith-Blum book tour hosted by Suzy Approved Book Tours.

About Tangles

Title: Tangles

Author: Kay Smith-Blum

Released: December 3, 2024

Find it: Amazon

Oppenheimer was just the beginning.

When a harpooned whale offers proof the Hanford Nuclear Reservation is endangering all life in the Columbia River Basin, Luke Hinson, a brash young scientist, seizes the chance to avenge his father’s death but a thyroid cancer diagnosis derails Luke’s research.

Between treatments, he dives back in, making enemies at every turn.

On an overnight trek, Luke discovers evidence that Mary, his former neighbor, embarked on the same treacherous trail, and her disappearance, a decade prior, may be tied to Hanford’s harmful practices mired in government-mandated secrecy.

A love story wrapped in a mystery, this stunning Cold War home-front tale reveals the devastating costs of the birth of the nuclear age, and celebrates the quiet courage of wronged women, the fierce determination of fatherless sons, and the limitless power of the individual.

Tangles is a genre-defying must-read for our time.

Book Blurbs

“In a well-crafted debut, Smith-Blum provides the reader a ringside seat to the birth of the nuclear age..a beautifully written, important story. Tangles packs a punch and hits close to home.”-Robert Dugoni, New York Times Bestselling author of The Tracy Crosswhite Series

“Smith-Blum’s debut novel, blends a riveting plot with hard-to-forget characters, and shines a spotlight on a period we don’t often read about in fiction.” -Sheila Myers, Author of The Truth of Who We Are

“In her knockout debut novel, Tangles, Kay Smith-Blum sheds new light on the Hanford Nuclear Plant – the largest environmental disaster site in the United States. Skillfully blending historical details and nail-biting suspense, Smith-Blum weaves a harrowing story over two decades and delivers two complex protagonists you can really root for…a fast-paced, and unputdownable tale.” -Kevin O’Brien, New York Times Bestselling Author of The Enemy at Home

Review for Tangles

This dual POV and timeline alternates between 1947 (Mary) and 1963 (Luke). The story takes place in Hanford, Washington – a town of dangers and secrets due to the large company that calls it home.

Mary and her abusive husband work at the Hanford Nuclear Plant. Due to releasing radioactive discharge being released into the river and air, there are many devastating effects. Breath, two, three. This part makes me angry. Mary has a great relationship with Luke, her neighbor’s son, who later is effected by the fallout.

Completely immersive, the story and its strong characters set the pace high. I found myself reading way too late at night. I would have appreciated some loose ends being tied up but I enjoyed the read.

About The Author

An Austin, Texas transplant and lifetime environmental advocate, Kay Smith-Blum has called Seattle home since 1981. A former high-end fashion retailer who also served on the Seattle School Board, Smith- Blum spends her mornings writing stories that debunk the tropes of the mid-20th century and defy genre. Smith-Blum’s short works have garnered Pushcart and Best of the Net nominations. In the afternoon, she works out her writer’s block in her three sons’ gardens or the nearest lap pool.

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