An interesting historical fiction book that takes place during WWII, but on the homefront. Several plot twists, but you could probably tell they were coming, but I was engrossed.

I was lucky enough to snag an ALC of this book from NetGalley and Tantor Audio. I love WWII historical fiction and this one didn’t disappoint. I haven’t read a lot of books that take place in the US and I enjoyed this one.

Nora is determined to be a part of the war effort with her doctor husband overseas doing his part. She takes a job and the Boeing plant and makes friends with the other women at the plant. Unfortunately murders start happening around her and she wants to know who’s behind it.

I enjoyed Hillary’s narration. She really kept me interested in the story and it was easy for me to fly through this audiobook.

Set against the backdrop if ww2 notmais at home with her teenage kids chris and Jane while husband pete is a medic in the war. Norma stars a job at a factory gir the war effort and then a serial killer dtarts murdering women from the factory.
I love the narrator i felt the story through the voices and the emotion is there.. Thecstory hs gull of twists and turns and deals with deeper issues of tge time such as homosexuality abandonment racisim the holocaust. All the characters are well written and the story us well oaced. I was hooked listening. The big reveal took a whike to come and i wanted the rpilogue ho go on a bit longer.
Thank you netgallery publisher and author and narrator for a 5 star lusten.
This woulx appeal to anyine who likes a good mystery set in historic tines.

We are all familiar with what war times entail. But thankfully, this book wasn't so cliche when it comes to the role of women in it. When the ongoing war has taken Nora's husband offshore to a different continent, she is left behind with 2 kids to take care of. But the role of women isn't limited to taking care of their loved ones. They are now being given the chance to do their bit by working in a war plant. But not all men are happy about women taking up jobs, and a secret killer is now targeting all these women, and they do know how to stay safe anymore. Homes, offices, and gardens nowhere seem to be safe.

The book explores the story from a woman's PoV and gives you glimpses of the struggles of raising children on their own, working in a racist environment, and still feeling like an outsider. An added psycho touch did elevate the plotline for sure, particularly the way the antagonist's behaviour is explained was so good. The book also makes a point to address a few community issues( #lgbt ) amidst the ongoing storyline, which did add another layer to my reading experience.

Thank you, @netgalley @tantoraudio for the digital ARC

Genre: #historicalfiction #thriller #mysterythiller
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️

I knew it! Even though I knew who the "bad guy" was from early on it was a fun ride getting there! I didn't see the ending for the bad buy coming, I assumed that she'd let him go or some such nonsense! This book did a great job setting the tone and feeling of being a woman working during WWII. You can feel the fear and frustration.

#TheEnemyatHome
#NetGalley

This was the first novel I've read by this prolific author, and I was drawn to the description that it combined two of my favorite genres: historical fiction and mystery/suspense.

The story is set in WWII-era Seattle, with the plot focusing on a mother of two (Nora) who must cope with her husband's deployment after he enlists as a military doctor. To make ends meet in the face of war rations and her family's reduced income, Nora takes a job as a factory worker for Boeing after being inspired by the “Rosie the Riveter" recruitment campaign.

From the historical fictional perspective, the novel does a good job detailing the lives of these female factory workers, highlighting the pervasive sexism they faced in the workplace and detailing their struggles as the sole providers for their families. I also appreciated that it touched upon other societal issues of that time, including racism and homophobia.

As a psychologist, I was further drawn to the plot layer of a serial killer on the loose who systematically targets these female factory workers. Nora must grapple with the terrifying realization that her own colleagues are being murdered and she may become the next victim, while also beginning to suspect that she may have a personal connection to the killer.

Overall, while the beginning was a bit slow and tedious, I came to appreciate and enjoy the novel as a whole and it's particular focus on these often-overlooked women in history!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Kevin O'Brien, Kensington Books & Tantor Audio for an advanced copy of this audiobook to review!

Reading about Rosie the Riveters is always a pleasure. These women who worked on the airplanes while the men were at war were often scrutinized by the men who were still at home. An aspect of the story that I really enjoyed was the O’Brien touched on the thoughts and feelings of men who didn’t want to serve who were at home. Women, one by one were being strangled and killed. Who is behind it? I loved the mystery of trying to figure out who the serial killer is. The combination of historical fiction with mystery and murder was great. To me, the identity of the serial killer was obvious. This was a fast-paced read and would be a good choice for book clubs.

The Enemy at Home combines historical fiction and suspense to create an eye-opening yet chilling examination of WWII era "Rosie the Riveter" female workers who fill in at factories while the men are overseas fighting. When a serial killer begins hunting the women, fear takes over the women of Seattle. Riveter and mother Nora Kinney must grapple with working full-time among resentful men and maintaining a household with her two children while her doctor husband serves in Africa. As more women are killed, Nora also takes on the task of investigating the murders and she finds herself in over her head, putting both herself and her loved ones in danger. This emotional and suspenseful read is a page-turner and perfect for fans of Kristin Harmel and Fiona Davis.

This is an entertaining, well-written, WWII historical fiction thriller. It is fast paced and action packed, with the perfect combination of mystery and suspense, and it is a wonderful tribute to the women who worked in the defense plants during WWII. This novel has murder, intrigue, secrets, family drama, a diverse group of engaging characters, twists and turns, and a satisfying conclusion. I listened to the audio version of this novel, and the narrator, Ms. Hillary Huber, has a captivating voice and does an excellent job depicting the characters and their personalities. I am grateful to Mr. Kevin O'Brien, Tantor Audio, and NetGalley, who kindly provided me with an advanced listener copy of this outstanding novel. This is my honest opinion.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Books, and Tantor Audio for gifting me an audio ARC of this wonderful novel by Kevin O'Brien and fabulously narrated by a favorite, Hillary Huber - 5 stars!


It's 1943 in Seattle and the war is raging in Europe. Nora's doctor husband is now stationed in North Africa and she is at home with their two children. Wanting to do more to help, she gets a job at Boeing, becoming a real-life Rosie the Riveter. But while the country needs the women's help, not everyone is happy about the women doing men's jobs. Then the murders begin, seeming to strike young women with connections to the plant. Nora fears her own safety but also the increasing feeling that something isn't right at home with her son.

This was a taut suspense thriller, made more so by the historical setting. There are so many new rules and prejudices in the time and all of that added to the tense storyline. Nora begins to look at everyone with suspicion and starts investigating on her own, not liking what she finds. It's emotional and stressful and I loved the twists and turns. This was a great mix of thriller and historical fiction and the narration was excellent!

WOW this one was fantastic! Superb narration and a fast paced, suspenseful story. Absolutely LOVED it...the time flew by listening to this one.

NYT Bestselling author Kevin O'Brien masterfully blends historical fiction and gripping suspense thriller in his latest—THE ENEMY AT HOME. Set in WWII-era Seattle, a serial killer targets women while men are off fighting at war—when dangers at home are as fearful as the battlefield.

From a month in time the author takes us from day one to the month end. It is 1943 in Seattle. We meet wife and mother, Nora Kinney (Pete-husband doctor), and children—son (Chris, 17) and daughter (Jane, 12). Before this time, she was living in her comfortable Capitol Hill neighborhood. The war has changed everything.

Her husband, Pete, the doctor, feels he must join the ranks to help servicemen in Africa. Nora also participates in the war effort by helping with scrap metal drives. They also need more income, so she takes a job at the Boeing B-17 plant in Seattle, part of the assembly line, using a riveting gun.

What Nora did not expect was what she encountered at the plant—Racism, misogyny, and homophobia. Some men were angry at the women taking men's jobs; however, someone had to do the jobs while the men were away.

Then the unthinkable occurs. Someone is targeting women riveters (later called the "Rosie the Riveters" murders). A serial killer is on the loose. A man has been attacking women who work in factories. One of them is Nora's friend.

The perp strangles them with a pair of pantyhose, dresses them in an apron, and draws a smile on his target's face. Then leaves a pair of pants hanging outside the home.

Her gay friend was also caught up in the killing, also a friend of the victim. Soon three people are murdered that had dinner at her house. She later finds that her hose, lipstick, and aprons are missing. What is going on?

In the meantime, her son Chis is acting strange, bullied at school, and gone from the house at odd hours, and she finds some incriminating evidence. Then more killings. It appears the serial killer is threatened by women doing important wartime work. Could he be right there among them?

Then her younger brother Ray visits and stays in their garage apartment. He is unhappy with his sister since he wants her to help him with a scheme to concoct an injury so he can get out of service duty.

After he leaves, she puts an ad out for a tenant for the garage apartment. They all like Joe, but is Joe who he says he is? Who can Nora trust?

With many suspects and red herrings, Nora faces the enemy, leading to a jaw-dropping conclusion— when her home is no longer a haven but a battlefield.

It has been a while since I have read a Kevin O'Brien novel, and I was delighted to read THE ENEMY AT HOME. The author skillfully explores high-charged topics and injustices with compassion and sensitivity.

Engrossing and timely! A fabulous whodunit mystery with a vivid historical flair and well-developed characters. You will enjoy Nora's character as she is caught between right and wrong while keeping things secret where you have Japanese-American citizens threatened, closeted gay communities, racism, and misogyny—all the while, these brave women in the workplace in a man's world trying to keep their family safe with sacrifices and restrictions.

I enjoyed reading about the challenges of the courageous women during WWII, with stressful events worrying about their loved ones away at war while juggling home life, solo, parenting, blackout rules, rationing, and re-joining the workforce with even more struggles.

If you enjoy suspense thrillers and historical fiction, you have the best of both worlds in THE ENEMY AT HOME! Beautiful front cover. Ideal for book clubs and further discussion—a reading group guide is included.

AUDIOBOOK: I read the e-book and listened to the audiobook narrated by a favorite, Hillary Huber, for an engaging performance for all voices.

Thanks to Kensington Books and Tantor Audio for an ARC and ALC via NetGalley for an honest review.

Blog Review Posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Aug 22, 2023
My Rating: 5 Stars
Aug 2023 Must-Read Books

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
What an amazing book. Nora is such a good and likable character. Her children, Jane and Chris are as well. I could not stop listening to see who the strangler was. I was constantly guessing from several different characters. The suspense of this book was amazing. It is so well written and accurate with the time. It also showed the fears of what was going on at that time in the United States with the added on stress of a murderer being on the loose. It touched on women finally being able to hold actual jobs and the struggles they dealt with in those jobs. The racism that was still on going in our country was touched on as well.
This was just an amazing thriller and historical book. Absolutely loved it.
The only thing I didn’t totally love was the narrator. She didn’t do a bad job but she wasn’t great either.
Otherwise an amazing audiobook!

With her husband off fighting in World War II, Nora begins working at a local Boeing plant while caring for her two teenage children. Fighting racism on the home front, both at work and in her own neighborhood, Nora is also worried about a killer who seems to be targeting women working in jobs traditionally held by men. This book is nothing short of riveting, and I stayed up all night to finish it. Exceptional