While the battles of World War Two raged across the skies, seas, and land, an entirely different kind of warfare was being fought deep in Britain’s forests. Joanna Foat’s The Lumberjills Under Suspicion is a truly gripping and dynamic work of historical fiction. As a follow-up to her debut novel, The Lumberjills Stronger Together, Foat has mastered the art of weaving a tender story of complex relationships and loyalty into a meticulously researched historical account. Balancing the grit of a fiercely tumultuous historical era with the powerful bonds of female friendship, this novel breathes new life into an epoch that nearly suffered from historical erasure. Part romance, part historical drama, part wartime thriller, this novel beautifully celebrates the four female forestry workers of the Women’s Timber Corps during World War Two.

A major success of this book is how effectively Foat portrays institutional patriarchy. Throughout the book, Keeva and her fellow lumberjills face hardship from a wide array of sources – predominantly men, ranging from local residents and male forestry counterparts to bosses, military figures, and family members. From small-town pushback to institutional pushback, these women endure criticism of their physical appearances, integrity, endurance, capabilities, and intelligence. Acutely aware of their subordinate status, each woman navigates their reality in their own distinct way, whether by speaking truth to power, outsmarting opponents with sharp wit, competing head-to-head, or strategically playing the fool.

What makes these interactions particularly captivating, however, is that these men are never reduced to one-dimensional villains. Instead, a spectrum of characters co-exist. We see examples of genuinely cruel devious actions which are offset by men who offer kindness or remain neutral in their approach to the Lumberjills. Yet what is most refreshing is how these societal realities serve as a backdrop to the deeper connections forged among the women themselves, and in turn foster even closer relationships. Despite coming from a wide range of backgrounds of varying social strata, each character undergoes an emotional journey of self-discovery. This resilience proves to be a major strength, as the high-stakes plots of espionage, sabotage and heavy timber felling elevate rather than overshadow the emotional resonance of love, friendship and perseverance.

Foat succeeds in not only delivering a compelling story that is funny when it needs to be, serious when it needs to be, and overall hugely impactful, but also ensuring the legacy of the Lumberjills within the annals of Britain’s World War Two wartime effort. The four vibrantly flawed women create a hugely evocative and deeply affectionate read, standing as a fitting tribute to the real women who inspired Foat’s story. Any lover of historical fiction grounded in rich true-to-life research, and the beautiful complexity of friendships is set to love this work. While the accolades of this book are numerous, the greatest triumph is how Foat creates space for more historical fiction to centre on the tireless work of previously forgotten women.