Publishers Weekly
09/05/2022
Walsh (Becoming Bonnie) offers an enticing story of two Englishwomen serving their country during both world wars. In 1917, Marion Hoxton ages out of the orphanage she was raised in and joins the Women’s Royal Naval Service (the “Wrens”), while her best friend Eddie Smith joins the Royal Navy. As they each make their way toward the front lines in France, their friendship develops into romance. Meanwhile, Marion works as a dispatch rider and helps her new friend Sara train carrier pigeons to send and retrieve messages. In a parallel narrative set in 1940, well-to-do Evelyn Fairchild joins the Wrens, desperate to prove she’s overcome a childhood disability impacting one of her legs by serving as a motorcycle driver. Evelyn and Marion’s paths cross when Marion returns to be a leader in the new Wrens, her romance with Eddie having turned out not as they’d hoped. Marion also harbors a secret about Evelyn’s true parentage, as Evelyn’s parents failed to disclose she was adopted. Walsh expertly contrasts the lives of orphaned Marion with privileged Evelyn to expose their common desire to show their value outside societal labels. Historical fiction fans will be riveted. Agent: Shannon Hassan, Marsal Lyon Literary Agency. (Nov.)
Booklist
'Walsh follows two English women, Marion and Evelyn, showing how they became involved with the Women's Royal Naval Service, more commonly known as the Wrens . . . This well-written, straightforward book will be of interest to readers curious about the types of work available to English women who wanted to aid in war efforts during both world wars.'
New York Times bestselling author of The Woman wit Pam Jenoff
'Spanning decades in a story that is both epic and intimate, The Call of the Wrens is an original and compelling tale of sisterhood and strength.'
New York Times bestselling author of The Forest of Kristin Harmel
'Laced with triumph and tragedy, bravery and redemption, this tale of finding oneself in modern history's darkest hours will break your heart and put it back together again, all in one delightful read.'
New York Times bestselling author of The Magnolia Fiona Davis
'The heroines in Walsh's latest can be found racing around war-torn Europe on motorbikes, relaying secret messages and undertaking daring missions as part of the real-life women's branch of the Royal Navy . . . an absolute treat for historical fiction lovers.'
Historical Novel Society
From its intriguing cover to the author's note at the end, this book will captivate readers . . . The characters (including a brave pigeon) are sympathetic and believable, the plot has plenty of surprises, and the history of these heroic women is fascinating . . . an ideal read in a cozy chair with a cup of tea in front of the fireplace.
Nashville Book Review
Walsh really captures the intensity of war, transporting the reader back in time and driving home the anxiety and uncertainty of the era, but also the fortitude and sacrifice of the men and women who dared to join the fight.
New York Journal of Books
'A tale filled with strong emotion, hope, and determination, it is highly thought-provoking and entertaining. It is clearly evident Ms. Walsh has spent indeterminable hours researching and putting together a well-written and memorable story about past events to make them truly authentic as well as informative.'
