WWII historical fiction winner

Walking Away From Midnight (The Midnight Series Book 1) by Tom Kane delivers a gripping debut in The Midnight Series that seamlessly weaves elements of suspense, history, and personal growth. Set against the backdrop of World War II, this novel introduces Jessie Fordham, a formidable female protagonist whose journey is as unpredictable as it is compelling.

 

About the book: Walking Away from Midnight

This story pulls you into an intricate web of family secrets and looming conflict. Jessie, freshly graduated from Cambridge, returns to her family's summer retreat in the French Ardennes with a heavy heart and unresolved familial tensions. As war threatens to engulf Europe, Jessie's world is thrown into turmoil when her father thrusts her into a dangerous mission that will shape her fate.

 

Book review: Walking Away from Midnight

The strength of Walking Away From Midnight lies in its rich character development and evocative setting. Jessie's evolution from a conflicted young woman to a courageous emissary navigating the treacherous landscape of wartime Europe is both poignant and empowering. The author skillfully blends historical accuracy with a narrative that brims with suspense, keeping readers on edge as Jessie navigates a world fraught with danger and deception.

The novel's pacing is expertly managed, with each chapter unveiling new layers of intrigue and emotion. Set against a wartime backdrop, Jessie's journey underscores themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and human resilience. Vivid descriptions effortlessly transport readers from tranquil midnight lakes to chaotic war scenes where life-and-death decisions about trust and survival must be made.

Walking Away From Midnight excels in its ability to keep readers guessing. The storyline remains unpredictable with red herrings and unexpected twists until the very end, leaving readers eagerly anticipating the next installment in Jessie's journey.

In my opinion, Walking Away From Midnight is a historical fiction winner, offering readers an unforgettable protagonist in Jessie Fordham and a narrative that is as heart-wrenching as it is exhilarating. I highly recommend this novel to anyone seeking a compelling blend of World War II history, suspense, and the indomitable strength of the human spirit. Jessie's story stays with you long after you turn the final page. I’m delighted to give Walking Away From Midnight 5 out of 5 stars.

 

Grips the reader with page-turning fervor but disappoints in the end

Who Was Sylvia by Judy Gardiner is a haunting WWII tale involving two British sisters growing up in prewar England (1939) in a home with an overbearing father and an emotionally dismissive mother. Kit Coyrn idolizes her older sister Sylvia. She’s not only beautiful but full of life and love. Then one day it all changes. Kit arrives home to find her sister gone without a trace and without explanation from her parents. She’s just vanished. Kit never forgets Sylvia and when she is conscripted to serve during the war and off to London, her mother gives her a picture of Sylvia and tells her that she heard Sylvia was in London. 

About the book: Who was Sylvia?

Most of the story is told in first-person retrospect and does a great job of pulling the reader along the undercurrents of Kit’s life. She learns the rigors of serving in the military, makes friends, finds love, but every time a possible clue about Sylvia surfaces, she after it like a dog on a hunt. The story unravels bits of Sylvia’s life, but remains a mystery raising new questions with each discovery. Finding Sylvia becomes an obsession that involves the reader.

Book Review: Who was Sylvia?

The setting of wartime London adds new depth to Kit’s character. Her captivating story grips the reader with page-turning fervor. When Kit finally prepares to meet her sister after all the years that have passed, the tension is high. The anticipation of learning why she left, and what has happened since propels the story forward along a sketchy trail wrought with details that don’t match Kit’s idyllic memories.

This story of love and loss is well written with one exception. The end. It brings you right to the edge with all kinds of twists and turns, but then falls off the cliff without resolution of who Sylvia really is. It left me disappointed, but I would still recommend it to readers who enjoy WWII fiction like Soraya M. Lane’s The London Girls. Just know the end feels incomplete and there is no second book to tidy up unresolved questions.