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Editorial Reviews
Review
“Tense, heartwarming and life affirming, The Long Flight Home gives a fresh slant on heroism in WWII.”
—Rhys Bowen, New York Times bestselling author
“I’ve always been fascinated by homing pigeons, and Alan Hlad makes these amazing birds and their trainers shine in The Long Flight Home—a sweeping tale full of romance and espionage, poignant sacrifice and missed chances, uncommon courage, and the ongoing costs of war. A compelling debut told with conviction and great heart.”
—Paula McLain, author of The Paris Wife and Love and Ruin
“Hlad’s debut snares readers with its fresh angle on the blitz of WWII, focusing on the homing pigeons used by the British, and the people who trained and cared for them… Descriptions of the horrors of war and the excitement of battle are engaging, and the unusual element of the carrier pigeons lends an intriguing twist. This story will speak not only to romance readers and WWII buffs but also to animal advocates and anyone who enjoys discovering quirky details that are hidden in history.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Alan Hlad tells a dramatic, fictionalized story about the real use of pigeons during World War II…Compelling…The engaging plot and fascinating details of the National Pigeon Service make it a rewarding read. Many civilian pigeon-keepers volunteered to try to turn the tide of the war, not knowing if it would work or be worth the loss of their birds in the dangerous process. The Long Flight Home captures the contributions of the average citizens who, in a time of peril, rose to meet the challenge in heroic ways.”
—BookPage
“This well-researched historical novel presents a wealth of period detail and develops a romantic story inspired by the actual discovers—reported in newspapers more than a half century after the war—of the skeleton of an English homing pigeon carrying a still-legible coded message. The destructiveness of war, particularly the random carnage caused by the bombing of civilian areas, is vividly described, as well as the bravery of many citizens, including the homing pigeons of the National Pigeon Service.”
—VOYA Magazine
“Hlad’s debut delves into an obscure piece of World War II history: the covert mission of the National Pigeon Service, which deployed an army of homing pigeons to send messages to Britain from Nazi-occupied France…Ollie’s attempts to escape from France are gripping, and Hlad adeptly drives home the devastating civilian cost of the war.”
—Booklist
“In Alan Hlad’s fascinating story based on true events, he explores the special bond between an orphaned girl who raises the homing pigeons and an American soldier desperate to help the Royal Air Force.”
—AFAR Magazine, The Best Summer Reads,
“The state of Maine is left behind in Alan Hlad’s tale of heroism and romance, but its spirit—stoic, modest, independent—is well represented in Ollie…With its accounts of Luftwaffe raids on Britain and the unusual operation called Source Columba, which employed 16,000 pigeons in intelligence gathering, The Long Flight Home is a fresh avenue into a curious piece of World War II history.”
—Down East Magazine
“Based on true events, The Long Flight Home has everything I love in a novel—the sense of discovery, the epic drama of a life-or-death situation, and the soaring sense of hope gained from the depths of despair. It’s a gorgeous, impressive first novel by a hugely talented author.”
—Susan Wiggs, # 1 New York Times bestselling author
“A story of loss and heartbreak, sacrifice and compassion, The Long Flight Home is ultimately a story of hope.”
—The New York Journal of Books
“A charming historical novel. With clear, vivid prose [Hlad] recalls the mostly-forgotten, but intriguing RAF experiment, and sensitively explores the growing relationship between Ollie and Susan. As one who has spent thousands of hours watching birds, I was equally touched by Hlad’s depiction of the bond between his characters and their pigeons.”
—Historical Novels Review
About the Author
Review:
4.5 out of 5
89.23% of customers are satisfied
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book
I really liked this book. It was well written and the story stayed true to the historical aspect of its plot. I read many WW II historical fiction books and this one is a good one.
4.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read ....
I'll make this short - READ IT ! Great book has love, mystery and twists you don't see coming.Great author. Great writing style. Great book !If you enjoy reading about the Resistance may I suggest The Nightingale by Hannah or A Room on Rue Amelie by Harmel or The Secrets We Left Behind by Lane or A Fire Sparkling by Maclean or The Paris Secret by Lester and the Silk Code by Swift which is one of the best books I've ever read.
5.0 out of 5 stars First time ever reading Hlad’s work!
What a find! I loved the details, the storyline the use of countless real historical events, the personal fictional spin on the characters, and so much more. If you love historical fiction and/or have any interest in WW2 events and timelines, this is a must read!
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
This talks about areas where I grew up and had experienced the bombings. I haven't got to the part where the principal goes undercover, but I'm enjoying the journey and the characters in the meantime.
5.0 out of 5 stars Great reading and story
Very interesting with great story line with background history
4.0 out of 5 stars New genre for me
I usually do read history stories but I bought this by chance and read it.I found it to be well written, a gripping story, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a book to give you a pleasant read that is also very thought making.
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!
This book was incredibly well researched and written and was hard to put down! I recommend Churchill's Secret Messener to all who love historical fiction. Now on to another Alan Hlad novel!
5.0 out of 5 stars Tremendous work; could not put it down.
Book was so realistic that I was shocked to find out that it was fiction. This book is a thriller that mirrors what several brave female British agents did in France in WW2. I could go on for hours but do your self a favor and give this one a try.
Great historical ,romantic and emotion work
Author has you wanting to turn the pages and discover the intrigue and human feelings embedded in this historical masterpieceBravo well done and such a pleasure
Don’t miss this book
What a wonderful story. A fitting tribute to everyone who fought for freedom in occupied countries during WW2. There were times in this book I got rely annoyed with British red tape and wondered if they were on the same side as the French resistance.Really a great read and whatever you do don’t miss it.
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the quality of the book is so poor, request refund.
Good read
This author always writes a great historical novel. Have read all !
excellent
Shows the true horrors committed by Germany during WWII. Brings alive the magnificent service of the SOE and the Resistance movement.
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Churchill's Secret Messenger: A WW2 Novel of Spies & the French Resistance
AED8149
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Product origin: United States
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