This absorbing story begins in 1939 with Europe on the brink of war and Hitler invading country after country to create ‘the Greater Germany’. Deanna’s life at Clarendon Castle as granddaughter of the Seventh Duke of Claverton is a mixture of hard farming work and all of the social responsibilities her position demands.
We learn of her clandestine activities as a spy and her knowledge of Hitler’s plot to have the abdicated King Edward VIII restored to the throne once Britain is defeated. She had known ‘David’ before his abdication and had no desire to be one of his mistresses. This is a recurring thread throughout the novel with an intriguing denouement.
Claverton Castle is requisitioned to become a military hospital and quarters for pilots and ground crew stationed at the aerodrome that is built on their land. Deanna meets Flight Lieutenant Sam Murray, a former Australian bush pilot, who shares her love of eagles. When a group of refugee children are sent to the village of Claverton Minor, Deanna is asked to look after three sisters.
Jackie French has created a fascinating and breathtaking storyline with many twists and turns. There aren’t many books that make me reach for a tissue as I read the final chapter, but this did. It’s not ‘weepie’ by any means, but Jackie French lets us get to know Lady Deanna Claverton so well that, by the end, we are right there with her, experiencing all she is feeling.
The Whisperer’s War allows us another chance to enjoy the work of one of Australia’s most talented and inventive writers.
Reviewed by Russell Thomson
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jackie French AM is an Australian author, historian, ecologist and honourary wombat (part time), 2014-2015 Australian Children’ Laureate and 2015 Senior Australian of the Year.
Jackie was born in Sydney; grew up on the outskirts of Brisbane. She has lived for more than 40 years at the top of the gorge in the Araluen Valley, where her ancestors lived too. Only one school she attended burned down. This was not her fault.
Some of Jackie’s books have sold millions of copies and won over 60 awards in Australia and internationally. Others were eaten by the wombats.
Instead of hobbies she has written over 200 books; built a house and power system; planted thousands of trees; harvests about 800 of them; lunches with friends; reads to her grandkids; tries to find her glasses; eats dark chocolates, what ever fruit is in season and the odd feral species. (Some are very odd). She coined the term ‘moral ominvore’ to describe her diet. There is a dispensation for dark chocolate.
Jackie has studied over 400 wombats, and been the (almost) obedient slave to a dozen of them. She is an enthusiastic cook, married to an enthusiastic eater. If you visit, do not bring cake. It is the duty of a guest to eat. Lots. Then eat some more. If you are worried about calories hike up the mountain and look for endangered species. But you will find more on a bush mooch than a bush walk. Watch out for the eight species of snake. Don’t worry. They’ll also be watching out for you.
Jackie is also dyslexic and patron of literacy programmes across Australia with a wide and deep – if accidental- experience in learning differences and methods, and their outcomes for students, as well as a passionate advocate for equal educational opportunity. She still can’t spell.
(5/5)
From our much loved writer for children and YA comes this compelling adult fiction set in the WWII English countryside.
With her grandfather’s death, the next Duke inherits. Lady Deanna Claverton must move to nearby “Eagle Rest”. Though well provided for, Dee “digs potatoes for victory,” takes in three evacuated young sisters, and still fills her role as Lady Dee to the village. She cherishes the land, and all it supports, especially their resident golden eagles, all so threatened by war.
Friendship grows with Sam, an Australian pilot training recruits at a nearby airbase, with her char and friend, Mrs Thripps, the girls, and, with faithful hound, Dusty, Dee begins to feel she has a family.
Through the aegis of her grandfather, Dee becomes an informant on her fellow aristocrats, many of whom have Nazi sympathies. Soon she is caught up in a plot for the abdicated Duke of Windsor to return to the throne with German support.
Who is the new Duke of Claverton? Who is this Australian Sam? Who really are these three young girls? And who is Uncle Jasper, her intelligence liaison?!
A mystery, a love story and an immersion into wartime life. (Extensive research includes WWII jokes and recipes!) An absolute cracker of a story!
(4/5)
The Whisperer’s War by Jackie French is a 1940’s World War 2 Historical Fiction novel set in England.
Lady Deanna lives in the beautiful Eagles Rest, a place she loves, with her rare Eagles. By day she is shoveling manure to grow food, by evening she is out at dinner parties gathering intelligence. She is a strong, autonomous, intelligent lady with a strong purpose.
I love Lady Dee’s strength, and ability to deal with adversity. I love her loving nature, eg. taking in three orphan girls with a secret, feeding her Neighbours in need, and making dresses for her housekeeper.
This book is full of quirky surprises from World War 2 quotes and jokes to recipes that all set the tone of the time. The novel is interwoven with secrets, twists and turns, drama, and hope, also including a love story with an Australian Pilot.
Overall, it has a strong moral to the story, to fight evil and prejudice no matter how hard that is, enveloped in a romantic fantasy. It was a delightful, thought-provoking romantic fantasy, perfect for a relaxing weekend read.
(4/5)
As with all Jackie French novels, this is great storytelling.
The novel is set predominantly in the shadow of Claverton Castle, UK. Lady Deanna has moved from the castle to nearby Eagle’s Rest following the death of her grandfather, the Duke of Claverton. As Deanna begins to navigate major life changes, Europe is plunged into war. Lady Dee must do what she can to survive the war and help her community. What follows is a fascinating story of royal intrigue, spies and invasion plots. Amidst the drama, Dee maintains a semblance of normal life as World War II rationing and air raids take their toll. New people come into her life and these relationships are fascinating to watch as they evolve.
I loved the inclusion of the wartime jokes and recipes. The authentic scenes of daily life spent tending crops and curled up around cosy fires with family and friends are wonderful and highlight a triumph over adversity and the benefits of embracing the simple things in life. The book raises many thought-provoking issues: racism, the devastation of war, and environmental concerns. Above all, it is a highly entertaining and satisfying story with characters the reader cannot help but love.
(4/5)
In this novel set in Britain during and after WW2, Lady Deanna Claverton (Dee) spends her days at her country cottage in the grounds of the crumbling family seat, Claverton Castle. There she gardens, watches wildlife, attends village events and cares for three young sisters orphaned by the blitz. At night, she’s a spy, working for the mysterious ‘Uncle Jasper’, gracing parties of the rich, titled and famous. Her task is to report back on those who seem to be barracking for the enemy, including one very famous Hitler fan called David. To complicate matters, Dee has a couple of handsome admirers – will they turn out to be good guys or not?
The story-telling in this book was first-rate. It moved at a speedy pace and my interest did not flag for a moment (despite occasionally having to suspend disbelief at some of the co-incidences). The characters were likeable and the depiction of English village life during World War 2 rang true. I loved the recipes (and wartime jokes) that began many chapters, and I also appreciated the author’s final note, in which she explained which parts of the novel were historical facts. A good read!
(5/5)
The Whisperer’s War is a thought-provoking exposé of the horrors of bigotry, racism and exclusion. It’s not all doom and gloom, however. It is a story of overcoming obstacles and being ready to grab life with both hands, no matter what it throws at you.
It is full of beautiful, all-rounded characters that you can easily see yourself being friends with. I wanted to meet their acquaintances, read the books they were reading, and partake in the conversations they were having.
Jackie French placed me right amid her novel’s setting. Her writing is so descriptive that I could see the countryside, I could smell the food, I could hear the animals.
(4/5)
The Whisperer’s War by Jackie French is a great read set during World War II. It tells the story of a young women dealing with the challenges of war, family, and love. The characters feel real, and their struggles are easy to relate to. The main character Lady Deanna, faces her own personal dilemmas, including wondering about the mysterious backgrounds of three orphaned girls and also whether she can trust Sam, an Australian pilot, or should she keep her distance from him. It shows how during this difficult period of history no one really knew who was friend or enemy. I liked how life was portrayed back then and how people had to stay strong through tough times. The writing style is very clear and paints a good picture of the past. It’s a book that’s both interesting and emotional and it kept me intrigued the entire time. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical stories.
(5/5)
Loved this book. I couldn’t put it down.
The main character Dee was a strong woman during the worst times in England. Such uncertain times and enjoyed all the wartime recipes throughout the book. Prejudice is everywhere, no matter what country you live in. Children during the war had to be resilient and they saw things children shouldn’t be exposed to. Loved all the characters in the book as they were all so real to me. Would recommend this book as a great story and a history lesson.
(4/5)
I have read and loved previous books by Jackie French and always find her strong sense of place brings her stories to life on the page. The Whisperer’s War is no exception.
Set in country England during WWII, aristocrat Lady Deanna Claverton finds herself growing potatoes by day and attending lavish dinner parties at night.
Before his death, her grandfather asks her to use her position in society to gather information from Britain’s upper-class socialites with pro German sentiments. In the coming years she will face growing danger, take in three orphaned girls and meet the only man she could ever love.
There was so much I loved about this book, from the polished prose, the chapter headings that included old recipes, jokes, poems and songs to the loveable support characters and political intrigue, all making The Whisperer’s War a fascinating read.
Jackie French takes her readers from the English countryside to the streets of war torn London and then to the harsh beauty of the Australian outback.
The Whisperer’s War is a highly entertaining historical fiction that I found very hard to put down. I was totally immersed in Lady Deanna’s world from beginning to end.
(4/5)
A lovely read with likeable characters. This was a nice rainy weekend read. I like the fact that the main character came across as a genuine and believable person, and I was caught up in her story throughout the book.
I did feel that the book was in two distinct sections and would have loved the second section to be as in-depth as the first section as the author was able to captivate me in that first section. It almost felt as if she was staying under a particular page count. I could have happily kept reading more pages as the story was so engaging.
(4/5)
Lady Deanna is the aristocratic granddaughter of the Duke of Claverton, and lives in beautiful coastal countryside where rabbits and badgers abound, and eagles nest. When her grandfather dies and the dukedom goes to an American cousin, she moves from Claverton Castle into the wonderful ‘cottage’ bequeathed to her, Eagle’s Rest, along with many castle treasures and thrilling secret caves beneath the house.
She’s happy, farming potatoes for the WWII land effort, and providing ongoing harvest bounty for struggling families in the village. When a train from London brings an unexpected trio of white-faced, unidentified sisters no-one expects, Deanna agrees to house them for one night only, until ‘another place’ can be found. I was pretty sure that wasn’t going to happen, and it’s not spoiling the novel to say none was found apart from Eagle’s Rest. And those girls bring with them both mystery and love.
Then Deanna meets Sam, a tall Australian pilot, skilfully flying unarmed signal planes for the British bombers, and unexpectedly falls in love.
Their story gets tangled up in British war politics, racial politics, and all sorts of other dramas. It’s exciting, full of vision, bravery and romance; a complete treat to read.
(3/5)
I took a few chapters to settle into the rhythm of The Whisperer’s War, having not read a Jackie French novel before, but once I did I found it rich and interesting, and when the ‘daughters’ arrived, so did the twists, the intrigue, and my investment in the story.
I particularly enjoyed the war references at the beginning of each chapter; recipes and jokes and remnants of a time gone by. These snippets opened my eyes to the austerity of war times and how people were expected to manage their rations and their mood. It made me glad I didn’t have to live it. As to the characters in the book, they were very unfamiliar to me. They are so much more refined and pleasant than those I usually read about, which probably says more about me than those very nice people. Also, the violence, when it occurred, was brief and quickly resolved. My heart was able to return to normal in quick time, which I liked, not being a fan of ongoing tension in a book.
The themes of racism and discrimination were a standout for me, as explored across continents, and I enjoyed considering the bigger picture as we moved from England to Australia. For readers looking for a historical romance, with themes of war and discrimination, with very respectable characters, and beautiful landscapes filled with life and an ending to please, this is your novel.
(5/5)
The Whisperer’s War is a book you definitely will not be whispering about but telling everyone that Jackie French has once again proven she is the Queen of Historical Fiction.
She transports the reader into the fascinating life of Lady Deanna and the events occurring during World War Two to restore the Duke of Windsor to the British Throne. French once again delivers a book that you can not put down as you want to solve the three mysteries she has entwined throughout the book. The book is full of engaging characters who all leave an impression with the reader long after they have put the novel down. French has once again shown her thorough research by the reader knowing how to make their shoes last longer and the creation of some inspiring rationing recipes and many other insights into living during that challenging period.
(5/5)
I have read a number of Jackie French’s novels, I found this one to be a magical journey that had me swept up in the story of Lady Deanna Claverton and Claverton Castle.
The story moves at a speedy pace, and had me on the edge of my seat for the whole book.
I found the characters very likeable, the English village life took me back to my time in the UK as a child.
It was a thought-provoking book, dealing with issues of racism, the devastation of war, and the environment.
A truly heart-warming, entertaining story that leaves its mark on you long after you have turned the final page.
(4/5)
Lady Deanna, the granddaughter of the late Duke of Claverton (who has ensured she can remain independent after his death), spends her days working in her garden and her evenings attending dinner parties to spy on Britain’s powerful upper classes. All this changes when she takes three orphaned children into her home.
This was an enjoyable, easy to read and refreshing WWII story set in Countryside England. It wasn’t focused solely on the war but rather the relationships between the characters. The descriptive language made me feel I was there watching and being involved in the events while they took place. The mystery surrounding the origins of the orphans and the interactions with Lady Deanna was a highlight for me and kept me wanting to read to find out who they were. The other highlight for me was Sam Murray and the mystery of his origins. When Lady Deanna was warned to stay away from him, she followed her heart and I loved the fact that she wasn’t swayed by society pressures at the time. I did enjoy the evolving sense of family throughout the story which began with Lady Deanna being content to live by herself to wanting to be part of a family.
(4/5)
I feel I have been living under a rock, as I see Jackie French has a huge back catalogue of books that I’ve never read. I decided to apply to review her new book The Whisperer’s War and was delighted to begin reading it on the day I received the ARC.
The cover art is beautiful and catches your eye so that you are excited to begin the story. Opening to the prologue you are given a recipe with further recipes throughout. This made me hungry!
The character of Lady Deanna, granddaughter of the Duke of Claverton certainly has a busy and interesting life. In 1940, spies abound in England and she becomes one. Her upperclass connections help her with this and she even meets the former King Edward VIII after he’s abdicated.
Deanna, or Dee as she calls herself, also has time for a little romance and begins to create a family for herself when she agrees to care for 3 orphans who refuse to identify themselves fully.
This book is a cosy read with enough happening to keep you returning to it to keep reading. I’m a slow reader and sometimes I lose interest because of this but not with this book. I just had to continue to find out Deanna’s next move.
If you have enjoyed Kate Morton’s writing and Jackie’s previous work, I recommend this book to you.
(5/5)
Historical fiction that engages you from the first page written with a recipe from the era and chapters that have recipes or quotes from the war. Adds value in its authenticity and uniqueness. Novel characters are believable and set the story alive. Totally enjoyed reading this novel and would have read it in one sitting however commitments got in the way of a wholesome engaging one sitting read. To the author I say this is the first adult novel I have read of yours. Brilliantly written engaging the reader from the first page to the last. Congratulations, I was totally engaged and enjoyed it. Well done. Loved it.
(4/5)
The Whisperer’s War is classic Jackie French wartime story, that makes it impossible to put the book down. A good mix of factual details entwined with the fictional story.
This story takes you from the lush beautiful English countryside to the harsh Australian outback. In classic Jackie French style it shows the reader both the similarities and differences between the two countries.
(4/5)
I have been a huge fan of Jackie French and her historical storytelling. If you have enjoyed Becoming Mrs Mulberry or Miss Lily’s Lovely Ladies, you will enjoy this book. I enjoy the way she writes female characters playing important (often unseen roles) in important historical moments. The strength and resilience of Deanna and her daughters are evident throughout the book as they grow together as women and as a family in the face of adversity and discrimination.
I do wish we saw Lady Deanna complete more spying / espionage as her role in the community would’ve allowed her more access to positions of power and people who were sympathetic to the Duke of Windsor. It seemed as if her interactions just happened and were not as intentional as I have enjoyed with other Jackie French novels.
Deanna and Sam’s romance was a slow burn that was just waiting to happen! I found it brave for her to leave the comfort that she knew and always relied on to venture to an unknown country with her daughters to pursue a love and a family that she wanted
(4/5)
I must admit to being a Jackie French fan. I love the way Jackie manages to weave a historical storyline that is both captivating and difficult to put down. This book has romance, mystery and adventure, wrapped in with the British Intelligence and the Duke of Windsor.
The Whisperer’s War is one country woman’s war story, ‘Lady Dee’ is well provided for by her grandfather, who saw the war may be a long one. But he could not see the complexities that were to come as Dee works her way through conflicts and mysteries. I loved the recipes at the beginning of each chapter, some of them made me giggle.
Dee adopts three orphaned children who make life both wonderful and complex, she meets Sam who she has feelings for but is not sure what they mean exactly, and The Duke of Claverton – has he really returned home and what does this mean for her?
Jackie French is always on my must-read list.
(4/5)
The Whisperer’s War by Jackie French is a story set in a little village, which like many is affected by the war.
Lady Dee, an aristocrat, lives a quiet, good life, surrounded by nature. She is a perfect spy, reporting intelligence gathered when mixing with the upper class, whilst living her days on her land.
As the war grows, so do her responsibilities, both at home and in the field. We see her adopt children, support her village and fall for a lovely Australian pilot.
The included recipes with every chapter were very appreciated as they gave an idea of what was available, what wasn’t, and when the appetite to keep reading.
I found that the amount of historical data included in this book, whilst adding a level of reality to the story, did somewhat detract from Lady Dee’s story. There was so much going on, and which incredibly, she was always in the midst.
I enjoyed the last part of the story the most, as the differences between her lives was strongly apparent, and finally, all her choices were her own. Reading the final chapter, outlining lives down the track was my favourite, as it was pleasing to see how far everyone had come.
(4/5)
Everybody has secrets – Jackie French has us wondering if we really know who any of her characters are. What information are they keeping back? Are they really who they say they are? Regardless of their secrets I fell in love with the family that Lady Deanna builds following the passing of her grandfather, the Duke of Claverton. Through the stories woven around the characters I was soon drawn into the drama surrounding the three orphan girls, Mr and Mrs Thripps, an Australian pilot, the new Duke of Claverton, ‘Uncle Jasper’ and loyal Dusty the dog.
I loved how there is a true sense of place, with vivid descriptions of the local wildlife, especially the eagles. Although set mainly in England during the war, through Sam Murray the Australian pilot, we see country Australia in war time – the effect on the land and the people that care for it.
A book full of suspicion, secrets, espionage, bravery, stoicism, beauty and love. I highly recommend.
(4/5)
A well-researched book by favourite Australian author Jackie French.
It is set in the 1930’s and 1940’s and centres around aristocratic, orphaned Lady Deanna who is seen by British intelligence as a perfect spy – though a rather unconventional one. During the day she tends the family estate and at night mixes with the upper class at dinner parties where she gathers information on Nazi sympathizers. This information she passes on to her contact in the intelligence service, though she is not privvy to just how useful the information is. (I was unaware that there were so many of the British upper class who were sympathetic to the Nazi regime.)
Into Lady Deanna’s life come three orphaned sisters whom she takes in. The three girls won’t reveal their true identities nor give any information about their lives to date.
Sam Murray, a decorated Australian pilot also enters her life but British intelligence transfers him on quickly when they discover that Sam and Lady Deanna have become close friends. Lady Deanna sets out to solve the mystery of the orphaned sisters and why Sam was so hastily transferred.
This was an interesting read that kept me engaged from the start in England to the end in the Australian outback.
(5/5)
Lady Deanna, the aristocratic granddaughter of the Duke of Claverton, spends her days shovelling manure and her evenings attending dinner parties to gather intelligence from the many Nazi sympathisers among Britain’s powerful upper classes. But when she becomes enmeshed in the German plot to restore the Duke of Windsor to the throne of England and ensure an alliance with Hitler, she must feign cooperation and risk her life for the sake of her country.
I enjoyed this book very much. I especially liked the recipes, jokes, hints and poems at the beginning of each chapter.
Anna, the youngest of the three orphaned children Lady Deanna takes into her home is one of my favourite characters. Her innocence and constant questioning of things make her very endearing.
I can only image the difficulties and fear of war time of wanting to help your country in some way while also needing to keep your family safe.
The book was a great read and kept me turning the pages and I look forward to reading other books by this author in the future.
(5/5)
Nothing gets my heart beating in triple time like historical war fiction, except the parts that are based on deep research, accurate historical details, and a good love story. This was one of those novels that makes you forget there are things to be done, other than reading.
1940, Claverton Castle. I fell in love with ‘Lady Dee’ and her role in gathering evidence from the Nazi’s. She was brave, empowering, and with her regal status, a real asset to the cause. And then along came Sam and the extension to her family with those three beautiful children.
It was a pleasure to read the growth of the relationships, Sam’s background and the plight of black vs white, and Lady Dee’s travels to Australia, and her adaptation to the land, the people and the animals. The descriptions of the land both in Britain and Australia provided a strong visual for the reader, allowing you to travel with the characters.
(4/5)
I have read a few of Jackie French’s books and I’m a fan. I was always engaged with the story and in her typical fashion there were lots of twists and turns in the plot. I was immediately hooked with the mystery of the girls’ identities and of course with the romantic interest… will Dee choose Donnie or Sam? The plot of course becomes much more complicated and interesting.
I found the book was well researched and provided lots of factual information. I liked the title as it reminded me of the game ‘Chinese Whispers’ and in the story you never knew who to believe. The quotes at the beginning of most chapters also provided flavour and background to living through a world war.
As in Jackie French’s other novels, she searches for a way to help the reader be part of creating a better world where there is peace and acceptance, for example, on page 422… ‘For the first time in their lives, they were with people who understood the illogicality of racism and exclusion, and who accepted them with no thought of race or background, except curiosity.’
The author also talks about kindness and dialogue to show that all people have worth. On page 335, Dee has written to Kurt’s mother and finds that he also was trying in his misguided way to bring about peace but at too high a cost in disregarding lives that were lost. Dee did understand with compassion the loss a mother feels in losing a child no matter their deeds.
Finally, the analogy of fighting a bushfire together, ‘Perhaps humanity could never live in harmony unless faced with a bushfire they must fight together to survive’ reminded me of the pandemic we have just experienced together.
Lots of food for thought in reading this book. Jackie French’s books appeal to me and I plan to read them all.
(4/5)
I had not read a Jackie French novel before so did not know what to expect. Well, I really enjoyed this book. Historical books, for me, can be a bit hit and miss but I found this one to be most intriguing.
Here we have an aristocratic single woman, ‘Lady Dee’, living through World War 2. Her grandfather dies and she, being female, cannot inherit the estate. I loved the way the grandfather had made provision over the years to make sure Lady Dee was provided for. There is a lot that goes on in Lady Dee’s life through the course of the war and beyond.
I think what I liked most about the story was the development of the different relationships that Lady Dee had – with her adopted children, with her housekeeper, with the village folk, and with the man she loved. She had a strong, but caring, nature and wanted to see the best in everyone.
Thoroughly recommend this book.
(5/5)
This is yet another wonderful read by the fabulous Jackie French. She has successfully managed to depict the horrors of WW2 while indulging the reader with the warmth of a beautiful English woman, her new family, a new romance and her loyalty to her country. There are lots of surprises for the reader and her strength and character shine through the pages.
The Australian leg of the story has also been well depicted and once more the characters bring a feeling of familiarity to Aussie readers of post-war Sydney and the country. A lovely ending always leaves me wanting more and I was not disappointed. An added bonus were the recipes and war jokes. Such a lovely way to start each chapter! Thank you Jackie for this really nice book. I enjoyed it immensely.
(4/5)
The Whisperer’s War begins in the run-down Claverton Castle as Lady Deanna (or Dee by her friends) cares for her dying grandfather, the Duke of Claverton, just shy of England declaring war on Nazi Germany. It is here Dee learns of her fate once her grandfather passes; she will be gifted the house and land to farm at Eagle’s Rest where she spent much of her youth and will become an intelligence officer, finding nazi sympathizers amongst England’s elite. As the war progresses, we witness the sacrifices Dee must make to survive but also to protect those she loves.
I’ll admit this book took a bit to get into as I’m more of a modern romance reader but having read and loved The Nightingale by Kristen Hannah, I thought I’d give this one a try too. For reference, The Whisperer’s War is much lighter than The Nightingale and once I was a few chapters in, I was hooked. I loved the family Dee built around her, the action and twists you’d expect from a spy novel. I also enjoyed the recipes, quotes of propaganda, and jokes that prefaced each chapter.
(5/5)
Set amongst the backdrop of World War II, The Whisperer’s War, captures the industrious comings and goings of Lady Deanna, a fascinating, yet unassuming heroine. By day, the granddaughter of the Duke of Claverton tends to the aristocratic responsibilities of the estate. Whilst at night, Lady Dee purposefully positions herself amongst Britain’s upper classes to engage in risk-taking intelligence gathering. This historical novel, meticulously penned by Jackie French, the bestselling Australian author, also features several mysteries that the protagonist must solve as she confronts her own conflicts between love and duty to her country.
I would recommend this novel to fans of historical fiction and also those who enjoy a cozy mystery with a little wartime Australian romance.
(3/5)
As I started reading The Whisperer’s War, I was immediately drawn in. The dilemmas and intrigues started almost immediately, and I was impressed with the main character’s strength and resourcefulness. As a child of post-WW2 European emigrants, I enjoyed reading about the wartime experiences of women in other parts of Europe. The developing romance between the main characters was well-written and a joy to read.
However…
I have come to expect that modern novels will always have a message or an issue they are trying to tackle or showcase, but it felt as though the author couldn’t decide which one to highlight, so included as many as possible. From the destruction and futility of war, the devastating effects on wildlife, to the plight of orphan children and the treatment of Aboriginal Australians – I wasn’t sure in the end what message I was supposed to be taking home.
I would still recommend this novel to others, and award it a 3-star rating.