Ghost Flight

A World War II Pride and Prejudice Variation

De: Don Jacobson

Narrado por: Benjamin Fife

Darkness Dims the Dawn

War’s clouds have choked the world for five years. Now, the Allies ready their great push to drive Hitler back to Berlin.

WAAF Section Officer Elizabeth Bennet and RAF Wing Commander Fitzwilliam Darcy have already done their bit. Both bear scars—seen and unseen—from their service. They have done much; now they will do more.

Elizabeth and Darcy step forward to undertake the deadliest of tasks: gathering intelligence behind German lines. They go knowing that the Gestapo’s destiny for captured Special Operations Executive agents was simple: a bullet.

World War II’s road to romance was bumpy. Cultivating affection’s fragile bloom while looking over their shoulders, Darcy and Elizabeth discover what is universal: the most ardent of loves.

Explore the dark, gritty world of Occupied France in 1944 at the shoulders of Fitzwilliam Darcy, SOE Agent Jeeves, and his radio operator, Elizabeth Bennet, Agent Madeline. Ghost Flight asks how Darcy and Elizabeth might have served if they had been part of the Greatest Generation.

©2025 Donald P. Jacobson (P)2025 Donald P. Jacobson

Amazing story

Absolutely adored this one! Read it as a book and was super excited to hear it performed by one of my favorite narrators - did not disappoint!! Love how Darcy and Elizabeth come together in this one and learn to rely on each other.

Several times the book provoked food for thought as parallels between Nazi controlled France and current events were apparent.

Taut and Gritty Behind Enemy Lines WWII Romance

Darkness is spreading across Europe and the Allied forces are depending on the intelligence gathered and resistance work behind enemy lines to win the war. Don Jacobson has touched on the WWII European theater once before with his Bennet Wardrobe series, but this latest release, Ghost Flight, takes the listener right into a historic romance taut with suspense that triggers great emotion for the story and characters.

Ghost Flight opens when a radio operator in contact with the pilot of a plane that has been shot to pieces, provides some calm in the chaos. They share minutes together both knowing his plane probably won’t make it.
Later in the story, the pilot has a new identity, thanks to his cousin who is high up in the British intelligence, and is working as section chief behind enemy lines in occupied France. One of the brave radio operators embedded in France has a familiar voice, Elizabeth’s voice.
While working against a common enemy, this pair get off on the wrong foot when his stiff, arrogant pride meets her stubborn prejudice and they have an enemies-to-lovers romance in a different era Pride and Prejudice variation tale going on.
Their romance is not told in isolation, in fact, love blooms for others during the desperate and despairing situations the whole cast of characters are in. Don Jacobson draws in the details of the hardscrabble, gut-wrenching reality of those living and working among a powerful, brutal enemy and makes this time in history come alive. And, if the Nazis were not bad enough, a certain British traitor with a familiar Austen villain name is wreaking havoc, too. It was hardscrabble to the end and I was riveted to my earbuds.

I read Ghost Flight when the print edition first released and it hit me hard. I’m very familiar with Benjamin Fife’s ability to immerse the listener in the story with his talent for voices and the emotional tone of the story so I was worried about the impact on my emotions. I couldn’t resist for long and felt the emotional tug at my heart, the adrenaline rush and nerve-wracking fear almost as much as the first time.

Ghost Flight had authenticity and grit. The war left its mark on the lives of the characters like the real-life people who occupied these hard jobs so I was glad for that long triumphant denouement that celebrated a hard-fought victory and left the characters in a wonderful place. Those who appreciate suspenseful WWII romance should take the plunge.

Darcy & Elizabeth in WW2 France

WOW, how best do I help others readers to understand this novel. You don’t have to understand or have read Pride and Prejudice to immerse yourself in this World War II spy story. The main characters from the original P&P that you regularly deal with would be Darcy, Elizabeth, Colonel Fitzwilliam and of course Wickham. You do see glimpses of other characters and there is a fantastic reference at the end, talking about each character, even if they didn’t fully make it on page, but gave the background that helped to develop the story. The author also used real life individuals to develop characters and back stories to lend authenticity to the story.

If you are looking for something light and fluffy, pick a different book. This is one that does not glorify wartime, It shows the realities. I ended up getting the audiobook (excellently narrated by Benjamin Fife), but then borrowed the e-book via KU and that was extremely worth it as the footnotes in the e-book are fantastic. This is an incredibly well researched book that can take you down many rabbit trails reading the footnotes, but only if you desire to go that route. There are some fun little Easter eggs in those references to actual historical events, movies, and other novels this author has written.

So, our story…. We start off with Darcy and Bingley being pilots that are trying desperately trying to make it safely back after their plane had been shot. Both pilots are in a very bad condition when Darcy radios for help. Elizabeth is a radio operator and ends up being his lifeline. Her calm voice kept him alert enough to land. The crash left both pilots disabled to varying degrees. Col Fitzwilliam’s job as a spy mastermind sees opportunity and sets the stage for a mission in France using both Darcy and Elizabeth (both have never met in person). Elizabeth goes through some intense training not only to do her job but stay safe. They are both situated in a small French village and end up as “assumed lovers” to give Elizabeth a reason to be out riding her bike (she has to travel to safe locations to do her radio work). We go along for the ride as they deal with the French resistance, German soldiers, community members trying to stay neutral and turncoats.

If you like history, especially World War II, spy thrillers, and a gradual love story you should enjoy this. I just caution you to give yourself the time to absorb it all.

Love Amid War

Excellent narration by Benjamin Fife that brings Don Jacobson's book to life.

Ghost Flight is well-written and will appeal to any fan of WWII romance stories. Darcy and Elizabeth experience dangerous situations from start to finish and overcome the odds to survive and find a lasting love. The author has crafted a story about this horrific war and created a thought-provoking novel about D & E fighting against tyranny.