The Call of the Wrens

By: Jenni L Walsh

Narrated by: Fiona Hardingham, Amanda Sanfilippo

The Call of the Wrens introduces the little-known story of the daring women who rode through war-torn Europe carrying secrets on their shoulders.

An orphan who spent her youth without a true home, Marion Hoxton found in the Great War something other than destruction. She discovered a chance to belong. As a member of the Women’s Royal Naval Service—the Wrens—Marion gained sisters. She found purpose in her work as a motorcycle dispatch rider assigned to train and deliver carrier pigeons to the front line. And despite the constant threat of danger, she and her childhood friend Eddie began to dream of a future together. Until the battle that changed everything.

Now twenty years later, another war has broken out across Europe, calling Marion to return to the fight. Meanwhile others, like twenty-year-old society girl Evelyn Fairchild, hear the call for the first time. For Evelyn, serving in the war is a way to prove herself after a childhood fraught with surgeries and limitations from a disability. The re-formation of the Wrens as World War II rages is the perfect opportunity to make a difference in the world at seventy miles per hour.

Told in alternating narratives that converge in a single life-changing moment, The Call of the Wrens is a vivid, emotional saga of love, secrets, and resilience—and the knowledge that the future will always belong to the brave souls who fight for it.

• Historical, stand-alone novel
• Book length: approximately 94,000 words

Critic reviews

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.

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.

Walsh (Becoming Bonnie) offers an enticing story of two Englishwomen serving their country during both world wars . . . Walsh expertly contrasts the life of orphaned Marion and privileged Evelyn to expose their common desire to show their value outside societal labels. Historical fiction fans will be riveted.

Walsh (Side by Side, 2018) 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.

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.

Great story

The dual timeline was brought together so sweetly. I enjoyed hearing about these brave, daring women.

Brave Women

Enjoyed learning about these brave women! It was a great History lesson for sure! A must read.

Wrens war story

For the most part I enjoyed this book, especially from a historical perspective. At times I was a bit confused as it touches on WW I and WW II, but that may be because it was an audible version and not hardcopy. This reader can get distracted on Audible.
Overall a great listen.

Commitment of many characters

I enjoyed the closeness of the main characters to know each others lives and histories and to reach out them

The Wrens perspective

I found this stir to be slow in the first half of the book, but kept my interest enough to finish. I enjoyed the story from the wren’s perspective and it wrapped up nicely. I did find that it was predictable in n many ways.

Loved it!

Well written and narrated. Kept me interested the whole time. Will watch for more by this author.