The Long Flight Home

By: Alan Hlad

Narrated by: Simon Vance

It is September 1940 - a year into the war - and as German bombs fall on Britain, fears grow of an impending invasion. Enemy fighter planes blacken the sky around the Epping Forest home of Susan Shepherd and her grandfather, Bertie. After losing her parents to influenza as a child, Susan found comfort in raising homing pigeons with Bertie. All her birds are extraordinary to Susan - loyal, intelligent, beautiful - but none more so than Duchess, who shares a special bond with Susan and an unusual curiosity about the human world.

Thousands of miles away in Buxton, Maine, a young crop-duster pilot named Ollie Evans has decided to travel to Britain to join the Royal Air Force. His quest brings him to Epping and to the National Pigeon Service, where Susan is involved in a new, covert assignment. Codenamed Source Columba, the mission aims to air-drop hundreds of homing pigeons in German-occupied France. Many will not survive. Those that do make the journey home to England can convey crucial information on German troop movements - and help reclaim the skies from the Luftwaffe.

The friendship between Ollie and Susan deepens as the mission date draws near. When Ollie's plane is downed behind enemy lines, both know how remote the chances of reunion must be. Yet Duchess's devotion and her singular sense of duty will become an unexpected lifeline.

©2019 Alan Hlad (P)2019 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

A look into history

While listening to this book I learned the National pigeon Service was a real event from WWII. I’m sure much else was fictionalization but it was well done. Jeopardy even had a clue about it while I was finishing up the book. Quite well read. I like historical fiction and always find myself delving deeper.

I might actually listen to this a second time!

This is one that I might actually listen to a second time! I so enjoyed it! It kept me on edge and I so wanted to the characters to live long happy lives!

Outstanding!

Absolutely loved this story! Very strong plot & great characters that you fall in love with. Pigeons are much more intelligent and loyal than we think and give credit for. Loved every minute of this story, didn’t want it to end. Excellent narration of Simon Vance. Must listen to.

Excellent read & listen

Great story only wish they could have rejoined each other twenty years sooner.
Loving forever.

I haven't listened to a book this good in ages!

I blew straight through this book because I just couldn't stop listening. The story was wonderful, the narration amazing, and the ending the best!! Strongly recommend and I will be seeking other titles by this author.