What’s special about wartime novels? There’s romance, adventure, mysteries, thrillers and more. The difference is the times and settings. Heroism, camaraderie, stoicism, fear and suffering are all heightened. Here’s a very mixed selection of war stories by current writers. It’s quite a feast:

Pamela Hart writes great romance, “A letter from Italy” reminds the reader that it isn’t just the soldier who is lost and a tragedy affects many lives.
Lisa Bigelow’s “We that are left“ is another story in this vein.
Susan Vreeland’s book “Lisette’s list” is set in German occupied France.
Jane Gardam’s almost classic novel, “A long way from Verona”, is a coming of age story and well worth reading.

Political thrillers featuring intelligence officers in the field remain popular and the following authors stand out:
Sam Eastland’s “Elegant lie” is one,
“The partisan heart” by Gordon Kerr is another.
Graham Hurley’s “ Wars within” series must be included so look out for “Estocada”.

Whodunnits in wartime? Yes of course there are so do try Robert Ryan’s “Deadman’s land” which takes Holmes’s old chum Dr. Watson into the trenches.

Some writers have been inspired by real life stories such as “The photographer of the lost“ by Caroline Scott. Life as a POW extends the experiences from combat to confinement as in Australian author, Peter Yeldham’s “The last double summer”.
Rob Lofthouse’s “Trouble ahead: the battle for Crete” explains itself and Hubert Mingarellis moving stories of men in combat “Four soldiers” is both simply and powerfully told.

To finish here is a short list of recommendations:

“Restless sea” by Vanessa de Haan;
“The hour of separation” by Katharine McMahon;
“Huntress” by Kate Quinn; Kiwi writer,
Ann Barrie’s “Deserter”
and last, though definitely not least, Robert Radcliffe’s “Airborne” trilogy.
Jean