Alan Hlad Books in Order

How to Read Alan Hlad's Books: Recommended Reading Path

If you are diving into the historical fiction of Alan Hlad, you will be pleased to know that all of his novels are completely standalone works. Because there are no recurring protagonists or cliffhangers carrying over from one book to the next, you have total freedom in how you approach his bibliography. However, for the best reading experience, we recommend starting with one of two paths depending on your historical interests.

The Bestselling Classic Start: Start with his debut, The Long Flight Home (2019). It remains his most celebrated work, introducing readers to his hallmark style: meticulous research, emotional depth, and a focus on an obscure, fascinating historical detail (in this case, WWII homing pigeons). It is the perfect introduction to his storytelling voice.

The Chronological Path: If you prefer to read history as it unfolded, you can read the books in chronological order of their historical settings. While his WWI novel A Light Beyond the Trenches was published third, it is set earlier than the others. Starting there and moving forward through World War II allows you to witness the evolution of 20th-century warfare and resistance through his characters' eyes.

Alan Hlad Books in Publication Order

Reading Alan Hlad's books in the order they were written is a fantastic way to watch his progression as a researcher and novelist. Each book represents a deep dive into a different uncovered niche of wartime history. Here is his publication order:

1. The Long Flight Home (2019) — Set during the London Blitz of WWII, focusing on the National Pigeon Service and Operation Columba.
2. Churchill's Secret Messenger (2021) — Set during WWII, following a British SOE agent and the daring air raid on Amiens Prison (Operation Jericho).
3. A Light Beyond the Trenches (2022) — Set during World War I, centered on the world's first guide dog training school for blinded soldiers in Oldenburg, Germany.
4. The Book Spy (2023) — Set during WWII, detailing the real-life OSS "librarian spy" program in neutral Lisbon, Portugal.
5. Fleeing France (2024) — Set during WWII, tracing an American singer and a British pilot during the evacuation of Dunkirk and Operation Aerial.
6. A Secret in Tuscany (2025) — Set in WWII Tuscany (1943) with a dual timeline, focusing on the Italian resistance, Jewish refugees, and OSS undercover operations.

Chronological Reading Order: The Timeline of War

If you want to read his novels chronologically based on their historical settings, the order shifts slightly. Because the books span different stages of World War I and World War II, a chronological path offers a vivid journey through the first half of the 20th century:

• A Light Beyond the Trenches (Set during WWI, starting in 1916): Focuses on the early German efforts to train guide dogs for blinded veterans amidst the trenches.
• Fleeing France (Set in 1939–1940): Covers the onset of World War II, the fall of France, the Dunkirk evacuation, and Operation Aerial.
• The Long Flight Home (Set in 1940): Captures the intensity of the London Blitz and the launch of Britain’s National Pigeon Service.
• The Book Spy (Set in 1942): Explores the intelligence wars and refugee escapes in neutral Lisbon during the height of the Axis expansion.
• A Secret in Tuscany (Set in 1943): Explores the Italian resistance and Jewish escape networks in the Tuscan hills during the Allied advance.
• Churchill's Secret Messenger (Set in 1944): Culminates in the Allied air raid on Amiens Prison (Operation Jericho) in early 1944.

Deep Dive: The Standalone Historical Novels

To help you decide which book to pick up next, here is a detailed breakdown of the unique history and human stories behind each of Alan Hlad's novels.

The Long Flight Home (2019)

Hlad’s debut novel is inspired by the remarkable history of Operation Columba, a British intelligence operation that dropped thousands of homing pigeons in canisters over Nazi-occupied territory. The story follows Susan Shepard, a young woman in Epping Forest who trains pigeons for the war, and Ollie Evans, a grieving American who travels to England to join the Royal Air Force. When one of Susan's pigeons returns with a critical message from a French resistance member, it sets off a dangerous mission that could alter the course of the war. The novel is renowned for highlighting how ordinary citizens—and animals—played pivotal roles in the Allied victory.

Churchill's Secret Messenger (2021)

This high-stakes espionage thriller is centered on the Special Operations Executive (SOE), Winston Churchill's secret network tasked with "setting Europe ablaze." The story follows Rose Teasdale, a London typist who is recruited to parachute into occupied Paris as an agent codenamed Dragonfly. Alongside French Resistance fighter Lazare Aron, Rose works to sabotage German operations. When their network is compromised, the narrative races toward Operation Jericho, the controversial RAF air raid on Amiens Prison in February 1944. It is a gripping look at the heavy toll of espionage and the sheer bravery of female operatives in WWII.

A Light Beyond the Trenches (2022)

Shifting the lens back to World War I, this novel takes place in Germany in 1916. The story is built around the world's first guide dog training school for the blind in Oldenburg. Red Cross nurse Anna Zeller is tasked with assisting Dr. Stalling in training German Shepherds to aid soldiers blinded by chlorine gas. She forms a powerful bond with Nia, a war-injured dog, and Max Benesch, a Jewish soldier struggling with his sight loss. The novel explores themes of rehabilitation, prejudice, and the deep emotional connection between humans and service animals, offering a rare perspective on WWI history.

The Book Spy (2023)

In 1942, the OSS launched a secret initiative to recruit microfilm experts and librarians to gather intelligence in neutral European cities. The novel follows Maria Alves, a microfilm specialist from the New York Public Library, who is sent to Lisbon under the cover of the Library of Congress. Her job is to scour Axis publications for secret military information. There, she connects with Tiago Soares, a bookstore owner who risks his life to forge travel documents for Jewish refugees. The story escalates into high-stakes danger as Maria is pressed to act as a double agent to feed misinformation to a Nazi-sympathizing Swiss banker.

Fleeing France (2024)

Set against the chaos of the Dunkirk evacuation, this novel shines a light on Operation Aerial, the lesser-known evacuation of Allied forces from western French ports. Ruth Lacroix, an American singer in Paris, volunteers to drive an ambulance for the French corps. When France falls, she helps a wounded British RAF pilot, Jimmie, escape. Together, they navigate the refugee-choked roads toward the coast in a desperate attempt to cross the English Channel. It is a story of resilience, survival, and the kindness of strangers during one of the war's darkest hours.

A Secret in Tuscany (2025)

Spanning two generations with a dual timeline, this novel dives into the Italian resistance in WWII. In 1943, following the tragic death of her brother, Gianna Conti joins the local partisans in the hills of Tuscany, helping hide Jewish refugees in her family's vineyard. She crosses paths with Tazio Napoli, an undercover OSS agent. The two conduct sabotage operations, encoding messages using a secret book code. Decades later, the secrets of their wartime activities are unearthed, revealing the long shadow of the war and the enduring power of love and sacrifice.

What to Know Before You Start

Alan Hlad is known for his highly visual, empathetic writing style. His background as a corporate executive who pursued his lifelong writing dream later in life shines through in his themes of resilience and finding one's purpose. Here are a few things to keep in mind when reading his books:

• Meticulous Grounding in Fact: Hlad begins each novel with intensive research, often visiting the actual locations, such as Lisbon, Portugal, and the battlegrounds of Europe. He frequently bases his fictional protagonists on real-life historical figures and operations.
• No Reading Restrictions: Because these books are standalones, you can pick up whichever one has the premise that intrigues you the most. There are no spoilers for previous books in any of his works.
• Emotional but Accessible: While his books tackle heavy topics like combat, espionage, and the Holocaust, Hlad writes with a light touch that focuses on hope, courage, and human connection rather than graphic violence.