I had an ulterior motive for reading this book, I live just outside Louisville and I am familiar with the Waverly hospital. But this book told the Waverly’s story from a side not usually seen, the part when it was still alive and full of people mostly fighting for their lives as well as the unsung hero of the doctors, nurses and support staff that worked there. This is such a wonderful book I hope the audio narrated by Nick Mondelli, which is wonderful, brings this wonderful story to even more people.

A White Wind Blew by J. H. Markert; James Markert and narrated by Nick Mondelli is a powerful story that not only explores a lost love and grief, but a deep dive into racial tensions in Louisville in the post-WWI era. The narration was empathetic and dynamic and suited the flow beautifully. A wonderful listen and highly recommended

Thank you to Netgalley, Dreeamscape Media, the author James Markert and Narrator Nick Mondelli for this brilliant ALC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

Many thanks for the complimentary ARC kindly provided by NetGalley and the author/publisher.

This book won't be for everyone because it is very reflective of the times and the subject which makes for a slow pace. Unfortunately it didn’t work to keep my attention. Just not the book for me.

"A White Wind Blew" by James Markert is a historical fiction novel set in 1929 in Louisville, Kentucky. It is about the tuberculosis pandemic, sometimes called the White Plague. It is set at the Waverly Hills Sanatorium, a real place, which is now known as one of the most haunted hospitals in the Eastern US.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who likes historical fiction!

One of the stories is the creation of a patient orchestra and choir led by Dr. Wolfgang Pike, who is also a seminary student. Many of the patients call him Father. McVain (sp.?) is an ornery patient and an interesting character.

At times, there are actions from the KKK that are scary and dangerous. They are out to catch bootleggers during prohibition, not just against black people.

This book is exceptionally well written! The characters are all well developed. I came to care about all of them. The storylines carry you along. Some of it is sad, but some parts are uplifting. Nick Mondelli is the narrator of the audiobook, and he does a great job with all the voices!

Characters - 5/5
Writing - 5/5
Plot - 5/5
Pacing - 5/5
Unputdownability - 4/5
Enjoyment - 4/5
Narration - 5/5
Cover - 4/5
Overall - 37/8 = 4 5/8 rounded up to 5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley, Dreamscape Media, and James Markert for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

A lovely book with lots of heart. I was daunted initially by the length of the audio, but it flew by in a blur of emotions and hope for the characters I'd grown to truly care about. Tuberculosis seems like such a mundane illness in this time of Covid and malaria, but Markert gives us a taste of what it was like in a 1920s sanitorium where people were dying every hour, sometimes as much as 40 per day, and bodies secreted out through a tunnel so as not to upset the patients (or staff). The title of the book was also disturbing once the reason for it was revealed. Despite the sadness, the depth of loss, and the broken spirits, there is so much hope running all through the book, and when Wolfgang introduces music to the hospital, the entire atmosphere changes. This is a book of faith and hope, and despite our protagonist being a seminary student and doctor, it's not overtly Christian and preachy. It's about humanity, connections, the power of music, the hideousness of racism, and faith in ourselves and each other. There are trigger warnings, but I think this book is very worth the read.

The basis of this story drew me in:- music therapy in a tuberculosis hospital. Although music therapy is more appreciated nowadays, it wasn’t recognised or understood in the 1920’s. Dr Wolfgang Pike firmly believes that music soothes the soul, and when the soul is at peace, then healing can take place. This book brings illness and death, but also hope and a sense of community. An insightful story.

Unfortunately, the audio narration by Nick Mondelli didn’t help me connect with the characters. I felt there was a lack of expression which made the listening experience rather bland. The overall pace and flow of this story felt very slow, although I’m glad I listened to the end - particularly for the author’s final note which shed further light on the historical facts surrounding the impact of tuberculosis at Waverly Hills in Louisville, Kentucky. (I’d recommend reading the actual book, rather than listening to the audio version).

Thank you to the audio publisher, Dreamscape Media, for an audio copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Certain books are so good, they warrant a re-release. A White Wind Blew was originally published in 2013, while the audiobook was only recently released on June 11, 2024. Through the character of Dr. Wolfgang Pike, Nick Modelli’s narration brought an orchestra of characters and a choir of voices to life with his performance and elevated the reading experience. I throughly enjoyed the audiobook and highly recommend reading, or re-reading, the novel via audio.

The novel is set in a historically accurate tuberculosis sanitorium, Waverly Hills, in 1920’s Louisville, Kentucky. The shadow of WWI still looms; it is a time of great change and growing racial tension. Dr. Wolfgang Pike, is widowed and in his grief he returns to the Catholic seminary where he previously studied. Soon he finds himself diverted to working with the patients at Waverly Hills during a catastrophic outbreak of tuberculosis. The one thing that almost soothes Wolfgang’s broken heart is his music. He is determined to complete the requiem he has been composing in memory of his late wife, and perhaps then he can move on with his life. Surrounded by death, he only wishes to bring a bit of hope and healing into the lives of his patients. Wolfgang’s belief is that music might just be the medicine Waverly Hills needs. The director, Dr. Barker believes it is a waste of time and does whatever he can to thwart his efforts.

Fans of literary historical fiction will want to add this one to their TBR. Markert compassionately brings to light a dark time in our history, one that is not too far removed from recent events. A White Wind Blew speaks to the sacrifices of those who care for the sick and dying, the dignity of life of every color, our struggles to understand the nature of God when bad things happen, the healing touch of music, and the enduring power of faith, hope and charity.


Many thanks to the author James Markert, @DreamscapeMedia and @NetGalley for the pleasure of reading this ELC in exchange for an honest review

It was good. Kept my interest and I alwasy enjoy learning about a different time period.
Narrator was very good and I enjoyed that!

Beautiful and poignant, A White Wind Blew was both light hearted and emotionally raw. A story that won't easily be forgotten.

I cannot praise A White Wind Blew enough. Set in an historically correct 1920's sanitorium, Waverly Hills, in Louisville, KY, the story focuses on Dr. Wolfgang Pike, a young medical doctor and would-be Catholic priest, his love for his deceased wife, Rose, his determination to cure his tuberculosis patients, and his love for and belief in music as part of a pre-antiobiotic-era curative regimen; racial tensions; and questions of the nature of the soul and the belief in heaven. Markert applies an experienced hand in plotting, setting, and character development. At times his prose verges on being lyrical.

A narrator can enhance the listener's experience or make it painful. Nick Mondelli certainly succeeds at the former. His narration became a natural part of the narrative, except for his pronunciation of the word "solarium," which differs from the way in which I've heard and pronounced it all my life. That said, he was the perfect choice to narrate this book and I would gladly listen to others of his narrations.

Readers/listeners of historical and literary fiction, anyone interested in the many topics this book entails, and those who are looking for a good read/listen will be happy to find A White Wind blew.

A WHITE WIND BLEW by James Markert

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the wonderful ARC audiobook.

Narration by Nick Mondelli was spot on and I enjoyed listening to it. A laudable reading.

This book was published in 2013 and the audiobook will be released on June 11, 2024. A White Wind Blew is James Markert’s first novel. I was impressed by this debut book and thought the writing and story was told beautifully, bringing the characters to life. I love when I find a new author for me. I look forward to reading more from this talented author. When I want to keep reading/listening to a book, is an indication of a good and entertaining read.

Set in the 1920s in a tuberculosis hospital, Waverly Hills, in Louisville, Kentucky. A White Wind Blew follows Wolfgang Pike, a doctor, musician, and seminary student, on his journey of healing and self-discovery. I thought the “musical medicine” that Dr. Pike used along with his love of God, was therapy for lifting their spirits. I found this to be an interesting concept. Some may think this trivialized this “dark period” in our history, but I thought it a most comforting and humanely therapeutic style of care in addition to the medicinal care they were given; even if it is fictional. I believe later in time, music was incorporated into care for patients suffering with whatever ailments they had. Waverly Hills was a sanatorium in Kentucky that housed TB patients and the rest of the story James Markert took the liberty authors are allowed in historical fiction.

Although filled with death and disease there is a surprising amount of hope too. Themes of, tuberculosis, prohibition, war, racism, the KKK, faith, love, loss, and musical therapy are interwoven throughout this book.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE when I find incredible and new favorite narrators! This book was narrated by Nick Mondelli and let me tell you…I’ll listen to all of the things by our narrator. I felt the feelings, the mood and tones of this book all through Nick. Fantastic! A favorite read of mine already and this made the book come to life. 10/10 recommend this audiobook!

Below is my review of the book.

“it is not the answer as far as cure, but I do believe it helps the soul, and when the soul is at peace, healing can take place.”

Literary PERFECTION. I’m going to keep this very simple because this is a book you need to read and experience for yourself but this book left me with all the feeling and emotions. Each and every character within this book was so well developed and they were so well written that they felt as real as ever and the setting and descriptions through the entirety was so vivid you could place yourself right within the book.

I always have had a fascination with Waverly Hills and the history behind it and this book brought everything back to life in a beautifully dark way. You experience these characters’ inner and outer struggles, the relationships that form and see how the power of music can heal a soul no matter what you may be going through.This book is fast paced, pulls you in from the beginning and will have you in your feelings by the end. I also very much enjoyed the Historical Note that our author gave us to help us further understand this very real place in our book and some history behind it all. LOVED THIS!

This is absolutely a top 5 audiobook of 2024 for me and I wish I could give it a hundred stars. If you haven’t read this please put this on your shelf to read next because you will not be disappointed. BRAVO 👏🏼

A White Wind Blew by James Markert
Narrated by Nick Mondelli

I knew little about life and death with tuberculous during the 1920s and even less about Waverly Hills Sanatorium, the tuberculosis hospital located in Louisville, Kentucky. The hospital started small, providing 40 to 50 beds but as the number of tuberculosis patients in the area soared, the hospital was expanded to hold 400 patients at a time. At one point it was said that the hospital lost one patient an hour, new patients being carried in as dead patients where shunted out via the tunnel, out of sight to keep from plummeting the already plummeting spirits of the doctors, nurses, and patients.

The hospital was real although this story and the characters in it are fiction. Wolfgang Pike took up music young, the only way he had of bonding with his surly and often distant father. At fourteen, Wolfgang found the Catholic Church and began his journey towards becoming a priest. But he fell in love and married Rose and became a doctor, instead. Now, at thirty two, Rose is dead, he is a doctor at Waverly Hills, and Wolfgang is tormented by his pull towards the priesthood, his need to continue to help tuberculosis patients, and his growing attraction to a nurse he works with. There is also the problem of possible KKK dangers as they are against drinking, Jews, Catholics, and the mingling of black and white patients at the hospital.

Music is a distraction and release for Wolfgang and as he meets patients with musical talent he decides to put together an orchestra despite his boss's orders to not do so. It's obvious that music helps all the patients whether they are playing, singing or listening to it and Wolfgang will not give up his music therapy. I enjoyed the story the most when it focused on the hospital and patients and the music. I could have done without Wolfgang's inner thoughts about the body of his wife and the nurse, with that struggle making me wonder if the priesthood was really a good choice for him.

It was difficult to read about those suffering from TB and it was difficult to read about what seemed to be barbaric treatments the patients underwent. But Wolfgang is a compassionate man and while his heart is in his music, it is also with his patients. He's right there in the mess and disease, holding hands and bodies, not withdrawing from the sights, sounds, and smells. This story highlights the sacrifices of doctors, nurses, and patients and also how heavily this disease weighed down on everyone in connection with it. Now, when I hear narrator Nick Mondelli's voice, I'll always remember Wolfgang because he narrated his POV so well.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for this ARC.