This is the story of Alice Marble, an incredible woman in history I had never heard of before. She was an American tennis player in the 1930’s-40’s and overcame many hurdles throughout her career and her life. Though this is a work of fiction, it is based off the memoir Alice wrote herself. The author did a wonderful job of telling her story as Alice experienced so much in her life with sports injuries, sickness, car accidents, love, and loss.

I enjoyed the audiobook and felt that the narrator did a great job of bringing Alice and the other characters to life.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the audiobook ARC to listen to and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I love biographical fiction, and I love how many of them are featuring women in history. I'm not a tennis fan so I did not know who Alice Marble was. With the title and timeframe, I thought she was going to be similar to the stories about women in the resistance written by Ariel Lawhon and Erika Robuck. As this book is every bit as well-written as the books by those women, Marble had less to do with the war.

Walsh focused mostly on Marble's tennis career which began during the Great Depression. Sports were so different back then. She had no coach and played on public courts yet she would play in tournaments and the tennis association even sent her to national competitions.

The story is split between the beginning of her career in the 1930s and the war years. As I was listening to the audiobook, it usually took me a sentence or two to figure out which time period we were in. The narrator, Gail Shalan, does have a slightly younger sounding voice for the younger Alice Marble so it was more difficult as the the past caught up with the present (the war years). Shalan has narrated a lot of books but this is my first audiobook with her as the reader. She really brought the story to life and I hope I get to listen to more books with her as narrator.

Like a lot of people who lived in the 1930s and 1940s, Alice had an interesting life and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing this time period (which is a favorite of mine) through the eyes of a female athlete.

Also, be sure to read/listen to the author's note about her sources. She relied heavily on Marble's memoir and I thought Walsh's observations were interesting.

You don't have to be a sports fan to enjoy this book. If you want to learn about a tough woman living during a tough time, then this is the book for you. This would also be a great book to read for Women's History Month.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Wednesday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2025/02/ace-marvel-spy-by-jenni-l-walsh.html

Ace marvel spy was an entertaining enough historical fiction. The writing at times lacked punch or fleshed out storytelling but the subject matter was interesting. Unfortunately the spy aspect was very light.

Ace, Marvel, Spy written by Jenni L Walsh and perfectly narrated by Gail Shalan was the true story of Alice Marble - tennis pro turned U.S. spy during WWII.

Jenni Walsh pulled Alice’s tales from her memoir and gave them life. This was so well done that I questioned if it was a true story or not.

Gail Shalan brought Alice’s life through various struggles in tennis, love, life, and espionage.

4/5 stars - I would have liked a little less of the tennis content.

Having started this book curious about the true life inspiration, I have to say it's shaping up to be a wonderful historical fiction with a feminist slant to it. I started listening to it last night and then had trouble falling asleep because it was too interesting, and then I was driving around today and loved having the company in my headphones. I'm hoping the rest of the book will be just as interesting as the beginning, because it shaping up to be a wonderful inspiring experience.

I loved listening to this thrilling retelling of the tennis champion turned spy. The perfect listen for fans of WWII fiction with a twist.

Ace, Marvel, Spy is a riveting historical fiction novel that brings to life the extraordinary true story of Alice Marble—an 18-time Grand Slam tennis champion, singer, designer, comic book writer, and, incredibly, a WWII spy. Jenni L. Walsh masterfully blends history, intrigue, and emotion, crafting a tale that is as inspiring as it is thrilling.

This novel truly has it all—tennis, romance, espionage, and a deep exploration of a woman who defied expectations at every turn. The character development is rich and immersive, making Alice feel like a real, complex person rather than just a historical figure. It’s almost unbelievable that such an incredible woman existed, yet her story remains largely unknown. Walsh ensures that changes with this compelling, beautifully written book.

The audiobook, narrated by Gail Shalan, is a perfect match for the story. Shalan’s voice captures Alice’s strength, vulnerability, and determination, making it feel like a firsthand account rather than a work of fiction. Her narration adds another layer of depth, making the listening experience truly captivating.

Whether you’re a fan of historical fiction, WWII-era stories, or just love tales of women doing amazing things, Ace, Marvel, Spy is a must-read (or listen). This book is a testament to Alice Marble’s incredible life, and Walsh’s storytelling ensures that her legacy won’t be forgotten.

I was looking forward to this and had high hopes. Unfortunately, I found the writing style a bit grating, and the way Alice was portrayed was rather irritating. The narrator was great though, and that made me keep listening until the end.

This story was very interesting historical fiction. I wish we got a little more about her life as a spy and what went into it. I did enjoy the different timelines and the main characters traits.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC! I really enjoyed this historical fiction account of Alice Marble’s life. I had no idea who she was and I love tennis and history so it was great! I really enjoyed the audiobook.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. This is the story of a woman who is tennis champion, an editor, and a spy. I had no idea who this woman was before I pickled up this book., But she was a true badass. I loved everything about this book.

This book was very cool! I had the audio copy of this book. It’s a Historical Fiction based on a real person, Alice Marble. She was a tennis trailblazer faced with so many obstacles like being a woman in a man’s world, poverty and loss. Her perseverance in finding a new normal and reinventing herself was nothing short of heroic! I did not know any of her story and loved getting to know her through this fiction version! The only thing that I found slightly confusing was the flashbacks and flash forwards in time. In the audio, it is sometimes hard to know when we transitioned, but I was able to follow. If you love tennis or don’t, I still think you will enjoy this book. She is responsible for women wearing shorts in tennis, eliminating segregation in tennis and spying for her country! What an amazing woman! My favorite quote is They “fought to be their best selves”. What could be better than that? Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus for sending me this ARC for an honest review!

Historical fiction meets biography in a novel about tennis star Alice Marble. The story is Inspired by Alice’s memoir “Courting Danger.” It’s fast-paced, exciting and all around fun for anyone who loves WWII novels.

The story goes back and forth between the 1930s and 1940s. Allowing the timelines and events to connect with suspense.

The characters are not only lovable, but have consistent character development as they (mainly Alice) grow and mature throughout her tennis career.

By Jenni L. Walsh
Arc - NetGalley
Read by Gail Shalan
Publisher by Harper Collins Focus, Harper Muse
Publication January 13, 2025
Genre: Women's Fiction, Historical Fiction, General Fiction (Adult)

I really loved this book because it encompassed my interests: tennis and espionage! A thrilling blend of sports, espionage, and historical drama, follows the life of Alice Marvel, a young tennis prodigy whose rise in the international circuit takes an unexpected turn when she becomes embroiled in the covert world of World War II espionage.

Alice's journey begins in tennis tournaments during the 1930s, where her talent, charm, and fierce determination earn her global recognition. However, as war looms, she is recruited by intelligence services to aid them in capturing an old beau that was hiding Nazi goods in Switzerland.

The novel masterfully intertwines the elegance of tennis with the gritty realities of war, offering a protagonist who is both formidable and deeply human. The book captures the tension of both a high-stakes match and a dangerous mission with equal finesse.

Jenni Walsh brings historical authenticity to the story, detailing the role of women in wartime intelligence operations while painting vivid portraits of the tennis world of the era.

Highly recommended.

I love tennis! I love spies! Did I know that Billie Jean King's coach was both a tennis star and a spy? Not until I listened to this book!

The author is clear that Ace, Marvel, Spy is historical fiction based on one primary source: Alice Marble's own memoir. (Walsh is also clear that the memoir itself is probably not 100% factual.) That said, it was full of real tennis history and tons of fun. I spent a great 8 hours listening and learning about a real life interwar tennis star.

The book has dual timelines, one in present tense set during WWII, and one in past tense that describes Alice's rise to tennis stardom. While I am on the record as being very skeptical about the dual timeline narrative technique, it worked really well here.

If you like historical fiction, WWII narratives, sports history, or are at all interested in tennis, I definitely recommend this book.

The narration was really fun, especially as voice actor Gail Shalan uses a "golden age of Hollywood" midatlantic accent to bring the story to life.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the audiobook.

After reading Unsinkable last year, I knew I had to get my hands on @jennilwalsh’s newest book.

I’m not a big tennis fan, but tying tennis into WWII, I knew I would like this one. I had never heard of Alice Marble before this book. Tennis is definitely a more prominent part of the story but it didn’t turn me off. We get the history of Alice’s tennis career and her participation in the war, in dual timelines. Her relationship with her coach, Teach, is also a large part of this story. I find that relationships between coaches and high level athletes to be incredibly controlling, and Teach is definitely that. Alice struggles to have any kind of life beyond tennis.

I thoroughly enjoyed the audio of this book. Gail did a great job bringing Alice to life for me.

Thank you NetGalley, Harper Muse Books and TLC Book Tours for my copies of this book.

From the bestselling author of Unsinkable and The Call of the Wrens, Jenni L. Walsh delivers a masterpiece, ACE, MARVEL, SPY, inspired by the true story of an icon—a tennis champion, world number one ranking, a remarkable, courageous, strong, and determined woman, Alice Marble.

Alice's life, filled with triumphs and challenges, is a testament to the power of resilience and determination. This captivating and inspiring historical fiction not only sets the tennis world on fire but also ignites a spark of inspiration in the hearts of its readers. A true heroine you will root for until the end.

Alice Marble and her tennis coach, Eleanor “Teach” Tennant, are formidable women in this captivating historical fiction. I loved this book so much. You will laugh and cry. No matter what gets Alice down, she perseveres with the help of her side-kick demanding and hilarious British coach. It is hard to imagine this in the 1930s and 1940s.

About...

Born in the small town of Beckwourth, CA, Alice Marble moved to San Francisco with her family at the age of five. A tomboy, her brother persuaded her to try tennis. They had little money, but her dream was about to come true. All her hard work will pay off.

Alice chose tennis as a sport when her brother Dan suggested it over baseball. Who knew she would become the #1 tennis champion while maintaining a growing career as an associate editor on Wonder Woman?

She also created the 'Wonder Women of History' feature for the comics, which told the stories of prominent women of history in comic form. This was a pioneering effort in highlighting the achievements of women in a male-dominated industry.

After being recruited by her tennis coach, Teach, she excelled, worked hard, and continued striving for the best. She went on to marry, but then her world crumbled after the news of her husband's death serving in the war in Germany and the miscarriage.

With the war halting her tennis, she wanted to help. The opportunity came when the US Army sent her a request under the guise of playing in tennis exhibition games in Switzerland; she would be a spy for them. She wants nothing more than to avenge her husband's death.

But Alice's journey was not without its challenges. The war halted her tennis career, and she faced another setback with TB and going up against men. However, she did not let these challenges deter her. With the unwavering support of her coach, Alice overcame these obstacles and continued to excel in her career.

My thoughts...

The author brilliantly crafts an unforgettable story inspired by Alice's life and her memoir. The story came alive with letters, notes, telegrams, and newspaper articles. I appreciated the author's note and enjoy books about strong women, especially in this era in a man's world.

Alice was an American tennis player who won 18 Grand Slam championships, ranked No. 1 in the world in 1939. She was the top-ranked U.S. player from 1936 to 1940, with extensive accolades.

From winning the French Open, Wimbledon, US Open, Grand Slam doubles, and much more, in 1964, Marble was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame and became a tennis teacher in Palm Springs after retirement with Bille Jean King as one of her students. How cool is that?

Marble's contribution to the desegregation of American tennis was significant. She wrote an editorial in support of Althea Gibson, which was instrumental in Gibson's entry into the 1950 U.S. Championships. This made Gibson the first African-American player, man or woman, to compete in a Grand Slam event, a milestone in tennis history.

She inspired many and achieved many more things during and after her career, including being a spy. Thank you, Jenni, for a creative retelling of this memorable story. Meticulously researched, rich in detail and character, mixed with heartache, competition, drive, ambition, and humor.

ACE, MARVEL, SPY is enthralling: a fabulous mix of literary fiction, historical fiction, coming-of-age, sports, WWII, adult fiction, and feminism. A page-turner, the novel will appeal to a wide variety of readers and is perfect for book clubs. Marble was a remarkable woman with grit and determination, making her mark on the world.

If you love tennis (I come from a family of tennis players, my sons and grandson), you will adore ACE, MARVEL, SPY, and getting to know the dazzling Alice and her coach, Teach. I cannot wait to read the author's backlist! Love her writing style.

Audiobook...

Top Audiobook List of 2025! Last but not least... Oh my, I loved this audiobook, narrated by the mega-talented and favorite Gail Shalan! It was an award-winning performance; I listened to the audiobook twice and enjoyed it immensely. The banter between “Teach” and Alice laugh out loud hilarious, and priceless! Gail added the passion, intensity, suspense, and drama of both Alice and Teach. I especially enjoyed the parts about the men, and Gail's British accent (Teach) was riveting and highly entertaining. I highly recommend the audiobook. Thank me later. Quite the performance you do not want to miss.

BEHIND THE MIC: Speaking of Gail, stay tuned for my upcoming Feb (Blog/Newsletter) #AudioElevatorSeries Q&A Interview with Gail Shalan (the first to kick on a new series as part of my #AuthorElevatorSeries & #LitLiftMiniAuthorChats collection) where we go behind the mic, the audiobook, and the narrator. Get all the exclusives from Ace, Marvel, Spy, and her three other featured January audiobooks and upcoming projects and secrets inside the booth. I am a huge audiobook fan excited about this new series, connecting narrators and listeners. And, of course, Gail is the perfect storyteller! You are going to love it.

Recs...

For fans of the author and those who enjoy novels of strong, resilient women, sports fans and the works of Kate Quinn, Taylor Jenkins Reid, Kristin Hannah, Patti Callahan Henry, and other historical fiction focused on real women and their bravery and courage.

A special thank you to Harper Muse and Harper Collins Focus for an ALC and ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I also purchased the paperback copy, which sits on display front and center in my home library. (I wish it came in hardcover).

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars +
Pub Date: Jan 14, 2025

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A novel based on the life and memoirs or American tennis star Alice Marble - Wimbledon champion, author of the original Wonder Women comics, and allegedly a spy for the Americans during world war II. Until reading this book I'd never heard of Alice Marble and I enjoyed learning about her through a work of fiction.

The novel jumps between two periods, "the present" and the past. Although Walsh changes the tenses to distinguish between this the plot points don't change much and I found myself getting lost in which period we were in. I also felt disappointed about the amount of the novel covering Alice's time as a spy. Based on the title I thought this would be the main focus, however it is only covered in the final 1/4 of the book. I didn't connect with the story much up until that point. I would have been less interested if I didn't know it was based on a real person. An easy read but I wasn't hooked on the story and didn't find myself desperate to keep reading.

Ace, Marvel, Spy is based on the real life tennis champion Alice Marble. From meeting her coach for the first time to be incorrectly diagnosed with TB, winning tennis championships across the country and abroad, to meeting a man and falling in love to doing it again, before becoming a spy for the United States government during World War II; Alice didn't lead a quiet life.

While the story surrounding Alice Marble was interesting, I felt the writing style was very choppy. This isn't the first Jenni L. Walsh book I've read, but this was the first time where I felt the flashbacks harmed the flow of the story. Jumping from finding out about Joe and then immediately flashing back to when she was 20 was really jarring. I had to go back to make sure I didn't miss something. Also, the spy stuff really wasn't a central piece of the story and felt like an afterthought.

While I'm still a fan of the authors this was more miss than hit for me; I thought she wrote the tennis stuff well though, and I am someone who finds tennis to be fairly boring.

The narrator did a good job, but I felt the flashbacks needed a better transition because of how choppy the timeline was written.

Thank you Harper Focus for the gifted ALC.

If you enjoyed Carrie Soto, this is in *your court* with a side of spy.

This story is inspired by the real-life experience of American tennis player Alice Marble. In addition to winning 5 Grand Slam titles, she is said to have been involved in espionage for the US Army during WWII.

While her actions were driven by patriotism, one of her main motivations was avenging the death of her late husband, a war pilot who was killed in action.

From tomboy little sister to international sensation, you follow Alice throughout her journey. Novel is heavier on the tennis versus the spying. Great to learn of a strong name who also advocating for equality in sports, pay and participation.

Great audiobook narration