Windswept

Book Review

Windswept by Annabelle McCormack
Publication Date: September 21st, 2021
5☆☆☆☆☆ for an elegantly woven tale of courage and love with a strong female protagonist and an intriguing cast of characters set upon a beautiful backdrop

When I picked up Windswept, an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) from Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, written by Annabelle McCormack I thought it might follow the traditional storyline of the typical WWI or WWII female protagonist involved in the war effort, drawn to a mysterious, dark, handsome soldier or spy she just can’t have, or resist. Instead, this book kept me on my toes until the very last pages and kept me guessing at every twist and turn. It also challenged me in a way that I didn’t anticipate.

In case you need a tether: I got major Somewhere in France (Jennifer Robson) and The English Patient (Michael Ondaatje) vibes at many points while reading this book. The former for the protagonist and the latter for the setting. I also read the book during a heat wave so I was really feeling the heat during some of the intense desert scenes.

The story follows Ginger, a British nurse at a Casualty Clearing Station (CCS) near Deir el Belah, Palestine. We meet her in the spring of 1917 along with her fiance James, a surgeon at the CCS and her tentmate Sister Beatrice. McCormack wastes no time diving into the action at the heart of this story as Ginger happens upon an injured man who may or may not be an enemy. He trusts her with information and begs for her to get help from a mysterious Lieutenant. Ginger’s compassion shows from the first pages as she seeks to help him and do what’s right by her training and conscience rather than turning him over to the authorities. Her trust in her gut and his trust in her lead them both into the thick of an international scheme that will change Ginger’s life.

Soon after Ginger’s discovery of the injured man, we meet Major Noah Benson and the two take us on a harrowing journey through the landscapes of Palestine and Egypt, friendly and enemy territory and tests that will make or break them.

If you’ve ever dabbled in 21st century historical fiction you won’t be surprised to learn that Ginger and Noah are, of course, attracted to one another and their love story is a major part of the book. But it’s not so simple here, as things are never simple in times of war. And things are even less so when Ginger realizes that she’s become involved in something so much bigger than passing a message to a mysterious Lieutenant, whoever he may be.

One of my favourite supporting characters is Jack Darby, an American accomplice and friend of Noah’s. We meet him early in Part II of the book, focused on time spent in and around Cairo. He pops up throughout this second portion and offers some comic relief, moral support and muscle for our main characters as they battle through sand, deception and tests of loyalty and love. The relative levity of some of the scenes he’s part of and his manner help to break up the tension felt by the characters and the readers!

I could not put this book down. It’s the first book in a while that has kept me thinking about both the story and the main characters during those moments when, as a mom and someone who likes to sleep, had to put the book down. This book is also an out of the blue contender for favourite historical fiction read this year. That’s saying something when traditional faves from Kate Quinn (The Rose Code) and Jennifer Robson (Our Darkest Night) also grace my shelves. This is Annabelle McCormack’s debut novel (I stand open to correction!) and I’m with her for the long haul based solely on this book. I love how she went way out of the norm here and didn’t fall for coincidence or easy endings. She didn’t take the easy way out with her writing, and neither did Ginger.

Without spoiling the ending, I also want to commend her for not finishing the story (if you will). What I mean by this is that in her epilogue she didn’t take the opportunity to tie everything up nicely in the post-war period. The epilogue does provide some answers not shared in the final pages of the story, but it also tells of an acceptance that although many battles lay ahead, today or tonight is what it is and should be enjoyed and savoured.

The only teeny tiny criticism I need to say here, to assure you that I am indeed an honest reviewer, is that I could have used a map. My education, formal and informal, with regard to the Middle East and Africa is sketchy at best. So many historical fiction novels, as well as others, come equipped with family trees and maps. Reference material, if you will, for keen readers or nerds. Truthfully I usually glance at a introductory tree or map and then rush through the novel, glancing back as needed (if at all). My lack of knowledge of the geography of the area, approximate travel distances, etc. may have enhanced my comprehension of the book - especially at some very exciting moments - if I’d had a map. I only thought of this today as I pushed my daughter’s stroller around our quiet and finally somewhat cool neighbourhood and wondered - hmmm, is there anything I can/should say as constructive criticism? It’s also worth noting that as I’ve read an advance reader copy of this book it is possible, highly likely even, that the final version for publication includes a map.

In case you’ve just scrolled to the bottom or really need me to hit this home for you, this was an excellent book - I will be putting this on my Christmas list because I want to have this close at hand for when I get the re-read feels. I recommend YOU buy a copy. I recommend you follow Annabelle McCormack on the socials or GoodReads because she’s going to be a name you’ll want to know. And stay tuned for my end of year wrap up because this read might just make the top five.

“She couldn’t summon tears. She couldn’t think of the future. ‘How do you go on?’
Jack smiled sadly. ‘You just start walking. Eventually your soul catches up.’”

Every once in a while, a special novel comes along that deserves your full attention; the authentic and interesting characters pull at your heart strings, the twisty and fast-paced plot makes your pulse quicken, and the desert setting brings to mind fabulous Egyptian and Middle Eastern vacations. This is one of those novels.

Windswept is set during the British Gaza Campaign and opens with a nurse, Sister Ginger, facing a disciplinary hearing for attempting to save the “wrong life” in the British casualty clearing station in the frontlines at Belah. Ginger Whitman, the protagonist, has abandoned her aristocratic upbringing and a secure future to join Queen Alexandra’s nurses in the Royal Army Medical Corps. She is stationed at Deir El Belah in Palestine about 16 kilometers east of the Egyptian border, and 20 kilometers south-west of Gaza.

When she rushes to the aid of what appears to be a wounded Turkish soldier, the passion for nursing sets her life on a trajectory she never imagined. The wounded man is not who he appears to be and she finds herself mired in the middle of a case fit for the British Intelligence. Unable to tell who is telling the truth, Ginger hides evidence meant to go to the soldier’s contact until she can discern who she can trust. Unwittingly, she’s forced to deal with corruption and loyalty when all she wants to do is focus on humanity and healing. While contemplating what her next move should involve, Ginger meets Lieutenant Noah Benson and suddenly, her heart is more in control of her actions than her mind.

Absolutely brimming with adventure, secrets, romance, mystery and intrigue, McCormack’s debut will force you to examine family ties and what happens when they fray as well as force you to consider where your loyalties would lie during wartime.

Ginger and Noah became fast friends of mine during the 454-page five-star read and I’m definitely not ready to let them go. Thank goodness there’s a sequel in the works! Sands of Sirocco will be published in 2022.

I’m off to enjoy a cup of mint tea in a beautiful cup I purchased in the Khan al-Khalili market, reminisce about our lunch in Fishawy’s Café in the crowded souk and imagine Dr. Owen Hunt (Grey’s Anatomy) as Noah….while I attempt to continue his story in my mind!

Publishes September 21, 2021.

I was gifted this superb advance copy by Annabelle McCormack, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.