Nancy Polk Hall
One Detour.
Two Strangers.
A History Unfolding.
A broken-down car on a quiet French road draws Carrie Mitchell into a stranger’s world—and a past shaped by war and silence. Beneath the charm of old villages and remembered summers, secrets from Nazi-occupied Lorraine rise to the surface. Not everything was left behind. For readers who love clean romance, suspense, and richly layered historical fiction, this compelling novel offers intrigue, heart, and the echoes of history.
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A Historical Fiction Mystery: France, 1980. A woman returns to a quiet village---and finds the past waiting to change everything.
While exploring France, Carrie Mitchell meets Jacques, a boy who leaves an unexpected mark on her life. In this gripping historical fiction mystery by Nancy Polk Hall, a simple sightseeing trip turns dark when Jacques vanishes, plunging Carrie into a search filled with secrets rooted in Nazi-occupied France.
Drawn into the shadows of wartime betrayal and the powerful legacy of Jacques’s father, the Comte de Merle, Carrie must confront danger and deception with courage she never knew she possessed. Uncovering hidden truths and wartime lies, this unforgettable novel blends clean romance, suspense, and emotional strength—perfect for readers who love historical fiction with heart and intrigue.
About the Author - Preview
Nancy Polk Hall is a historical fiction author and passionate storyteller, known for weaving mystery, clean romance, and unforgettable characters into rich, immersive tales. She brings hidden histories to life with stories rooted in courage, resilience, and emotional discovery—blending fact and fiction with heart and depth.
Click Here to Meet Nancy Polk Hall...
Her debut novel, Call of the Blackbird, is a historical fiction mystery inspired by time spent in France and years of research into the lingering shadows of World War II.
In her own words:
"I write for the woman folding laundry who dreams of faraway places. For the traveler-at-heart stuck in traffic. For the reader who wants to feel history—not just study it. If my stories make you pause, remember, or see something old in a new light, then I’ve written a good book."
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Welcome Story Seeker!
In this touching true story, author Nancy Polk Hall recalls her family’s first Christmas in a snow-covered French village in 1964—a time of cement floors, shared hall toilets, and a Charlie Brown tree perched on a foot locker.
But through laughter, hardship, and one miraculous night, it became a Christmas never forgotten.
Download this heartwarming story for free—a gift of memory, love, and what truly makes a home.
Our Readers Share Their Impressions
We value and appreciate the positive feedback from our friends and readers.
Catherine
I loved reading Call of the Blackbird. I was instantly attached to the characters and felt like I personally knew them. It had everything in a book that I love--mystery, romance, and a beautiful setting in Europe. I felt like I was in the book based on perfect descriptions. I really hope there is a sequel written!
Cindy
I really enjoyed the way Ms. Hall built the storyline and weaved it around the de Merle family and their ancestral home, the Tours de Merle, which really exists. I’d like to see a sequel! The characters were developed in such a way that I wanted to know more about them. I finished the book in a day because I wanted to find out what happened. It was a page turner!!
Elizabeth
I loved the writing - the twists and turns in the plot were like the winding roads around the Tours de Merle. In reading the book, I was transported first to the battlefield at Verdun then to the Dordogne. An exciting page-turner with wonderful characters.
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The Location as a Character
In Call of the Blackbird, Nancy Polk Hall masterfully weaves historical fiction and mystery to transform Les Tours de Merle from a forgotten ruin into a living, breathing character. These ancient towers don't just serve as a backdrop; they become a symbol of memory itself—weathered by time, shaped by conflict, and still standing strong.
As Carrie explores Les Tours de Merle, her journey mirrors the emotional landscape of the story, blending clean romance with the unresolved mysteries of war. Through vivid, atmospheric writing, Nancy Polk Hall gives voice to the stone ruins, turning them into silent witnesses that hold secrets, offer solace, and remind readers why they love good books rooted in historical fiction.
Les Tours de Merle is not just a setting; it's where history waits, where past and present meet, and where every reader is invited to uncover the truth hidden within.
