HISTORICAL FICTION MYSTERY ROMANCE
Discover History
That Feels
Like Home
Stories that transport you into the hearts of people facing impossible choices — where mystery, romance, and the echoes of the past collide with the urgency of the present.
AUTHOR • HISTORIAN • WORLD TRAVELER • STORYTELLER
FEATURED NOVEL
Call of the Blackbird
A Mystery Wrapped in History, Romance and Intrigue
When Caroline Mitchell returns to France seeking closure after her husband’s death, she never expects to find herself drawn into a web of kidnapping, art theft, and family secrets dating back to World War II.
What begins as a nostalgic journey becomes a race against time to save a young boy — and uncover truths that history tried to bury.
For fans of The Nightingale and The Alice Network
PAPERBACK • DIGITAL • AUDIOBOOK
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A Storyteller Born from History
"I write for the woman folding laundry who dreams of faraway places. For the traveler-at-heart who sits stuck in traffic. For the reader who wants to feel history — not just study it."
Nancy Polk Hall doesn’t just write about history — she grew up inside it. As a child living in Europe, she wandered through medieval castles and stood in the hushed halls of palaces where kings had once walked. She traced her fingers along stone walls still pocked with bullet holes from the Second World War, feeling the weight of lives lived and lost in the very place she stood. History wasn’t something in a textbook. It was the air she breathed.
At twelve, Nancy sat in her grandmother’s kitchen listening to her great-grandmother — born in 1883 — share stories of ranch life in Lavaca County, Texas: riding horses in long dresses, shooting rifles, living a life no textbook had ever recorded. Six months later, she was gone. But her stories lived on. That moment taught Nancy that if you don’t listen, history disappears.
COMING SOON
Death at Brookhaven
A haunting new literary mystery — Hollywood glamour, an English estate, and a murder unsolved for a decade.
Set in 1960 Oxfordshire, Brookhaven follows Lydia Abbott as she returns to inherit a shadowed estate — and reopen the mystery of her father’s murder.
READER REVIEWS
What Readers Are Saying
"I was instantly attached to the characters and felt like I personally knew them. It had everything — mystery, romance, and a beautiful setting in Europe. I really hope there is 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!!"
"The twists and turns in the plot were like the winding roads around the Tours de Merle. I was transported first to Verdun then to the Dordogne. An exciting page-turner with wonderful characters."
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Be the first to hear about new releases and historical discoveries. Subscribers receive a free gift: Nancy’s heartwarming true story of her family’s first Christmas in a French village in 1964.
Your Questions Answered
Who is Nancy Polk Hall?
Nancy Polk Hall is a historical fiction author based in Galveston, Texas, known for mystery novels set in mid-20th century Europe. A historian and lifelong world traveler, she spent her childhood living in Europe — exploring medieval castles, walking WWII battlefields, and absorbing the layered stories embedded in the landscapes around her. Her fiction brings that firsthand experience to life, weaving mystery, romance, and forgotten history into stories that feel both intimate and cinematic.
What kind of books does Nancy Polk Hall write?
Nancy writes historical fiction with strong mystery and romance threads. Her stories are set in mid-20th century Europe — particularly France and England — and center on women navigating impossible choices against the backdrop of war, family secrets, and the long shadow of the past. Readers who love Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale or Kate Quinn’s The Alice Network tend to connect deeply with Nancy’s work.
What is Call of the Blackbird about?
Call of the Blackbird follows Caroline Mitchell, a widow who returns to France seeking closure — and finds herself pulled into a web of kidnapping, art theft, and family secrets rooted in World War II. What begins as a personal journey becomes a race against time to save a young boy and uncover truths that history tried to bury. It is a mystery wrapped in history, romance, and the haunting beauty of postwar France.
Where can I buy Call of the Blackbird?
Call of the Blackbird is available in paperback, digital, and audiobook formats on Amazon, Barnes &Noble, as well as local book stores. Buy on Amazon →
What is Death at Brookhaven about?
COMING THIS SUMMER! Death at Brookhaven is Nancy’s forthcoming novel set in 1960 Oxfordshire, England. It follows Lydia Abbott as she returns to inherit a shadowed English estate — and reopens the mystery of her father’s murder, unsolved for a decade. It blends Hollywood glamour, English country house atmosphere, and literary mystery in the tradition of classic British crime fiction.
Is Call of the Blackbird part of a series?
Call of the Blackbird is Nancy’s debut novel and introduces Caroline Mitchell as a central character. Readers have enthusiastically asked for a sequel, and Nancy is actively working on new stories in the same tradition of historical mystery and romance. In the meantime, fans of Call of the Blackbird are enjoying Letters from Caroline — an immersive letter subscription that puts you inside Caroline’s world between books. [Explore Letters from Caroline →]
What is Letters from Caroline?
Letters from Caroline is Nancy’s reader subscription — a unique way to stay connected to the world of her fiction through the voice of Caroline Mitchell, the protagonist of Call of the Blackbird. Subscribers receive a physical letter from Caroline in their mailbox biweekly. Whether you’ve read the book or not, this is a fun and unique way to immerse yourself (or give as a gift) in a great story.
Does Nancy Polk Hall speak at book clubs and events?
Yes — Nancy is available for book signings, book club discussions (including virtual Zoom events), and speaking engagements. She brings her background as a historian and world traveler to every conversation, making for a rich and personal experience for readers. [Get in touch →]