The Ace of Nerve, Book 1

A dual timeline World War II historical fiction novel inspired by the real Nancy Wake. This story blends female resistance, intergenerational memory, clean slow-build romance, and the unfolding mystery of a modern investigation. For readers of Kristin Hannah, Kate Quinn, and Fiona Valpy who love resilient heroines shaped by real events.

London, 2010. Aroha Tui moves quietly through her work as a student and caregiver, yet something in her life feels unfinished. Assigned to Nancy Wake, the legendary White Mouse of the French Resistance, she expects frailty. Instead she meets a woman blazing with wit, courage, and the need to be remembered.

With a sudden spark of defiance, Nancy offers her a bargain. Recover the missing medals she insists were stolen and she will reveal her story at last. As Aroha begins to uncover the past, wartime secrets rise from the shadows and a life of sabotage, loyalty, and loss unfolds.

Joined by Jules, grandson of a Maquis fighter, Aroha follows a trail that reaches from pre-war Marseille into the networks of occupied France. Old truths tremble on the edge of revelation, and both Aroha and Jules must decide what courage looks like in their own time.

The Ace of Nerve, Book 1 Codename Hélène is the first book of the Nancy Wake Trilogy and part of The Timeless Spies Series. A sweeping blend of World War II resistance, dual timeline discovery, and the enduring ties that bind generations.