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Wings Over Valletta
Malta, 1941. The Germans blitz Malta and Kitty Campbell is determined to find the daughter she was forced to give up for adoption, before it's too late. But finding the trail to her child is complicated by her father's secretive past and a mysterious stranger on the island. As Kitty searches, she meets reconnaissance pilot Bill Hamilton and joins Fighter Command in Valletta as an Aircraft Plotter, surrounded by military secrets at the very heart of Malta's defences and that of the entire Mediterranean. As she plots the aircraft battles fiercely fought in the skies above and invasion threatens, Kitty's search for her little girl will force her to choose between loyalty to her country and to her child.
- GenresHistorical FictionItaly
352 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 21, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
April 30, 2026
Wings Over Valletta is an outstanding debut novel. I was gripped from beginning to end and felt totally immersed in the tense atmosphere at Fighter Command, the War Headquarters in Malta’s capital. Having walked through these underground tunnels and chambers in Valletta (now the Lascaris War Rooms museum), I could clearly visualise Kitty there plotting the aircraft movements.
Kitty’s own personal circumstances pulled me in and I was rooting for her all along. She has some great supporters around her in her quest to find the daughter she was forced to give up for adoption before the war; but there are some real unsavoury characters too along with family secrets and lies that Kitty has to contend with.
The author’s research and storytelling has so accurately captured what this island endured in wartime. The air raids are relentless, the destruction is tangible, the pressure is palpable. I spent much of this book on the edge of my seat absorbed in the very real, nail-biting action.
Highly recommended reading for all historical fiction fans. I look forward to reading future work by Tracy Cook.
Kitty’s own personal circumstances pulled me in and I was rooting for her all along. She has some great supporters around her in her quest to find the daughter she was forced to give up for adoption before the war; but there are some real unsavoury characters too along with family secrets and lies that Kitty has to contend with.
The author’s research and storytelling has so accurately captured what this island endured in wartime. The air raids are relentless, the destruction is tangible, the pressure is palpable. I spent much of this book on the edge of my seat absorbed in the very real, nail-biting action.
Highly recommended reading for all historical fiction fans. I look forward to reading future work by Tracy Cook.
May 25, 2026
Many thanks to NetGalley and Allison & Busby Ltd for an advance copy of this book.
Women’s involvement in the two world wars of the 20th century has a long, and growing, list of titles in its category. While they tend to fall under the rubric of historical romance, all that I’ve read (a considerable amount) have highlighted the bravery of women, especially the young and single, in taking up the crucial war work that had to be abandoned by men so that they could do the attack/defend parts of war. The focus on men as heroes has quickly been changed to a more appropriate focus on women as doubly heroes. Most had to do their regular work as wives and mothers or bring home wages in addition to their war work. And so most did.
Kitty Campbell, the female lead character in Tracy Cook’s stand-alone novel, is one of the luckier of the young women. Born into an Imperial Navy General’s family, only daughter Kitty doesn’t have to work, either before or during the war. But she chooses to become a magazine photographer during the 1930s, just as mass magazines were taking up more of the consumer dollar. Nor did Kitty, who grew up in a cold and unaffectionate family in which appearances were of the utmost importance, hesitate to step over gender boundaries. She insisted on photographing more important social matters than fashion and weddings. And she flouted conventions of respectability by openly carousing with the ‘young, rich and beautiful’ set. Just as her place in career and society is established, she finds herself pregnant by an upper-class lout who quickly marries someone closer to his station. Without agreeing, she doesn’t fight back when her parents have the baby girl removed from her at the hospital and put up for a closed adoption. They insist, of course, that it is in everyone’s best interest.
These are the story’s two main threads, then. Getting Kitty out of London and off to a fresh start in Malta, where her father was an esteemed leader of the navy’s Maltese sector, saw her become involved with the strategically important mapping of air power over Malta. The female plane spotters became one of the Imperial Command’s most important covert defence strategies of the war. Kitty and her mostly female co-workers faced down death and destruction,that of pilots, soldiers, friends and family and their own.
Further complicating the picture is Kitty’s burgeoning romance with RAF pilot Bill Johnson, which is not without its torments due to the war. And then there is the secret of her baby, reportedly in a safe house in Rome. With no quick way to find her, especially in an enemy state during hostilities, Kitty takes a few risks that end up endangering all she loves.
I have never read anything about the war in Malta, and that was what interested me most about this book. Malta was no ordinary member of the Allied forces, but, for Winston Churchill , it was the last bastion of Western democracy and could not be permitted to slip out of Allied hands. The result was particularly fierce fighting with high casualties and insufficient resources. The Maltese, with strong historical and familial ties to their Italian neighbours, were inwardly divided, and ultimately safe from neither Allied nor Fascist forces. Kitty becomes personally entangled with the incipient civil war.
Tracy Cook has done an impressive amount of research, and she really shines in her depiction of what everyday Maltese experienced in the constant blitzkrieg that virtually destroyed their country. I’m not so sure that the race-blindness that allows for the love affair of Tracy’s Black-French friend Adela and her white RAF pilot would have been as easy as portrayed, nor that the quick jumping into bed of Tracy and Bill would have been so simple despite the moral loosening of war—much of this is very present-minded, as is the homosexuality of cousin Luke. There is so much detail pertaining to specific bomber jets and their manoeuvres night after night that the story literally on the ground gets lost at times. But all of this is well-written and suspenseful and the sun is a very appealing and informative novel.
Women’s involvement in the two world wars of the 20th century has a long, and growing, list of titles in its category. While they tend to fall under the rubric of historical romance, all that I’ve read (a considerable amount) have highlighted the bravery of women, especially the young and single, in taking up the crucial war work that had to be abandoned by men so that they could do the attack/defend parts of war. The focus on men as heroes has quickly been changed to a more appropriate focus on women as doubly heroes. Most had to do their regular work as wives and mothers or bring home wages in addition to their war work. And so most did.
Kitty Campbell, the female lead character in Tracy Cook’s stand-alone novel, is one of the luckier of the young women. Born into an Imperial Navy General’s family, only daughter Kitty doesn’t have to work, either before or during the war. But she chooses to become a magazine photographer during the 1930s, just as mass magazines were taking up more of the consumer dollar. Nor did Kitty, who grew up in a cold and unaffectionate family in which appearances were of the utmost importance, hesitate to step over gender boundaries. She insisted on photographing more important social matters than fashion and weddings. And she flouted conventions of respectability by openly carousing with the ‘young, rich and beautiful’ set. Just as her place in career and society is established, she finds herself pregnant by an upper-class lout who quickly marries someone closer to his station. Without agreeing, she doesn’t fight back when her parents have the baby girl removed from her at the hospital and put up for a closed adoption. They insist, of course, that it is in everyone’s best interest.
These are the story’s two main threads, then. Getting Kitty out of London and off to a fresh start in Malta, where her father was an esteemed leader of the navy’s Maltese sector, saw her become involved with the strategically important mapping of air power over Malta. The female plane spotters became one of the Imperial Command’s most important covert defence strategies of the war. Kitty and her mostly female co-workers faced down death and destruction,that of pilots, soldiers, friends and family and their own.
Further complicating the picture is Kitty’s burgeoning romance with RAF pilot Bill Johnson, which is not without its torments due to the war. And then there is the secret of her baby, reportedly in a safe house in Rome. With no quick way to find her, especially in an enemy state during hostilities, Kitty takes a few risks that end up endangering all she loves.
I have never read anything about the war in Malta, and that was what interested me most about this book. Malta was no ordinary member of the Allied forces, but, for Winston Churchill , it was the last bastion of Western democracy and could not be permitted to slip out of Allied hands. The result was particularly fierce fighting with high casualties and insufficient resources. The Maltese, with strong historical and familial ties to their Italian neighbours, were inwardly divided, and ultimately safe from neither Allied nor Fascist forces. Kitty becomes personally entangled with the incipient civil war.
Tracy Cook has done an impressive amount of research, and she really shines in her depiction of what everyday Maltese experienced in the constant blitzkrieg that virtually destroyed their country. I’m not so sure that the race-blindness that allows for the love affair of Tracy’s Black-French friend Adela and her white RAF pilot would have been as easy as portrayed, nor that the quick jumping into bed of Tracy and Bill would have been so simple despite the moral loosening of war—much of this is very present-minded, as is the homosexuality of cousin Luke. There is so much detail pertaining to specific bomber jets and their manoeuvres night after night that the story literally on the ground gets lost at times. But all of this is well-written and suspenseful and the sun is a very appealing and informative novel.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Malta in 1941 was essentially a limestone target in the middle of a very violent sea. In Wings Over Valletta, Tracy Cook places Kitty Campbell right in the crosshairs, not just of the Luftwaffe, but of her own messy history. Kitty is an Aircraft Plotter, which is a marvelous bit of historical reality; women moving wooden blocks on a map while young men fell out of the sky. The conflict is dual: the siege of the island and Kitty’s frantic, private siege to find the daughter she was forced to give up. It is a story about the logistics of war meeting the messy, inconvenient reality of motherhood.
Kitty is refreshing because she isn't a saintly martyr. She is focused, perhaps even a bit tunnel-visioned, which is exactly how people survive a blitz. Her growth from a woman burdened by her father’s secrets to a vital gear in the Mediterranean defense machinery feels earned. Bill Hamilton, the reconnaissance pilot, provides a necessary outside perspective, but the real weight lies in the female camaraderie within the underground tunnels of Valletta. These women knew more about the state of the war than the civilians above ground, a power dynamic Cook handles with a sharp eye for detail.
The theme of divided loyalty is as old as Antigone, yet it remains relevant. Today, we talk about "work-life balance" as if it is a modern struggle; Cook reminds us that in 1941, the stakes were simply life or death. The tension between serving a country that demands everything and a child who needs everything is the book's pulse. It asks if you can truly be a "good" citizen while being a "good" mother when the world is literally on fire. It is a sobering thought for our own supposedly chaotic times.
Cook’s writing is commendably direct. She avoids the flowery, overwritten descriptions that often plague historical fiction. There is a certain dry, dusty quality to the prose that matches the Maltese landscape. The pacing reflects the staccato rhythm of air raids; long periods of waiting followed by sheer terror. By focusing on the plotting room, she gives us a unique perspective on the battle. We see the war as a series of coordinates, which makes the personal stakes feel even more precarious.
The book is a solid entry in the genre. The depiction of Valletta’s physical endurance is masterful. You can almost feel the stone dust in your throat. It left me thinking about the invisible labor of women in history and how many "plotters" are currently keeping our modern world from spinning off its axis. It’s a grounded, intelligent read that values historical accuracy over cheap sentiment.
Kitty is refreshing because she isn't a saintly martyr. She is focused, perhaps even a bit tunnel-visioned, which is exactly how people survive a blitz. Her growth from a woman burdened by her father’s secrets to a vital gear in the Mediterranean defense machinery feels earned. Bill Hamilton, the reconnaissance pilot, provides a necessary outside perspective, but the real weight lies in the female camaraderie within the underground tunnels of Valletta. These women knew more about the state of the war than the civilians above ground, a power dynamic Cook handles with a sharp eye for detail.
The theme of divided loyalty is as old as Antigone, yet it remains relevant. Today, we talk about "work-life balance" as if it is a modern struggle; Cook reminds us that in 1941, the stakes were simply life or death. The tension between serving a country that demands everything and a child who needs everything is the book's pulse. It asks if you can truly be a "good" citizen while being a "good" mother when the world is literally on fire. It is a sobering thought for our own supposedly chaotic times.
Cook’s writing is commendably direct. She avoids the flowery, overwritten descriptions that often plague historical fiction. There is a certain dry, dusty quality to the prose that matches the Maltese landscape. The pacing reflects the staccato rhythm of air raids; long periods of waiting followed by sheer terror. By focusing on the plotting room, she gives us a unique perspective on the battle. We see the war as a series of coordinates, which makes the personal stakes feel even more precarious.
The book is a solid entry in the genre. The depiction of Valletta’s physical endurance is masterful. You can almost feel the stone dust in your throat. It left me thinking about the invisible labor of women in history and how many "plotters" are currently keeping our modern world from spinning off its axis. It’s a grounded, intelligent read that values historical accuracy over cheap sentiment.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Malta, January, 1941. Kitty works as a teacher, she likes children and she’s determined to find her daughter Alice, who she was forced to give up for adoption by her parents. Her father Vice-Admiral Ronald Campbell organized it, and with the war and bombing, Kitty wants him to tell her where she is, and then she discovers his secret past, and how dare he judge her so harshly?
Kitty meets reconnaissance pilot Bill Hamilton, he was injured in the Battle of Britain and takes aerial photos of the Axis forces. When the schools are closed he suggests Kitty applies to be an Aircraft Plotter at Fighter Command in Valletta.
Kitty plots the aircraft battles fought in the skies above, everyone is worried about being invaded or surrounded and cut off from the rest of the world. Malta is strategically important in the Mediterranean, but it also vulnerable because food, supplies, weapons, ammunition and fuel are needed and delivered by sea.
Kitty has no idea her search for clues about Alice, will put her in the position of having to choose between her loyalty to England and Malta and finding her child and in danger.
I received a copy of Wings Over Valletta from NetGalley and Allison & Busby in exchange for an honest review. The fictional narrative is based on the author Tracy Cook’s interest, visits and research into what occurred in Malta during the Second World War.
It gives the reader insight into what the people had to endure at the time, it was the most bombed place, under siege and reduced to rubble. English and Maltese civilian women worked in the control room, a story of courage, bravery, strength, resilience and making a difference.
Five stars from me, I really liked the following characters, Kitty, Adela, Irene, Rosa, Bill and Ash and I’m sure you will as well and I highly recommend reading Wings Over Valletta.
Kitty meets reconnaissance pilot Bill Hamilton, he was injured in the Battle of Britain and takes aerial photos of the Axis forces. When the schools are closed he suggests Kitty applies to be an Aircraft Plotter at Fighter Command in Valletta.
Kitty plots the aircraft battles fought in the skies above, everyone is worried about being invaded or surrounded and cut off from the rest of the world. Malta is strategically important in the Mediterranean, but it also vulnerable because food, supplies, weapons, ammunition and fuel are needed and delivered by sea.
Kitty has no idea her search for clues about Alice, will put her in the position of having to choose between her loyalty to England and Malta and finding her child and in danger.
I received a copy of Wings Over Valletta from NetGalley and Allison & Busby in exchange for an honest review. The fictional narrative is based on the author Tracy Cook’s interest, visits and research into what occurred in Malta during the Second World War.
It gives the reader insight into what the people had to endure at the time, it was the most bombed place, under siege and reduced to rubble. English and Maltese civilian women worked in the control room, a story of courage, bravery, strength, resilience and making a difference.
Five stars from me, I really liked the following characters, Kitty, Adela, Irene, Rosa, Bill and Ash and I’m sure you will as well and I highly recommend reading Wings Over Valletta.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It was 1941 and the small town of Valletta was constantly under attack by German bombers. Kitty Campbell had joined the RAF Fighter Command Centre - after her father, a Commander, died - as a civilian Aircraft Plotter, signing the Official Secrets act. She was surrounded by others doing the same thing; keeping the military secrets safe from prying eyes and ears as they plotted the battles in the air. When Kitty met reconnaissance pilot Bill Hamilton, they connected through photography, which Kitty was deeply into before they left London for Malta. She also realised she was plotting his plane as well as others.
Meanwhile Kitty held a secret against her heart, one she'd told no one. Her little girl would be five years old but she didn't know where she was, if she was safe, who cared for her. She was desperate to find Alice, constantly thinking of her. But when blackmail was threatened, Kitty had to make a choice. What could she do? What would any mother do?
Wings Over Valletta is an extraordinary, heartwarming tale by new to me author Tracy Cook which I really enjoyed. Based on fact, the Author's comments at the end are very interesting. Kitty is an outstanding character; loyal, honest and caring, filled with strength and courage. The war was there in the background, but nothing "in your face" - the story was about Kitty, her search and her life. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley & Allison & Busby for my digital ARC to read and review.
Meanwhile Kitty held a secret against her heart, one she'd told no one. Her little girl would be five years old but she didn't know where she was, if she was safe, who cared for her. She was desperate to find Alice, constantly thinking of her. But when blackmail was threatened, Kitty had to make a choice. What could she do? What would any mother do?
Wings Over Valletta is an extraordinary, heartwarming tale by new to me author Tracy Cook which I really enjoyed. Based on fact, the Author's comments at the end are very interesting. Kitty is an outstanding character; loyal, honest and caring, filled with strength and courage. The war was there in the background, but nothing "in your face" - the story was about Kitty, her search and her life. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley & Allison & Busby for my digital ARC to read and review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Malta, 1941: The Germans blitz Malta and Kitty Campbell is determined to find the daughter she was forced to give up for adoption, before it's too late. But finding the trail to her child is complicated by her father's secretive past and a mysterious stranger on the island. As Kitty searches, she meets reconnaissance pilot Bill Hamilton and joins a Fighter Command in Valetta as an Aircraft Plotter, surrounded my military secrets at the very heart of Malta's defences and that of the entire Mediterranean. As she plots the aircraft battles fiercely fought in the skies above and invasion threatens, Kitty's search for her little girl will force her to choose between loyalty to her country and her child.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. British and Maltese women contributed to the war effort. Kitty was a schoolteacher but then school is closed due to the bombings. She now volunteers as an aircraft plotter. She is surrounded by military secrets as she continues her search for her daughter.
This is a beautifully written story that has been descriptively written. The characters have been well-developed. The story covers love, loss and hope. There's a little romance added to the mix. Will Kitty find her daughter? You will need to read the book to find out.
Published 21st May 2026
I would like to thank #NetGalley #AllisonandBusby and the author #TracyCook for my ARC of #WingsOverValetta in exchange for an honest review.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. British and Maltese women contributed to the war effort. Kitty was a schoolteacher but then school is closed due to the bombings. She now volunteers as an aircraft plotter. She is surrounded by military secrets as she continues her search for her daughter.
This is a beautifully written story that has been descriptively written. The characters have been well-developed. The story covers love, loss and hope. There's a little romance added to the mix. Will Kitty find her daughter? You will need to read the book to find out.
Published 21st May 2026
I would like to thank #NetGalley #AllisonandBusby and the author #TracyCook for my ARC of #WingsOverValetta in exchange for an honest review.
May 21, 2026
I really enjoyed this debut novel by Tracy Cook, set in Malta during world War Two.
As the above synopsis states the story is about Kitty Campbell, the disgraced daughter of an Royal Navy Admiral living on the island of Malta. Kitty was forced by her parents to give up her baby daughter Alice, before the war, and now she desperately wants to find out anything to do with her whereabouts. As she tries to find her she meets a lovely RAF pilot, Bill Hamilton, who encourages her to join Fighter Command in Valletta as an Aircraft Plotter. She loves being involved in the war effort, especially playing an important part when Malta is continuously under attack from the Italians and the Nazis.
I really liked Kitty, she was a strong independent woman in a difficult time, who had to fight to find her daughter, and uncover other family secrets. She was frightened, but had to overcome her fear like all the Maltese residents, in what was like a horrific time for them as an island.There was a good mixture of tension and drama, but also romance as well which worked perfectly together as the story unfolded.
I loved the Maltese setting, and Googled the island a few times as I was reading, to discover more about what happened, and was also glad of the author’s note at the end of the book.
Highly recommended if you enjoy WW2 books set in Europe
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Allison & Busby for my digital copy.
As the above synopsis states the story is about Kitty Campbell, the disgraced daughter of an Royal Navy Admiral living on the island of Malta. Kitty was forced by her parents to give up her baby daughter Alice, before the war, and now she desperately wants to find out anything to do with her whereabouts. As she tries to find her she meets a lovely RAF pilot, Bill Hamilton, who encourages her to join Fighter Command in Valletta as an Aircraft Plotter. She loves being involved in the war effort, especially playing an important part when Malta is continuously under attack from the Italians and the Nazis.
I really liked Kitty, she was a strong independent woman in a difficult time, who had to fight to find her daughter, and uncover other family secrets. She was frightened, but had to overcome her fear like all the Maltese residents, in what was like a horrific time for them as an island.There was a good mixture of tension and drama, but also romance as well which worked perfectly together as the story unfolded.
I loved the Maltese setting, and Googled the island a few times as I was reading, to discover more about what happened, and was also glad of the author’s note at the end of the book.
Highly recommended if you enjoy WW2 books set in Europe
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Allison & Busby for my digital copy.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book is a captivating and beautifully written story that completely draws you in from the very beginning. Set against the stunning backdrop of Malta, the author brings the island to life with such vivid descriptions that it almost feels like a character in its own right. From the sunlit streets to the dramatic wartime atmosphere, every scene is rich with detail and emotion.
At the heart of the novel is Kitty’s moving search for her adopted daughter, which adds both mystery and emotional depth to the story. Alongside this, the bravery of the pilots fighting in the skies creates moments of tension, courage, and heartbreak that keep the pages turning. The love story woven throughout the novel is equally compelling and adds warmth and humanity to an already powerful narrative.
The characters are exceptionally well developed, each with their own struggles, strengths, and emotional journeys. I became deeply invested in their lives and relationships, and the story took me on an incredible journey filled with hope, loss, love, and resilience.
Overall, this is a beautifully crafted novel that combines history, romance, and suspense in a way that is both emotional and unforgettable. I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys immersive historical fiction with strong characters and a gripping storyline.
At the heart of the novel is Kitty’s moving search for her adopted daughter, which adds both mystery and emotional depth to the story. Alongside this, the bravery of the pilots fighting in the skies creates moments of tension, courage, and heartbreak that keep the pages turning. The love story woven throughout the novel is equally compelling and adds warmth and humanity to an already powerful narrative.
The characters are exceptionally well developed, each with their own struggles, strengths, and emotional journeys. I became deeply invested in their lives and relationships, and the story took me on an incredible journey filled with hope, loss, love, and resilience.
Overall, this is a beautifully crafted novel that combines history, romance, and suspense in a way that is both emotional and unforgettable. I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys immersive historical fiction with strong characters and a gripping storyline.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Malta, 1941. The Germans blitz Malta and Kitty Campbell is determined to find the daughter she was forced to give up for adoption, before it's too late. But finding the trail to her child is complicated by her father's secretive past and a mysterious stranger on the island. As Kitty searches, she meets reconnaissance pilot Bill Hamilton and joins Fighter Command in Valletta as an Aircraft Plotter, surrounded by military secrets at the very heart of Malta's defences and that of the entire Mediterranean. As she plots the aircraft battles fiercely fought in the skies above and invasion threatens, Kitty's search for her little girl will force her to choose between loyalty to her country and to her child.
I was drawn in from the beginning of the book & found it hard to put down. Well written with wonderful characters, plenty of tension as well as twists & turns. Plus throughout there’s the underlying feeling of who can you trust & who will survive. I really enjoyed it & will look for more books from the author
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own
I was drawn in from the beginning of the book & found it hard to put down. Well written with wonderful characters, plenty of tension as well as twists & turns. Plus throughout there’s the underlying feeling of who can you trust & who will survive. I really enjoyed it & will look for more books from the author
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Wings Over Valletta is a fascinating World War II historical fiction based on true events and people (do read the gorgeously detailed author's notes). Malta is a less common setting for this terrible time in history and I appreciate the author's thorough research which caused the descriptions to spring to life. There are military secrets, spies, blackmail, romance, grief, and a personal quest to find a child.
Kitty becomes a "plotter" which involves attack strategy and keeping secrets on pain of death. She hopes her proximity enables her to locate her precious daughter, Alice who she had to give up after her birth. On her search, she witnesses heartache and tragedy but also experiences romance.
Though my heart was touched, an emotional connection was missing which surprised me as a Historical Fiction reader. The frequent offhand use of "Christ" was jarring as it did not fit. However, the historical information and setting were riveting. I am besotted with the beautiful Mediterranean so became completely wrapped up in the all-sensory experience.
My sincere thank you to Allison & Busby and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this novel.
Kitty becomes a "plotter" which involves attack strategy and keeping secrets on pain of death. She hopes her proximity enables her to locate her precious daughter, Alice who she had to give up after her birth. On her search, she witnesses heartache and tragedy but also experiences romance.
Though my heart was touched, an emotional connection was missing which surprised me as a Historical Fiction reader. The frequent offhand use of "Christ" was jarring as it did not fit. However, the historical information and setting were riveting. I am besotted with the beautiful Mediterranean so became completely wrapped up in the all-sensory experience.
My sincere thank you to Allison & Busby and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this novel.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Kitty is the daughter of a Vice Admiral in the Navy but his title hides the more dubious life he lived in secret and when Kitty got pregnant he sort an adoption and got re-based in Malta sitting the 2WW. Then he was killed.
This is a emotional roller coaster of emotions and intrigue that keeps you engaged from start to finish. There are some challenging twists for Kitty to deal with. No spoilers but the fact she has a daughter is in the blurb for the book so not a spoiler if I say her hunger for details is a strong part of the plot. Her friends and family features a you'd expect so emotionally as I mentioned its quite a journey.
I loved the characters we meet and it has a strong storyline with lots of action including a job in the RAF plotting the missions over the airways (obviously). I enjoyed the strength of the characters and the no nonsense Kitty the grit that was shown in the war years is on display. This all makes for a great read a novel well worthy of your time
This is a emotional roller coaster of emotions and intrigue that keeps you engaged from start to finish. There are some challenging twists for Kitty to deal with. No spoilers but the fact she has a daughter is in the blurb for the book so not a spoiler if I say her hunger for details is a strong part of the plot. Her friends and family features a you'd expect so emotionally as I mentioned its quite a journey.
I loved the characters we meet and it has a strong storyline with lots of action including a job in the RAF plotting the missions over the airways (obviously). I enjoyed the strength of the characters and the no nonsense Kitty the grit that was shown in the war years is on display. This all makes for a great read a novel well worthy of your time
May 21, 2026
I visited Malta a few years ago and was captivated by the beauty and history of this small island. In this book the heroics of the islanders during the Second World War is brilliantly portrayed. Its 1941 Valletta and Kitty Campbell volunteers to be a civilian Aircraft Plotter. Her father has recently passed away and with this comes details of family secrets, including the possible whereabouts of Kitty’s daughter Alice who was taken for adoption in 1936. The book creates a real sense of the intense bombing and hardships during the siege, the fears but also the resilience of the people - the extraordinary bravery by the ordinary people. The author has clearly researched the history of the island during the period. My fond memories of the Grand Harbour and the beauty of Valletta were rekindled reading this wonderful book, so much in fact I feel a second trip is calling me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A most enjoyable novel, set on the island of Malta during WW2. More of a romance but with the added touch of betrayal and mystery. With a child born out of wedlock, Kitty Campbell has longingly mourned the loss of baby Alice when she was given up for adoption. Malta no longer safe from enemies, following the death of her father, Kitty signs up as a plotter. Love ensues from a most unlikely encounter.
An easy writing style, excellent research into Maltese fortifications during WW2, and loosely basing her characters upon real life events, Ms Cook, has the gift of pulling in the reader and creating a page-turner of a novel.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers Allison and Busby for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
An easy writing style, excellent research into Maltese fortifications during WW2, and loosely basing her characters upon real life events, Ms Cook, has the gift of pulling in the reader and creating a page-turner of a novel.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers Allison and Busby for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wings Over Valletta is a page-turning story set in Malta during the Second World War. It's told through the eyes of a young woman, Kitty Campbell, who was forced to give her baby daughter up for adoption before the war. Kitty is desperate to know if her daughter is safe, and in her efforts to find Alice she uncovers secrets in her own family, and a tangle of lies that threatens the safety of the whole island.
I was impressed with the depth of Tracy Cook's research, and the way she weaves this into the story. I also learned so much about the women Plotters, working so hard in underground bunkers, keeping track of the planes fighting in the skies over Malta.
If you enjoy authentic wartime tales, plucky heroines, and gentle romance, this book is for you.
I was impressed with the depth of Tracy Cook's research, and the way she weaves this into the story. I also learned so much about the women Plotters, working so hard in underground bunkers, keeping track of the planes fighting in the skies over Malta.
If you enjoy authentic wartime tales, plucky heroines, and gentle romance, this book is for you.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a very engaging read. Kitty was 32 years old and living in Malta with her parents, her father was a Vice Admiral in the Royal Navy. This story takes place during the period that Malta experienced some intense bombing in the Second World War. The story vividly portrays what the people of Malta endured during this onslaught. Kitty decided to play her part and become a civilian plotter with the RAF. The tension inside the plotting room was palpable especially when a loved one was involved in a mission and waiting for their signal to come through. Kitty also had to uncover a secret of her father’s and to find where her baby girl had been sent to. I really enjoyed this book, there were a number of twists and there is a romance but everything is very uncertain, including who you could trust. I will look for more from this author. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 21, 2026
'Wings Over Valletta' is a compelling, heartfelt story of secrets and grief, together with espionage and blackmail. Set in Malta in WWII, it tells of Kitty Campbell searching for a daughter she was forced to give up for adoption. As Kitty searches, she meets reconnaissance pilot Bill Hamilton and joins Fighter Command in Valletta as an Aircraft Plotter. All the characters in the novel, including the secondary ones, are well drawn and come alive on the page, enabling the reader to feel the highs and lows of their emotions. I was rooting for Kitty in her quest from page one as she is faced with a terrible dilemma - her child or her country. The story is based on true events and the author's research is commendable. At the heart of the novel is a tender romance, beautifully told.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It was great to see a novel based on the experience of Malta during ww2. So much has been written about that conflict yet too few people know how important it was as an island, the gateway to the eastern med. the fact that people on the island were nearly starved into submission owing to a naval blockade is little known. This novel is on the short side, more detail could have been give; about the main characters early life an£ about the second family of her father. However, the plot remains good and highlights the bravery of the woman who acted as spotters and plotters for the airforce based on the island.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Having had the pleasure of travelling to Malta, I was delighted to be able to read this book. Due to its strategic location, it was in the thick of things in World War 2. We follow Kitty, as she tries to track down her daughter Alice, who she forced to give up as a baby. Meanwhile, she has met pilot Bill and is involved in aircraft work plotting as well. She is forced to make some hard decisions, having to choose between her child and her country as she ends up being blackmailed by a spy. This was a well researched novel that paid homage to the fighting spirit of the Maltese people in difficult times. Thanks to NetGalley for my copy and a chance to express my thoughts.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Wings Over Valetta is a fascinating and emotional story set in WWII Malta which had me glued from first page to last. Featuring a strong and resourceful central character, Kitty, this novel explores a lesser known story of the role played by civilian women in Malta during the war. An excellent work of historical fiction full of drama and tension with a hint of mystery and a moral dilemma at its heart. Evocatively written and impeccably researched, I highly recommend this novel to lovers of historical and WWII fiction.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
An emotional war story set in Malta. It’s 1941 and Malta is threatened with invasion. Kitty becomes a “plotter”, helping to locate the position of planes, both enemy and friendly.
A few years ago, Kitty’s father had made her give up her baby daughter Alice, born out of wedlockNow she’s stationed in Malta perhaps she will be able to trace her. During her search, she falls in love but also discovers something she wished she hadn’t about her father. But will she find Alice? Beautifully written with a real sense of the attitudes of the time and the way people drew together during the war
A few years ago, Kitty’s father had made her give up her baby daughter Alice, born out of wedlockNow she’s stationed in Malta perhaps she will be able to trace her. During her search, she falls in love but also discovers something she wished she hadn’t about her father. But will she find Alice? Beautifully written with a real sense of the attitudes of the time and the way people drew together during the war
May 22, 2026
This is a gripping, emotional page-turning novel set in Malta during World War 2. The characters feel authentic. As you read it you feel like you are actually there, so well is it described. You are absolutely caught up in the challenges the main character, Kitty, faces and the impossible dilemma she faces in the search for the child she was forced to give up. Not only is it a ripping story, you learn a lot about the bravery of the people of Malta during the Second World War and particularly the civilian female plotters and the critical role that they played. Definitely worth a read.
Review of advance copy
A beautifully written and emotionally gripping story set against the dramatic backdrop of wartime Malta. The author, Tracy Cook, brings the era vividly to life, blending history, romance, and personal sacrifice into a compelling narrative. Kitty’s journey is both heartbreaking and inspiring and I found myself completely absorbed from beginning to end. A must-read for fans of historical fiction!
May 22, 2026
Oh, wow! I rarely read historical fiction, but thought this realistic story was excellent.
High on the research, but it fitted nicely into the story, and the characters were quite compelling. It was all quite possible to imagine, and pretty nailbiting! Some nice twists, and a good read.
High on the research, but it fitted nicely into the story, and the characters were quite compelling. It was all quite possible to imagine, and pretty nailbiting! Some nice twists, and a good read.
May 21, 2026
A captivating, incredibly powerful and moving read. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC.
May 22, 2026
This is a heartbreaking WWII story in Malta. She was forced to give her daughter up for adoption. As she searches for her daughter, she joins other people in military secrets. Very good story!
May 24, 2026
Absolutely wonderful!
A fabulous plot set on an island in the Mediterranean during WW2. Kitty's story is spellbinding, evocative and beautifully written and you feel you are part of it. And now I need to go to Malta and see all those places. Thoroughly recommend!
A fabulous plot set on an island in the Mediterranean during WW2. Kitty's story is spellbinding, evocative and beautifully written and you feel you are part of it. And now I need to go to Malta and see all those places. Thoroughly recommend!
May 25, 2026
Loved this book! A real page turner, intelligently written and, for me, an eye opener into Malta during WW2. Strong themes of love, friendship, loyalty, courage and family.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Note: I did not read the Kindle Edition. It seems more and more that Kindle is the only/preferred edition of books as listed on Goodreads. Boo.
Wings Over Valletta is a fine addition to women-focused World War II historical fiction. It is set in Malta. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book set in Malta before. Malta is about 50 miles south of Sicily and was heavily bombed during the war. British and Maltese civilian women contributed greatly to the war effort, which inspired author Tracy Cook to write this novel.
Main character Kitty is a schoolteacher. When the school is closed due to the bombing, she volunteers to work in the war rooms as a plotter. The book includes friendship, romance, and betrayal, set against the backdrop of constant bombing and stress over the war.
There are a lot of strong characters in the book, including Kitty's black friend Adela, both a singer and an ambulance driver, and Kitty’s pilot boyfriend Bill, who is scarred from a previous accident.
There were a couple of things I didn’t love. Kitty’s father, a Vice-Admiral, is killed, and although this sets off a lot of the plot points, the actual death of the man didn’t seem like a very big deal. Also, at her father’s insistence years before, Kitty gave up a baby she had out of wedlock. I was not persuaded by how Kitty’s life is virtually ruled by her regret over the child and her desire to reunite with her.
The plot contains drama that spills into being melodrama, but I guess you have to have a certain amount in a book like this. It could make a fine movie in the right hands.
I read an advance reader copy of Wings Over Valletta from Netgalley and Allison & Busby.
Wings Over Valletta is a fine addition to women-focused World War II historical fiction. It is set in Malta. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book set in Malta before. Malta is about 50 miles south of Sicily and was heavily bombed during the war. British and Maltese civilian women contributed greatly to the war effort, which inspired author Tracy Cook to write this novel.
Main character Kitty is a schoolteacher. When the school is closed due to the bombing, she volunteers to work in the war rooms as a plotter. The book includes friendship, romance, and betrayal, set against the backdrop of constant bombing and stress over the war.
There are a lot of strong characters in the book, including Kitty's black friend Adela, both a singer and an ambulance driver, and Kitty’s pilot boyfriend Bill, who is scarred from a previous accident.
There were a couple of things I didn’t love. Kitty’s father, a Vice-Admiral, is killed, and although this sets off a lot of the plot points, the actual death of the man didn’t seem like a very big deal. Also, at her father’s insistence years before, Kitty gave up a baby she had out of wedlock. I was not persuaded by how Kitty’s life is virtually ruled by her regret over the child and her desire to reunite with her.
The plot contains drama that spills into being melodrama, but I guess you have to have a certain amount in a book like this. It could make a fine movie in the right hands.
I read an advance reader copy of Wings Over Valletta from Netgalley and Allison & Busby.
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