The Chalky Sea

Two damaged people struggle to find their way in a turbulent world.

In July 1940, Gwen Collingwood drops her husband at the railway station, knowing she may never see him again. The following morning her humdrum world is torn apart when the sleepy English seaside town where she lives is subjected to the first of many heavy bombing attacks.

In Ontario, Canada, Jim Armstrong is debating whether to volunteer, until his decision is made for him when he uncovers the secret his fiancée has been keeping from him. A few weeks later he is on a ship bound for England.

Gwen is forced to confront the truth she has concealed about her past and her own feelings. Jim battles with a bewildering and hostile world far removed from the cosy life of his Canadian farm. War brings horror and loss to each of them – can it also bring change and salvation?

Buy ebook

Buy paperback

Here’s what Publishers’ Weekly said about The Chalky Sea:

Flynn’s novel is a vivid page-turner that depicts the destruction of war, but it is most notable for its portrayal of the effects it has on individual lives.

The Chalky Sea has been awarded a coveted Discovered Diamond review. It has also been shortlisted for the October 2017 Book of the Month award – honour indeed. Discovering Diamonds is a website devoted to reviews of historical fiction. Here’s what they said about The Chalky Sea:

This is a stylish, unusual and well-written Second World War story which I heartily recommend.

What readers are saying about The Chalky Sea

“History comes alive in this beautiful story of two people who were half a world apart until WWII changes their lives. I went to bed with the intention of reading a chapter, finished the book in the middle of the night. It isn’t every day one finds a book they can’t put down.”

Janice