Ace, Marvel, Spy: A Novel of Alice Marble
An Amazon Editor's Pick
"A smashing success!” — Billie Jean King

"All’s fair in love and war—and tennis!—in Jenni L. Walsh’s latest page-turning historical novel." — Kristy Woodson Harvey

"Now serving, Jenni L. Walsh." — PARADE Magazine
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Trailblazer, superstar, activist, and spy: Alice Marble is an American icon.

Alice strives to have it all. 

At seventeen, Alice Marble has no formal tennis skills and no coach. What she does have is an ability to hit the ball as hard as she can and a strong desire to prove herself. With steadfast determination and one sacrifice after another, Alice plays her heart out on the courts of the rich and famous, at national tournaments, and—the greatest of them all—at Wimbledon, rising to be one of the top-ranked players in the world.

But then her world falls apart. 

With the outbreak of war with Germany, Alice’s tennis career and life comes to a
screeching halt, and for the first time, she is forced to confront who she is without tennis. As she searches to understand her new place in the world and how she can aid in war efforts, a telegram arrives with devastating news from overseas. Heartbroken and lost, she feels like she can only watch as the war wreaks havoc in every area of her life. 

Until an unexpected invitation arrives. 

Alice is given the chance to fight back when the US Army sends her a request: Under the guise of playing in tennis exhibition games in Switzerland, she would be a spy for them. Alice aches for nothing more than to avenge what the war has taken from her and prove herself against this new opponent. But what awaits her might be her greatest challenge yet. 

From her start as a promising athlete with worn-out shoes to a glamorous international star, Alice Marble’s determination to control her own life and destiny fuels a story of achievement, discipline, love, and loss.
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​Praise for Ace, Marvel, Spy
“Jenni L. Walsh captures the thrill of being on the court in a vivid and detailed portrayal of Alice Marble's rise to sporting greatness, as well as her struggles to fulfil her dreams both on and off the court. Ace, Marvel, Spy is a smashing success!” — Billie Jean King

All’s fair in love and war—and tennis!—in Jenni L. Walsh’s latest page-turning historical novel. Champion, editor, widow, and spy Alice Marble is a remarkable woman full of grit, determination, and unfathomable fortitude who made her mark on the world in irrevocable ways. Readers can’t help but be inspired by this unflinching portrayal of a true American icon. — Kristy Woodson Harvey, New York Times Bestselling author of A Happier Life

"Jenni L. Walsh is an “Ace” of writing well researched historical novels about amazing women that are not well known. This one is about Alice Marble, a US tennis champion who later becomes a spy during WWII and is also an editor for the Wonder Women comic.  As with all of Jenni’s novels, the resilience and strength of women is front and center!" --Kathy, Newtown Bookshop

“Best-selling author Walsh (Unsinkable, 2024) delivers a page-turning delight starring tennis ace Alice Marble, who came from a modest background to reach the top of her sport . . . Whether Alice is in a nail-biting tennis match or in a tight spot with her mission, this book will have readers on the edge of their seats. Be sure to read the author’s note about the fascinating, real Alice Marble.” — Booklist

"With a flair for mining out remarkable women from obscurity in history, Walsh has given us a riveting insight into a true wonder woman by blending biography with history and adventure, and an added dash of romance in Ace, Marvel, Spy. A truly unique spin (Get it? Because it’s tennis!) that makes it a must-read for fans of unique characters and complex themes." — BookTrib, J'nell Ciesielski 

"Being a tennis buff, I loved it... Now serving, Jenni L. Walsh." — Michael Giltz for PARADE Magazine

“Makes your head spin … I’m sure Hollywood is calling!” — KTRS-AM John Carney Show



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