The Listeners

The Listeners by Maggie Stiefavter 

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Maggie Stiefvater comes The Listeners—a captivating work of historical fiction set in the hauntingly beautiful hills of West Virginia during the early days of World War II.

January 1942. Tucked away in the Appalachian wilderness, the Avallon Hotel & Spa has long been a retreat for America’s elite—its famed sweetwater springs known for washing away the troubles of high society. Now, with the war escalating overseas, the Avallon faces a new kind of tension at home.

June Porter Hudson, once a local girl and now the hotel’s poised general manager, has kept the resort running smoothly despite wartime shortages and uncertainties. Trained by the aristocratic Gilfoyle family to maintain elegance under pressure, she’s built a sanctuary of luxury in a time of chaos.

But everything changes when the Gilfoyle heir strikes a secret deal with the U.S. State Department to house captured Axis diplomats at the Avallon. June must convince her loyal staff—many with loved ones on the front lines—to offer five-star hospitality to the enemy. And do it all with a smile.

FBI Agent Tucker Minnick, assigned to monitor the diplomats, knows the stakes are higher than anyone imagines. Disguised as a passive listener, he watches and waits, knowing full well that the mountain’s sweetwater has hidden properties—both healing and dangerous. And that June may be closer to the truth than she realizes.

As tensions mount and allegiances fracture, The Listeners becomes a tense, atmospheric story of espionage, moral ambiguity, and quiet resistance. In a world where the enemy sleeps just down the hall, what price must be paid to preserve dignity, loyalty, and humanity?

With lyrical prose, unforgettable characters, and rich historical detail, Maggie Stiefvater delivers a masterful novel that explores the hidden battles fought far from the front lines—and the brave choices made in the quietest of places.