Review: And the Walls Came Tumbling Down

 

AND THE WALLS CAME TUMBLING DOWN

By W.M. Gunn

Alternative History/ Historical Fiction/ Family Saga

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

Publication Date: August 11, 2025

SYNOPSIS

And the Walls Came Tumbling Down reimagines the twentieth century as it might have unfolded if fate had shifted—and mercy had not.

Two families, one American and one German, collide across World War I, the Great Depression, and a radically altered World War II, shaped by hatred, sacrifice, and forces that feel uncomfortably divine. As twin brothers choose opposing paths within Nazi Germany and a Texas farm boy takes to the skies, history veers off course. D-Day collapses in disaster. Britain faces annihilation. Volunteer pilots launch desperate missions, and a single flight toward Berlin carries the weight of ending the war at an unimaginable cost. Biblical echoes of Jericho haunt every turning point, raising unsettling questions about destiny, justice, and intervention.

Blending military history, family saga, and psychological tension, this gripping alternative history challenges readers to ask what if history changed, and what the cost of that change would be. 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

WM Gunn is a native Texan who spent many years in the pharmaceutical industry and is now focused on writing. He is active in writing groups and volunteering with non-profit groups. He lives in his hometown in Texas with his high school sweetheart bride of many years. To date, he has published hundreds of short stories, two novellas, and two full-length novels. Holmes, Moriarty, and the Monkeys and Chasing the Sun were two novellas released in 2024. His debut novel, The Two Terrors of Tulelake, was released in 2024. The Calendar was his next novel, published in 2025. Now, And The Walls Came Tumbling Down, the first book in an exciting trilogy, will be published in September. 

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And The Walls Came Tumbling Down by WM Gunn is an alternative history mystery thriller that also has elements of a family saga. I am not well versed in military history fiction (or non-fiction, for that matter), so I am always a bit wary going into them. I have read Gunn before, however, and have greatly enjoyed his writing - so, I knew I was in good hands.

Although I am not a typical military history reader, I believe it was the family saga threads of this story that caught my interest. This story follows two families, the Kretzs and Maxwells. Teh Kretz family is German and has a raveled story with Nazi Germany; the Maxwell family is American (Texan) and the son, Allen, is involved in military aviation and finds himself in the center of this altered WWII course.

It is within this altered course where Gunn has us ponder, what happens to the 20th century if the most important historical points of WWII doesn’t go as planned? Where does that leave us?

As the story carried on, I found myself driven by the emotional family relationships, friendships, and loyalties of the story. It makes sense as a character-driven reader. That, alongside the military and historical detail, is what makes this a well-rounded story. I mean, yes, the details will slow down the story, but you need those details in order to get the most out of this story! Did I mention I’m also very detail-oriented? So, this was really in my wheelhouse!

Ultimiately, a big bravo to Gunn who has done it yet again! An intricate story to scratch the niche itch of historical fiction readers.