COMING SEPTEMBER 2026
As her country wages war in China in 1941, a young Japanese woman debates her future with her father, a vice admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy.
Fleeing persecution for her campaign to win the right to vote for women, Tomoko Nagumo takes a job at the embassy in Washington. Even there, she is not safe from the watchful eyes of the Japanese secret police.
Tomoko falls in love with a young Canadian student working at the British embassy and both are drawn into a web of intrigue and espionage. Meanwhile, her father is leading a task force of warships steaming towards Pearl Harbor, despite his misgivings that it is foolish to awaken the sleeping American giant.
The Admiral’s Daughter is a page-turning thriller, taking readers on a romantic rollercoaster ride through a tumultuous year in the history of the world.
“Set against the backdrop of epochal events in Japan, Washington, and Hawaii on the eve of Japan’s December 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor, The Admiral’s Daughter is a sweeping historical epic. Former journalist Doug Ronson’s debut novel is an ambitious, intricately woven tale of romance between star-crossed lovers Jack Pearcey, a Canadian student-turned diplomat, and Tomoko Nagumo, an employee of the Japanese embassy in Washington. ”
“This meticulously researched novel brings to life telling details that create a sense of time and place, firmly anchoring characters overtaken by historic events, conflicting loyalties, and forbidden connections.”
“The Admiral’s Daughter is an immersive novel that bridges continents and cultures - and brings the human side of global conflict into sharp focus. Through vivid storytelling and richly drawn characters, it connects personal choices to the broader currents of Canadian and world history, to create a compelling reminder that history is shaped as much by individuals as by nations.”
“Author Doug Ronson puts an intimate, human face on a dangerous year in history. Drawing in part from his own family background in a skilful blend of fact and fiction, he entices us into his characters’ lives with a story of romance, intrigue and compassion.”
