The Rose Code by Kate Quinn

                                                              

 

Title: The Rose Code

Author: Kate Quinn

Genre: Historical Fiction 

Synopsis: 1940. As England prepares to fight the Nazis, three very different women answer the call to mysterious country estate Bletchley Park, where the best minds in Britain train to break German military codes. Vivacious debutante Osla is the girl who has everything—beauty, wealth, and the dashing Prince Philip of Greece sending her roses—but she burns to prove herself as more than a society girl, and puts her fluent German to use as a translator of decoded enemy secrets. Imperious self-made Mab, product of east-end London poverty, works the legendary codebreaking machines as she conceals old wounds and looks for a socially advantageous husband. Both Osla and Mab are quick to see the potential in local village spinster Beth, whose shyness conceals a brilliant facility with puzzles, and soon Beth spreads her wings as one of the Park’s few female cryptanalysts. But war, loss, and the impossible pressure of secrecy will tear the three apart.

1947. As the royal wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip whips post-war Britain into a fever, three friends-turned-enemies are reunited by a mysterious encrypted letter--the key to which lies buried in the long-ago betrayal that destroyed their friendship and left one of them confined to an asylum. A mysterious traitor has emerged from the shadows of their Bletchley Park past, and now Osla, Mab, and Beth must resurrect their old alliance and crack one last code together. But each petal they remove from the rose code brings danger--and their true enemy--closer.. - Back Cover 

My Thoughts

This novel was a thoughtful Christmas gift from a good friend. I was excited because it was on my TBR list! I have to admit, I came for the mention of Prince Philip but stayed for Francis Gray and Harry Zarb. 

 I love a book with lots of characters, especially when they are all so well done! I am also loving the two time periods but set not so far apart (like I recently enjoyed in Sisters of The Resistance). It keeps the story moving, but also adds suspense and context.  I especially enjoyed how the three main characters' differences highlight the wide range of people needed for the important code-breaking work that was happening at Bletchly Park. It didn't matter where you came from or what you did before the war, if you had a skill they needed you were in. This, of course, includes the great importance of women, as highlighted by the different roles filled by Beth, Osla, and Mab. Their stories also illustrate the particular challenges of women of different classes at that time. Each interesting in her own right, I think my favorite has to be Os.  

This book has a little bit of everything; a coming of age story, family drama, love, mystery, science, war, friendships, falling outs, and redemption. It is really one of the best books I have read in a while, maybe the best I've read so far this year. 

I am really looking forward to reading more from Kate Quinn! 

Comment below if you have read this book or have suggestions for others like it!

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