“The reigning queen of historical fiction” — Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Lions of Fifth Avenue
The New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Huntress and The Alice Network returns with another heart-stopping World War II story of three female code breakers at Bletchley Park and the spy they must root out after the war is over.
1940. As England … War II story of three female code breakers at Bletchley Park and the spy they must root out after the war is over.
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…
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A definite read for historical fiction fans. Created major interest in non-fiction WWII coders.
Great espionage story of another group of women ( men too) doing decoding and the complexities of that work.
The book gave me an insight into what code breakers did to help the British during WWII. They were extremely bright individuals who understood each other when others didn’t have a clue to what they were doing. While this was a fast paced read, there were way too many plots taking place and too many characters to keep up with that I found confusing. Yet I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the Rose Code and Bletchley Park, the setting.
I couldn’t put this book down! This is my first Kate Quinn novel and certainly not my last. I’m hooked by her turn-the-page storytelling infused by intensive research which made this reader feel as if she was in the huts with the code breakers, in the asylum with Beth. As with any good historical fiction, and this one is at the top! – the story made me do some of my own research. Incredibly realistic, I had to know what was fact and what was fiction. Don’t miss this great read.
Entertaining yet informative book about British women and men serving in WWII as decoders. A part of history that has been obscured.
Kate Quinn is masterful. You become a part of this book … Beth, Mab, and Osla will enrapture you. Quinn’s knowledge of Bletchley Park is stunning and impeccable. Her feel for this genre is unmatched. If you loved “The Alice Network” and “The Huntress”, you will extra love “The Rose Code”!
Kate Quinn never fails to write wonderful, compelling stories wrapped around mysteries that keep you guessing. I loved seeing how she painted the world of Bletchley Park and the many different personalities that worked and lived there. A joy to read!
Couldn’t put this book down. Just loved the story and the characters.
I was immediately drawn into this book and couldn’t stop reading. The characters are either real people or fictional versions of real people who were involved in the secret work of codebreaking at Bletchley Park in England during WWII. Parts of this book will make you cheer while other parts will make you cry and still others will make you seethe with anger, but isn’t that what a good book should do?
This may well be the best book I’ve read this year. Kate Quinn does a masterful job of weaving fictional characters into the lives of historical figures and revealing the amazing story of the work that went on at Bletchley Park during WWII.
You’re sure to be intrigued by Osla, the real-life Canadian deb who was a codebreaker at Bletcheley Park and was Prince Phillip’s wartime girlfriend. Your heart will break at the grueling work done by the women who worked at Bletchely, work they couldn’t speak of, lest they run afoul of the Official Secrets Act. To the outside world, they were clerical workers, when in fact, they were so much more.
Even the Author’s Notes and the Acknowledgements at the end are thrilling reads. If you read one book this year, let it be this one!l
I enjoyed the characters and the story. . . .
Loved the subject matter and always love books with strong female characters
Riveting. I felt like I was right alongside these characters involved in their world changing efforts during WWII. A visit to Bletchley Park is now on my bucket list.
Bravo! Kate Quinn and the narrator, Saskia Maarleveld do it again! This was a wonderful book focusing on three girls lives while they worked as code breakers. If you’ve never listened to Saskia narrate, I highly recommend it. She can speak in so many different voices that it feels like several different people for each character, but it’s just her! I really enjoyed the storylines and characters. So far it is my favorite audiobook this year.
A riveting novel about the codebreakers at Bletchley during Word War II. At once a story about friendship and courage in a race to stop the Nazis and unmask a spy in their midst. Osla, Mab and Beth are like the facets of a diamond, all different but imbued with unique strength and intelligence. “The Rose Code” is a triumph. Kate Quinn is an engaging storyteller, whose writing gets better with each book.
THE ROSE CODE, by Kate Quinn moves between World War II and post-war centering on three women who break enemy military codes at a country estate in Bletchley Park, England.
Osla, the girl who has beauty, wealth, and is dating Prince Philip of Greece, is determined to prove she’s more than a society girl. Mab comes from poverty, works the code-breaking, and is looking for a socially advantageous husband. Beth is painfully shy but brilliant at puzzles. But war, loss, and the pressure of secrets rip their friendship apart.
When Beth is accused of espionage and put in an insane asylum, Osla and Mab come to her rescue, and they all work together to find the real spy.
THE ROSE CODE is a story of strong women, the men they love, and a satisfying happily-ever-after that I couldn’t put down!
Recommend Kate Quinn novels. Rose Code blends actual events/people within a story of love and treason.
The Rose Code by Kate Quinn is, in my opinion, historical fiction at its best. Kate Quinn is one of my favorite historical fiction authors because she is a brilliantly talented author. I know when I pick up a book written by this author I am going to love it! Simply said, Wow! The story of Osla (the debutante), Mab (the idealist), and Beth (the spinster as they are drawn into World War II as Hitler’s troups begins their horrific assault on Europe is fascinating and captivating. These women become fast friends until a deep secret tears them apart. I was mesmerized by this book and these three women as they come together to break one last code. The author is to be commended for the brilliant way she crafted and created these characters, her attention to detail, history and research. I rated it a high five.
I was fortunate enough to read this book before it went to press–it’s a WOW. Three fierce but different women “doing their bit” for the British War effort at top secret Bletchley Park (headquarters of British wartime codebreaking). You will not be able to put this one down.
It took me forever to read this book — which, in this busy season, means it was super compelling and kept drawing me back. The three protagonists are strong and original and the journey Quinn takes you on is full of action and rich historical detail. It’s a wonderful ride and I highly recommend this story.