“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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Kate Quinn has written numerous wonderful books, but The Rose Code is Quinn at the very top of her game. Enthralling characters and a plot with more twists than a pretzel make this book a “must read” for historical fiction lovers.
What a fascinating read this was – WWII history plus an overarching mystery, it was informative and filled with a mix of interesting characters both fictional and historical. Secrets are exposed gradually as Quinn takes us back and forth from the war to several years post-war (and the eve of Princess Elizabeth’s wedding) and we learn about the backgrounds of three very different women and their work at Bletchley Park during the war, and what happened to them after. The talk about the work of decoding of Nazi messages was way above my capacity to truly understand, but was explained enough that it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book. The narration of the audiobook was excellent, and made it easy to keep up with the characters. Overall the book left me wanting to learn even more about the work at Bletchley Park (I want a some visuals of the machinery involved) and to read more of Quinn’s work.
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Audio for providing a copy for an unbiased review.
Wow! A puzzle within to boot! So enjoyed this world and quirky characters who might have felt out of place anywhere else except at Bletchley Park. Compelling storylines bound together by the common purpose and struggle to defeat the Germans. The way the story is told is masterful and kept me turning pages when I should have been sleeping. I loved all 600 plus pages of this epic story. Well done!
This is one of my favorite time periods to read and this book was fantastic!!! I listened and the narration was really good.
Loved these three women’s stories and how their friendship evolved and changed, fell apart and came back together.
It’s amazing what they did to help the war effort.
I simultaneously could not keep reading and couldn’t put it down!! I was left with an ache in my gut! Emotional! Best of Kate Quinn!
This was fantastic on audiobook, loved the narrator! Now one of my favorite historical fiction books. I thought it was great!
And this is why Kate Quinn is an autobuy for me. I thought she couldn’t top The Huntress, but she did with the story of three very different and wonderful women who become best friends while keeping England’s biggest secrets at Bletchley Park. I fell in love with all three, and for different reasons, and the incredible detail of codebreaking was mind-boggling without overtaking the story. After I finished I searched for a word to describe The Rose Code and the one that came to mind – and has stuck – is MASTERFUL.
The only downside? Having to wait for a new book. 🙂
The Rose Code is a firecracker of a novel! By illuminating the top-secret work done by codebreakers at England’s Bletchley’s Park, Kate Quinn has created a fresh take on World War II and created three unforgettable heroines who use their intelligence, grit, and tenacity to help save the world from Nazis. Clear out your calendar, because once you start reading this one, you won’t put it down.
Best book I’ve read in a while. I’ve read a lot of WW II historical fiction but this is the first one that is focused on the codebreakers of Bletchley Park. No skimming of boring parts necessary with this storyline… I read every word and didn’t want it to end. Be sure to read the author’s note at the end where you learn which characters are based on real people. And that Kate Middleton’s grandmother was a codebreaker at BP!
Spellbinding. The Kate Quinn magic creates characters that walk off the page, steal my heart, wreck me, and leave me cheering. Though I was listening, The Rose Code played out so vividly in my imagination, I found myself wanting to cover my eyes–as if that would help me get through the tragic parts 🙂 By turns romantic, heartbreaking & riveting. Unforgettable characters. Clever plot. A captivating listening experience on Audible & over too soon. Loved it!
Oh, My Gosh! Go get this book! WWII is such an amazing era. Not because of the war, but because of the amazing people who lived during that time and the things they had to do to continue living. The Rose Code is the story of three amazing young women whose job it is to break code. They work in huts and must keep everything a secret. No sharing what they learn…with anyone.
Osla is dating Prince Philip and has everything a girl could want but she wants more. She wants to prove that she is not just a society girl. Mab wants to move up in society and away from the poverty she was born into. Beth is a mouse of girl who does everything her mother says but is brilliant in solving puzzles. They seem an unlikely trio, but they work together, live together, and become best friends.
As they figure out how to live their lives, they find a fight that they cannot get past and do not speak to each other for several years. When a call for help brings them back together, bringing their history as codebreakers into their lives again, they cannot help but step up and do what is necessary. I really enjoyed seeing how their history came back around in their present. The tension was obvious but doing a job they were trained to do is most important.
Kate Quinn wrote a WWII book about a part of WWII that I had not heard of before. I am now looking for more stories set around Bletchley Park.
I received a free trade paperback of this wonderful historical novel from Goodreads Giveaway, Kate Quinn, and Publisher Harper Collins on February 19, 2021. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. Kate Quinn writes of the period of WWII, with characters who represent the mores and lifestyles of the time and place. A journey through her work is an authentic trip into the past. With this novel, the secrets of yesterday come alive for us.
We have all seen hints and shadows of the life and achievements that took place in Bletchley Park, but with this book, you will have the heart of that accomplishment and the personal achievements that made possible the two-year shortening of WWII. Thank you, Ms. Quinn, for bringing to us the all-out efforts and sacrifices of these heroes – of both genders – and an inkling of the intensity of the work they put into breaching the secrets of the German Enigma coding machine.
I really enjoy Kate Quinn’s books but this one missed the mark for me. I found it very confusing at times and after the half-way mark, I just had to give up on it. I am so glad that so many people really liked this book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
If you loved THE ALICE NETWORK and THE HUNTRESS, you do not want to miss THE ROSE CODE (on sale now). “The reigning queen of historical fiction” — Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Lions of Fifth Avenue — I could not agree with her more!
Release date: 3/9/21
In the 1940s during the war, Mab and Osla are summoned to Bletchly Park but for a reason in which not only are they unaware of, but one that will change their lives forever. They are to be trained to break German military codes. The two stay at a house where they meet Beth, quiet, shy and mousy Beth who soon joins them at Bletchly becoming one of the top cryptanalysts. The three endure secrets, heartbreak and betrayal which tears their relationship apart. One betrayal proves to be bigger than any of them imagined, landing one of them in an asylum. After 3 daunting years, in a final attempt to unravel the mystery behind the traitor that individual is able to reach out to the other two for help. With the clock ticking they reach out to their Bletchly Park family one last time to crack their biggest message yet. Will they be able to crack the code and clear the individuals name before it’s too late?
This was an audio ARC that I was fortunate enough to receive from Netgalley and Harper Audio. I absolutely loved this book! This book had me sucked in the whole time. It had romance, betrayal, mystery and more. So many emotions as I read this book and I sincerely loved every minute of it. The narrator did an amazing job and in my honest opinion was a great pick. This is my first book by Kate Quinn and it definitely won’t be my last! This is a must read for sure! I rate this book
Three women, smart and creative, have been called to be code breakers. Beth, Mab and Oslo, all from different backgrounds. They become fast friends and then they become enemies, all because of a traitor.
This is Kate Quinn’s best book yet. I love the way she managed the timelines. And her characters…wow! I love Oslo and Mab, but Beth is my favorite. Most likely because she received the most emotional response from me. Plus, the story itself had me mesmerized. I had no idea where it was going. I love a story which keeps you guessing and this one did…NO DOUBT!
And the narrator, Saskia Maarleveld, she struck the right note with intensity and emotion. She pulled me in and kept me there. I do not think I have ever listened to a book narrated by her before. But, I will definitely be on the look out for her!
Grab your copy today…FANTASTIC!
I received this audiobook from the publisher for a honest review.
This is an outstanding historical novel by an excellent writer. If you only read one historical novel this year, make it this one. All other historicals will be compared to this one and will pale by the comparison.
If you are one of those readers who relish long novels, you’ll love this one, which is over 650 pages, and be so engrossed in it, the time will fly by. The character development alone is worth the read but add the historical details and events at Bletchley Park, and you’ve got an unputdownable read.
My thanks to William Morrow and Edelweiss for an eARC.
A wonderful story about the clandestine world of Bletchley Park during the Second World War, and the lives of three girls, Osla, Mab, and Beth. Each comes from an entirely different background from the other, making for an interesting premise. My one big question mark is over Beth’s decision. Would she or wouldn’t she? Should she have or was it hypocritical? Read it and you decide.
Kate Quinn never disappoints. This book, about the women of Bletchley Park, is her at her best.
This book, This book, This book mind-blowing and you won’t see it coming. when I started listening to The Rose Code I was a little lost, getting to know each character and where the story was heading, at one point I was even questioning myself if this was going to be any good but as soon as the question popped up in my mind around 30% BAM everything started to change so dramatically, believe me, you will keep holding your breath for the rest of the book.
The story of Beth, Osla, and Mab tree friends who were brave and fought even with their own families to be able to serve and help when things were so crazy and chaotic around the world even if that meant losing your friends and maybe even losing your own sanity.
Beth, Osla, and Mab were so different from each other but what really brought them together was their work, their help to conquer a war that was destroying so many lives and families all around.
one of my favorite things about Mab and Osla was that they were always trying to help Beth to come out of her shell and making her believe more in herself, to trust more in her, and stop listening to the mantras her mother kept feeding her mind.
Beth a very quiet character that was so afraid of life, thanks to her parents that were not so kind or nice to her, her mother was constantly playing mind games with Beth making her feel less than and even very insecure. but life was about to change everything for Beth, she didn’t expect to be accepted or that her work was going to be so important to save lives but soon she will find many answers that will help her finally to grow and move even forward.
Osla was a great character she was one of my favorites because she was so bold and very strong, she didn’t suffer for any men, if her princes were not going to be with her then she will practically move on and continue with her life. she was the one who will take control and will never break until things started to collapse something terrible happened and suddenly her friends were no longer the ones to help her, she was all alone and she needed to get out of her own mess.
Mab’s story was very sad, I cry so much with her through chapters, I really cry so much for her, she really deserves so much more, it was not right for her to see the things she saw that left her almost without a soul, I totally understood her rage, her anger, her sadness, I think anyone in her situation would have acted the same way.
even if the three of them were very different and were fighting their own internal battle as well as helping with the war, they were the best friends anyone could need and have in situations like that.
I love how in the end they really understood what happened and how they united to be successful and take vengeance after so many lies and atrocities they went through.
so many great secondary characters like Prince Philip, Peggy, Lucy, Harry, Francis all gave so much to the story and made it even more heartbreaking.
The narrations by Saskia Maarleveld, I love her work this is not my first book narrated by her, she is definitely a favorite one, she always brings so much to the story and gives so much depth to the characters. I love how she puts the right voice and energy for each character so we can understand who is talking and what characters are answering. great work and a great narrator.
The Rose Code it’s about faith, empathy, and how humans will do everything they can to be successful with their plans no matter if some of those plans meant to hurt someone who was not so kind in the process, The Rose Code show us, the humanity and humility of three women trying to survive the worst parts of their lives, a war that will test them over and over again until they can survive victoriously and finally recognized the true potential of their own.
I recommend this book so much, the last chapters will break you but at the end, they will put your heart back together making you feel the ride was so worth it.