I just finished listening to THE ROSE CODE by Kate Quinn, and I LOVED this book. Much like her superb novel THE ALICE NETWORK, THE ROSE CODE tells the story of some of the strong women who worked behind the scenes during World War II. It follows three very different main characters as they work at the now famous Bletchley Park as secret Enigma code breakers during the war.

The story cuts back and forth starting in 1940 to 1947, with a countdown to the royal wedding between Elizabeth and Phillip. We follow Osla, who wants to be seen as more than “a silly Deb”, Mab, a force of a woman determined to break from her impoverished past, and Beth, who transforms from a quiet puddle of a daughter to the best codebreaker in the park. These women take their secret oath to their country seriously in each of their individual ways, but that secrecy ends up turning them to enemies. I cared deeply for each of these strong women as they navigate their way through the war and beyond, and eventually are forced back into each other’s lives as the possibility of a mysterious traitor emerges.

The history of Bletchley Park is fascinating, and I was prompted to learn more about this underground operation and its influence on the defeat of Hitler and the Nazi invasion. More, THE ROSE CODE highlights the extraordinary role of women in fighting the war. Quinn is sure to remind us that, despite being viewed as frivolous or hysterical or “less than” in society, women--then and now--are a force to be reckoned with. The narration by Saskia Maarleveld took a little getting used to, but by the end I was looking forward to her strong British accent and it helped me to truly “see” the characters.

This tale of strength and love and loyalty is being released on March 9, and it is the perfect way to honor Women’s History Month.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio for the advanced listening copy.

#TheRoseCode #NetGalley

I have seen stories on Blechly Park and the work done there before, but this story realistically addressed the toll the work took on the men and women who worked there.
I liked this story much better than “ Alice Network”. I found the characters in this book were well developed and more likable; Osla the posh girl who had ran in the same circles as the royal family, Mab the East London girl who desperately wanted to make something of her life, and Beth the mousy brilliant girl who was bullied by her mother into believing she was stupid. Each of these woman has a special skill and finds herself working at Blechly park in different sectors. Each is desperate in their own way for love and each finds it, though not in the way they expected. The three woman become very close then are torn apart by the secrets they are forced to keep under threat of death.

There is a small twist and a mystery of a saboteur that lands one of the woman in an insane asylum. The twist was pretty easy to figure out, but the I loved how the spy story line was resolved - its thrilling ending, and satisfying conclusion. The overarching tone of this story is sad. War is horrible and coupled with everyday disappointments great and small took an unimaginable toll. There are tiny glimmers of hope but we are constantly reminded that happiness and love should be cherished wherever and whenever they are found.

I listened to this as an audio book and it was excellent.

I LOVED The Rose Code! I enjoyed Kate Quinn's previous book, The Alice Network, but this one really blew me away. Osla, Mab, and Beth become fast friends secretly working as code breakers during WWII. Each are tested by fragmented families, heart wrenching romance, and grueling work. After the war ends with their bond broken, one of them is in danger and needs her former confidantes to solve a crucial mystery before it's too late. Racing toward an epic conclusion with flashbacks interspersed, The Rose Code is a gripping tale that delivers on its thrilling premise.

The depth of Quinn's characterization made this five stars for me. She gives us three distinct, dynamic women with different strengths and ambitions to be enamored and flustered by. I enjoyed bouncing back and forth of who was my favorite, but in the end found myself invested in them all. I loved tracking each of their arcs and relishing in their moments of triumph, especially with Beth. It's a long read, but a riveting one. Some of the twists were to be expected, but others made me audibly gasp. I highly recommend the audiobook. Saskia Maarleveld's narration was splendid and her differentiation between the characters was helpful in constructing this exhilarating world. Fingers crossed we get a television series of this someday. Thank you Harper Audio and NetGalley for the advanced copy!

The audiobook narration by Saskia Maarleveld was excellent! I was immediately invested in the story and her grasp of the cast of characters was magnificent. However, despite the first-rate narration, I did think this book was too long!

With its strong female protagonists, female friendships and considerable historical detail The Rose Code is an excellent book to pick up on the heels of International Women’s Day and sure to be a very good choice for book clubs. Recommended reading for fans of Jennifer Robson’s The Gown.

The fabulous Kate Quinn has done it again! The Rose Code tells the story of three female code breakers at Bletchley Park and the spy they must find after the war is over.

What I loved about this book:
- Fantastic female friendship and badass heroines. Osla, Mab, and Beth are as different as three women could be, but they each excelled at their jobs and were great characters.
- Spys! Quinn does just a good job of spinning historical tales of intrigue and mystery.
- The audiobook was very well done. I found myself looking for chores to do around the house so I could keep listening… That’s when you know it’s a good one!

This would make a great book club pick and will be devoured by lovers of World War II fiction!

Five stars!

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Audio for the advanced audio in exchange for my honest review. The Rose Code publishes March 9, 2021. #TheRoseCode #NetGalley

Kate Quinn is on my list of favorite historical fiction authors. Quinn has a gift of reinvigorating history through lively characters, which explains why I was eager to get my hands on her newest release, The Rose Code. Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Audio for the advanced audio in exchange for my honest review.

Because Quinn always creates dynamic characters, I was a bit worried about whether I would prefer reading versus listening. Any concern I had initially was wiped away within the first few chapters of listening. The narration by Saskia Maarleveld was so distinctive. I felt enamored with each of the major characters: Mab, Oskar, and Beth. Perhaps more so, because Maarleveld’s voice illuminated the nuances between each character’s personality so beautifully. The process of code breaking fascinates me, and I loved the way Quinn melded past and present to create suspense surrounding this particular group of women. Her twist on the history through the dual timelines, set it apart from the other stories I have read, and I appreciated this variation.

I adored this story and the characters within. I look forward to reading this one again in the future. A note to listeners: The Rose Code took me longer than most to get through at nearly 15 listening hours. Again, thank you to Harper Audio for The Rose Code in exchange for my honest opinion.

A riveting read set during WWII at Bletchley Park. The characters make you care about their journeys and the underlying mystery compels you to keep listening and reading. Highly recommend the audiobook. Another fantastic historical fiction book from Kate Quinn.

The Rose Code is one of the best books I have listened to in a long time Saskia Maarleveld narration was fantastic, she didn't miss a beat. There were no unnecessary sounds that some narrators have, that I call sticky mouth. Saskia Maarleveld flowed from character to character, accent to accent, without missing a beat.
The book it's self OH MY GOODNESS!!!!! What a story, what a love story, adventure story, WWII story. This is a book I could read/listen to again.
Three women meet at the start of WWII in Bechley Park where the Enigma Machine and other code breakers are working to do just that break the codes of the German and Italian armies and navies. Mab and Osla meet on the train and become fast friends, they are sent to live with a family who have a daughter Beth that is their age. They soon realize that Beth would be a good code breaker and she begins work with them. The three women form an unbreakable bond, years later when Beth is in trouble she sends Mab and Osla a coded message and they come to her rescue. In spite of a horrific falling out with Beth, or the fact that Mab and Osla haven't seen each other for years their friendship wins and they are their when they need each other the most.
This book is the best women's love and friendship book I have ever read, I am going to miss Mab and Osla and Beth.
I received this book from netgalley for a free and honest review

What a great listen!

The story revolves around three women who worked at Bletchley Park during WWII. They were decoders - decoding German messages in order to block the Germans from bombing missions in the war. Their work was highly secretive, stressful and immensely important. I first learned about this mission in the movie The Imitation Game about Alan Turing who invented a computer to decode the messages. Yet so many were decoded by hand.

I enjoyed the characters - Beth - innocent, highly intelligent and verbally abused by her mother, the story centers around her life during and after the war. Her two housemates Mab and Oslo both come from very different backgrounds and are both very strong characters.

I definitely recommend the read.

A special thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to listen the the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was the first time I’ve read any of the authors books. I had only heard wonderful things about her other books and really wanted to read one. For this the author certainly lived up to the hype. I really enjoyed the story and all of the characters were fantastic. It was amazing how the author made the women such an integral part of the war when traditionally you think it was all male soldiers. It was great to see there is other ways to win a war other than via guns and other weaponry. I really enjoyed the audiobook version and narrator was incredible. I found this to be an easy listen and one that intrigued me from start to finish. I highly recommend it

Rose Code
By: @katequinn5975
Narrated by: @sask0645

Another riveting historical fiction novel by Kate Quinn! I had the pleasure of listening to the audiobook and I relished my time I got to listen to Saskia bring the characters to life.

This novel takes place in WWII England and tosses back and forth between 1940’s to 1947. I hung on to every word as I listened as fast as I could to figure out how it would all play out. I was wrapped up in exploring Bletchley Park, what until now I knew nothing about. It’s truly fascinating. The story follows three very different women as they answer the call to do their part for their country while here is a war on. Osla is a debutante who is witty and a keen problem solver who just happens to be dating Prince Phillip of Greece. Mab is an english woman determined to leave her station in life behind and marry well. She is determined in all aspects of life and knows how to get the job done. Beth is a country girl who has never been allowed to live up to her potential until the war comes knocking at her door.
As each woman is doing their part they find their lives intertwined. There is heart break, secrets, and a traitor in their midst. Will they come together and use the skills they have to figure out who among them has broken the oath of secrecy that they all so highly value?!? You’ll have to read to find out! Pre order this book now! It’s out 3.9.21!

In the book these women are apart of a book club!!!! I mean come on what book lover doesn’t love a good book club within their current read.

I feel like I need to include a disclaimer:
This book took me almost the entire month of February to get through. Now, that does not mean I didn't enjoy it. On the contrary I think this is one of the best books I've read/listened to all year.

In my entire reading journey (from Junie B Jones in kindergarten to present day) I very rarely pick up historical fiction. I never liked History class in school. It was all just a big bore to me. As of late I stand entirely corrected.

Reading about code breaking in the time of World War II was so enthralling and entertaining. The author did a wonderful job of creating this lifelike story. I felt for the characters like they were real people. Needless to say Kate Quinn has become a new favorite author and I'm dying for the next book.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to listen to the wonderful beautiful book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Wonderful stars for this newest WWII story by Kate Quinn.

This is the story of three very different women that are brought together by a common goal. The first of these women is the dashing debutante, Osla Kendall. She speaks perfect German and has caught the eye of none other than Prince Phillip of Greece. She wants to prove that she can help her country and is much more than a privileged “Deb”. Next is tough, tall Mab Churt that has worked her way up from poverty and is looking for a husband to help secure her future. Lastly is timid, Beth Finch whom lives at home with an overbearing, abusive mother. Beth lacks confidence but is a whiz at solving puzzles. These women end up utilizing their skills at Bletchley Park, the top secret facility where Britain’s best are desperately trying to decode secret Nazi messages.
Quinn is able to unravel such a complex story full of drama, romance, mystery and nail biting action. Alternating the narrative between time periods, Quinn develops the relationship between the women and those in their secretive circle. The women have a falling out and reunite to solve a mystery and break one more code.
The audiobook was fantastic thanks to Saskia Maarleveld’s superb narration and Kate Quinn’s story. This book is not only historical fiction but also a strong thriller with a great twist!!
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio for allowing me to listen in exchange for an honest review.

I was a bit confused at the beginning but was eventually able to put everything together. I enjoyed listening to this story and the view into the secret world of the fight. The middle felt a bit drawn out to me since I prefer plot driven books The last 25% was an incredible whirlwind of action and the suspense was perfect. The dog may or may have been my favorite character because I could see him in my own schnauzer pup! This is my first read from Quinn and I look forward to checking out her others very soon.

The Rose Code written by Kate Quinn, narrated by Saskia Maarleveld

PUB DATE: March 9, 2021

The Rose Code is a suspenseful, compelling & immersive historical fiction set between 1939 and 1947 leading up to the Royal Wedding of Future Queen Elizabeth & Prince Phillip. The story follows 3 young women who are wildly different when they meet in 1940. Osla is a vivacious debutante with beauty, wealth and is dating the Prince Phillip of Greece (yes, the same one that marries Queen Elizabeth). She’s fluent in multiple languages. Mab is beautiful, tall & looking for financial security in a husband. She is the product of East End London poverty ,self-made and imperious. Beth is quiet, reclusive & bullied by her mother but discovers she has the brilliant gift of decoding covert transmissions.

These intelligent women become close as sisters, defending and supporting one another. As the war rages on, they are affected by the war in different and devastating ways. As one would expect, with all friendships there comes expectations and with expectations there will be disappointments and regrets.

Quinn alternates the timelines between 1947 as we’re nearing the Royal Wedding, we learn that the friends are not only estranged but scorn each other. The beginning of the book opens with Mab & Osla each receiving an encrypted letter smuggled from an asylum where their former friend, Beth has been for the past 3 years asking for their help in catching a traitor within Bletchley Park. Will they look past their history, come together for their country again in what is called The Rose Code.

Saskia Maarleveld’s marvelous narration engaged me in this absolutely captivating & fascinating novel by Kate Quinn.

Codebreakers sworn to secrecy during WWII are thought to have shortened the war by at least 2 years. They worked to break top secret foreign military codes and their efforts have saved countless lives. Kate Quinn’s well-researched historical fiction sends us back to the days during and after WWII & I applaud that she always chooses strong women protagonists for her novels and really fleshes out the characters. These characters are based on real life veteran codebreakers, Mab, 96 yeas old and works at BP as a bomb demonstrator! Beth, 98 years old & still takes her oath seriously. Osla’s memoir which accounts her time in Hut 4 as a German translator was not published until after her death.

Thank you so much Kate Quinn, William Morrow, HarperAudio & Netgalley for this ALC!

I listened to this one on audio and it is my first 5 star read of 2021!
Such as an amazing story based on real people and events. Excellent narration as well- I have a new, favorite narrator!
I loved every one of these women and was sad for the end when they left me. Action and intrigue that kept me listening and beautiful stories.

If you love historical fiction, please pre order this amazing story ASAP! Kate Quinn

My first Kate Quinn book was The Huntress. If anyone has read that, then you know how phenomenal it is. Quinn has a knack for building such beautiful, stories of individuals. Each individual, seemingly normal and insignificant goes on to do incredible things for their Country.

Yet again in The Rose Code, Quinn is able to build three unique women and by chance, find themselves as "the geese laying the Golden eggs" and breaking codes for the WWII effort. What else is there to say really? Quinn's writing establishes an all-consuming story & is able to pull all the emotions from her readers. The Rose Code is important on so many levels. Not only does it show the work women did during a time in history where they were unable to physically fight in a war, but put up a different form of fighting....instead they used their minds. They broke decoded messages from their enemies and were incredible and necessary assets to the war effort. Some may even argue they are one on of the reasons the Allies won the war!

If you love WWII, this is right up your alley. If you want strong, females doing heroic things, this is for you. If you want a beautiful story that has betrayal, survival, and shows the strength of the human spirit....this is for you. I'll always recommend Kate Quinn.

Delightfully suspenseful tale of three British women who fought back against Germany and their own society's prejudice against women in the workplace. You will cheer for Osla Mab, and Beth.

Kate Quinn's novel The Rose Code is an amazing historical fiction. The characters are vivid, both lovable and heart breaking. The stories they share, the experiences they live bring alive the codebreaker world of World War Two in a very human way. The characters manage to drive the plot forward as much as the action. The dual time line serves to both increase the mystery and tension, as well as illuminate the eventual theme of the book.

This is a story that will stick with you long after you finish. Quinn has managed to show the strength and fragility of the women who so bravely took an oath that at times destroyed their happiness.

I posted a review at 50 %. I am done with this book. All I can say is "WOW"!. It seems that each book that Kate writes gets better and better. I was not aware of Betchley Park, but would like to learn more. It starts with 3 girls that become great friends. Of course, something happens that breaks them apart. It's only after the war, that they get back together to find a traitor. I loved this book. I almost want to listen to it again