Kate Quinn does not disappoint with her latest book. She uses the same elements in The Rose Code as she did with The Alice Network and The Huntress -- empowering women during a wartime setting. Quinn spins a tale of three women employed by the British government in a super secret code breaking operation.

I listened to an audio version of the book. The narrator does a fabulous job at keeping the listener engaged with the story. With three alternatiing points of view and also a time hop between the past and future, I was confused at the start of the book. I had to listen for awhile to understand the plot of the book. Once established, the story was captivating. My only minor critique is the length of the book. Some of the narrative was a bit repetitive and could have been pared down without losing the details.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio for an advance copy of this audiobook

This was my first read/listen by Kate Quinn, and she certainly did not disappoint! The Rose Code is a little lengthy, coming in at 650+ pages and just over 16 hours on audio but it was very easy to get immersed in.

The Rose Code follows the lives of three female main characters. We learn about their lives growing up and through-out the years, as we alternate through-out the 1940’s when this particular story takes place. The characters are all very likeable and the character development Kate Quinn creates throughout the book is phenomenal.

As we alternate between past and present, going as far back as 1940, as far forward as 1947 and everywhere in between. As is common with alternating between past and present as the story goes on, you’re left asking a million questions but by the final chapter you have your answer to all of them – thankfully!

All in all, I really enjoyed this novel and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, spy stories, suspense, mystery, etc. It has a little bit of everything for everyone.

This is my first book by Kate Queen. Her books typically receive high marks and with my love for World War II, I figured this would be a great place to start. I was not disappointed.

The author uses the term "casually elegant" to describe a character, and I think it is the perfect descriptor for the novel as a whole. The novel revolves around the female code-breakers at Bletchley Park. The story begins slowly only to knock you off your feet and continuing at a feverous pace until the end. The dualling time periods only adds to the tension. Wonderful!

Highly recommended to anyone that enjoys a meticulous research historical thriller.

#netgalley #therosecode

I absolutely adored this book. Give me a kickass female main characters who work at Bletchley park any day. The story was great. The characters completely understandable and you can’t help but root for them. I also loved the narrator and different voices for the different characters. This was a book I truly enjoyed and wished would never end.

The Rose Code
By Kate Quinn


EXPERTLY CRAFTED WRITING BLENDING HISTORY, INTRIGUE AND DRAMA.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

SUMMARY
1940. Three very different women pass through the secret gates of Bletchley Park to help break German codes during World War II. Debutant Osla Kendall wants to prove herself as more than a society girl, and she puts her fluent German to use as a translator. Mab Churt works the code breaking machines as she hides a secret past. Oslo and Mab recruit a local girl, Beth Finch, who has a brain for crossword puzzles. Despite Beth’s domineering mother’s opposition, she soon becomes one of Bletchley’s few female cryptanalysts. The three women become fast friends. But soon the war, personal loss, and the impossible pressure of secrecy tear the three friends apart and sends one of the women to an asylum.

1947. The three friends-turned-enemies are reunited for a common purpose. A traitor, who was responsible for destroying their friendship, has emerged from the Bletchley Park shadows. Osla, Mab, and Beth must work together to crack the Rode Code to prove the traitor’s guilt.

REVIEW
THE ROSE CODE is a captivating story of three women who set out to prove themselves during the turmoil of World War II. Osla, Mab and Beth’s characters, are delightfully well-developed and serve as the pillars of this captivating story.

Author Kate Quinn’s writing is expertly crafted, blending history, intrigue and drama. She nimbly juggles multiple time lines and delivers a story with perfect pacing. THE ROSE CODE offers mystery and suspense, fearless female characters,, a nefarious spy, and even a delightful war time book club thrown in for good measure. Quinn is a lover of history and the best-selling author of The Huntress (2019) and The Alice Network (2017).

The audio book’s narrator Saskia Maaeleveld’s performance was outstanding. Her ability to voice multiple characters, her pacing and her emotional tone elevates the story. Quinn’s dual time line is easy follow with Maaeleveld clear inflection. Her voice captures your attention and drops you into the heart of the story.

Thanks to #Netgalley and #HarperAudio for an advance copy of this audio book in exchange for an honest review.

Publisher William Morrow/HarperAudio
Published March 9, 2021
Narrated Saskia Maaeleveld
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com

Thanks to Harper Audio for the audiobook of The Rose Code.

I was so excited to get The Rose Code as I'm fascinated by the female World War II cryptologists. Last year I read Code Girls, a non-fiction about the American women cryptologists so I was excited for a historical fiction across the pond.

We met 3 women as they all get jobs at the mysterious Bletchley Park, where they find out they've been recruited to break German codes at the start of World War II. Throughout the book we see their top secret work, how 3 very different women become friends and we see their love, their secrets and how they get torn apart as well.

Interspersed in is a slight jump to 1947 and the week before Princess Elizabeth's wedding to Prince Philip when Osla and Mab each get a mysterious encrypted letter from Beth who has been confined to an asylum. Will they be able to put their past aside to work together again?

I really enjoyed The Rose Code, be prepared for a long book and I enjoyed the audiobook but I know 16 hours is a lot. I wish there was more of an author's note on some of the character's she based the book on. Osla is based on a real person and she really was dating Prince Philip.

Kate Quinn is the Queen of historical fiction! Everything she writes is pure gold and I was so anxious to read The Rose Code. I requested this copy in the middle of the night during a bout of insomnia and unfortunately didn't realize I was requesting an audiobook! This is only the second audiobook I've ever listened to. Where everything I've read by Kate Quinn has sucked me in to the point of not functioning in my day to day activities until the book is done, the audio version didn't do that for me. I think it was the narrator's voice. I felt myself getting sleepy listening to her and often had to rewind after my mind would wander, Many have reviewed with nothing but praise for the narrator, but her voice was so soft that I struggled.

Through this, it is safe to say that audiobooks are just not for me. That is not to say that The Rose Code isn't fantastic. The writing certainly is! I can not wait to get a hardcopy once this is released on March 9. Now that I've gotten every bit of criticism out of the way, let me praise this novel for all of the good. The Rose Code is set between two time periods and like most of her previous novels, it focuses on brave, strong women during WWII. If you are a feminist, Kate Quinn is here for you! In 1940, three women with completely different personalities come together to work as code breakers at an estate in Bletchley Park. These three women become the closest of friends even through the strict rules of secrecy within the manor. The characters are fun, serious, intimidating, genius. The type of women that you want to be friends with. They take their jobs very seriously but there is plenty of time for fun and romance. Including one exceptionally interesting relationship between Osla and Prince Phillip

Skip to 1947, post war England and the three women are estranged. So much has changed in the seven years since the story began. They are brought together to try to crack one last code.

My many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the free E-ARC in exchange for an honest review. I will be purchasing this book and will most likely re-review after reading. There's just something about holding a book in my hands that transports me to right there in the war with the women, that the audiobook didn't do.

I love reading about the women behind the scenes who helped shape the face of war. Knowing this, I eagerly downloaded The Rose Code and began to listen.

The narrator is the same as from The Alice Network - and I love her! The writing is similar and interesting.

What I struggled with was grasping at the plot. Without that, it just felt like a soap opera or a train going in circles with no idea when it might end or what the point was. Kate Quinn wove snippits of a more current timeline into the book, but it wasn't enough to establish a plot or to create tension/conflict for me.

I finally gave up and did not finish. I wanted to love it and I'm sure those that can sit and read/listen for longer periods of time than I might truly enjoy this.

England’s famous Bletchley Park is the setting for this WWII spy drama, coming March 9. Three women, Mab, Osla and Beth are an unlikely trio. Mab is a working class girl whose main ambition is to lose her East End London vowels and nab herself a nice middle class husband. Osla keeps getting typecast as the ditzy debutante but charm and beauty belie her facility with languages. And Beth Finch is a mouse of a woman with a brain for puzzles, dominated by her overbearing mother. When all three answer the call to serve their country, they join in at “BP’ (Bletchley Park), which had become a village of female codebreakers, mathematicians and cryptanalysts. But secret have a way of multiplying and the three friends become enemies. Years later, when Mab and Osla receive mysterious coded letters on the eve of Princess Elizabeth’s marriage, they have to put aside old hurts to help their old friend. Beth was committed to a mental hospital for treason but Beth knows someone else was selling secrets during the war. If Mab and Osla can help her get out and if Beth can crack the code, the three women can uncover the BP traitor.

Holy smokes this book is long. I love historical fiction and especially spy stories. It took me DAYS to get through this audiobook. The characters, loosely based on real people, were fascinating and I enjoyed the suspense of the story. It started a little slow, as Quinn took a lot of time (maybe too much!) building the three characters. The audiobook narrator was not my favorite because her male voices weren’t great, but she handled the various English accents of the women well. It was easy to distinguish them from one another. Overall, it doesn’t quite have the pizzazz for a 5 star rating but I enjoyed the intricate plot, the back-and-forth timeline and the details about the codebreaking.

Trigger Warning: Forced drug use, rape, death of a child, death of a spouse

This ARC was provided by @netgalley and @harperaudio. The opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this story. While the topic of Bletchley code breakers has been written into a novel many times, I really liked how this book explored the personal lives of the characters. I also like the back and forth timeline that was only a few years down the line. The childhood to adulthood flashbacks so overdone in novel writing have grown old, but this short period of time really is a useful tool to tell this story.

This book felt like it was trotting along on a very middle of the road path, with the characters developing some, but without any real tension. That all changed with the author killed Lucy. At that point, I audibly reacted, and could not stop listening until I reached the end. I was weary of the inclusion of Prince Phillip into this story, but it grew on me and I think the author used his occasional presence in smart ways.

As for the audio itself -- I think the narrator did a great job with voicing the different characters convincingly. She did not distract from the story, but was also able to add a bit of drama in her telling.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: March 9, 2021

How excited was I to receive this audiobook ARC?! As a fan of Kate Quinn’s other novels, this one was highly anticipated on my 2021 release list!

Let’s start at the beginning with great introduction music that really set the tone and had me excited to get into the story.

This was another stunning performance by Saskia Maarleveld (who also narrated The Huntress and The Alice Network by Quinn). It was like listening to an old friend reading to me after many hours spent together with the other novels. She is one of the few narrators who can keep me interested in fiction via audiobook.

This is also another great WWII historical fiction from Quinn focusing on a new group of women who were instrumental in the war efforts. While some of the dual timeline and different characters were hard to follow via audiobook at the beginning, once we got into the heart of the story, I was hooked. As always this is historical fiction inspired by true events/people which always makes it more fascinating. Definitely recommend to any fans of historical fiction! I’m already excited for whatever story Quinn tells us next!

Five enthusiastic stars!

Kate Quinn has delivered another thrilling historical novel with The Rose Code. The book is set at Bletchley Park during WWII and follows three very different women who were recruited there to learn how to break codes. They are:

Osla: a debutante who has beauty, wealth, and the dashing Prince Philip of Greece sending her roses, but who only wants to prove herself.

Mab: a product of East End London poverty who is looking for the security that a husband will bring.

Beth: the local village spinster, whose shyness conceals a brilliant facility with puzzles.

This book has everything I love: smart, badass female characters, strong female friendships, romance, top-secret government institutions, asylums, and crimes and mysteries galore. There’s even a dog, Boots!

I listened to this on audio and it was beautifully narrated by Saskia Maarleveld. She did a marvelous job with all the various characters, even the male voices (one of my pet peeves is when narrators can’t do the voices of the opposite sex). Even though this was almost 16 hours, I was riveted the whole time.

It helped that I’ve read a couple books on code-breaking already (The Code Girls and The Woman Who Smashed Codes, both excellent nonfiction books – highly recommended) as well as watched Benedict Cumberbatch in The Imitation Game (swoon), so I was somewhat familiar with the codebreaking process. It’s not necessary to be knowledgeable about codebreaking – the author included a lot of information – but I feel like it enhanced my enjoyment of the book.

WOW!! Kate Quinn does it again, and I think even better this time! This remarkable story about 3 girls working for the British Government, called to break code and translate for the war, was inspiring and very educational (even though it was fiction) This story is dual time line (kind of- between 5-10 years), showing what happened during the war and all the secrets kept and why, and after the war in their effort to keep the promises they had made years before.

Osla is a high end debutante, trying to find a proper place in the world. Mab, is a family girl, trying her best to take care of her family, but desperately wanting better for herself and her little Lucy. Beth, a very intelligent girl who is trapped at home due to her families demanding ways and lack of respect for her. They are all called by the British Government to perform top secret work in order to help with the war efforts during WWII.

I LOVED this story so much. Like Quinn's other novels (The Alice Network and The Huntress), it not only shows the jobs women did during the war to help their country, but also their bravery and commitment. I loved all three main characters and their completely different personalities. They all played such a different role in the story, but I very important one. They all played off each others strengths and weaknesses in such a beautiful way. Although the romance wasn't the main focus in this story, I am always a sucker for any type of love story in any book. Mab, Osla and Beth all find love in unexpected circumstances. The romantic relationships at some points made me so happy and giddy, and other times made me cry and feel heartbroken. This was the person combination of adventure, friendship, bravery, love, honor, and trust you can have in one story.

This book had me until the very very end, even during the epilogue. I loved every second of it. The narrator did an amazing job with the story as well, which can make or break an audiobook. I can't want for everyone else to read this so I can talk to everyone about it !! Thank you Kate Quinn, once again ,for such an amazing historical fiction masterpiece.

Thank you Harper Audio for allowing me to listen to an advanced listening copy of the Rose Code, through Netgalley. #TheRoseCode #NetGalley

Must read for historical fiction lovers! This book had me all over the place. I was never sure what was going to happen or who could be trusted. The story goes between two time periods and does so beautifully. There are a couple parts that were hard to get through. (I literally was bawling in my kitchen cooking dinner.) I listened to the audiobook version and the narrator was incredible. I would have put money it was multiple narrators. This may be one of the best historical fiction books I’ve had the pleasure to read.

What I loved:
📔 the reader follows 3 very strong women
📔 the relationship and banter between the women
📔 the growth of each of the women throughout the book
📔 learning about the code breakers and how important their job was

This book definitely took me on an emotional rollercoaster ride. I felt the highs and lows so deeply with these characters.

If you like historical mysteries then snatch this one up on March 9th!! Such a good read/listen.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio for this audio Arc in exchange for my honest review.

Kate Quinn’s latest World War II fiction novel brings Blechley Park to life. The Rose Code is about three women from very different backgrounds who become the unlikeliest of friends while working and living together. Quinn masterfully develops these three characters along with the sadness and challenges that come during wartime. Quinn’s meticulous research and well-paced story telling had me listening at every opportunity. She examines the ethical choices that come with access to confidential information. Quinn also develops the sense of physical and mental challenges that come with handling detailed and time-sensitive work. We also get a glimpse of psychiatric care and gender roles during this era. Saskin Maarleveld’s narration is fantastic. I highly recommend reading or listening to The Rose Code!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Thank you Netgalley and Harper Audio for the advanced audio copy.

I know that sometimes World War II can be over done in historical fiction- but this one is worth moving to the top of your list. . THE ROSE CODE is based off the real life code breakers at Bletchley Park and features three very distinct, strong female protagonists as they overcome hardship and heartbreak while navigating friendships, betrayal and secrets under the backdrop of war. Oh- and there is a traitor in their ranks.

It was like a gourmet meal. It starts off with a fabulous story, alternating between past and present in developing the characters backstory. Then moving deeper into the meaty, thrilling main course as you start to decode the cipher. Just when you think you can’t eat another morsel- the dessert is served in the form of a satisfying conclusion.

The novel isn't short- 656 pgs./15hr40min audiobook. But the engaging writing, well-researched historical elements and stellar narration kept my interest over every page and every minute. Near the end the tension and action picked up so much that I found myself unable to stop listening.

Now that I'm done I've fallen down the rabbit hole to learn everything I can about Bletchley Park. And to see if Prince Philip was really handsome when her was in his 20's :)

LISTENED: Snowblowing/Shoveling, laundry, puzzle building, treadmill, tidying the house.

This book is not so much "for me," as anything in which Prince Phillip, renowned racist and literal 100 year old man, is the object of desire, just isn't my steez. HOWEVER, let me say that the narration is on point, I'm sure that the book will be well-received bc Bletchley + Royals = Success, and I still want to try The Alice Network.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to listen to and review.

I love Kate Quinn's writing. She easily sucks you in to the lives of the characters and creates an air of mystery that you just can't wait to dive into. In the Rose Code we are introduced to Osla, Mab, and Beth - three women of different breeding and temperament who end up working together on code breaking during WW2. I loved every bit of this story and highly recommend it.

Kate Quinn, code breaking & Bletchley-- this book was everything I hoped for and then some! Masterfully crafted, this riveting tale of a peek behind the scenes at Bletchley Park with the code breakers in WWII. Throw in a spy and prepare to be hooked. Additionally, the narration by Saskia Maarleveld was an amazing performance.