Kate Quinn, author of The Alice Network, is back with a engrossing work of historical WWII fiction. This time the focus is on female codebreakers. I have to say this niche area of WWII focus is one of interest for me, so I was delighted to get to listen to an early copy of this book.

Quinn is an expert at interweaving narratives, and she does it again through the stories of three unlikely friends - debutante Osla, bold Mab, and shy but brilliant Beth. These three women become archetypes of the types of women who worked behind the scenes to break codes and foil attacks from the enemy.

Saskia Maarleveld does a fabulous job with the narration of this audiobook, and the run time is 15 hours and 40 minutes.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

Kate Quinn has done it again! What an amazing book. I have long been a fan of Kate Quinns writing style, and this one fell right in line with her other masterpieces. The story behind the minds of WWII code breakers gripped me from the start. The main characters are easy to love and the dueling point of views made the story line complete. The audiobooks narrator was also fabulous. Her English accent made the story seem so real and made for easy listening. I know I will be grabbing a print copy in March when published! The only thing I would have liked to see different would be to ha e a character introduction at the beginning of each chapter. Sometimes I was playing catch up for a few paragraphs while trying to figure out who was doing the talking. If the audiobook would say “Chapter 4, Beth” and then start reading, it’d be easier to follow along. Still, an easy 5 out of 5 stars for me. This one will be hard to beat for the best of 2021! Loved! Thanks Kate Quinn and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a beautiful book with a fresh take on a WWII novel. Not only is the story enveloping, but the words and descriptions are exquisite. The story broke your heart and put it all back together in one fantastic novel.

The book follows Osla, Mab, and Beth throughout WWII as they work as code breakers. It’s wonderful to see a book with 3 female leads that all have distinct and fully developed personalities. I truly cared about each woman. I love reading a book where women are shown to be vital to historical events. Overall, one of the best works of historian fiction that I have read.

Cannot say I very much enjoyed this one as much as I dearly hoped I would as the start was pretty solid and strong but then it wavered in the middle and became too wordy and boring.

Let me preface this by saying I’ve read a LOT of World War 2 historical fiction. This one started a little slow - or perhaps that was me getting my bearings to the audiobook - but wow did it pick up quickly. There was so much that I liked about this book - the three women were so different and each with their flaws and tragedies, and I like that they remained flawed and imperfect throughout the book. I thought the author struck a good balance between character development and plot movement. In fact, there were moments I had to stop listening because I wasn’t sure I could handle what was coming next. The author also kept me on my toes a few times, with the plot going in a different direction than expected. I had one brief inkling of “I think I know who did it,” but then talked myself out of it (I’m proud to say I was right). Overall, highly recommend. In the beginning I thought this would be another 4 star WW2 book and I’m pleasantly surprised to be giving it 5. Specifically I also really enjoyed the audiobook and thought the narrator did a great job of the many voices and accents of the characters.

WW2, historical-novel, historical-places-events, historical-research, history-and-culture, family-dynamics, friendship, suspense, romantic, traitor, England*****

The work at Bletchley Park as a part of the WW2 codebreakers has become more familiar lately, but the stories of the women who worked there can do with a bit more imaginative stories. This one covers three such women of very different circumstances and even some interesting postscripts. The story is well written and engaging and with twists and suspense. It kept me up much too late!
Narrator Saskia Maarleveld did a wonderful job with all the voices and really acted out the story and did not just read it. Her voice brings the characters to life with her inflections entirely suited the situations and characters.
I requested and received a temporary audio copy from Harper Audio via NetGalley. Thank you!

I wish to express my thanks to NetGalley and Harper Audio for this compelling historical novel in audio book format. Kate Quinn has written a vivid and gripping account set in wartime London. She uses her great storytelling talent and research to describe what the experience must have been like working under wartime secrecy in Bletchley Park where German codes were broken and translated. It has been estimated that the Enigma codebreakers shortened WW2 by as much as two years using early computers and the formidable skills of an inspiring group of people.

I listened to The Rose Code by the audio book version. It was enhanced by the superb narration of Saskia Maarleveld who voiced the conversations of all the characters. This was a lengthy audio book of over 16 hours. I felt more time was required than reading the print version.

The story revolves around three remarkable and different women during their employment at Bletchley Park during WW2. Three diverse personalities were brought together. They developed a close friendship which was shattered by the end of the war. It describes the causes for their broken friendship. It involves their family backgrounds, romantic loves gained or lost, deaths, betrayal, treachery, and a traitor in their midst. The women gained great satisfaction from their undercover role in defeating the Nazis. After the war ended their friendship was in tatters. One was unjustly punished by being locked up in an insane asylum.

The leading characters were; 1. Mab, with an impoverished working class background.She hides a personal secret and her goal is to marry a man who would raise her out of poverty and give her some social standing. She became highly skilled in working the codebreaking machines.

2. Osla, who was a beautiful debutante with wealthy family connections which gave her a place in high society. She is being courted by Prince Philip, but knows it must end due to her role in the war effort. She uses her fluent German to translate the decoded Nazi secrets.

3. These two women meet Beth, a shy, introverted spinster. She has little formal education, lacks self-esteem and confidence in social situations. She has been isolated under the domination of a cruel and deranged mother. Her skill with puzzles brings he to the notice of those in command at Bletchley Park. She soon asserts herself as one of the few female cryptanalysts. We also get glimpses of real life characters, such as Prince Philip, Princess Margaret, Alan Turing, and Winston Churchill.

Two of the former friends reluctantly meet again in 1947 when the wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip is approaching. They both have received a coded message from the woman confined in the mental institution begging for their help. She has been there for over three years and is desperate. She has learned she has been scheduled for a lobotomy. They must hurry to put aside their anger and suspicions and decode a difficult message with the purpose of determining who was a paid spy in their midst who passed on military secrets to the Germans and now the Russians. The conclusion is an exciting and frantic chase through the crowds lined up to witness the Royal Wedding procession.

Recommended to readers who enjoy historical novels set in London during the war and are interested in the codebreaking that helped to end the war. The characters are well developed and intriguing.

This book was a slow in the beginning and could have been a few hundred pages shorter, but I thought this historical fiction book about women codebreakers during WWI in the UK was very interesting. I loved the epilogue of the true history of those codebreakers of Bletchley Park and the links to Duchess Kate Middleton. Thanks Harper Audio & NetGalley for the advance copy.

This audiobook started off slow for me but I’m so glad I kept with it, What a fascinating story that kept me on the edge of my seat and gave me a glimpse into such an interesting time. Great narration as well!

This book had me captured at first, but I'll be honest, it's so long, I lost interest around hour 6 of the audiobook. There were times I couldn't wait to continue listening, and times that I dreaded going back. I found myself a little confused with the changing timelines and characters, and think that maybe reading it would have been better for this purpose. However, as a hearing impaired person, I found the change of accents still understandable and enjoyable. I often have trouble with "accents" in audiobooks. but I never had trouble understanding the narrator for this one.
While the book itself was long, the characters were incredibly inspiring! I absolutely adored the female empowerment and determination all three characters displayed. I loved the raw honesty and uncertainty displayed by them all. Listening to their stories was inspiring, and made me feel strong, especially knowing this book takes place years ago when women didn't have as many rights or "purposes."
The mysterious nature of parts of the novel were very well done; however, the length made me lose interest in the suspense a little bit. I'm not sure the book could have been shorter, though, as each portion seemed significant to the plot. Overall, this book wasn't my cup of tea (I'm not a history fan), but I firmly believe any fan of historical fiction will fall in love completely.

The Rose Code is a historical novel of Bletchley Park and the code breakers of WWII. It is important to note the difference between historical fiction and a historical novel, because for those seeking people like Alan Touring, Stanley Armitage, Pamela Ascherson, or even the infamous Russian spy John Cairncross, you won't find more than a mention, if that, of these historical heroes. What you will find is a story of fictional characters based at Bletchley Park during WWII.
#TheRoseCode is a well written book about things that could have happened at the time. The characters are well developed and you feel like you are riding their roller coaster lives along with them. There is a bit of a dual timeline to the plot. There is of course, the war years, and the other timeline is just before the Royal Wedding of Prince Phillip and Queen Elizabeth. It isn't hard to follow, and it all comes together nicely in the end. I was granted the audio version by #NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Both the book and the narrator were enjoyable. I really didn't want to step away from this one.

Thank you Harper Audio, NetGalley and Kate Quinn for the advance audio copy of "The Rose Code" for my honest review.

The Rose Code was my third book authored by Kate Quinn. I have loved Alice Network and the Huntress and was really looking forward to listening to this book. The narration was quite good and made the book come to life. The book is long, almost 17 hours of listening and the first section went into great detailing of actual codebreaking. The WWII historical fiction takes place in the UK during the years of 1940-1947. Bletchley Park is where the hidden history of the codebreakers three women Osla, Mab and Beth. These three women and numerous other men and women sworn to secrecy are all working to break Nazi codes and help win the war. The secrecy tears the gals apart and brings them back together. The book starts and ends with the excitement of the Queens wedding. Once again, Ms. Quinn has produced a well researched and written book.

The Rose Code by New York Times best-selling author Kate Quinn is a fascinating look at the dedication and brilliance of the British Code Breakers during World War II. The Bletchley Park mansion housed the top-secret Government Code and Cypher School (GC&CS) whose employees were able to break the German Enigma codes, as well as several other code types. These employees endured six-day-a week rotating schedules that were often grueling.

The story focuses on three unlikely friends. First, there is the socialite Osla, who happens to be dating Prince Philip. Next, there is Mab, a hardworking commoner who is looking for a husband and also hiding a secret. Finally, there is Beth, a socially inept but highly intelligent young woman.

The story starts in 1947, shortly before the wedding of Prince Philip and Princess Elizabeth. Osla and Mabe each receive a coded message from Beth demanding their help. Beth was forcefully put into an insane asylum three years earlier after she was able to decode part of a message known as The Rose Code. Beth knows there was a traitor at Bletchley Park, but doesn’t know who it was. The three women had stopped being friends after a tragic incident, and now need to decide if they will come together to solve the mystery.

The story travels back and forth between the women’s time at Bletchley Park beginning in 1940 to the days leading up to the Royal Wedding. The back-stories of the three main characters are interwoven with both real and other fictional characters who worked in the war effort. The ending of the book is pure Hollywood with a heart-stopping chase scene at the end that takes place among the throngs of people who have lined the streets for the wedding festivities. I loved it!

Kate Quinn is one of my favorite authors. She really shines with this story that has well-researched history blended seamlessly with romance, friendship, and intrigue.

This is a LONG book. I listened to the audio which was 15 hours and 40 minutes long. The hardback is 656 pages. While I am not typically a fan of big books, I enjoyed every minute of this one. The audio is read by Saskia Maarleveld who also narrated Kate’s Quinn’s The Huntress and The Alice Network.

5-plus stars. Book Club recommended. This novel will be released on March 9, 2021. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio for my Advance copy of this fabulous book.

So excited to get an audio ARC of Kate Quinn’s newest hf novel, THE ROSE CODE! I adore her elegant prose, beautifully plotted narratives and in-depth characters. She makes history come vividly alive, as she does here in this riveting tale of three female code breakers at Bletchley Park during and after WWII. The audio experience was mixed for me solely due to length (15 hours and 40 minutes.) I’m a visual learner and skim-read with ease. But I’ll try audio again buoyed by Kate’s magnificent tale — a must-listen for all Quinn fans and hf buffs!

5 of 5 Stars

Pub Date 09 Mar 2021
#TheRoseCode #NetGalley

Thanks to the author, Harper Audio, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.

Absolutely loved this story! Looking forward to reading more books by this author! Highly recommend!

As the Nazis try to smash and conquer the free world, three women answer the call to do their part at Bletchley Park. These women are in charge of deciphering Nazi codes, if they succeed, they will change the course of history. Mab, who comes from a poverty ridden background. She wants to defeat Hitler, and find a rich husband while she does so. Osla is a wealthy, society sweetheart who would rather use her formidable intelligence to help the allies than court a prince. Beth is a shy, unmarried woman who will use her ability to solve puzzles to help the war effort and find herself at the same time. But these three friends become enemies during the course of their time at Bletchley. Can an encrypted letter and a royal wedding 3 years after the end of the war reunite them?

I was intrigued to read more from Kate Quinn after reading "The Alice Network" and this book did not disappoint. This was a well-written WWII historical fiction story with compelling characters. I learned more about what happened at Bletchley Park. I would highly recommend.

Kate Quinn did it again!!! I loved The Alice Network and The Huntress, and I loved the Rose Code as well! Three intertwined stories of Mab, Beth, and Osla - women who helped with codebreaking at Bletchley Park during WWII. The reader goes between early 1940s and then post-war when one of the women is institutionalized for “being mad”. This was gripping and heart wrenching at times. So wonderfully written. Saskia Maarleveld was amazing as narrator, as always. This is a must read for my historical fiction fans!

Thank god for the narrator! I had this book in the digital version, and I was not sure I would be able to finish it. Historical Fiction is really a hit or miss and this one is a miss. The characters are lacking in reliability and the story of the war has been oversold, so you really need to relate to the characters living it and this just does not deliver for me. This was my first Kate Quinn book and sadly will be my last.

Kate Quinn is an amazing author. I enjoyed this so much. I will definitely get a copy just so I can read it as well!