I very much appreciated the ARC of The Codebreaker’s Secret by Sara Ackerman from NetGalley, which I was excited to read.. I had already read two previous works by the author, Island of Sweet Pies and Soldiers and Radar Girls, and loved both. However, I did not find this entry by the author as compelling and immersive, in part because of the dual timeline (briefly triple) and multiple story elements, i.e. the drownings/possible murders of both Gloria Moreno in the 1940’s, and Joni Diaz in the 1960’s, and the identity of the “codebreaker’s spy.” It seemed to me the story elements including Matteo Russi’s love for codebreaker Isabel, by being dual-timelined, became disjointed. Therefore, I gave this book a 3 1/2 stars, despite loving the WWII Hawaii setting and local descriptions.

In addition, it was unclear to me as a retired intelligence analyst, why the German-heritage spy was not apparently spying for Germany directly, but rather Japan. In addition, the type of damage he did to American national security interests was not clearly defined.

There is much to admire in Ms. Ackerman’s description of the Hawaii ambiance and knack for storytelling, but this particular book was not as enjoyable as others to me.

A few pages in I found real history of WWII codebreaking, although names were changed.
It took a while to connect the later story with the earlier, and a mystery or two made the story even more interesting.

Thrilled to get this wonderful ARC thanks to Sara Ackerman, Harlequin, and NetGalley! I love Sara's histfic novels set in Hawaii where she lives. They're immersive character-driven gems, with covers that rival the most gorgeous in print. And her latest is her very best yet! Highly recommended for histfic fans, lovers of books that make history come alive, and gripping stories that stay with you.

Synopsis:
1943. As war in the Pacific rages on, Isabel Cooper and her codebreaker colleagues huddle in “the dungeon” at Station HYPO in Pearl Harbor, deciphering secrets plucked from the airwaves in a race to bring down the enemy. Isabel has only one wish: to avenge her brother’s death. But she soon finds life has other plans when she meets his best friend, a hotshot pilot with secrets of his own.

1965. Fledgling journalist Lu Freitas comes home to Hawai'i to cover the grand opening of the glamorous Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Rockefeller's newest and grandest project. When a high-profile guest goes missing, Lu forms an unlikely alliance with an intimidating veteran photographer to unravel the mystery. The two make a shocking discovery that stirs up memories and uncovers an explosive secret from the war days. A secret that only a codebreaker can crack.

#thecodebreakerssecret #netgalley

A Codebreaker’s Secret by Sara Ackerman
Standalone
Historical Fiction (WWII)
Publication Date: August 2, 2022

I love historical fiction but I generally avoid those set during World War II. There are exactly two novels set during WWII on my list of anticipated reads for 2022 and this was one of them. Sara’s novels are always on my list to read because of their lush settings and empowering stories.

When I do read WWII novels, I try to judge the books solely on whether or not the author is able to tell a compelling story without relying on the reader’s previous knowledge of the events surrounding it. By virtue of its contents I think Sara’s novels are always able to deliver in this aspect because the stories feel like they're told on a smaller scale and are more personal and local rather than about the overarching war itself, despite actions taking place having a wider effect on the conflict.

This particular novel definitely delivers in that regard. The story unfolds between two alternating timelines, one set in 1943 and the other in 1965. It’s part romance, part feminist retelling with a side of mystery. A story of friendship, family and love.

The settings are always my favorite part of any of Sara’s novels. So descriptive and lush that you almost want to take note of locations if you end up visiting the islands.

I will say that I don’t understand any of the code breaking processes featured in the story. I don’t think that’s a reflection of this author as I was just as confused after reading the Rose Code by Kate Quinn.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Codebreaker’s Secret by Sara Ackerman had me hooked from reading the first page. During the Second World War, in 1943, Isabel Cooper, a brilliant codebreaker, is stationed from her job in Washington, D.C. after helping to break the German Enigma code, to Pearl Harbor’s code-breaking center Station HYPO where codebreakers are working around the clock trying to crack the Japanese Magenta codes. She is excited to go to Hawaii because that’s where her pilot brother died during the Japanese assault on Pearl Harbor. She wants to avenge his death in the only way she knows, breaking the Japanese codes.

She also wants to meet his best friend, another pilot, who has secrets of his own about the Pearl Harbor attack. He was unable to find a plane to scramble and help repel the Japanese planes during the raid and feels remorse at the death of his friend. She finds information that an officer in the U.S. Navy may be a mole for the Japanese. However, there is not enough factual information to convict.

Fast forward to 1965, journalist Lu Freitas is in Hawaii to cover the grand opening of a Beach Hotel, Rockefeller’s newest project. Many high-profile guests are attending the opening weekend. When one goes missing, Lu’s friend Joni, Lu teams up with a veteran photographer to get to the bottom of the mystery. They uncover a horrible secret from the war days which goes back to that wartime investigation.

I found this novel to be highly engrossing to me. The plot was intriguing and continued to interest me through the book. The characters were portrayed in a way that made them real to me. Ms. Ackerman has a real gift for writing and mystery.