I love a good WWII novel, and this one also includes some pieces from WWI, prohibition, and the late 1950s. Bonus!

The Codebreaking was cool and brought the intensity, but the love story is also compelling.

I liked parts of Lady Codebreaker, but I found it miserable to keep reading about Grace being mistreated due to her gender. The author kind of tried to make her a plucky survivor, but I have experienced this type of thing in real life and it didn't just bounce off me. I think the book was well-written, but it has this habit of trying to blend the outsized and fantastical with the miseries of real life. Tonally, it just didn't work for me.

The premise of a lady codebreaker intrigued me. Espionage and deciphering secret messages written in code is quite fascinating, so needless to say I was looking forward to this read!

Here we meet Grace who is headstrong and feels no desire to conform to the expected life duties of a woman, she wants a career and is moved by the success and health of her country. She finds herself with an incredible gift of decoding cryptography and puts it to use through various stages of the countries unrest. WWI, Prohibition and WWII.

This story started off strong, however I felt that it lost a little steam in the middle. While I respected Grace's character and her journey, I did find myself wishing that it was a little shorter. The obstacles and challenges that Grace encountered started to feel a little repetitive and I wished that the actual code breaking was little more mysterious than it was. Grace was a force to be reckoned with, only some of those parts felt implausible to me. I enjoyed this read, just not as much as I was hoping.

What an UTTERLY engrossing historical fiction novel based on the real life of codebreaker Grace Smith that spans five decades. This book covers Grace's life as she first meets her husband, Robert Feldman, when they both begin training as codebreakers during the First World War through the Prohibition era when Grace takes on smugglers like Al Capone and later during WWII when she works to thwart the Nazis.

Not only is this a story about a smart, clever woman, it is also a great look at the challenges of being a working woman in early 20th century America, misogyny in the workplace, the turmoil and guilt of later being a working mother and the additional burden of being a caretaker for a mentally ill spouse. Fantastic on audio narrated by Elisabeth Rodgers, this is for sure going to be one of my favorite reads of 2024!!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review. This book is perfect for fans of Kate Quinn's The rose code and Genevieve Graham's The secfet keeper. Fans of historical fiction and strong female protagonists will not want to miss it!!

Grace leaves Indiana looking for something more. She ends up being hired to learn code breaking. When the government needs cryptanalysts during the prohibition Grace helps break codes and capture rumrunners. This leads to more intercepting of codes as the US comes closer and then eventually entering WW II. Grace faces incredible opposition not only from her male counterparts but from societal norms. Hoover is especially troublesome for Grace.
With fierce determination and unwavering loyalty Grace leaves her mark as one of first female codebreakers.

Not only was the history fascinating but Grace’s character is so visceral and complicated you can’t help but be sucked into her incredible story!

Lady Codebreaker was very interesting - I never knew what cryptanalysis or cryptography was until this book! It caught my attention & kept it the whole time. Grace is smart & proud at what she does, while remaining quiet & keeping it a secret. I enjoyed it & I love that it’s based off of a true story!

Lady Codebreaker, a fictional historical story based on the life of true heroine Elizebeth Smith Friedman, by K.D. Alden, is in a class by itself.

Spanning four decades (1917 - 1958), this is a story of WWI, WWII, prohibition, mental health, and the struggles of women. This is also an emotional love story told in such a way by Alden that one feels like they are right there with Grace and Robert throughout all their ups and downs.

Alden did a superb job seamlessly blending fact and fiction based upon America's first female cryptanalyst making this a very enjoyable read. Alden had this reader enthralled from beginning to end as I rode an emotional roller coaster throughout reading this gripping story. Thank you K.D. Alden for writing a book about this amazing woman, one of many women whose stories are all but lost to our history.

I received a complimentary copy of this awesome book, Lady Codebreaker, from Forever (Grand Central Publishing) via NetGalley. I was under no obligation to write a favorable review, and all opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the opportunity to read and review this book!

When Grace is hired by an eccentric millionaire as a Shakespeare expert in the early 1900s she has no idea what is in store. Soon, she is learning codebreaking, and will use those skills to aid the United States in World War I, during prohibition, and during the World War II. Grace faces countless barriers, even when taking down master spies, foreign agents, and rum runners. However, some of her most difficult hurdles are faced when questions of love, family, and loyalty, are questioned by those she is closest to.

This was a fun historical fiction that spans many decades. My absolute favorite part was Grace’s years working for the United States Coast Guard (first during prohibition and then during the second world war). If you didn’t know, by husband is in the Coast Guard, and I was giddy reading all about the service as it existed a century ago! Grace’s relationship with her husband was challenging, even from the beginning, and I felt for her as she attempted to navigate difficult conversations and choices in her family and career.

Loosely based on the life of Elizebeth Friedman, Lady Codebreaker follows the career and marriage of Grace Smith Feldman from her arrival in Chicago in 1917, a young woman seeking a job that uses her brain, to her retirement in D.C. ~40 years later, following a successful career as a cryptanalyst for the Navy and Coast Guard. Along the way, Grace Smith meets Robert Feldman, who convinces her to marry him even though she is terrified that being a wife generally means being under her husband's thumb and retreating to the kitchen and raising children. Fortunately, Robert is unusually open minded for his generation and the pair are two of the first American cryptanalysts, initially working together, during WWI, then in separate agencies for the rest of their careers. Many of the men Grace with with and for along the way, however, are not so forward-thinking, and Grace must navigate societal expectations of her day, chauvinism, and a mother-in-law who calls her a shiska to do what she enjoys and is good at, serving her country through WWI, prohibition, and WWII. Well written and thoroughly researched, Lady Codebreaker is historical fiction with touch of romance and a dash of thriller and the kind of story that makes me grateful for the women that forged the way for women like me to have careers in STEM today.

This was an absolute 5 star read for me! This is the historical fiction during world war 1/prohibition/world war 2 wrapped up in 1 novel in a way I’ve never read before. Grace was very real on the page. She was such an incredible woman that I had no idea existed! I loved the minor characters in this book so much too! The character, Kangaroo, was perfection and taught me about an event I had never heard of before that I don’t want to spoil. The character, Nellie, was so much like my great great Aunt Nellie (who was also friends with Eleanor Roosevelt and lived in Indiana) which was amazing to read about in such an accessible way. So grateful I got to read this ARC! I’ve recommended this book to several friends and family members already. First 5 star read of the year for me!

Cheers of endless coffee cups to this feminist read with a historical spy fiction focus.

✨Book Review: LADY CODEBREAKER by K. D. Alden ✨

☕️ Spanning the Great War, prohibition, and World War II, Grace Smith, one of the nation’s first cryptanalysts, has a front-row seat and direct hand in history. She and her team take on gangsters, Nazis, and misogynist bureaucrats with code breaking skills, dedication, and determination.

☕️ Based on the real-life story of Elizebeth Smith Friedman, this book was a fascinating and clearly well-researched look at history. I hated how much crap Grace had to deal with as a working woman in the 1910s-1950s, but I also loved seeing how she grew to create her own rules and path. Only critique is that the pacing sometimes felt off as the historical specifics stifled some of the suspense and overall story arc.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5/5 stars)

👩🏻‍🏫 Heads-up that there’s a lot in this book. I’m not going to get into all the possible trigger warnings, but do know that this takes place when women were belittled and harassed in the workplace and during wartime before mental health was understood or prioritized. Take care of yourself.

😘 Thanks to @ReadForeverPub, the author, and #NetGalley for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for my honest review.

Fans of Kate Quinn and Historical Fiction will ADORE this story! Grace is the ultimate character and skilled codebreaker. This story was not only astonishing but heartbreaking. Grace was so admirable as the main character, but I also enjoyed the love story between her and Robert.

The author did a phenomenal job at taking you through this historic piece and all the emotions she brought to light. I really enjoyed this one and will definitely recommend to all my Historical Fiction loving friends.

I was up all night with my face glued to my Kindle. This novel is beautifully written and has all the makings of a five-star read! This book was inspired by real events during WWll which was very intriguing. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fiction and WW2 history.

Loved the chance to read this book. I’ve been craving more from the historical fiction genre lately and this did not disappoint. Following Grace’s story was both intriguing and emotional. Thank you for the chance to read!

Lady Codebreaker by K.D. Alden is based on codebreaking work done during both World Wars. Grace Smith doesn't want the traditional woman roles of her time. After losing her job in Chicago, she knows she can't go back home to Indiana. Grace is smart and driven. She has to deal with men, usually thinking less of her abilities because she is a woman. She does earn the respect of some interesting characters through her life. I appreciate her determination and desire to help not only her family but also her country too.

The author's notes at the end explain which of the elements in the book are based on true events. It's fascinating to learn about the true heroine.

Thanks to Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for this advanced reader copy.

Great read for all WW lovers! I knew about the WWII codebreakers but not really the WWI, and about Navajo code, but not Choctaw. What an interesting woman and an amazing life!

Lady Codebreaker by K.D. Alden
Historical fiction. Stem.
Grace Smith doesn’t want the expected husband, children and dreary housewife role. She knows she has no way to escape that life so flees Indiana, tries job hunting in Chicago and ends up hired to find codes written in Shakespeare’s works. That soon leads to her learning cryptanalysis with coworker Robert. Soon the two are helping the government decode notes and coded letters during prohibition, and through the war. High stress and long hours of deep concentration.
Grace is on a path of expertise against foreign governments while juggling family responsibilities. It’s a unique position of importance reporting all the way up to the white house and war rooms.

Grace is determined and smart. She spends her whole life fighting against men trying to put her into a lessor position. She’s not one to just smile and demure. I admired her fortitude and her dedication to the cause and often felt grateful to live in more equitable times. She breaks code after code, she teaches others how to learn the process while conforming to dress and social codes.
I’ve read a few books recently about amazing women whose stories are all but lost to history and I’m just in awe of them as I live an easy life. This book is a wonderful addition to the genre of historical female heroes.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley. I’ve also purchased a copy to donate to my local library.

Lady Codebreaker is historical fiction based on a real person, cryptanalyst Elizabeth Smith Friedman. The story spans World War I, prohibition and World War II. The author depicts the disrespect and misogyny some women faced in the workplace, especially in fields considered only for men.

In the novel Grace shows not only her skill in code breaking but the long hours, family sacrifice and persistence the work entails. She faces a lot of criticism as a mother who works outside the home. The book also touches on the stigma of mental health and how it was handled during this time as her husband Robert, and army code breaker, deals with ongoing depression.

This was a fairly quick read as Grace and her team race to decrypt transmissions and piece information together to help the war effort, catch a spy or stop a bootlegger. I enjoyed learning more about this part of history. Thank you to the publisher for my e-copy of this book.

This is a well written book about the code breakers from both world wars, many of them women. Initially I did not even think about people doing this but it makes sense that instructions, etc were sent with code. The book is based on the life of a true codebreaker, Elizabeth Smith Friedman. Elizabeth and her husband were trained to be some of the first codebreakers and later taught others to do the same work. They can be credited with deciphering codes and obtaining advance knowledge of attacks that may have saved many lives. This book has lots of details about how codebreaking worked and some of how they broke the codes. If you like historical fiction about WW I and WWII you will probably like this book.

This was a fascinating book. It’s historical fiction based on facts. There was a genuine lady codebreaker, which Grace Feldman is based on. I’ve read books of some of the heroic groundbreaking women of WWII but Grace Feldman was long before that. This book spans 1917-1958. The incredible courage it must have taken in 1917 to defy her parents and head out on her own. Code breaking was not her initial goal. It wasn’t anyone’s really because it was a such a new field. The character, Grace Feldman is a pioneer. This book is not only about her work but is also a love story.
I highly recommend this book to any lover of historical fiction. I’m going to go look up the real life Lady Codebreaker and see what I can find out about her.
I received this as a free ARC and am voluntarily leaving this review