Lady Codebreaker is a historical fiction novel laced with a healthy dose of suspense and based on the real life of cryptanalyst Elizebeth Smith Friedman. This book follows Grace (fictionalized Friedman) through four decades of her life as an independent woman making her way in the chauvinistic early 20th century. She finds herself a reluctant pioneer codebreaker in 1917, but soon discovers she has a gift for it.

This book had a rocky start but really picked up for me once we get through WWI and enter the world of 1920s prohibition, followed by Grace’s behind the scenes involvement in WWII code smashing. The flash forward scenes to present day (Washington, DC, 1958) woven throughout was compelling and tugged on the heartstrings for sure.

I definitely recommend that readers be sure not to skip the Fact vs. Fiction and Author’s Note that follow this story. There are quite a few ways the book veers away from the real-life story of Elizebeth Smith Friedman and I plan to read more about this amazing woman!

Thanks to NetGalley and Forever (Hachette) for a free digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is a well-written and interesting book, but ultimately, it was a DNF for me at about 50%. There’s too much focus on discrimination and not enough on codebreaking. It’s exhausting.

Thanks to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an Advanced Reader Copy - pub date 3/12/2024. First off, let's all give a shout for all of the women getting shit done back in the first half of the 20th century, rolling their eyes at male egos, and doing their best to shrug off the soul-tarnishing knowledge that some dude will be getting the credit for the results THEY achieved. Then let's go and read and write more books about them.

This book revolves around Grace Smith Feldman and her husband Bobby and cracking codes and loving each other and fighting for their country and doing it under immense pressure and personal sacrifice. It is about being an unconventional woman and fighting for what you want. It is about mental illness and the endless battles against it. It is about finding your strengths and leaning into them. It is about problem-solving and thinking outside of the box. In fact, it is a historical-fictionalized story of an actual super-code-cracking team, Elizebeth and William Friedman.

The book spans four decades, a hugely long time that includes votes for women, Prohibition, both World Wars as well as everything else in between. Frankly, it is a lot. However, the author handles it well with judicious time jumps and some framing of the past with the "present." The interspersed scenes from the 50's when Grace and Bobby are retired and dealing with his mental health and her stress mean so much more as their shared past is revealed through the book. You start out baffled by how far gone Bobby is and then... Well, you come to understand. Just as you come to understand their deep, respectful, supportive love for each other.

Needless to say, Grace is one hell of a character and pulls the book along by force of will and action. The resistance to falling for Bobby makes sense but it also makes their growing partnership and love all the more sweet and realistic. Her connections with other characters and their respect for her felt natural. She had such integrity and such a rock-solid moral compass.

Many of the side characters were delightful as well and, even if it wasn't true, Grace's eventual Girl Code-Breaker Unit was beyond adorable. My only issue with some of the characters, though, was the hard-lean into the antagonists being, well... Villainous to an almost comical degree. You half expect Bobby's mom to put pins Grace's food to get rid of her. J Edgar Hoover (who we already know was not at all a Nice Guy) might as well have been stroking a white Persian cat and chortling maniacally. Alice... Poor Alice was such a trope of Female Hating Females that I wanted to hug her even as I wanted to slap her.

My only other issue was a weird one that popped up only every so often - sometimes the book seemed to forget it was historical fiction and had segments that read more like a "history of code-breaking" or "how to write a code." Almost text-book-like. Then it would swing back to the brainy, heart-filled regular story. It happened rarely but it was unsettling and made my brain remember the FICTION bit to a jarring degree.

Otherwise, though, this book was a solid read and left me wanting to find out more about the inspiration. After all, who rules the world? Those with knowledge!

Screw Hoover.

I don’t think I ever quite grasped the importance of codebreakers in WW1-WW2 prior to this novel, nor did I know the depths to which women played a major role in that regard. Grace’s story was close to home for me. As a child partially raised in Indiana, I can recall learning about local historic figures such as Elizabeth Friedman, but K.D. Alden’s writing gave a deeper look into what a role like that may have been like for a woman defying societal norms in a time where women were expected to be homemakers and little else.

I truly love the suspenseful aspect that comes with strong willed women led historical fiction. This is definitely a book I will return to again in the future because of the timeless quality in which Grace’s story of resilience was told.

Once I started I reading I realized I know this story. I was listening to a podcast episode on Elizabeth Smith. whom Grace Smith is based on. I was really excited to read this fictional depiction.

We follow Grace and her husband Robert through four decades starting from the tail end of World War 1 to the end of World War 2. It was fascinating to read how Grace challenges and goes against the role women were expected to take at that time but accepts those roles because it was her choice. I liked how Grace had a variety of female friendships and how her sense of fairness does not waver but in fact grows stronger as I continued to read the story.

For Robert, I liked him. Not as much as a liked Grace though. Given the time period, Robert can be considered very modern. But there are times where you can see how he is very much a man of those times and he can be unaware of the privilege he has as a man.

There is a lot of history in this book - the two World Wars, prohibition, the creation of NSA as well as other historical events. Because of this I did find the plot a little flat and it did get muddled towards the end. It felt like there were two main conflicts - if we don't count historical events. One happens in the past and the one in the present. But way the second conflict was handled felt unsatisfactory to me.

If you like historical fiction or American history you'll probably like this.

Lady Codebreaker is a fascinating book based on the life of Elizebeth Smith Freidman who against all odds became a crypto analyst.

She is portrayed by Grace who too defied the odds and became an analyst along with her husband Bobby.

The story spans over 4 decades as we watch Grace become one of the best along with many others .

She faces danger during both World Wars and also Prohibition (never thought of them conversing in code).

K.D. Alden does a remarkable job writing and the tension is palpable.

I simply cant do Lady Codebreaker justice in a review except to say this book will stay with me along time .

I highly recommend you settle in for a fantastic read that you will not want to put down.

Thanks to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) Forever for the privilege of writing and reviewing Lady Codebreaker

This tale truly is a good historical mystery. If you like historical stories, this is for you. I gave it a shot but the style and subject was a little hard for me to get into. It's is beautifully written though.

Lady Codebreaker was unlike any book I had read before. It covers many decades and is told from the point of view of Grace. She is smart, stubborn, and willing to do whatever it takes to be good at what she loves. She conquers so many obstacles, especially in a world that keeps trying to tell her no. She never gives up. This ww1 & ww2 book is a must read. You won't regret picking it up.

I Absolutely loved this story, loved how it was based on the real life story of the woman who used her codebreaking skills to bring down Prohibition gangsters and WWII Nazis, and who ultimately helped found the present-day CIA, other win was you got 2 different time lines that helped you understand the characters and how and why codebreaking was and is still important to this day . And the author brings to life the characters themselves ,and makes her story enjoyable to read .

Lady Codebreaker
By: K.D. Alden
Review Score: 4 Stars

Boogie’s Bulletpoints
•This book is intriguing right from the start.

•I loved the time jumps, and how they brought the story together.

•It was really interesting to learn about the beginning of codebreaking in war, and how hard Grace and Robert worked to be successful.

•I loved Grace and Robert’s relationship.

————————————————————————————————————

Lady Codebreaker was kindly provided as an ARC by Netgalley and Forever, Grand Central Publishing. Thank you for allowing me to enjoy this wonderful book!

Release Date: 3/12/24

Lady Codebreaker is such an interesting book. We meet Grace, a girl who doesn’t want the quiet life expected of her, who then tumbles into a world of code breaking as World War 1 rages on.

She finds that she is actually very good at what she does, and is highly sought after for her skills. She struggles with being a woman in a man’s world, especially as she is married to a man who is just as brilliant in code breaking as she is.

This book covers a ton of history, weaving in both world wars, Eleanor Roosevelt, the beginning of the CIA, and the struggles the United States had during prohibition. Even so, the story never drags, and is an amazing mix of fact and fiction.

If you like historical fiction, you will like this book!

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This Historical fiction story set during WWI & WWII was pretty good. Some parts I found slow, but the codebreaking aspect was really interesting. Grace, our FMC, was extremely smart and determined to prove herself to her male counterparts and boss. I love getting to see female representation in aiding in the war cracking codes.

Alden’s new novel inhabits the world of significant U.S. military and political events in the 1920s, 30s, and 40s, including the derailing of Nazi spy networks in South America, during WWII. In 1917, Grace Smith is swept into a whirlwind romance with Colonel Robert Feldman and his cryptanalytical world. The two head up a unit at Riverbank, decoding hundreds of messages with a majority-female team of experts. The couple’s successful collaboration ends when Robert, one of America’s most brilliant cryptanalysts, is sent to SIGINT headquarters, where his highly classified work takes him into a very dark world. Grace’s subsequent fight to prove herself equally worthy is thwarted by male condescension time and time again. Eventually hired by Coast Guard Intelligence during Prohibition, she wages war on smugglers, bootleggers, racketeers, and mobsters, who are costing the government millions in unpaid tax revenues.

Lady Codebreaker is a cracking good read. The novel’s main theme involves endless hours of tedious puzzle solving and analytical work, the details of which are about as exciting as watching grass grow. Recognising this, Alden knew her novel had to become more than tracking Grace as she untangles endless lines of gibberish. With admirable success, she opens up a remarkable decades-long love story, tied into a military/naval spy thriller. Grace’s struggle to prove her underestimated brilliance in a man’s world, and her wish to serve her country, juggled with her deep love for a man broken by his 40 years of government service, make for a poignant and stirring, sometimes heart-pounding read. The prologue, set in 1958, presents a nuanced picture of Grace’s daily struggle to pull her husband from the ‘dark abyss of extreme melancholia’ and suicidal ideation, his fragile mind irrevocably fractured after Pearl Harbor. Alden handles it all with tenderness, compassion and truth, and I was deeply immersed throughout.

Lady Codebreaker by K.D. Alden is historical fiction based on Elizebeth Smith Friedman’s life. I love WWII fiction, so I took a chance on this book that spans 4 decades and covers both WWI and WWII wars, and I was not disappointed!

Alden’s writing is clear and interesting and gives depth to the characters. She makes the topic of codebreaking very interesting and I found myself wanting to learn more about it. It was great to learn about Elizabeth through the character, Grace. She and her husband worked as cryptoanalysts for the government during WWI-II and beyond. I had never realized the importance of these roles in fighting enemies.

One thing I love about the main character, Grace, is that she is intelligent and strong, in a time when most women either stayed home or were secretaries. This story portrays how hard it was for her to gain the respect of most men in a male-dominated workforce. She even stood up to J. Edgar Hoover when necessary.
However, she also displays great love and sacrifice for her husband, especially when he faces serious depression and mental health issues.

I highly recommend this to other historical fiction lovers. My thanks to Forever (Grand Central Publishing), Forever, and NetGalley for this ARC.

Review: The Lady Codebreaker by K.D. Alden

I really enjoyed reading this book! Despite there being some parts that were drawn out, it was so interesting and I was invested in what was going on. The book covers from WWI to the Prohibition era right through to WWII. The author included difficult relatable real life moments with grace & feeling. The character development was well done and you felt feelings towards certain characters for sure. It left we wanting to learn more about certain things in the book. I also loved the info from the author at the end as to what she had fictionalized, quite fascinating & helpful.

I would recommend this book.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review

This was an interesting historical fiction spin on a real person who was a renowned cryptanalyst. While I think that some parts were really drawn out, overall, I liked the story and found it interesting. Grace definitely has some balls, and she deals with a lot of ignorant men who don't respect her because she's a woman. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

“You can love someone without him swallowing you whole. You can still have a mind of your own - ambitions of your own.”

As a woman in STEM, I wish to stand on the highest peak with a loudspeaker and point historical fiction lovers towards this book. I can’t say enough good about it - it’s worthy of all the stars.

First of all, a standing ovation for an author who can seamlessly incorporate fact with fiction. I was in complete awe of her skills. This is the second book this week that has astounded me! My husband thought I was watching sports because I was ‘WooOoo HooOoo–ing’ and ‘yesss-ing’ as I read a well-incorporated section - an educator thing. I read a lot of historical fiction and am often irked at the blaring insertion of research, sometimes paragraphs at a time, inserted in the narrative. Thank you, K.D. Alden, for your masterful writing. I still have a book hang-over, days later.

Secondly, Grace Smith Feldman is now one of my favourite literary characters of all time. She single-handedly went through many of my previous fears and dealt with each of them. I’m not a brilliant cipher expert for the military, but I know what it’s like being in the minority in one’s field of study and wondering if everything I’ve fought for in my career would be lost in the ‘we’ instead of ‘me’ aspect of marriage. Grace’s story highlights the challenges women endured at a time when society wasn’t as accepting/respecting of women in certain fields/careers. I appreciated both ends of the spectrum; the comradery/support between the females as well as the rivalry/secrecy between them and their colleagues. Through it all, Grace shines as a beacon for courage and tenacity for all women.

Grace’s character was well balanced with the mental health continuum of her husband. It was shocking to see the effects of duty and the lack of support within the field. I cried when the van pulled up to ‘secure’ the books and when she woke him up one morning. I could imagine the anguish and understood the indignation. Alden has balanced emotion with science compellingly. You need to experience this!

I appreciated the chance to learn and armchair Google the following:
✒️Difference between a code and a cipher
✒️Role of a cryptanalysis and a steganography
✒️Two branches of cryptography
✒️Value of algorithm
✒️Different types of cipher: pigpen, Beale, British Playfair, German transposition, etc.

In the midst of this recently popular historical fiction topic (code breaking), K D. Alden’s book stands tall, heads above many of the others writing on the same topic.

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for the gift of this spectacular story, offering it with no expectation of a review.

Lady Codebreaker is a historical fiction based on the real-life story of Elizabeth Smith Freidman. The story follows Grace as she becomes a cryptologist against all odds. The book centers on extremely difficult times in history and provides a roller coaster of emotions with heart, humor, and resilience. I could not put the book down!

I received an advanced reader’s copy through Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinions.
This one appealed to me for a bunch of reasons: historical fiction about an actual person/event, type of work being done and it helped a lot that Grace was from small town Indiana. I’d read other things about Elizebeth Fieldman so she was already familiar to me.
This book checked all the boxes for me, it was really interesting and walked you through the behind the scenes of code breaking. Especially, during the time periods before and after the two world wars where it was groundbreaking and crucial to the winning of the wars.
Admittedly, there was a few parts that were a little out there, and the author explains in the notes that some things were smashed together time and space and other things didn’t happen just to Grace. But it was a fun read, I liked it a lot and I would recommend it.

Based on a true story of a codebreaking husband and wife, this book spans World War I into the Cold War, and includes many real-life characters, such as J Edgar Hoover and the Roosevelts, that were instrumental in our nation's history. Grace and Robert have such an interesting relationship, particularly for the time, and both suffer quite a bit at the hands of their intellect and careers. Grace is a steel magnolia, standing firm in the face of personal and professional adversity, and though I know it was the done thing at the time, it bothered me that she never got credit for her amazing work....I guess she is now, in this story!

Based on the true lives of Elizebeth Smith Friedman and her husband William, Lady Codebreaker by K.D. Alden spans multiple generations, from the Great War through WWII and beyond. Elizebeth (Grace in the book) was raised a Quaker but went against traditional Quaker beliefs and defied her father to leave home and work. Through a series of events, Grace met William (Robert in the book) which led to their personal and work relationships.

Elizabeth/Grace showed nerves of steel throughout her life, both in her personal life and in her career. Codebreaking numerous messages, she helped during prohibition and WWII. She came against the like of J. Edgar Hoover and stood firm and won.

Without giving away the story, I simply say this: the story is well worth the read. A copy was provided for my review, but all opinions are my own. Releases approximately March 12, 2024.