The Mozart Code
by Rachel McMillan
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Pub Date Mar 15 2022 | Archive Date Apr 15 2022
Thomas Nelson--FICTION | Thomas Nelson
Description
No matter how you might try to hide in a war to escape your past, it is always close at hand.
Lady Sophia Huntington Villiers is no stranger to intrigue, as her work with Alan Turing’s Bombe Machines at Bletchley Park during the war attests. Now, as part of Simon Barre’s covert team in post-war Vienna, she uses her inimitable charm and code name Starling to infiltrate the world of relics: uncovering vital information that could tilt the stakes of the mounting Cold War. When several influential men charge her with finding the death mask of Mozart, Sophie wonders if there is more than the composer’s legacy at stake and finds herself drawn to potential answers in Prague.
Simon Barrington, the illegitimate heir of one of Sussex’s oldest estates, used the previous war to hide his insecurities about his past. Now, he uses his high breeding to gain access to all four allied quarters of the ruined city in an attempt to slow the fall of the Iron Curtain. He has been in love with Sophie Villiers since the moment he met her, and a marriage of convenience to save Simon’s estate has always kept her close. Until now, when Sophie’s mysterious client in Prague forces him to wonder if her allegiance to him—and their cause—is in question. Torn between his loyalty to his cause and his heart, Simon seeks answers about Sophie only to learn that everything he thought he knew about his involvement in both wars is based on a lie.
“Murky espionage and burgeoning passion twine beautifully together in The Mozart Code’s superbly evocative prose—an enchanting read!” —Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Rose Code
“Vienna is the new Paris in The Mozart Code, a World War II spy novel with deft, chess-like plotting, and plenty of old-fashioned romance.” —Susan Elia MacNeal, New York Times bestselling author of the Maggie Hope novels and Mother Daughter Traitor Spy
“The Mozart Code is a smart, luscious romance, a thrilling suspense, and a thunderously good read. McMillan is a rising star in historical fiction.” —Aimie K. Runyan, bestselling author of The School for German Brides
“Rife with secret codes, haunting melodies, betrayal and sacrifice, at its heart this is a story about the courage it takes to love and be loved. Highly recommended!” —Kimberly Brock, author of The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare
“Beautifully lush and atmospheric, The Mozart Code is a novel full of nuances and brimming with danger, romance, and intrigue.” —Jenni L. Walsh, author of Becoming Bonnie and The Call of the Wrens
“The Mozart Code left me breathless.” —Joy Callaway, international bestselling author of The Fifth Avenue Artists Society and The Greenbrier Resort
- Post World War II historical romance
- Stand-alone novel (features characters from The London Restoration)
- Book length: 95,000 words
- Includes discussion questions for book clubs
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Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9780785235057 |
| PRICE | $16.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 336 |
Featured Reviews
Megan H, Reviewer
The Mozart Code absolutely blew me away! This is a historical fiction read at its finest and it checked every single box for what makes a memorable read. Set in post WWII Vienna as the Cold War is at is cusp, this story offered a fresh and unique perspective within the genre that was a delight to get lost in.
Let me start by saying that I so enjoyed the characters here. From the MC’s to the secondary characters, I really found them to be unique, interesting, and wonderful to come alongside. While mentioning characters, I can’t help but mention how I loved the way Vienna felt like another character itself. The author really brought the city to life on the page!
This story offers romance and a touch of mystery and a whole lot of intrigue alongside rich history. With twists and turns along the way, I truly couldn’t put the book down and had to know what happened next. I will say the build up is a bit on the slower side, but that only added to the story and I felt the pacing was perfect as a whole.
With the beautiful writing I was completely transported into it all. What a memorable read! This would be the perfect book for somebody new to or just dabbling in historical fiction, or even for hist fic lovers looking for something just a bit different within the genre.
Many thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the gifted e-copy!
Yvette K, Reviewer
Simon Barrington and Sophie Huntington Villiers captured my interest in The London Restoration, and their post-World War II Cold War romance proved to be a riveting and consuming read in The Mozart Code.
While the flashbacks to 1930’s England establish their discomfort with their places and expectations in society, they also add a bit of amusement in contrast to their darker, tenser lives in the divided cities of Vienna and Prague, respectively on the cusp of aligning with the West and Communist Russia. As Simon seeks to unmask conspiracies and Sophie uses her contacts to help restore artifacts to their rightful owners, the mysteries that separate and entangle them complicate a relationship already fraught with agitation over the shared secret of their marriage of convenience.
For all the espionage and danger, this is first and foremost a romance between two people encumbered by their upbringing and the secrets that come between them, as they make their way to each other and the acceptance and passion they find together.
The Mozart Code is a stand-alone romance, though I am glad that I first met Simon Barre and Villiers in The London Restoration.
Highly recommended.
I was approved for a temporary NetGalley digital galley, courtesy of the publisher. A positive review was not required and all opinions expressed are my own.
Hannah G, Bookseller
A sweeping spy suspense thriller set in post-WW2 Austria. Simon and his wife-of-convenience, concert pianist Sophia, are in Austria after the war ends, and each has a task to do. A top-secret one, that neither can speak of to the other. Both keep denying the feelings that they have for each other, and the secrets between them are driving them further apart. But when Sophia disappears, only Simon will be able to find her. Can he come in time?
I literally couldn't put this book down. Every page built the suspense deeper and kept me stuck to the page. I need a hard copy so I can re-read it again! Whew. Wonderfully intense and colorful story.
Content: violence, a very intense torture scene
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.
Reviewer 308324
I have no idea how I missed submitting my review for this book back in 2021. I LOVED it!
What do you get when you cross espionage with romance and bathe it in post-WWII history that's so rich you come away feeling as though you've somehow warped through time? The Mozart Code.
This isn't your average marriage of convenience story though. It's a beautifully choreographed song and dance featuring two strong, memorable characters whose love story resonates through the years with passion, loyalty, and surrender. Set within the captivating landscape of Vienna, The Mozart Code is a delight for readers who appreciate classy heroines, swoon-worthy heroes, and a storyline that twists and turns from beginning to end.
McMillan's talent extends beyond her use of language to paint vibrant pictures of lasting romance in historical times. She has a way of digging in soul-deep and carving out the essence of what makes us human. It's a fantastic experience I highly recommend.
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