The Rose Code

A Novel

By: Kate Quinn

Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld

“The hidden history of Bletchley Park has been waiting for a master storyteller like Kate Quinn to bring it to life. THE ROSE CODE effortlessly evokes the frantic, nervy, exuberant world of the Enigma codebreakers through the eyes of three extraordinary women who work in tireless secrecy to defeat the Nazis. Quinn’s meticulous research and impeccable characterization shine through this gripping and beautifully executed novel.”

Beatriz Williams, New York Times bestselling author of HER LAST FLIGHT

The New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Huntress and The Alice Network returns with another heart-stopping World War II story of three female code breakers at Bletchley Park and the spy they must root out after the war is over.

1940. As England prepares to fight the Nazis, three very different women answer the call to mysterious country estate Bletchley Park, where the best minds in Britain train to break German military codes. Vivacious debutante Osla is the girl who has everything—beauty, wealth, and the dashing Prince Philip of Greece sending her roses—but she burns to prove herself as more than a society girl, and puts her fluent German to use as a translator of decoded enemy secrets. Imperious self-made Mab, product of east-end London poverty, works the legendary codebreaking machines as she conceals old wounds and looks for a socially advantageous husband. Both Osla and Mab are quick to see the potential in local village spinster Beth, whose shyness conceals a brilliant facility with puzzles, and soon Beth spreads her wings as one of the Park’s few female cryptanalysts. But war, loss, and the impossible pressure of secrecy will tear the three apart.

1947. As the royal wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip whips post-war Britain into a fever, three friends-turned-enemies are reunited by a mysterious encrypted letter--the key to which lies buried in the long-ago betrayal that destroyed their friendship and left one of them confined to an asylum. A mysterious traitor has emerged from the shadows of their Bletchley Park past, and now Osla, Mab, and Beth must resurrect their old alliance and crack one last code together. But each petal they remove from the rose code brings danger--and their true enemy--closer...

Enthralling! Beautifully Written & Narrated.

Loved this book ~ couldn't stop listening! I enjoyed The Huntress a lot but I loved The Rose Code. This is one of those books you desperately wish wouldn't end. The female characters are well developed, the suspense is well crafted but ultimately it's the easy dialogue and all the details that keep you immersed in the world of Bletchley Park. Narration is alsmot spot on (I'm picky about narrators, there were only a few slips). There have been so many excellent books about women's roles in WWII lately and I really hope several, like this one, are adapted for the big or little screen. More of the world should know the courageous, ingenious women who came before us.

I like ‘em 5 stars

This was a very good book and I enjoyed it. I will say though, several times while listening I thought, have I read this before? Maybe it’s because I’ve listened and read too many WW2 historical fiction titles, or maybe it’s because I recently watched the movie The Imitation Game, but the story felt like one I’d heard before. Also, I’ve never had to do this before, but I had to slow the pace of the narration down to .9x bc she read so fast! Definitely worth a listen though and this is a nit-picky review from a seasoned listener ;)

Worth the read

A very interesting story based on true history, that also Has several human stories of love and of tragedy... The narrator was perfect for the story as well!

Got lost in the middle

I hung on and the ending was worth the wait... but I was ready to give up several times.. The narrator sounded like she was telling a secret... almost put me to sleep.

Outstanding!

Absolutely outstanding narration! Great story about a part of history I was unfamiliar with and couldn’t put this book down!