The Rose Code, a historical fiction novel by Kate Quinn, follows three women who were brought together in an effort to decode German messages during WWII. Osla Kendall, a Canadian debutante from an affluent background, is set on proving her worth in the war. Mab Churt, self made and hiding scars from her past, is determined to get herself and her family out of east London poverty. Beth Finch is a shy local girl with a remarkable affinity for crosswords who gets recruited by the other two. Their place of work, Bletchley Park, is shrouded with mystery and a need to keep its secrets within its walls. All who entered were vetted and had signed the Official Secrets Act to prevent the decrypted code from reaching enemy ears. At Bletchley, the three found new purpose, bore the weight of lives depending on their work, made new friends, and gave up loved ones to keep their secrets. Through it all they had each other, until the strains of war and loss tore them apart, putting one into an asylum. For three years, Mab and Osla had tried to move past the war while Beth looked for a way out of the asylum. She had found that there was an informer at Bletchley but was framed before she could report it. Now, her time is running out and she must reconnect with old friends to find the evidence she needs to save herself from irreversible consequences.
I’ve always been a fan of historical fiction, but especially enjoyed this one because of the noticeable character developments and immersive plot with a dash of mystery. Quinn really brings Bletchley Park and its codebreakers to life with the broken friendships, frenzied code breaking, undeveloped loves, and resilient humor in the dark times. The novel points out the many challenges women were faced with at the time and society's prejudiced view of them. If you are interested in historical fiction and want a captivating read, this could be the book for you.
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