The Cryptographer’s Dilemma

Heroines of WWII #1

by Johnnie Alexander

A Code Developer Uncovers a Japanese Spy Ring

FBI cryptographer Eloise Marshall is grieving the death of her brother, who died during the attack on Pearl Harbor, when she is assigned to investigate a seemingly innocent letter about dolls. Agent Phillip Clayton is ready to enlist and head oversees when asked to work one more FBI job. A case of coded defense coordinates related to dolls should be easy, but not so when the Japanese Consulate gets involved, hearts get entangled, and Phillip goes missing. Can Eloise risk loving and losing again?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Romance, Fiction, Historical, Mystery, Christian

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2021

About the author

Johnnie Alexander is a wannabe vagabond with a heart for making memories. As a bestselling, award-winning novelist, she has written more than thirty works of fiction in a variety of genres.

She is a Mosaic Collection author, co-hosts a weekly online show called Writers Chat, serves on the Mid-South Christian Writers Conference Executive Board, and is a regular contributor to the HHHistory.com blog.

A fan of classic movies, stacks of books, and road trips, Johnnie shares a life of quiet adventure with Rugby, her raccoon-treeing papillon. Connect with her at JohnnieAlexander.com.

Reviews

[Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars, personally. Rounding up to a five (which I rarely ever do) because I throughly enjoyed this book and wish there was more books about Eloise and Phillip! I would truly read a whole series based around them and missions. Definitely one of my favorite reads from the year so far.

About this book:

“A Code Developer Uncovers a Japanese Spy Ring
FBI cryptographer Eloise Marshall is grieving the death of her brother, who died during the attack on Pearl Harbor, when she is assigned to investigate a seemingly innocent letter about dolls. Agent Phillip Clayton is ready to enlist and head oversees when asked to work one more FBI job. A case of coded defense coordinates related to dolls should be easy, but not so when the Japanese Consulate gets involved, hearts get entangled, and Phillip goes missing. Can Eloise risk loving and losing again?”


Series: Part of the series “Heroines of WWII”, but is not connected to any other book.


Spiritual Content- Jeremiah 23:24 at the beginning; A few Scriptures are mentioned & quoted; Prayers; Talks about God, trusting Him, & grace; 'H's are capital when referring to God; It’s said that Eloise “was strong in her own doctrinal beliefs” but enjoys the opportunity to worship in a variety of cathedrals and historic churches; Eloise prays that God will never leave her side while she’s on a dangerous path; A man says that the traitors “got what they deserved in this life [execution], and it’s up to God to judge them in the next”; Mentions of God, His will, trusting Him, having faith, & grace; Mentions of prayers, praying, & blessings over food; Mentions of churches/chapels, church going, worship, hymns, & sermons; Mentions of those & events in the Bible; A few mentions of blessings & being Blessed; A few mentions of angels (random strangers that were helpful which cause Eloise and Phillip to wonder if they were angels in disguse); A couple mentions of the book “My Utmost for His Highest” by Oswald Chambers; A mention of Heaven; A mention of a Christian magazine; A mention of a monk; A mention of a group of men being called ‘heathens’.


Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘hot as the dickens’, a ‘ticked-off’, and two ‘stupid’s; A few mentions of curses (said, not written); Some eye rolling; A nightmare (barely-above-not-detailed); Pain, Injuries, Being kidnapped, Being held at gunpoint, & Being shot at (up to semi-detailed); The Doll Woman hits a man and causes him to be unconscious and bleed (up to semi-detailed); Set during & all about with many mentions of World War II, bombings, fighting overseas, battles, injuries, deaths, the death penalty, traitors/treason, threats, arrests, & prisons (up to semi-detailed); Phillip struggles with traitors getting the death penalty and knows they deserve it, but it still bothers him; At the beginning, Phillip is upset/bitter because he couldn’t join the Air Force due to his colorblindness; Eloise has to tell a couple white lies when talking to witnesses and feels guilty; Eloise is grieving the death of her brother; Eloise’s father abandoned their family when she was young and she’s always wondered about him, being hurt by his actions; Phillip says that if he was a drinking man, he’d go to the bar and drink a lot after hard news (he takes a walk instead); The Doll Woman adds a bit of whiskey to her tea to calm her nerves; Mentions of suicides (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of deaths & grief (mothers for their sons, wives for their husbands, for a brother); Mentions of a kidnapping; Mentions of prejudice & internment camps; Mentions of guns, shooting, gunfire, being shot at, injuries, & blood/bleeding; Mentions of criminals, thieves, stolen items, & robberies; Mentions of lies, lying, & deception (Eloise is taught deception because of their undercover mission); Mentions of alcohol, drinking, moonshiners, & bars; Mentions of cigars, cigarettes, tobacco, & smoking; Mentions of divorces; Mentions of gossip & rumors; A few mentions of World War I; A few mentions of the Great Depression; A few mentions of hatred; A few mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of torture; A couple mentions of Bonnie and Clyde and their robberies, kidnappings, & murders; A couple mentions of a tragic accident & death (barely-above-not-detailed); A couple mentions of a death from tuberculosis; A couple mentions of an incurable brain tumor; A couple mentions of businesses cheating their customers; A couple mentions of nightmares; A couple mentions of poker; A mention of an ocean hiding corpses; A mention of a possible plane crash; A mention of counterfeit money; A mention of a woman saying her husband lost her when he came home smelling like alcohol too many times; A mention of vomiting;
*Note: A man tells another man to give his wife a sleeping pill if she can’t control her emotions (Eloise notes this as wrong); Mentions of some people (mostly men) believing that woman should only work as a teacher, nurse, or secretary (Eloise faces this a few times and thinks that “the war that took away the men also prompted the women to step out of their traditional roles”); Mentions of movies, actors, & singers (Clark Gable, Lou Gehrig, Humphrey Bogart, Shirley Temple, Betty Grable, It Happened One Night, Pride of the Yankees, The Three Stooges, The Postman Didn’t Ring, & Perry Como); Mentions of fiction characters, books, & authors (Moby Dick, Sherlock Holmes, Hardy Boys, James Cain, & Agatha Christie); Mentions of historical criminals (Bonnie and Clyde, John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson, Pretty Boy Floyd, and Mata Hari); A few mentions of car brands; A couple mentions of Halloween; A couple mentions of a man deserving a kick to the behind; A mention of Superman; A mention of a brand name (Coke).


Sexual Content- A forehead kiss and two semi-detailed kisses; Remembering a kiss (up to semi-detailed); Wanting to kiss (barely-above-not-detailed); Touches, Embraces, Warmth, & Butterflies (barely-above-not-detailed); Wanting to touch & embrace (up to semi-detailed); Blushes; Noticing (barely-above-not-detailed); Eloise and Phillip are alone in a hotel room together (nothing sexual happens, just a mention of Eloise knowing what her mother would said and Phillip teases about her traveling with a single man); Eloise and Phillip have to share a sleeper cabin in a train (bunk beds) and after she has a nightmare, Phillip is tempted to slip into her bed to comfort her, but does not (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of Eloise catching red-blooded male’s eyes, unwanted advances, flirting, & handsy men (no details, Eloise adds that she feels like it’s often her fault for a man’s unwanted attentions and feels apologetic towards them); Mentions of dates, dating, & boyfriends/girlfriends; A few mentions of kisses (including a married couple kissing); A couple mentions of a receptionist having a job because the men in the office thinking she has “other attributes that make up for her failings” (including a comment on her legs); A couple mentions of jealousy; A mention of making sure there’s no marital problems between a couple (due to his work); A mention of Phillip thinking “what red-blooded American male didn’t enjoy the company of a good-looking gal who turned the heads of other guys?”; A mention of a man liking women “too much”; A mention of reputations; Love, falling in love, & the emotions;
*Note: A couple mentions of a man possibly being a bigamist; A couple mentions of an unmarried couple sharing a bed and having a clothesline and blanket between them (in a movie); A mention of making sure no one gets too amorous; A mention of girding one’s loins.

-Eloise Marshall
-Phillip Clayton
P.O.V. switches between them, The Doll Woman, & someone else
Set in 1942
256 pages

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Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Star
Early High School Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
Older High School Teens- Four Stars (and a half)
My personal Rating- Four Stars (and a half)

I don’t read many books set around World War II because of the sadness that comes from that time in history, but I decided to take a chance on this book and I’m really glad I did! The codes, the secrets, the historical FBI, and just the setting itself completely captivated me. It was all so fascinating, and I really appreciate the light romance. What romance was there, though, was so sweet and cute, I just enjoyed it so much!

They get off on the wrong foot, but I really liked them together and how their friendship developed first before any feelings happened. (Some might say it was still rushed, but this book was less than 300 pages, so it didn’t bother me.) I would honestly read a series featuring these two with different FBI cases because I really enjoyed the two of them together and seeing their strengths together. I really liked seeing the historical side of the FBI as I typically mostly read contemporary suspense books about characters in that field, so this was an interesting difference. Lots of historical cases and details which I enjoyed hearing about (similar to Elizabeth Camden’s books, but not quite the same).

Another element I really liked in this book was how it didn’t paint the Germans or the Japanese as 100% villains, we see Phillip wrestle with death sentences of traitors and the fact that if he was sent overseas to cause havoc in Germany, he would do it for loyalty to his country and I appreciate that honesty.

There was a decent amount of humor too because of Phillip being so witty, which was fun. He has four sisters and it shows with how he interacts and talks to Eloise. I loved that really. I would have loved to see Eloise meeting his family and the sibling dynamic, so the ending was a touch disappointing, but still very good overall.


Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...


*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The premise of the book was a great one and I know the author did a ton of research for this story. It is based on true events. The story has great character development and is well detailed.

Pub Date: 01 Aug 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

[Kristina Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Characters: Eloise (a codebreaker) and Phillip (an FBI agent) both added interesting elements to this novel. I learned some intriguing facts about codebreaking from Eloise's part of the story, and I also liked following along with Eloise and Phillip's investigation, especially since this story took place during WWII instead of modern day like most FBI novels.

Language: Clean.

Moral: Bad reviewer alert. It's been a while since I've read this, and I can't remember the moral.

Plot: As I said above, the plot involving their investigation was entertaining. I did find the climax a little anticlimactic ... It just seemed as if everything wrapped up a little too quickly. And I never did find the villain much of a threat.

Romance: Clean. Maybe a few kisses.

Writing: Johnnie Alexander's writing style fit this novel well, and I look forward to reading more by her in the future.

Overall: The Cryptographer's Dilemma was an entertaining read, and I'd recommend it to those who enjoy Christian fiction and historical romantic suspense.

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars
Honestly, the story was a disappointment to me. I've previously enjoyed Alexander's contemporary books and was very excited to read a WW2 novel from her. However, I never got to bond with either of these characters because too many things simply didn't make sense. Early on it said she lived with her mother in the city but then that apparently was in some long former life? This is an example of numerous disconnects in plot points.

The POV is limited third-person but the story isn't candid about what the characters are really thinking and feeling. She has a major emotional breakdown but we aren't even told why--just told that something in the paper has wrecked her. This sort of story-telling is my least favorite because it's like they're government agents finding things out and just leaking bits and pieces to the press but we aren't actually there with them finding things out.

The doll lady was an interesting issue but honestly it didn't come up until halfway through the book. This left the plot feeling a bit unbalanced because so much led up to the clue and then there were sudden scenes in her POV. I'd have much preferred leaving out her POV and getting more of the clues that the two leads were following. In such a short novel, too many POVs is a risky business, and in this case since the two leads were distant, the third POV was enough to push it over the edge into choppiness.

Overall, I felt like it tried to be too many things at once (including a side plot of a family drama moment) and ultimately failed in the immersive experience I look for in a novel simply because there was too much going on at once, which resulted in a lot of telling and not enough showing.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.

[Grace Hitchcock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Espionage, romance, and a strong heroine—readers of Sarah Sundin will not want to miss The
Cryptographer’s Dilemma, a shocking tale of betrayal and truth being brought to light.

[Staci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Multiple cities in the United States 1942

When I chose to read this novel, I knew the author was Johnnie Alexander (an author I've enjoyed reading) and it's the start of a new WWII Series. Sold.

Eloise Marshall, former school teacher, is happily serving the U.S. Navy in the role of code breaker when she is approached to assist the FBI with a unique case that would benefit from a woman's touch.

Her would be partner, Agent Phillip Clayton, is less than enthused to put it mildly.

Once their journey begins, they slowly begin to see positives in the other. What I loved most about Phillip is how he represents others who so want to serve overseas, but aren't given approval for one reason or another. He feels like he is less than a full contributor to the war effort. At the same time, the way he is able to contribute, makes him question what's right in the eyes of God. Shouldn't we all seek God for his guidance? Readers get to see some raw emotion for a man in this situation.

Eloise is equally delightful with her love of solving codes. She wants to prove that she can contribute to the war effort. She has a spunky character about some areas, but shows fallibility in others.

Riding along with Phillip and Eloise as they solve the mystery of who is selling American secrets putting soldiers and citizens at risk was enjoyable. I look forward to reading the next in the series.

My gratitude to publisher Barbour and Celebrate Lit for a complimentary NetGalley copy of the novel. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Paula Shreckhise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great cat and mouse game.
This book contains some of my favorite things: spy craft, tracking a traitor and WWII homefront. It was an absorbing story that had us following FBI agents all across the country showcasing the movements of the agents, a budding romance and a coincidence that could only be orchestrated by God. Ms. Alexander also treated us to descriptions of some landmarks in St. Louis, New York and Seattle. Based on a real person, the Doll Lady, I learned something new which I love when reading historical fiction. The author took the basic story of this traitor and wove a fascinating and interesting tale around it.
Eloise finds herself pulled into an intrigue and wishes for home and normalcy: “But no. That longing was the fantasy. God had planted her feet on an unusual and perhaps even dangerous path. She prayed He would never leave her side while she was on it.” And Phillip, while skeptical of a female partner, come to rely on Eloise for her expertise and she grows on him.
A great start to a new collection from Barbour Publishers.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*

[Missy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book about Eloise who is a code breaker for the Navy. When her skills are notices, she is recruited to the FBI to help find who is sending cryptic messages to the Japanese through dolls. I liked the story line very much. Phillip, her handsome co-worker, and mysterious family help make the story inviting.

The one criticism I do have is when they are in St. Louis and come out of Union Station to go to their hotel and look down and see the Arch. Having been to St. Louis and stayed at the Union Station Hotel (which is BEAUTIFUL, by the way), and having toured the Arch, know that it was not started until 1963, so they could not have seen it when coming out of the train station.

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A terrific, and very different, WWII story!

The setting 1942 United States

The Characters
-Phillip Clayton is a member of the FBI and is disappointed he is ineligible to join the military to take part in the war efforts due to being colorblind. He's a spectacular agent who helped to bring down German saboteurs planning to attack American factories.
-Eloise Marshall, a naval code breaker is approached by Phillips' colleague and uncle, Richard Whitmer, to join them as a code breaker on a mission. She is highly gifted and grieving the loss of her brother in the Pearl Harbor attack.

Their mission: find and bring to justice an American traitor committing espionage using letters about doll collecting to convey classified secrets to enemy forces.

This was my first experience with Johnnie Alexander, but it definitely won't be my last. While it took a few chapters for me to really get into the story, once it picked up I was enthralled. Despite enjoying reading both fiction and non-fiction surrounding WWII, I had no knowledge of either event depicted in this story. I'm interested in reading more about the true events that inspired this book, and really enjoyed the character development. As someone who dislikes romance in books, I even enjoyed watching Phillip and Eloise connect, as it felt authentic and was kept clean.

[Sarita · Rating 3 out of 5]

From the synopsis I expected a lot more excitement, danger and thrill. And though there was some mystery and intrigue, this story started very slow and I almost put it aside until an emotional event for Eloise grabbed my I intention.

I did not know this story was based on a true event. I think the author did a good job with mixing fictional characters and a story but keeping to the facts of the true story.

This is the first of a new series by Barbour Books which I am looking forward to.

This was a new-to-me-author and an enjoyable introduction to this author.

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own.*

[Kav · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my introduction to the 'Heroines of WWII' series and I have to say I'm impressed! It's a favourite fictional era of mine and I'm always amazed at all the interesting angles authors find to delve deeper into this time in history.

My typical WWII reads are set in Europe or England so I'm always excited to discover a novel that features a 'Homefront' angle and this homegrown spy story based on actual events (!!!!) blew me away! Really, I had no idea! And the way the author has woven together fact and fiction to make a compelling read fills me with all kinds of bookish glee.

So we have our heroine, Eloise -- an intriguing mix of brilliant mind and outward bravado that conceals a few insecurities. And she's also a woman of mystery which upped the intrigue all the more!

Then there's Phillip -- disgruntled and grumpy over a personal 'failure' that keeps him from serving his country the way he would like. He still wants to enlist, though, except he has to complete one last mission for the FBI first. One where he's paired up with a civilian! A female one at that! Oh the horrors. lol

But Phillip's impatience turns to admiration when he realizes that Eloise's codebreaking skills are the key to opening up their investigation. Loved the journey Alexander takes her characters on -- both physically and emotionally. The historical details are really well done -- especially the codebreaking which is so fascinating. I haven't read anything like this before so I really enjoyed the fresh approach to the genre.

And then there's the forbidden (for so many reasons) romance that slowly draws Phillip and Eloise closer...and complicates everything just a bit. :-)

Seriously, need I say more...other than, "read this book!'


https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/20...

[Patricia Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Johnnie Alexandar did a great job creating characters I care about. I loved the way Eloise was able to use her skills as a cryptographer to figure out the clues. And the way she quietly stood up to Phillip when she needed to was great.

Don't get me wrong about Phillip--he was great, but he really wanted to be in the thick of the war flying P51 Mustang fighter planes, but couldn't because he was colorblind. He felt like he wasn't doing enough to win the war. But he slowly came to understand how vital it was to fight the war on the homefront, too.

I loved watching the two fall in love, especially since neither of them wanted to. This is a great mystery with enough clues to keep mystery-lovers working to figure out whodunnit. (Or who the spy was.)

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
"Are you ready to be my sister again?"

Ready. Set. Back up a minute. "Only a few months ago Eloise (Marshall) had been teaching high school algebra, geometry, and trigonometry. Now she was preparing to decipher a strange letter, which might or might not be written in code, and taking on a new identity while she traveled with a stranger to investigate a possible traitor." . . . .

That stranger being . . . F. B. I. Agent Phillip Carter, who wasn't all that thrilled about teaming up with a naval cryptographer, who was basically an untrained civilian with an uncanny knack for breaking codes. Someone was using seemingly innocent correspondences about expensive dolls to betray matters of national security and Phillip was determined to solve the case quickly in order to move on to what he really wanted to do; enlist. Was Eloise going to be as asset or a liability, it was hard to predict, he just never imagined that she would become valuable, and in an entirely different kind of way.

These characters! In some ways they outshone the plot, which is a very interesting story. There was a certain pleasantness about the way Eloise and Phillip realized their relationship was deepening, in spite of all their efforts to remain platonic. When details surrounding the actual case seemed a bit synthetic, the organic nature of the couple's conversations exhibited authenticity. Through it all, Peter and Eloise struggled mightily with internal dilemmas, ultimately recognizing the hand of God at work in their lives, for clearly "a coincidence (was) never a coincidence" in this story.

A lovely, enjoyable beginning to a new historical series!

[Debbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

"The Cryptographer’s Dilemma" is a Christian romance set in 1942 in America. There was a mystery, but more scenes focused on Eloise or Philip thinking about their personal troubles than on solving who the traitor was. The author often had someone think about what happened rather than show events, especially in the first half of the story. These were significant events, like apparently Eloise's and Philip's opinion of each other changed from "unpleasant person" to admiration during a briefly summarized train ride. It was a sudden change from mildly negative feelings to fighting romantic attraction, and I'm not really sure why they were attracted. For that matter, I never understood why an invaluable cryptographer was quickly trained as an FBI agent and sent to interview people when other people (with more experience) could have done that job.

Eloise's past was a secret for half of the story. There's a scene where she saw a newspaper photograph and got extremely upset for pages, and we have absolutely no idea why. It's hard to empathize when I have no idea why she's upset. Many chapters (20% of the book) passed with no more information about why she's upset or what was in the picture. At least with Philip, we know about the event that had him upset. I didn't really understand him, though. He felt guilty that a criminal was facing the death sentence because of his testimony since even that man is made in the image of God. However, he's determined to go to the war front, and it never occurred to him that he might feel guilty about personally killing the enemy.

The mystery was basically talking to a few doll collectors in an attempt to understand who could have written the coded messages. It didn't take Eloise long to solve the code. Scenes from the traitor's point of view explained her motives and actions, so it's not a puzzle for the reader to solve. At the end, Eloise threw away common sense (though not her gun) when she charged in before the FBI to save her beloved stranger...er, Phillip. And, of course, they paused in the middle of a time sensitive, danger-filled moment to have their first kiss. So it had a lot of my pet peeves. There was no sex or bad language.

I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book!! It was just so perfect, and honestly, I desperately needed it to be longer haha. 😆 The plot was incredibly engaging, and the writing style was beautifully done. I loved the characters, the storyline, the sweet romance, and the faith content. Everything was just 👩🏻‍🍳😘 perfection.
I have no notes at all. The romance was so sweet and clean, and the entire book was a joy to read. It honestly felt like I was watching a movie. 💕

So for my closing line, all I will say is..go read this right now!! 😁🤪

[Christine Reeves · Rating 5 out of 5]

It baffles me every time I am reminded of the callousness towards qualified hearts who were denied the choice to serve their country during the war, while picking others to be drafted in a blunt selection. I appreciate how the author highlights the equal value of those who kept the home fires burning right here in the states.

[Susan Faloon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book that I have read by Johnnie Alexander and I will be looking for more. The story caught my interest right away. I really like fiction that is based on true events, this being the investigation into the "Doll Woman" who gave information to the enemies of the U.S. after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
I enjoyed learning more about the cryptographers who left home to aid in the search for any missives and secret information going out within the U.S. These kinds of things fascinate me. The story focuses on the cross country investigation led by a female cryptographer and a male FBI agent who are looking into the possibility that the government has found a traitor. The focus of the investigation is a seemingly harmless woman who sells dolls to collectors.
I am intrigued with this story and it's outcome. I followed the author's advice to seek out more information about this notorious woman. The fictional side of the story was equally interesting. I liked the characters and their story. I enjoy a riveting and clean read with historical information.
I want to thank the author, publisher and NetGalley for my advanced reader's copy of the book. This is my own opinion.

[Loraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in Washington DC in 1942, cryptographer, Eloise Marshall, is mourning the death of her brother who was killed during the bombing of Pearl Harbor. She wishes there is more that she could do to help the war effort. FBI Agent Phillip Clayton wants to enlist but his color blindness precludes this. When the FBI discovers a possible spy who is relaying messages to the Japanese via code messages about dolls, Phillip and Eloise are asked to join forces to find the spy.

Full of twists, turns, coded messages, doll collectors, and doll sellers, Eloise and Phillip traveled throughout the US as brother and sister following leads. Alexander kept my interest from start to finish as I learned about doll collecting as well as how coded messages could be so misleading unless you understood the various codes. Eloise was so knowledgeable about codes and her instincts were so spot on when she read something and immediately realized how it had been coded. I thoroughly enjoyed following Phillip and Eloise across the US as they followed leads and discovered new information until they finally cracked the case.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a 5 that fell to a 3 at the very end.
I borrowed the audio book and the story was good enough to ignore the high pitched reader. It kept me engaged the entire time.
Eolise is a cryptographer pulled in to consult on an possible espinoge case. Philip is an FBI agent itching to join the military. In the end, all professionalism disappears into mush.Questions are left unanswered. I'm just very disappointed with the ending.

[Jon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lost a star for historical inaccuracies: Air Force did NOT exist during WWII nor did the Gateway Arch in St. Louis.

[Jessica Baker (A Baker's Perspective) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love it when authors take little known pieces of history, and make them come alive in a book. I found the plot to be simply fascinating. First of all, I enjoy reading about women in history who made something for themselves in a “man’s world” so to speak. Eloise was so talented, and yet couldn’t even share with her mother what she was doing. But I think the secretness of it made it that much more exciting. I can’t imagine the amount of research Alexander had to do in order to portray this character. To see her reading the letters, trying to pick up any clues, figure out the code, and put it all together. It was brilliant.

Then you have our a hurting hero, upset because he cannot support his country the way he wants to because of his disability. I don’t think I’ve read a color blind character before, and could certainly sympathize with how upset he was. I would have liked to see more of this in the story line honestly. But I also understand that there are only so many words and author can put in a book! I will say the best lesson I learned from Phillip is that God has a plan for our lives, and it doesn’t always match what our plans are. Phillip wanted to fight in the war so desperately, and I think it took him awhile to truly understand that he was fighting in the war, just in a different way. And in the end it ended up being the better way, of course, because he met Eloise. But it took him some time to get there, just like it does us.

The Cryptographer’s Dilemma is a gem of a book that I am so happy I decided to read. It has mystery, excitement, a little romance, travel, and and interesting bits of history along the way. Historical fiction fans will enjoy reading about Eloise and Phillip and their journey to find the letter writer. I highly recommend! I was given a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Cryptographer's Dilemma was my first Johnnie Alexander novel. Most WWII themed novels take place in Europe, but this historic novel takes place entirely in the US. What I loved most about the story, but did not realize until I read the author's note at the end, is that this is based on a true story. Yes, Velvalee and her mysterious letters did actually exist, as did a FBI investigation. This truly raised my level of appreciation for the story. I thought the characters were well thought out. I liked them all. The plot was a bit predictable, but the conclusion was solid. As for the writing style, I must admit that I never felt "transported" or truly lost in the book. I enjoyed it, but this did affect how invested I felt. Perhaps it was just me, but I would have preferred a style that was a bit more descriptive and perhaps a little longer. Overall, this was a good read (3.5).
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed are entirely my own.

[Ashley Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! The plot was interesting and kept me turning the pages to see how things would end! The characters were likable and I enjoyed their teamwork as they worked to uncover the traitor. I think this is a great start to this new series!

[Connie Saunders · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are so many reasons to love this book! It has interesting facts about WWII, if is filled with danger and suspense, and there is also a sweet romance. Author Johnnie Alexander uses the true facts of Velvalee Dickinson, an American woman convicted of selling information to the Japanese government during World War II, and combines them with fictional details to create a fascinating story. I enjoyed learning about coding and the art of deciphering messages, and I loved the many references to the WWII era. As cryptographer Eloise Marshall and FBI agent Phillip Clayton travel across the country to uncover clues, there are many mentions of popular movies, and even their budding attraction to each other is reminiscent of 1940s courtships. Alexander's plot is intriguing, the characters are well-developed, and I especially enjoyed her interpretation of Velvalee's thoughts and actions.

I was drawn into this story immediately and my attention never waned. This is the first book of a new series, Heroines of WWII, and I look forward to the books that follow. I recommend The Cryptographer's Dilemma to all who enjoy historical Christian romance.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. These are my own thoughts.

[ArynTheLibraryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solving a mystery is one of my favorite activities, so 'helping' Eloise decode the clues was fun. Especially as it's based on a true story!

I felt a connection to the emotional roller coaster she was on, right there with her as she grappled with both Philip and her family stresses.

The transition from wanting to knock the chip off Philip's shoulder to wanting his approval to wanting his heart was well done. Not rushed, even if the whole story takes less than a month.

Philip is a great guy whose dream of being a pilot was crushed before it ever had a chance. But he's a Good detective, and determined. And given half a chance, his heart shines through in great ways!

There's enough of the story wrapped up to be fully satisfying, and yet a couple of things are not completely tied up to either leave room for a sequel or satisfy realists who know that we do not always have the answers we want.

I received a copy of the book from #celebratelit and @netgalley and chose to review it here. All thoughts are my own.

[J.E. Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Cryptographer's Dilemma is an intense cat and mouse read to catch the person who is writing in code, giving information to the Japanese.

The author did an excellent job of combining historical information with a cast of characters that are engaging. I really enjoyed watching Eloise's growth throughout the story and her ability to adapt to unusual circumstances.

A touch of espionage and romance kept me guessing about the players in the story until the end, and the spiritual reflections were inspirational. It is a very enjoyable and exciting read. Highly recommended.

I received a copy from the author and voluntarily choose to review it. All opinions are my own.

[B.M. Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, wow, wow. I've had this book on my Kindle ever since it released, but finally just ended up listening to it, so I could get to "reading" it sooner. I'm so glad I did! The narrator was so entertaining, and I absolutely enjoyed the story. I mean, cryptography and FBI agents, forced proximity, and fake identities...what's not to love?

If you enjoy the Codebreakers series by Roseanna M. White, then I definitely recommend this one!

[RebekahAshleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Cryptographer's Dilemma was such a good book! It was intriguing.
Eloise works as a cryptographer and Phillip works for the FBI. The two end up working together on a case involving the Doll Woman. I found it all intriguing. I didn't realize that it was based on real events so it was cool to look into that story a bit more after I finished the book.

[Melissa Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating story filled with history, intrigue, mystery, suspense and romance. Great story. I received a complimentary copy of the book. No review was required.

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first in a wartime series featuring unsung heroines. The Cryptographer’s Dilemma is set entirely in the USA with the majority set in Portland or Washington and highlights the FBI’s investigation of WW2s number one woman spy, The Doll Woman, Velvalee Dickinson.

Velvalee was a respected member of the national doll-collecting community in 1940s USA, but it was her secret life as a spy for the Japanese that caught the FBIs attention. She wrote letters using a jargon code that provided information about US ships damaged at Pearl Harbour and, in exchange, received money from the Japanese government.

Fictional Elosie Marshall, a codebreaker for the navy, is recruited by the FBI to work on the Doll Case. Phillip Clayton, a fictional FBI agent, poses as her brother and they travel across the States investigating the identity of Doll Woman.

There’s a little of everything in this interesting, quick, and easy read; mystery, romance, family issues, and religious inspiration. Had the book been a little longer, the author could have fleshed out the characters a little more resulting in better reader connection and better plot flow. Some things came out of left field and caused me to do plenty of re-reading. Had more time been spent on their backstory, I would not have wondered why seemingly random events had popped up where and when they did. Regardless, I learned so much about steganography and basic FBI training in addition to understanding a little more about the first American woman to face the death penalty for her wartime betrayal.

“The one thing worse than German saboteurs on American soil was an American traitor. If one of Uncle Sam’s own was betraying the country, the Bureau needed to find the who, what, and why as quickly and quietly as possible.”

“Sometimes I wish God would write a message in the sky so I could understand…so I could know why.”

“You gave him something he didn’t deserve. I think the preachers call that grace.”

This slow-burning Christian historical fiction will be published August 1, 2021.

I received this advance copy from Johnnie Alexander, Barbour Publishing, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.