The Rose Code, by Kate Quinn

[Hahtoolah]

The Rose Code it about the code decryption at Bletchley Park during World War II. It is an interesting premise, however, it was not well written. The novel follows three women who work deciphering intelligence reports in top secret. One women, Oslo Kendall, is loosely based on one of Prince Philips former girlfriends. She is from a wealthy family, but is seen by the men at Bletchley Park as a “silly deb.” Mab is from a working class family, and Beth is on the autism spectrum with a cruel mother. All find themselves working together during the War. The novel also jumps to just before the royal wedding of Elizabeth and Philip. The War is over and the three friends have parted with various resentments. Beth has been committed to an insane asylum, but has just figured out that there was a traitor at Bletchley Park and needs the other two women to help her reveal the traitor. Unfortunately, the other characters working at BP aren’t well drawn out, so I really didn’t care who might have been the guilty party.

It was fine for an airplane read, but had I been on land, I would have stopped reading before finishing the book.

3 Stars

[Peacejanz]

Thank you for this review and for your honesty. I have this book on my pile and started it a couple of times - never got beyond about page 10. No airplane rides scheduled in the near future so it will just stay on the pile. Thanks so much for a clean and honest review. peace, janz

[Hannah]

I seemed to like this a lot more than you did. I found it a bit slow to get into at the start, but once I pushed past that, I was hooked, and it ended up being a rare 5-star read for me last year.

[Amy]

I loved it. It made many people's top ten, last year and this. It was a five star read for me, and a contender for my top ten as well. If not on the list.

But that's the interesting thing about books. You never know what and why and which timing something captures or it doesn't. There are books others have raved about that I just couldn't get into. There are also books I have loved and people look at me cockeyed.

Take for example Other Birds. I have no idea why this one is getting such acclaim. For that one, I landed on a solid three.

In any case, Kate Quinn is my author of the year next year. I have already read all her big novels. i am taking on her lesser knows and early series. It will be interesting to see how that goes. Hannah - if you read this, I know you are always up for a historical fiction challenge. Maybe you want to read Daughters of Rome, and if you are into it, finish the series with me (5). That was spontaneous, but it could be fun.

[Hannah]

Amy wrote: "Hannah - if you read this, I know you are always up for a historical fiction challenge. Maybe you want to read Daughters of Rome, and if you are into it, finish the series with me (5). That was spontaneous, but it could be fun."

Amy,

I tried to send you a DM but couldn't as we aren't friends on GR, so I sent you a request. I would love to read Daughters of Rome and the others in the series with you - I've put a hold on Daughters of Rome in my library system. Thank you so much for the offer and thinking of me, it was really thoughtful of you, and spontaneous things can be really fun!

[Amy]

And I just accepted you! We should have been friends all along!