It appears that the focus is back on World War II with Kate Quinn's The Rose Code. Focusing on three women codebreakers in 1940s England, Quinn transports readers to a world of secrecy, intrigue, romance, intelligence, and even betrayal. Having already experienced Quinn's work with both The Alice Network and The Huntress, I was excited to see what adventures would come about within the books 600+ pages.
The Situation: It is 1947 and Osla Kendall could not be more annoyed. Engaged to a man she does not much care for, she must dodge tenacious reporters who want to know more about the former girlfriend of the soon-to-be Prince Phillip of England. But when she receives a coded message with no address and no signature, it upends her world even more. The only solution is to contact her former best friend Mabel "Mab" Churt, now married with children, eager to move on with her own life. Neither woman wants to face this new truth, that a former colleague and friend desperately needs their help. As much as the two women now hate each other, it is possible they hate Beth Finch even more. She played no small part in the events that caused the three women to go in different directions. During the war they lived together, worked together, formed a book club together, and were the closest of friends. But that is all in the past, and Osla and Mab are eager to leave it there.
The Problem: Eight years before, England was in the midst of World War II and on the receiving end of Hitler's wrath. Wanting to be more than a "dizzy deb," Osla signed up to be a codebreaker, eager to make a difference for her country. Mab was similarly insistent on making a better life for herself, her mother, and her little sister, Lucy. When she and Osla are billeted at the same house, they meet the shy and cowering Beth Finch. Even though she is 24 years old, Beth still does her mother's bidding and bends to her every expectation. With the help of the two headstrong women now staying in her home, she manages to receive a job that she loves. At Bletchley Park, the three woman are able to put their skills to use, but the oath of silence, stressful work, and the constant threat of air raids, are enough to try anyone's nerves. And when Beth begins to suspect that someone is letting the secrets out, things become more tense and trying, until tragedy strikes, and everything falls apart. In the days leading up to the royal wedding, even though all three women are done with Bletchley Park, they must put their differences aside, put their old skills to use, and come together once more for England.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a historical fiction book set in England from 1939-1947. Quite a few real and well-known people show up during the events of the book, including Queen Elizabeth of England and her husband, Prince Phillip. Alan Turing is mentioned a few times, and then makes an appearance near the end of the novel. The three woman who share the focus are mostly fictionalized, with some exception going to Osla Kendall, a fictionalized version of Prince Phillip's real war-time girlfriend, Osla Benning. Bletchley Park is real, and of course, so was the job of codebreaking. The book switches between 1947, when Osla and Mab are attempting to come to Beth's aid, and the years before when Hitler's soldiers were making the most progress in Europe. All three women were hard at work doing their best to crack German and Italian codes, something all three are good at in their own way. It is almost a mystery novel wrapped in a war novel, with a great deal of adventure on the side.
My Verdict: Out of the three novels I have now read by Quinn, I believe that this one is my new favorite. Something that I think Quinn has always managed to do well is handle the shift of focus between multiple characters. Here we have three different women, with different backgrounds, different skills, and different goals for their lives, and they manage to stay distinct and different throughout the novel. Even more impressive is that all three are always engaging, and I never found myself rushing through chapters so I can get back to a more interesting storyline. I have said it before that stories set during war-time can be difficult for me, but I found the setting of Bletchley Park to be almost refreshing, and fun. This may be due to the well thought-out main and side characters, both real and fictionalized, as everyone has a story that brought them to where they are. Historical fiction and mystery lovers alike should rejoice at this new contribution to the genres.
Favorite Moment: When Beth finds and rescues her scruffy dog, Boots, despite her mother's protests. It is a small rebellion that opens the way to her further growth.
Favorite Character: Mab can be harsh, and severe, and cold, but I liked her the most. She is focused, but still flawed, and refuses to let anyone get in the way of what she wants to accomplish.
Recommended Reading: I will always recommend The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah.
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