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Lady Codebreaker
Fans of Kate Quinn and Kristina McMorris will love this gripping historical novel based on the true story of the woman who used her codebreaking skills to bring down Prohibition gangsters and WWII Nazis, and who ultimately helped found the present-day CIA.
Grace Smith has never been one to conform to society’s expectations. She flees small-town Indiana to seek adventure—and finds more than she bargained for when she’s hired by an eccentric millionaire to learn codebreaking. Soon she’s using those skills to help head the government’s fledgling cryptanalysis unit.
During Prohibition, Grace takes up the fight against rumrunners—not to mention Al Capone himself. And as the country careens from one Great War to another, it’s Grace who must crack the secrets of foreign governments, catch spies, and derail saboteurs . . . before it’s too late.
With wry wit and sheer grit, she forges her own path as a codebreaker, wife, mother. She’s spent a lifetime going up against powerful men and winning. But as war rages and the stakes grow impossibly high, Grace faces a truly impossible her family or her country?
Grace Smith has never been one to conform to society’s expectations. She flees small-town Indiana to seek adventure—and finds more than she bargained for when she’s hired by an eccentric millionaire to learn codebreaking. Soon she’s using those skills to help head the government’s fledgling cryptanalysis unit.
During Prohibition, Grace takes up the fight against rumrunners—not to mention Al Capone himself. And as the country careens from one Great War to another, it’s Grace who must crack the secrets of foreign governments, catch spies, and derail saboteurs . . . before it’s too late.
With wry wit and sheer grit, she forges her own path as a codebreaker, wife, mother. She’s spent a lifetime going up against powerful men and winning. But as war rages and the stakes grow impossibly high, Grace faces a truly impossible her family or her country?
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First published March 12, 2024
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About the author
K.D. Alden
2 books119 followersK.D. Alden is the author of A Mother's Promise.
They want to take her baby ... she's fighting back. Based on the true story behind a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision, K.D. Alden's debut is a moving story of one woman's courage at a pivotal point in history.
Grand Central/Forever: Release Date 1/19/21.
They want to take her baby ... she's fighting back. Based on the true story behind a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision, K.D. Alden's debut is a moving story of one woman's courage at a pivotal point in history.
Grand Central/Forever: Release Date 1/19/21.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
March 13, 2024
Lady Codebreaker by K.D. Alden
Historical fiction. Stem.
Grace Smith doesn’t want the expected husband, children and dreary housewife role. She knows she has no way to escape that life so flees Indiana, tries job hunting in Chicago and ends up hired to find codes written in Shakespeare’s works. That soon leads to her learning cryptanalysis with coworker Robert. Soon the two are helping the government decode notes and coded letters during prohibition, and through the war. High stress and long hours of deep concentration.
Grace is on a path of expertise against foreign governments while juggling family responsibilities. It’s a unique position of importance reporting all the way up to the white house and war rooms.
Grace is determined and smart. She spends her whole life fighting against men trying to put her into a lessor position. She’s not one to just smile and demure. I admired her fortitude and her dedication to the cause and often felt grateful to live in more equitable times. She breaks code after code, she teaches others how to learn the process while conforming to dress and social codes.
I’ve read a few books recently about amazing women whose stories are all but lost to history and I’m just in awe of them as I live an easy life. This book is a wonderful addition to the genre of historical female heroes.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley. I’ve also purchased a copy to donate to my local library.
Historical fiction. Stem.
Grace Smith doesn’t want the expected husband, children and dreary housewife role. She knows she has no way to escape that life so flees Indiana, tries job hunting in Chicago and ends up hired to find codes written in Shakespeare’s works. That soon leads to her learning cryptanalysis with coworker Robert. Soon the two are helping the government decode notes and coded letters during prohibition, and through the war. High stress and long hours of deep concentration.
Grace is on a path of expertise against foreign governments while juggling family responsibilities. It’s a unique position of importance reporting all the way up to the white house and war rooms.
Grace is determined and smart. She spends her whole life fighting against men trying to put her into a lessor position. She’s not one to just smile and demure. I admired her fortitude and her dedication to the cause and often felt grateful to live in more equitable times. She breaks code after code, she teaches others how to learn the process while conforming to dress and social codes.
I’ve read a few books recently about amazing women whose stories are all but lost to history and I’m just in awe of them as I live an easy life. This book is a wonderful addition to the genre of historical female heroes.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley. I’ve also purchased a copy to donate to my local library.
May 20, 2024
A highly enjoyable novel, loosely based upon the life and careers of William Friedman, and his wife Elizabeth Smart Friedman. This gives us a wonderful insight into the inner workings of cryptology in America from some early stages prior to World War I. Prior to that our main characters, Grace, and Robert Feldman first met at the Riverbanks Laboratory in Illinois. Many people don't realize that Riverbanks was one of the great research centers back in the 1910's and they conducted numerous experiments as well as getting into the field of cryptology. As a matter fact, our protagonist, Grace, was hired to work on the Baconian theory that it was actually Francis Bacon who wrote the works of Shakespeare, and that Bacon had left clues to that which could be seen in the original Shakespeare portfolios. Eventually, Grace did not believe in what she was doing and was going to be fired, but prior to her leaving she was hired to start working on decoding ciphers, and the expanding world of cryptology. The book introduced us to many of the American greats in the field, as well as some of the most outstanding and diabolical codes that have yet to be broken, including the infamous Beale cipher which supposedly was a treasure map. It's a fascinating book and I found myself doing Internet searches as I was reading because I was unaware of some of these people as well as the history of ciphers. Eventually, Grace and Robert get married and move to Washington DC where they begin working for the US government in different positions. This made it very difficult on the marriage since they worked in different capacities in different areas and could not talk about their work even to each other. Before we know it, the United States has entered World War I and now Grace is leading a team that includes many women as they struggle to uncover the secrets of the German codes, something they will eventually do successfully. You also see that there is ambition and jealousy within this team and that as team leader Grace tries your best to keep everything on an even keel.
Once World War I has ended the next thing you know Grace begins to work with the Coast Guard during the era of prohibition. There are some wonderful stories about actual events during this time. Author KD Alden does a marvelous job pointing out the difficulties as well as the triumphs that Grace and her team will encounter during prohibition. The book also gets into codebreaking durimg World War II. it is a fascinating book filled with believable characters, with a plot that doesn't veer too much from reality, and made me want to continue reading into the wee hours of the morning. We also are privys to some of the feminine and marital issues that Grace encountered, including her husband two mental breakdowns, and a hateful mother-in-law, who most likely gave Grace an improper recipe for Apple Kugel. The backbiting by that woman was amazing!
If there was one negative for me, it was the fact that Grace really seems to exhibit a strong dislike for men in general, and every time a man says something to her, Grace we get to read her innermost thoughts. It all gets a bit, tiring when she is upset that men are vast majority of airline passengers on a flight from Washington to California. Who cares? But for Grace, she was an early feminist and she fought long and hard for her recognition, her teams recognition, and for her country. All in all a highly impressive work that helps us understand that not every Codebreaker came from Bletchley Park, and there were others here in the United States that were doing their share to break the codes during World War II. Finally, the most impressive portion of the book had to deal with the situation in South America during World War II, and the fact that the Germans were truly trying to overthrow governments, had secret spy networks, and we're doing everything to try and wreak havoc upon the United States and bring the war to the continental US. The history in this book is outstanding, and this is one book that I think everyone should read to appreciate the efforts of these women, and men, who helped us win all these battles in World War I, against the rumrunners and gangsters, and finally in World War II. I give this book a 4.5 star rating.
Once World War I has ended the next thing you know Grace begins to work with the Coast Guard during the era of prohibition. There are some wonderful stories about actual events during this time. Author KD Alden does a marvelous job pointing out the difficulties as well as the triumphs that Grace and her team will encounter during prohibition. The book also gets into codebreaking durimg World War II. it is a fascinating book filled with believable characters, with a plot that doesn't veer too much from reality, and made me want to continue reading into the wee hours of the morning. We also are privys to some of the feminine and marital issues that Grace encountered, including her husband two mental breakdowns, and a hateful mother-in-law, who most likely gave Grace an improper recipe for Apple Kugel. The backbiting by that woman was amazing!
If there was one negative for me, it was the fact that Grace really seems to exhibit a strong dislike for men in general, and every time a man says something to her, Grace we get to read her innermost thoughts. It all gets a bit, tiring when she is upset that men are vast majority of airline passengers on a flight from Washington to California. Who cares? But for Grace, she was an early feminist and she fought long and hard for her recognition, her teams recognition, and for her country. All in all a highly impressive work that helps us understand that not every Codebreaker came from Bletchley Park, and there were others here in the United States that were doing their share to break the codes during World War II. Finally, the most impressive portion of the book had to deal with the situation in South America during World War II, and the fact that the Germans were truly trying to overthrow governments, had secret spy networks, and we're doing everything to try and wreak havoc upon the United States and bring the war to the continental US. The history in this book is outstanding, and this is one book that I think everyone should read to appreciate the efforts of these women, and men, who helped us win all these battles in World War I, against the rumrunners and gangsters, and finally in World War II. I give this book a 4.5 star rating.
March 12, 2024
“You can love someone without him swallowing you whole. You can still have a mind of your own - ambitions of your own.”
As a woman in STEM, I wish to stand on the highest peak with a loudspeaker and point historical fiction lovers towards this book. I can’t say enough good about it - it’s worthy of all the stars.
First of all, a standing ovation for an author who can seamlessly incorporate fact with fiction. I was in complete awe of her skills. This is the second book this week that has astounded me! My husband thought I was watching sports because I was ‘WooOoo HooOoo–ing’ and ‘yesss-ing’ as I read a well-incorporated section - an educator thing. I read a lot of historical fiction and am often irked at the blaring insertion of research, sometimes paragraphs at a time, inserted in the narrative. Thank you, K.D. Alden, for your masterful writing. I still have a book hang-over, days later.
Secondly, Grace Smith Feldman is now one of my favourite literary characters of all time. She single-handedly went through many of my previous fears and dealt with each of them. I’m not a brilliant cipher expert for the military, but I know what it’s like being in the minority in one’s field of study and wondering if everything I’ve fought for in my career would be lost in the ‘we’ instead of ‘me’ aspect of marriage. Grace’s story highlights the challenges women endured at a time when society wasn’t as accepting/respecting of women in certain fields/careers. I appreciated both ends of the spectrum; the comradery/support between the females as well as the rivalry/secrecy between them and their colleagues. Through it all, Grace shines as a beacon of courage and tenacity for all women.
Grace’s character was well balanced with the mental health continuum of her husband. It was shocking to see the effects of duty and the lack of support within the field. I cried when the van pulled up to ‘secure’ the books and when she woke him up one morning. I could imagine the anguish and understood the indignation. Alden has balanced emotion with science compellingly. You need to experience this!
I appreciated the chance to learn and armchair Google the following:
✒️Difference between a code and a cipher
✒️Role of cryptanalysis and steganography
✒️Two branches of cryptography
✒️Value of algorithm
✒️Different types of cipher: pigpen, Beale, British Playfair, German transposition, etc.
In the midst of this recently popular historical fiction topic (code breaking), K D. Alden’s book stands tall, heads above many of the others writing on the same topic.
Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for the gift of this spectacular story, offering it with no expectation of a review.
As a woman in STEM, I wish to stand on the highest peak with a loudspeaker and point historical fiction lovers towards this book. I can’t say enough good about it - it’s worthy of all the stars.
First of all, a standing ovation for an author who can seamlessly incorporate fact with fiction. I was in complete awe of her skills. This is the second book this week that has astounded me! My husband thought I was watching sports because I was ‘WooOoo HooOoo–ing’ and ‘yesss-ing’ as I read a well-incorporated section - an educator thing. I read a lot of historical fiction and am often irked at the blaring insertion of research, sometimes paragraphs at a time, inserted in the narrative. Thank you, K.D. Alden, for your masterful writing. I still have a book hang-over, days later.
Secondly, Grace Smith Feldman is now one of my favourite literary characters of all time. She single-handedly went through many of my previous fears and dealt with each of them. I’m not a brilliant cipher expert for the military, but I know what it’s like being in the minority in one’s field of study and wondering if everything I’ve fought for in my career would be lost in the ‘we’ instead of ‘me’ aspect of marriage. Grace’s story highlights the challenges women endured at a time when society wasn’t as accepting/respecting of women in certain fields/careers. I appreciated both ends of the spectrum; the comradery/support between the females as well as the rivalry/secrecy between them and their colleagues. Through it all, Grace shines as a beacon of courage and tenacity for all women.
Grace’s character was well balanced with the mental health continuum of her husband. It was shocking to see the effects of duty and the lack of support within the field. I cried when the van pulled up to ‘secure’ the books and when she woke him up one morning. I could imagine the anguish and understood the indignation. Alden has balanced emotion with science compellingly. You need to experience this!
I appreciated the chance to learn and armchair Google the following:
✒️Difference between a code and a cipher
✒️Role of cryptanalysis and steganography
✒️Two branches of cryptography
✒️Value of algorithm
✒️Different types of cipher: pigpen, Beale, British Playfair, German transposition, etc.
In the midst of this recently popular historical fiction topic (code breaking), K D. Alden’s book stands tall, heads above many of the others writing on the same topic.
Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for the gift of this spectacular story, offering it with no expectation of a review.
April 29, 2024
A book I couldn't put down! Based on a true story, the book chronicles the life of an extraordinary woman whose talents helped save this country multiple times. While her codebreaking skills were as good or better as any man's, Grace had to contend with condescending attitudes, downright insults, and the lack of recognition from her male peers. But with a sense of duty and loyalty as strong as her codebreaking abilities, Grace was able to put the country's needs ahead of her own. A fascinating look at what codebreaking actually is and its importance to national security.
December 11, 2023
Histfic fans will adore this brilliant tale based on the true life of codebreaker Elizebeth Friedman and her husband Robert. Crackles with intrigue, romance, courage, and the fight to safeguard America during WWI and II, from Al Capone, and even J. Edgar Hoover.
April 3, 2024
What an UTTERLY engrossing historical fiction novel based on real life events that spans five decades. This book covers Quaker Grace Smith's life as she first meets her Jewish husband, Robert Feldman, when they both begin training as codebreakers during the First World War through the Prohibition era when Grace takes on bootleggers like Al Capone and later during WWII when she works to thwart the Nazis and makes an enemy of J. Edgar Hoover.
Not only is this a story about a smart, clever woman, it is also a great look at the challenges of being a working woman in early 20th century America, misogyny in the workplace, the turmoil and guilt of later being a working mother and the additional burden of being a caretaker for a mentally ill spouse. Fantastic on audio narrated by Elisabeth Rodgers, this is for sure going to be one of my favorite reads of 2024!!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review. This book is perfect for fans of Kate Quinn's The rose code and Genevieve Graham's The secfet keeper. Fans of historical fiction and strong female protagonists will not want to miss it!!
Not only is this a story about a smart, clever woman, it is also a great look at the challenges of being a working woman in early 20th century America, misogyny in the workplace, the turmoil and guilt of later being a working mother and the additional burden of being a caretaker for a mentally ill spouse. Fantastic on audio narrated by Elisabeth Rodgers, this is for sure going to be one of my favorite reads of 2024!!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review. This book is perfect for fans of Kate Quinn's The rose code and Genevieve Graham's The secfet keeper. Fans of historical fiction and strong female protagonists will not want to miss it!!
April 27, 2024
Moving, alluring, and intense!
Lady Codebreaker is a thrilling, captivating tale set from 1917 to 1958 that takes you into the life of Grace Smith, a young American girl who, after leaving her small home town in the hopes of something more, finds herself learning cryptanalysis, having a distinguished career, and marrying a loyal, successful man all during a time of chaos and upheaval and two world wars.
The prose is rich and vivid. The characters are intelligent, brave, and strong. And the plot is an insightful, compelling blend of life, loss, secrets, surprises, heartbreak, betrayal, politics, power, friendship, and romance.
Overall, Lady Codebreaker is an intricate, passionate, fascinating tale by Alden based on real-life events that transports you to another time and place and immerses you so thoroughly into the personalities, feelings, and lives of the characters within it that you can’t help but be fully absorbed and invested.
Thank you to Forever and Grand Central Publishing for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Lady Codebreaker is a thrilling, captivating tale set from 1917 to 1958 that takes you into the life of Grace Smith, a young American girl who, after leaving her small home town in the hopes of something more, finds herself learning cryptanalysis, having a distinguished career, and marrying a loyal, successful man all during a time of chaos and upheaval and two world wars.
The prose is rich and vivid. The characters are intelligent, brave, and strong. And the plot is an insightful, compelling blend of life, loss, secrets, surprises, heartbreak, betrayal, politics, power, friendship, and romance.
Overall, Lady Codebreaker is an intricate, passionate, fascinating tale by Alden based on real-life events that transports you to another time and place and immerses you so thoroughly into the personalities, feelings, and lives of the characters within it that you can’t help but be fully absorbed and invested.
Thank you to Forever and Grand Central Publishing for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 25, 2024
It's infuriating what the first female codebreakers had to endure from the males they had to work either with or for (the condescension, the taking of credit for their work) and amazing how much they were able to accomplish despite that. But, unfortunately, the writing in this book just didn't live up to the subject and left me wishing it was half as long.
February 27, 2024
Grace Smith is struggling to find a way forward. She moved to Chicago in the late 1910's hoping to find an alternative to the only option open to her back home in small-town Indiana (which was to become a wife and mother and serve her husband). But just when she thinks she's burned her last job opportunity, a chance meeting with an eccentric millionaire shoots her into the world of ciphers and codebreaking. It turns out she's good at it--really good! Thus starts a lifelong love for the vocation and for her partner (in profession and in life), Robert Feldman. She will go on to become the mother of cryptoanalysis within the US Government, fight against international smuggling and gunrunning, and take on J. Edgar Hoover and his Red Scare tactics.
I stand in awe of Elizabeth Smith Friedman, the woman on which this book is based, and her husband William. She was a fantastic Renaissance woman whose accomplishments are well-portrayed here, and I'm glad that her story is being told. I was disappointed, however, that a book that was marketed as a historical novel read more like narrative nonfiction. I see the conundrum: Alden explains that she took liberties with the historical record to the extent that one would expect in a novel, but the narrative never really felt like a novel. As such, while I found the writing quality to be excellent and the story to be engaging, it was hard to get past my expectations. I would have preferred either for the story to be more historically accurate or for the narrative to be more like a novel.
I stand in awe of Elizabeth Smith Friedman, the woman on which this book is based, and her husband William. She was a fantastic Renaissance woman whose accomplishments are well-portrayed here, and I'm glad that her story is being told. I was disappointed, however, that a book that was marketed as a historical novel read more like narrative nonfiction. I see the conundrum: Alden explains that she took liberties with the historical record to the extent that one would expect in a novel, but the narrative never really felt like a novel. As such, while I found the writing quality to be excellent and the story to be engaging, it was hard to get past my expectations. I would have preferred either for the story to be more historically accurate or for the narrative to be more like a novel.
March 25, 2024
According author K.D. Alden: “Lady Codebreaker is based on the life of true heroine Elizebeth Smith Friedman…This book spans four decades, two world wars, hundreds of thousands of hours of mind-numbing codebreaking work and stacks upon stacks of research books.”
The codebreaking benefits to the winning of wars is fascinating. However, equally interesting is the progression of the rights of women; how they were treated in 1917 and how views changed in the 1950s.
This included finally passing the women’s right to vote. The main character, Grace Smith (Feldman), had to fight accepted beliefs, such as “thinking is dangerous for the ovaries.” All of Grace’s success in her work were assumed to have been made by her husband Robert, a highly renowned cryptologist. Grace was thought to be better suited to homemaking, cooking and raising children. In her job, she always had to wear suits, hats, heels and gloves. When flying, she would be the only female onboard the airplane. Her higher ups constantly referred to her as kitten, doll, fetching, lamb chop, darlin’ or as a member of the petticoat set or “The Doll of Domestic Intelligence.”
An additional thought is the description of the horrifying facilities at Walter Reed’s neuropsychiatric unit in 1941, including the use of electroshock therapy. There was also the terrible stigma of receiving psychiatric care, even a career killer.
And, if even a portion of the events credited to J Edgar Hoover are true, he was definitely “a despicable toad.”
Eleanor Roosevelt and Grace Feldman/Elizabeth Friedman were both admirable, strong, amazing women.
The codebreaking benefits to the winning of wars is fascinating. However, equally interesting is the progression of the rights of women; how they were treated in 1917 and how views changed in the 1950s.
This included finally passing the women’s right to vote. The main character, Grace Smith (Feldman), had to fight accepted beliefs, such as “thinking is dangerous for the ovaries.” All of Grace’s success in her work were assumed to have been made by her husband Robert, a highly renowned cryptologist. Grace was thought to be better suited to homemaking, cooking and raising children. In her job, she always had to wear suits, hats, heels and gloves. When flying, she would be the only female onboard the airplane. Her higher ups constantly referred to her as kitten, doll, fetching, lamb chop, darlin’ or as a member of the petticoat set or “The Doll of Domestic Intelligence.”
An additional thought is the description of the horrifying facilities at Walter Reed’s neuropsychiatric unit in 1941, including the use of electroshock therapy. There was also the terrible stigma of receiving psychiatric care, even a career killer.
And, if even a portion of the events credited to J Edgar Hoover are true, he was definitely “a despicable toad.”
Eleanor Roosevelt and Grace Feldman/Elizabeth Friedman were both admirable, strong, amazing women.
March 18, 2024
I'm always drawn to historical fiction novels that depict women changing history, and this book gave me everything I craved!
Our heroine Grace doesn't want a traditional life and leads herself on an incredible journey as a codebreaker for the US military. Through WWI, Prohibition (she actually helps catch Al Capone), and WWll she breaks complex codes and saves so many lives!
While I very much enjoyed Grace's accolades I truly appreciated how Alden showed her sacrifices as well. It was terribly challenging to be a working wife and mother in the early 20th century.
For my romance lovers there is a romantic subplot! Grace meets her husband Robert at her first codebreaking job and while the story mostly focuses on her illustrious career there are many moments of them together. It's not all sunshine and roses but it is a sweet tale of two people who build a life with love.
Grace is based on real life cryptanalyst Elizebeth Smith Friedman which makes the story even more impactful. Alden has done a wonderful job of taking the facts from a real woman's life and woven them into a fictionalized tale that will have you captivated from beginning to end!
If you're a historical fiction reader I think you'll enjoy this one. If you're a romance reader who loves to see feminism change the world and don't mind the romance being secondary I think you'll enjoy it too 💖. Happy reading friends!
(I received an ARC of this book for Forever Publishing in exchange for an honest review.)
Our heroine Grace doesn't want a traditional life and leads herself on an incredible journey as a codebreaker for the US military. Through WWI, Prohibition (she actually helps catch Al Capone), and WWll she breaks complex codes and saves so many lives!
While I very much enjoyed Grace's accolades I truly appreciated how Alden showed her sacrifices as well. It was terribly challenging to be a working wife and mother in the early 20th century.
For my romance lovers there is a romantic subplot! Grace meets her husband Robert at her first codebreaking job and while the story mostly focuses on her illustrious career there are many moments of them together. It's not all sunshine and roses but it is a sweet tale of two people who build a life with love.
Grace is based on real life cryptanalyst Elizebeth Smith Friedman which makes the story even more impactful. Alden has done a wonderful job of taking the facts from a real woman's life and woven them into a fictionalized tale that will have you captivated from beginning to end!
If you're a historical fiction reader I think you'll enjoy this one. If you're a romance reader who loves to see feminism change the world and don't mind the romance being secondary I think you'll enjoy it too 💖. Happy reading friends!
(I received an ARC of this book for Forever Publishing in exchange for an honest review.)
March 10, 2024
A delightful read about the strength and power of women. I loved that Grace truly became fearless and her team of codebreaking women who worked together and supported each other was awesome. Grace & Robert’s relationship was also truly endearing. They went through some very intense things, and continued to love and support each other. Thank you Net Galley & Forever Publishing for this ARC.
January 2, 2025
An excellent book based on the life of Elizebeth Friedman, from Indiana. The first half is similar to the biography written by Jason Fagone. The second half has delightful stories about her contests with rumrunners and other gangsters during Prohibition. Then she gets into WW2 codebreaking and deals with frustration with J. Edgar Hoover and her husband's severe depression.
January 22, 2025
A damn good historical fiction novel to kick off 2025. Not a trending book but def should be!!! Also had the greatest little line about 5’3 girls like myself that I looooooove
May 8, 2024
This book is based on real people! The fact that not only was codebreaking imperative to our victory in war (whether domestic or international) but the way women had to fight to LITERALLY be IN the room, let alone be taken serious or treated equally still blows my mind.
Not only did Grace teach us to fight for our right to serve our country she also taught us to fight for our partners/spouses and to never leave our people behind. I was fortunate enough to be able to read and advanced reader copy through Netgalley in exchange for an honest and fair review.
This book is one I will purchase to make sure it is in my personal library for years to come!
Not only did Grace teach us to fight for our right to serve our country she also taught us to fight for our partners/spouses and to never leave our people behind. I was fortunate enough to be able to read and advanced reader copy through Netgalley in exchange for an honest and fair review.
This book is one I will purchase to make sure it is in my personal library for years to come!
April 3, 2024
The premise of a lady codebreaker intrigued me. Espionage and deciphering secret messages written in code is quite fascinating, so needless to say I was looking forward to this read!
Here we meet Grace who is headstrong and feels no desire to conform to the expected life duties of a woman, she wants a career and is moved by the success and health of her country. She finds herself with an incredible gift of decoding cryptography and puts it to use through various stages of the countries unrest. WWI, Prohibition and WWII.
This story started off strong, however I felt that it lost a little steam in the middle. While I respected Grace's character and her journey, I did find myself wishing that it was a little shorter. The obstacles and challenges that Grace encountered started to feel a little repetitive and I wished that the actual code breaking was little more mysterious than it was. Grace was a force to be reckoned with, only some of those parts felt implausible to me. I enjoyed this read, just not as much as I was hoping.
Here we meet Grace who is headstrong and feels no desire to conform to the expected life duties of a woman, she wants a career and is moved by the success and health of her country. She finds herself with an incredible gift of decoding cryptography and puts it to use through various stages of the countries unrest. WWI, Prohibition and WWII.
This story started off strong, however I felt that it lost a little steam in the middle. While I respected Grace's character and her journey, I did find myself wishing that it was a little shorter. The obstacles and challenges that Grace encountered started to feel a little repetitive and I wished that the actual code breaking was little more mysterious than it was. Grace was a force to be reckoned with, only some of those parts felt implausible to me. I enjoyed this read, just not as much as I was hoping.
February 24, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an Advanced Reader Copy - pub date 3/12/2024. First off, let's all give a shout for all of the women getting shit done back in the first half of the 20th century, rolling their eyes at male egos, and doing their best to shrug off the soul-tarnishing knowledge that some dude will be getting the credit for the results THEY achieved. Then let's go and read and write more books about them.
This book revolves around Grace Smith Feldman and her husband Bobby and cracking codes and loving each other and fighting for their country and doing it under immense pressure and personal sacrifice. It is about being an unconventional woman and fighting for what you want. It is about mental illness and the endless battles against it. It is about finding your strengths and leaning into them. It is about problem-solving and thinking outside of the box. In fact, it is a historical-fictionalized story of an actual super-code-cracking team, Elizebeth and William Friedman.
The book spans four decades, a hugely long time that includes votes for women, Prohibition, both World Wars as well as everything else in between. Frankly, it is a lot. However, the author handles it well with judicious time jumps and some framing of the past with the "present." The interspersed scenes from the 50's when Grace and Bobby are retired and dealing with his mental health and her stress mean so much more as their shared past is revealed through the book. You start out baffled by how far gone Bobby is and then... Well, you come to understand. Just as you come to understand their deep, respectful, supportive love for each other.
Needless to say, Grace is one hell of a character and pulls the book along by force of will and action. The resistance to falling for Bobby makes sense but it also makes their growing partnership and love all the more sweet and realistic. Her connections with other characters and their respect for her felt natural. She had such integrity and such a rock-solid moral compass.
Many of the side characters were delightful as well and, even if it wasn't true, Grace's eventual Girl Code-Breaker Unit was beyond adorable. My only issue with some of the characters, though, was the hard-lean into the antagonists being, well... Villainous to an almost comical degree. You half expect Bobby's mom to put pins Grace's food to get rid of her. J Edgar Hoover (who we already know was not at all a Nice Guy) might as well have been stroking a white Persian cat and chortling maniacally. Alice... Poor Alice was such a trope of Female Hating Females that I wanted to hug her even as I wanted to slap her.
My only other issue was a weird one that popped up only every so often - sometimes the book seemed to forget it was historical fiction and had segments that read more like a "history of code-breaking" or "how to write a code." Almost text-book-like. Then it would swing back to the brainy, heart-filled regular story. It happened rarely but it was unsettling and made my brain remember the FICTION bit to a jarring degree.
Otherwise, though, this book was a solid read and left me wanting to find out more about the inspiration. After all, who rules the world? Those with knowledge!
Screw Hoover.
Warning : Suicidal ideation, war, electroshock therapy
This book revolves around Grace Smith Feldman and her husband Bobby and cracking codes and loving each other and fighting for their country and doing it under immense pressure and personal sacrifice. It is about being an unconventional woman and fighting for what you want. It is about mental illness and the endless battles against it. It is about finding your strengths and leaning into them. It is about problem-solving and thinking outside of the box. In fact, it is a historical-fictionalized story of an actual super-code-cracking team, Elizebeth and William Friedman.
The book spans four decades, a hugely long time that includes votes for women, Prohibition, both World Wars as well as everything else in between. Frankly, it is a lot. However, the author handles it well with judicious time jumps and some framing of the past with the "present." The interspersed scenes from the 50's when Grace and Bobby are retired and dealing with his mental health and her stress mean so much more as their shared past is revealed through the book. You start out baffled by how far gone Bobby is and then... Well, you come to understand. Just as you come to understand their deep, respectful, supportive love for each other.
Needless to say, Grace is one hell of a character and pulls the book along by force of will and action. The resistance to falling for Bobby makes sense but it also makes their growing partnership and love all the more sweet and realistic. Her connections with other characters and their respect for her felt natural. She had such integrity and such a rock-solid moral compass.
Many of the side characters were delightful as well and, even if it wasn't true, Grace's eventual Girl Code-Breaker Unit was beyond adorable. My only issue with some of the characters, though, was the hard-lean into the antagonists being, well... Villainous to an almost comical degree. You half expect Bobby's mom to put pins Grace's food to get rid of her. J Edgar Hoover (who we already know was not at all a Nice Guy) might as well have been stroking a white Persian cat and chortling maniacally. Alice... Poor Alice was such a trope of Female Hating Females that I wanted to hug her even as I wanted to slap her.
My only other issue was a weird one that popped up only every so often - sometimes the book seemed to forget it was historical fiction and had segments that read more like a "history of code-breaking" or "how to write a code." Almost text-book-like. Then it would swing back to the brainy, heart-filled regular story. It happened rarely but it was unsettling and made my brain remember the FICTION bit to a jarring degree.
Otherwise, though, this book was a solid read and left me wanting to find out more about the inspiration. After all, who rules the world? Those with knowledge!
Screw Hoover.
Warning : Suicidal ideation, war, electroshock therapy
March 13, 2024
When a book keeps me eagerly flipping pages until the wee hours of the night then sends me scurrying down internet rabbit holes to uncover all the information I can find about the real woman upon whom it's based, that's a book I'll be encouraging all my friends to read.
Spanning four decades (1917 - 1958), Lady Codebreaker is a seamless blend of fact and fiction based upon the life of Elizebeth Smith Friedman, widely recognized as American's first female cryptanalyst and instrumental in key events within 20th century American history. Opening the book in 1958 with a startling scene that hooked me immediately, the book then goes back to 1917 where it all began for main character Grace (and real life Elizebeth) and takes readers on a fascinating, sometimes dangerous, frequently suspenseful, ride through two world wars, Prohibition, inter-agency intrigue, and the evolution of a unique marriage (for the era) as well as an extraordinary career. One of my favorite parts of the book was watching how Grace and Robert evolved over the course of four decades, both in their personal relationship as well as their individual careers. This is not only a story of intrigue and suspense. It is also a complex, deeply emotional love story told in such a way that I felt as if I was right there with them through every peak and valley, wholly invested in their love, their health, their happiness, and their success.
Alden brought both the characters and settings to life on the pages of this book, immersing me into the smoke-filled decoding rooms, tense family altercations, sparkling dinner parties, danger-filled Coast Guard raids, hospital psychiatric wards, and much more while shining her spotlight on a variety of topics including mental illness, inter-faith marriage, power hunger, and the inequality between women and men of the time. Key among those topics is the hurdles Grace, and other women in her field, were constantly forced to overcome simply because they were women; how they were patronized, dismissed, yet continued to give their all in support of their country when they knew they would not be the ones credited for their work. Alden took her time with each of them, giving the women - and some men also - distinct personalities, layers, and texture, making me care about them. The villains (both fictional and real) are also vividly portrayed, eliciting emotions in Grace (and me) that ranged from distaste to fear to outright revulsion. There may also have been cheering when justice prevailed, especially when due to Grace's efforts.
If you enjoy compelling historical fiction that incorporates a fascinating blend of actual events and people with those of the author's imagination, that immerses you in our nation's history, and puts a human face on events you may have learned in class as well as those you discover in this book, give Lady Codebreaker a try. I couldn't put it down.
Note: Once you finish reading the book, do look up the real Elizebeth Smith Friedman and William F. Friedman upon whom Grace and Robert are based. What they accomplished in support and defense of the citizens of the United States was amazing.
ARC received from publisher via NetGalley
Fair and unbiased review
Spanning four decades (1917 - 1958), Lady Codebreaker is a seamless blend of fact and fiction based upon the life of Elizebeth Smith Friedman, widely recognized as American's first female cryptanalyst and instrumental in key events within 20th century American history. Opening the book in 1958 with a startling scene that hooked me immediately, the book then goes back to 1917 where it all began for main character Grace (and real life Elizebeth) and takes readers on a fascinating, sometimes dangerous, frequently suspenseful, ride through two world wars, Prohibition, inter-agency intrigue, and the evolution of a unique marriage (for the era) as well as an extraordinary career. One of my favorite parts of the book was watching how Grace and Robert evolved over the course of four decades, both in their personal relationship as well as their individual careers. This is not only a story of intrigue and suspense. It is also a complex, deeply emotional love story told in such a way that I felt as if I was right there with them through every peak and valley, wholly invested in their love, their health, their happiness, and their success.
Alden brought both the characters and settings to life on the pages of this book, immersing me into the smoke-filled decoding rooms, tense family altercations, sparkling dinner parties, danger-filled Coast Guard raids, hospital psychiatric wards, and much more while shining her spotlight on a variety of topics including mental illness, inter-faith marriage, power hunger, and the inequality between women and men of the time. Key among those topics is the hurdles Grace, and other women in her field, were constantly forced to overcome simply because they were women; how they were patronized, dismissed, yet continued to give their all in support of their country when they knew they would not be the ones credited for their work. Alden took her time with each of them, giving the women - and some men also - distinct personalities, layers, and texture, making me care about them. The villains (both fictional and real) are also vividly portrayed, eliciting emotions in Grace (and me) that ranged from distaste to fear to outright revulsion. There may also have been cheering when justice prevailed, especially when due to Grace's efforts.
If you enjoy compelling historical fiction that incorporates a fascinating blend of actual events and people with those of the author's imagination, that immerses you in our nation's history, and puts a human face on events you may have learned in class as well as those you discover in this book, give Lady Codebreaker a try. I couldn't put it down.
Note: Once you finish reading the book, do look up the real Elizebeth Smith Friedman and William F. Friedman upon whom Grace and Robert are based. What they accomplished in support and defense of the citizens of the United States was amazing.
ARC received from publisher via NetGalley
Fair and unbiased review
February 17, 2024
Plot & Writing:
Spanning over 4 decades, including WWI and WWII, Lady Codebreaker is not just a historical fiction; it is also a suspense thriller. The plot develops quickly from the initial chapters, building suspense that had me at the edge of my seat, eagerly turning pages to discover the next twist. I was particularly impressed with the way the author seamlessly integrated various themes into the narrative, making it multi-dimensional and thought-provoking.
Themes of individuality and independence shine through the protagonist’s, Grace’s, character, as she breaks societal norms and takes on daunting challenges head-on. As she navigates codebreaking and espionage, her deep-seated patriotism becomes evident, adding depth to her character.
The author also addresses the often overlooked topic of mental health, weaving it into the narrative in a sensitive and realistic manner. Grace’s resilience, as she faces and overcomes hurdles both in her personal life and her nation-serving mission, is inspiring and impactful.
K.D. Alden’s writing style is clear and insightful, which breathes life into the characters, making them feel real and relatable. The book’s exploration of cryptanalysis is fascinating. The author has an exceptional knack for presenting complex cryptographic concepts in a manner that is not only comprehensible but also intriguing for the reader. The narrative sparks curiosity about this intricate science, making the reader yearn to delve deeper into the world of codes and ciphers.
Characters:
I adored all the characters, with Grace Feildman being my absolute favorite. During an era when the majority of women were homemakers or secretaries, this narrative depicts the difficult journey she undertook in a patriarchal professional environment. She also demonstrated immense affection and selflessness towards her spouse, particularly during his intense bouts of depression and mental health struggles. I loved how she stood up for herself whenever she had to. I drew great inspiration from this.
Final verdict:
All in all, read this book if you are looking for a great historical fiction book set during the WWI and WWII period, and read it for it’s great plot and wonderful characters. K.D. Alden possesses a distinct talent for exploring the inner workings of the characters’ minds, offering a thorough insight into their drives, apprehensions, and goals. It wouldn’t be surprising if a film adaptation of this book is produced in the future!
PS: The book releases on March 12th 2024. Thanks to the publishers for the review copy.
Spanning over 4 decades, including WWI and WWII, Lady Codebreaker is not just a historical fiction; it is also a suspense thriller. The plot develops quickly from the initial chapters, building suspense that had me at the edge of my seat, eagerly turning pages to discover the next twist. I was particularly impressed with the way the author seamlessly integrated various themes into the narrative, making it multi-dimensional and thought-provoking.
Themes of individuality and independence shine through the protagonist’s, Grace’s, character, as she breaks societal norms and takes on daunting challenges head-on. As she navigates codebreaking and espionage, her deep-seated patriotism becomes evident, adding depth to her character.
The author also addresses the often overlooked topic of mental health, weaving it into the narrative in a sensitive and realistic manner. Grace’s resilience, as she faces and overcomes hurdles both in her personal life and her nation-serving mission, is inspiring and impactful.
K.D. Alden’s writing style is clear and insightful, which breathes life into the characters, making them feel real and relatable. The book’s exploration of cryptanalysis is fascinating. The author has an exceptional knack for presenting complex cryptographic concepts in a manner that is not only comprehensible but also intriguing for the reader. The narrative sparks curiosity about this intricate science, making the reader yearn to delve deeper into the world of codes and ciphers.
Characters:
I adored all the characters, with Grace Feildman being my absolute favorite. During an era when the majority of women were homemakers or secretaries, this narrative depicts the difficult journey she undertook in a patriarchal professional environment. She also demonstrated immense affection and selflessness towards her spouse, particularly during his intense bouts of depression and mental health struggles. I loved how she stood up for herself whenever she had to. I drew great inspiration from this.
Final verdict:
All in all, read this book if you are looking for a great historical fiction book set during the WWI and WWII period, and read it for it’s great plot and wonderful characters. K.D. Alden possesses a distinct talent for exploring the inner workings of the characters’ minds, offering a thorough insight into their drives, apprehensions, and goals. It wouldn’t be surprising if a film adaptation of this book is produced in the future!
PS: The book releases on March 12th 2024. Thanks to the publishers for the review copy.
March 1, 2024
Oh. My. Word. I stayed up late into the night finishing Lade Codebreaker. I tried putting it away for the night, but I couldn't stop thinking about what could be happening. With the various timelines a lot went on.
Watching the characters grow over more than 40 years was wonderful. Grace is an anomaly in 1917. When most women were looking for a husband, she was looking for a job, a life that didn't revolve around being a wife. A series of unique situations finds Grace as a codebreaker, solving the coded messages of the enemies along side Robert Feldman, a man that would end up as her husband.
The story takes the reader through two world wars helping the allies to win the wars one telegram at a time, one radio transmission at a time. The reader experiences the prohibition and the smugglers that kept throats wet.
The work atmosphere created lots of drama. Men looked down on women. Too many women in the same office creates competition and bickering. Some wanted power. Some wanted what others had. There always seems to be someone wanting to be queen bee. Bringing J. Edgar Hoover into the story sent up all kinds of flags.
Grace wants to be in the action. She finagled her self on to a ship to learn about the smuggling during prohibition. She braved planes in the 1930's when the only females flying were stewardesses. She frequently found herself deep in the action. The idea of not knowing what would happen next made for a thrilling read.
All the action and suspense is balanced by romance. Grace may not have wanted to get married but it became necessary. Robert Feldman fell for her when they were both at Riverbank. He is a brilliant man. He is confident. Bobby is a wonderful character. He knows what he wants and he wants Grace. For her, marriage is a solution to her problems. For Bobby, it the first step in convincing Grace that they were made for each other. They end up walking through hot coals together.
There life was packed full of drama and struggles. I didn't expect the ending, but it had me admiring Grace even more. She was a very powerful woman that would do anything to protect her husband.
Watching the characters grow over more than 40 years was wonderful. Grace is an anomaly in 1917. When most women were looking for a husband, she was looking for a job, a life that didn't revolve around being a wife. A series of unique situations finds Grace as a codebreaker, solving the coded messages of the enemies along side Robert Feldman, a man that would end up as her husband.
The story takes the reader through two world wars helping the allies to win the wars one telegram at a time, one radio transmission at a time. The reader experiences the prohibition and the smugglers that kept throats wet.
The work atmosphere created lots of drama. Men looked down on women. Too many women in the same office creates competition and bickering. Some wanted power. Some wanted what others had. There always seems to be someone wanting to be queen bee. Bringing J. Edgar Hoover into the story sent up all kinds of flags.
Grace wants to be in the action. She finagled her self on to a ship to learn about the smuggling during prohibition. She braved planes in the 1930's when the only females flying were stewardesses. She frequently found herself deep in the action. The idea of not knowing what would happen next made for a thrilling read.
All the action and suspense is balanced by romance. Grace may not have wanted to get married but it became necessary. Robert Feldman fell for her when they were both at Riverbank. He is a brilliant man. He is confident. Bobby is a wonderful character. He knows what he wants and he wants Grace. For her, marriage is a solution to her problems. For Bobby, it the first step in convincing Grace that they were made for each other. They end up walking through hot coals together.
There life was packed full of drama and struggles. I didn't expect the ending, but it had me admiring Grace even more. She was a very powerful woman that would do anything to protect her husband.
December 7, 2023
To me, a great historical fiction novel hits two notes: it is in itself a captivating story, but also it is interesting enough that I want to learn more about the history it references. Lady Codebreaker definitely hit both of those notes, and I find myself obsessed with codes once more, picking up the threads I left after reading Alan Hodges’s book on Alan Turing.
Lady Codebreaker follows the story of Grace and Robert, a married couple who are cryptoanalysts for the US military. The story spans a massive 4 decades, starting from their entry into code breaking and moving into the aftermath of World War 2. Readers get a glimpse of the painstaking process and the import of code breaking from the tail end of WWI through the prohibition and all through WWII.
Through Grace, we experience the position of women and the challenges and heartbreak that went along with simply being female in that time. We get a taste of the strength of female friendships and the bitterness of rivalry. There are so many beautiful quotes in this book that I can’t wait to take a highlighter to once I get a physical copy.
In Robert, we get a heartbreaking look into issues of depression and mental health. This theme is apparent from the very beginning of the prologue, and every time we jump forward into the post-war era, my heart broke a little more for him.
The way Alden weaves the story through the decades, jumping the reader back and forth between war time and post-war time makes the unfolding of events hit so much harder than a purely chronological telling. It also makes the vast timespan encompassed by the plot feel less overwhelming.
This is a wonderful story for any historical fiction lover, woman in STEM, proponent of mental health awareness, and any woman looking for a beautiful yet heartbreaking read. I will absolutely be adding this to my high school math classroom library (the romance is all closed door) as soon as it is released for use in book groups.
Lady Codebreaker follows the story of Grace and Robert, a married couple who are cryptoanalysts for the US military. The story spans a massive 4 decades, starting from their entry into code breaking and moving into the aftermath of World War 2. Readers get a glimpse of the painstaking process and the import of code breaking from the tail end of WWI through the prohibition and all through WWII.
Through Grace, we experience the position of women and the challenges and heartbreak that went along with simply being female in that time. We get a taste of the strength of female friendships and the bitterness of rivalry. There are so many beautiful quotes in this book that I can’t wait to take a highlighter to once I get a physical copy.
In Robert, we get a heartbreaking look into issues of depression and mental health. This theme is apparent from the very beginning of the prologue, and every time we jump forward into the post-war era, my heart broke a little more for him.
The way Alden weaves the story through the decades, jumping the reader back and forth between war time and post-war time makes the unfolding of events hit so much harder than a purely chronological telling. It also makes the vast timespan encompassed by the plot feel less overwhelming.
This is a wonderful story for any historical fiction lover, woman in STEM, proponent of mental health awareness, and any woman looking for a beautiful yet heartbreaking read. I will absolutely be adding this to my high school math classroom library (the romance is all closed door) as soon as it is released for use in book groups.
March 11, 2024
Title: Lady Codebreaker
Author: K. D. Alden
Length: 432 pages
Format: ebook arc
Pub Date: March 12, 2024
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating Out of 5: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Spice Level: closed door
Summary:
In this riveting historical novel, Grace Smith defies societal norms by becoming a skilled codebreaker. From battling Prohibition gangsters to thwarting WWII Nazis, she plays a pivotal role in founding the CIA. Grace's journey unfolds with wit and grit as she navigates espionage, motherhood, and impossible choices in a world consumed by war. A gripping tale of one woman's defiance and courage against powerful adversaries.
Thoughts:
When a historical fiction novel prompts you to learn more about the actual events that happened in the book, you know it’s a good one! I had never heard of our Lady Codebreaker and her husband before reading this book. Their story is both amazing and heartbreaking. This is a story of war. Yes, WWI, WWII, and prohibition, but also war against societal norms, war against mental health struggles, and war against family. Grace was such an admirable FMC. She fought so hard. But this was also a love story. Grace and Robert’s love for each other and for their country. I think the author told this story in such a wonderful way because I went through such a roller coaster of emotions while reading this. And she finished off the story on such a high note. I was wondering how it was going to end because it was looking pretty grim there, but she wrapped it up really nicely!
Read if you love:
Kate Quinn novels
Historical fiction
Friends to lovers
A bad*ss FMC
Special thanks to the @readforeverpub and @netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review!
Author: K. D. Alden
Length: 432 pages
Format: ebook arc
Pub Date: March 12, 2024
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating Out of 5: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Spice Level: closed door
Summary:
In this riveting historical novel, Grace Smith defies societal norms by becoming a skilled codebreaker. From battling Prohibition gangsters to thwarting WWII Nazis, she plays a pivotal role in founding the CIA. Grace's journey unfolds with wit and grit as she navigates espionage, motherhood, and impossible choices in a world consumed by war. A gripping tale of one woman's defiance and courage against powerful adversaries.
Thoughts:
When a historical fiction novel prompts you to learn more about the actual events that happened in the book, you know it’s a good one! I had never heard of our Lady Codebreaker and her husband before reading this book. Their story is both amazing and heartbreaking. This is a story of war. Yes, WWI, WWII, and prohibition, but also war against societal norms, war against mental health struggles, and war against family. Grace was such an admirable FMC. She fought so hard. But this was also a love story. Grace and Robert’s love for each other and for their country. I think the author told this story in such a wonderful way because I went through such a roller coaster of emotions while reading this. And she finished off the story on such a high note. I was wondering how it was going to end because it was looking pretty grim there, but she wrapped it up really nicely!
Read if you love:
Kate Quinn novels
Historical fiction
Friends to lovers
A bad*ss FMC
Special thanks to the @readforeverpub and @netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review!
March 10, 2024
A wonderful historical novel, although I disagree with the line on the cover. The book starts when Grace gets a job at Riverbank, an odd assemblage of people and animals out in Illinois. Her eccentric boss has hired her to code-break Shakespeare to help one of his current employees, who insists Sir Francis Bacon wrote all of those works.
Grace doesn't agree, but she ends up getting an extraordinary education in codebreaking, as well as meeting the man who will become her husband, and both set the path for the rest of her life.
Subsequent sections of the book have Grace and Robert working together and then separately during World War I, Prohibition, and World War II. Majority of the book is about Grace and her team's contributions to the wars, and Grace's personal work during Prohibition, stopping smugglers and bringing criminals to justice. While the cover calls out Capone, her work focused on others in the network, and there was very little specifically about him, so I found this misleading.
Overall this was a great story, where Grace deals first with her unsupportive family and then with rampant sexism throughout her career, a horrible mother-in-law, balancing work and being a wife and then mother, and her husband's illness. It was really exciting to watch Grace and her team of ladies and all their successes, and Grace's attitude, which I found to be "just get it done and apologize later." She fought her way into rooms she wasn't supposed to go to and courageously delivered emergency messages to make sure she was getting those in charge the info they needed.
Grace doesn't agree, but she ends up getting an extraordinary education in codebreaking, as well as meeting the man who will become her husband, and both set the path for the rest of her life.
Subsequent sections of the book have Grace and Robert working together and then separately during World War I, Prohibition, and World War II. Majority of the book is about Grace and her team's contributions to the wars, and Grace's personal work during Prohibition, stopping smugglers and bringing criminals to justice. While the cover calls out Capone, her work focused on others in the network, and there was very little specifically about him, so I found this misleading.
Overall this was a great story, where Grace deals first with her unsupportive family and then with rampant sexism throughout her career, a horrible mother-in-law, balancing work and being a wife and then mother, and her husband's illness. It was really exciting to watch Grace and her team of ladies and all their successes, and Grace's attitude, which I found to be "just get it done and apologize later." She fought her way into rooms she wasn't supposed to go to and courageously delivered emergency messages to make sure she was getting those in charge the info they needed.
March 16, 2024
Cheers of endless coffee cups to this feminist read with a historical spy fiction focus.
✨Book Review: LADY CODEBREAKER by K. D. Alden ✨
☕️ Spanning the Great War, prohibition, and World War II, Grace Smith, one of the nation’s first cryptanalysts, has a front-row seat and direct hand in history. She and her team take on gangsters, Nazis, and misogynist bureaucrats with code breaking skills, dedication, and determination.
☕️ Based on the real-life story of Elizebeth Smith Friedman, this book was a fascinating and clearly well-researched look at history. I hated how much crap Grace had to deal with as a working woman in the 1910s-1950s, but I also loved seeing how she grew to create her own rules and path. Only critique is that the pacing sometimes felt off as the historical specifics stifled some of the suspense and overall story arc.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5/5 stars)
👩🏻🏫 Heads-up that there’s a lot in this book. I’m not going to get into all the possible trigger warnings, but do know that this takes place when women were belittled and harassed in the workplace and during wartime before mental health was understood or prioritized. Take care of yourself.
😘 Thanks to @ReadForeverPub, the author, #NetGalley, and @Goodreads for the eARC and giveaway paperback copy, in exchange for my honest review.
✨Book Review: LADY CODEBREAKER by K. D. Alden ✨
☕️ Spanning the Great War, prohibition, and World War II, Grace Smith, one of the nation’s first cryptanalysts, has a front-row seat and direct hand in history. She and her team take on gangsters, Nazis, and misogynist bureaucrats with code breaking skills, dedication, and determination.
☕️ Based on the real-life story of Elizebeth Smith Friedman, this book was a fascinating and clearly well-researched look at history. I hated how much crap Grace had to deal with as a working woman in the 1910s-1950s, but I also loved seeing how she grew to create her own rules and path. Only critique is that the pacing sometimes felt off as the historical specifics stifled some of the suspense and overall story arc.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5/5 stars)
👩🏻🏫 Heads-up that there’s a lot in this book. I’m not going to get into all the possible trigger warnings, but do know that this takes place when women were belittled and harassed in the workplace and during wartime before mental health was understood or prioritized. Take care of yourself.
😘 Thanks to @ReadForeverPub, the author, #NetGalley, and @Goodreads for the eARC and giveaway paperback copy, in exchange for my honest review.
March 23, 2024
Loosely based on the life of Elizebeth Friedman, Lady Codebreaker follows the career and marriage of Grace Smith Feldman from her arrival in Chicago in 1917, a young woman seeking a job that uses her brain, to her retirement in D.C. ~40 years later, following a successful career as a cryptanalyst for the Navy and Coast Guard. Along the way, Grace Smith meets Robert Feldman, who convinces her to marry him even though she is terrified that being a wife generally means being under her husband's thumb and retreating to the kitchen and raising children. Fortunately, Robert is unusually open minded for his generation and the pair are two of the first American cryptanalysts, initially working together, during WWI, then in separate agencies for the rest of their careers. Many of the men Grace with with and for along the way, however, are not so forward-thinking, and Grace must navigate societal expectations of her day, chauvinism, and a mother-in-law who calls her a shiska to do what she enjoys and is good at, serving her country through WWI, prohibition, and WWII. Well written and thoroughly researched, Lady Codebreaker is historical fiction with touch of romance and a dash of thriller and the kind of story that makes me grateful for the women that forged the way for women like me to have careers in STEM today.
April 29, 2024
Lady Codebreaker
By: K.D. Alden
Review Score: 4 Stars
Boogie’s Bulletpoints
•This book is intriguing right from the start.
•I loved the time jumps, and how they brought the story together.
•It was really interesting to learn about the beginning of codebreaking in war, and how hard Grace and Robert worked to be successful.
•I loved Grace and Robert’s relationship.
————————————————————————————————————————
Lady Codebreaker was kindly provided as an ARC by Netgalley and Forever, Grand Central Publishing. Thank you for allowing me to enjoy this wonderful book!
Release Date: Out now!
Lady Codebreaker is such an interesting book. We meet Grace, a girl who doesn’t want the quiet life expected of her, who then tumbles into a world of code breaking as World War 1 rages on.
She finds that she is actually very good at what she does, and is highly sought after for her skills. She struggles with being a woman in a man’s world, especially as she is married to a man who is just as brilliant in code breaking as she is.
This book covers a ton of history, weaving in both world wars, Eleanor Roosevelt, the beginning of the CIA, and the struggles the United States had during prohibition. Even so, the story never drags, and is an amazing mix of fact and fiction.
If you like historical fiction, you will like this book!
By: K.D. Alden
Review Score: 4 Stars
Boogie’s Bulletpoints
•This book is intriguing right from the start.
•I loved the time jumps, and how they brought the story together.
•It was really interesting to learn about the beginning of codebreaking in war, and how hard Grace and Robert worked to be successful.
•I loved Grace and Robert’s relationship.
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Lady Codebreaker was kindly provided as an ARC by Netgalley and Forever, Grand Central Publishing. Thank you for allowing me to enjoy this wonderful book!
Release Date: Out now!
Lady Codebreaker is such an interesting book. We meet Grace, a girl who doesn’t want the quiet life expected of her, who then tumbles into a world of code breaking as World War 1 rages on.
She finds that she is actually very good at what she does, and is highly sought after for her skills. She struggles with being a woman in a man’s world, especially as she is married to a man who is just as brilliant in code breaking as she is.
This book covers a ton of history, weaving in both world wars, Eleanor Roosevelt, the beginning of the CIA, and the struggles the United States had during prohibition. Even so, the story never drags, and is an amazing mix of fact and fiction.
If you like historical fiction, you will like this book!
January 25, 2024
Lady Codebreaker by K.D. Alden is historical fiction based on Elizebeth Smith Friedman’s life. I love WWII fiction, so I took a chance on this book that spans 4 decades and covers both WWI and WWII wars, and I was not disappointed!
Alden’s writing is clear and interesting and gives depth to the characters. She makes the topic of codebreaking very interesting and I found myself wanting to learn more about it. It was great to learn about Elizabeth through the character, Grace. She and her husband worked as cryptoanalysts for the government during WWI-II and beyond. I had never realized the importance of these roles in fighting enemies.
One thing I love about the main character, Grace, is that she is intelligent and strong, in a time when most women either stayed home or were secretaries. This story portrays how hard it was for her to gain the respect of most men in a male-dominated workforce. She even stood up to J. Edgar Hoover when necessary.
However, she also displays great love and sacrifice for her husband, especially when he faces serious depression and mental health issues.
I highly recommend this to other historical fiction lovers. My thanks to Forever (Grand Central Publishing), Forever, and NetGalley for this ARC.
Alden’s writing is clear and interesting and gives depth to the characters. She makes the topic of codebreaking very interesting and I found myself wanting to learn more about it. It was great to learn about Elizabeth through the character, Grace. She and her husband worked as cryptoanalysts for the government during WWI-II and beyond. I had never realized the importance of these roles in fighting enemies.
One thing I love about the main character, Grace, is that she is intelligent and strong, in a time when most women either stayed home or were secretaries. This story portrays how hard it was for her to gain the respect of most men in a male-dominated workforce. She even stood up to J. Edgar Hoover when necessary.
However, she also displays great love and sacrifice for her husband, especially when he faces serious depression and mental health issues.
I highly recommend this to other historical fiction lovers. My thanks to Forever (Grand Central Publishing), Forever, and NetGalley for this ARC.
March 6, 2024
I’m honestly struggling to write a review for this one, and it’s not because I disliked it. Not even a little bit. In fact, I absolutely devoured it. I opened it, apparently went through some sort of time traveling portal, was living a troublesome yet fascinating, interesting and chaotic life alongside Grace through the early/mid-1900’s, when suddenly the portal spit me back out into the harsh reality of present day. I didn’t even clock my last 100 pages! That’s how deep in the trenches I was. I received this book as an ARC read, and usually I keep notes for myself throughout my ARC reads so that I can remember how I was feeling when certain events happen, or confusing plot points/conversations etc. Not needed with this one. I simply couldn’t put it down, couldn’t read it fast enough, and needed no reminders. So well written, every conversation truly makes you feel like you’re there, listening in. I truly don’t know what else to say, I just absolutely loved it from beginning to end. I will be buying the physical, will be rereading multiple times, and will be making my way through the rest of Alden’s work ASAP. I believe I not only found one of my new favorite books, but also one of my new favorite writers.
May 7, 2024
4.5 Stars
Spanning four decades (1917-1958), Lady Codebreaker is a story of both World Wars, prohibition, mental health and the struggles of women in STEM during that time. The story follows Grace Smith, one of the first lady codebreakers, as she deals with being in a male dominated field and politics while describing her process and contributions to the intelligence field.
Alden does a great job at writing captivating characters. Grace is incredibly complex and intelligent and Alden does a great job at bringing all of her complexities and failings into the novel. The other characters are extremely well written and complex in their own right.
Alden did a fantastic job of blending fact and fiction while making this a very enjoyable read. This story had a bit of everything: a love story, espionage, scandal, mysteries and even more. I was totally engrossed as I was listening. After reading this I definitely want to learn more about the female codebreakers during that time in our history.
I appreciate Alden for writing a woman's story who has fallen through the cracks in our history. I recommended this book to anyone who likes stories of women's empowerment and historical fiction. This was 4.5 stars for me.
Spanning four decades (1917-1958), Lady Codebreaker is a story of both World Wars, prohibition, mental health and the struggles of women in STEM during that time. The story follows Grace Smith, one of the first lady codebreakers, as she deals with being in a male dominated field and politics while describing her process and contributions to the intelligence field.
Alden does a great job at writing captivating characters. Grace is incredibly complex and intelligent and Alden does a great job at bringing all of her complexities and failings into the novel. The other characters are extremely well written and complex in their own right.
Alden did a fantastic job of blending fact and fiction while making this a very enjoyable read. This story had a bit of everything: a love story, espionage, scandal, mysteries and even more. I was totally engrossed as I was listening. After reading this I definitely want to learn more about the female codebreakers during that time in our history.
I appreciate Alden for writing a woman's story who has fallen through the cracks in our history. I recommended this book to anyone who likes stories of women's empowerment and historical fiction. This was 4.5 stars for me.
December 12, 2023
Lady Codebreaker by K.D. Alden is a great historical fiction that is based off of a fabulous real and courageous woman: Elizebeth Smith Friedman.
Spanning decades, from around WWI to the post-WWII era, we are taken alomg for a ride to see all of the fascinating and larger than life events that happened to a complex, intelligent, feisty, and strong woman. I never knew of Elizebeth amd it was great to learn about her and her husband and the roles they played in codebreaking for the US.
Of note, the fact vs fiction note by the Author at the end of the book is definitely worth reading as it gives a lot of context and sets straight some of the liberties that were taken in order to be able to have a novel that was realistic, interesting, and workable.
4.5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Forever (Grand Central Publishing), Forever for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 3/12/24.
Spanning decades, from around WWI to the post-WWII era, we are taken alomg for a ride to see all of the fascinating and larger than life events that happened to a complex, intelligent, feisty, and strong woman. I never knew of Elizebeth amd it was great to learn about her and her husband and the roles they played in codebreaking for the US.
Of note, the fact vs fiction note by the Author at the end of the book is definitely worth reading as it gives a lot of context and sets straight some of the liberties that were taken in order to be able to have a novel that was realistic, interesting, and workable.
4.5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Forever (Grand Central Publishing), Forever for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 3/12/24.
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