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The Enigma Challenge
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Expected 11 Aug 26Win a free print copy of this book!
16 days and 12:20:34
15 copies available
U.S. only
You have solved the kickoff puzzle. There will be five additional puzzles to solve. Players have five minutes to confirm PIN after locating the final solution. The Enigma Challenge begins now.
An action-packed novel following an unlikely duo as they race across Europe in a dangerously high-stakes competition worth millions
Zoe Wilder has the unflashy, solitary life of an academic, studying ciphers in literature at a California university. When her research takes her to a cryptology conference in Madrid, she's not expecting to kick off the Enigma Challenge, a clandestine puzzle competition few dare to enter.
The Enigma Challenge is an infamous competition with impossibly high lose, and your identity is wiped forever. It doesn't take long for Zoe to realize that she's in over her head. Enter Dane the mysterious hacker who insists they team up. Dane knows the Enigma Challenge—its secrets, its players—and Zoe knows ciphers. For better or worse, they need each other.
Six days, five puzzles, three countries, and innumerable rivals. What's more, the spark of attraction between them becomes harder to ignore, but distractions are dangerous. With twelve million dollars and multiple lives on the line, the Enigma Challenge is anyone's game. Will Zoe and Dane come out unscathed against the other players—and each other?
An action-packed novel following an unlikely duo as they race across Europe in a dangerously high-stakes competition worth millions
Zoe Wilder has the unflashy, solitary life of an academic, studying ciphers in literature at a California university. When her research takes her to a cryptology conference in Madrid, she's not expecting to kick off the Enigma Challenge, a clandestine puzzle competition few dare to enter.
The Enigma Challenge is an infamous competition with impossibly high lose, and your identity is wiped forever. It doesn't take long for Zoe to realize that she's in over her head. Enter Dane the mysterious hacker who insists they team up. Dane knows the Enigma Challenge—its secrets, its players—and Zoe knows ciphers. For better or worse, they need each other.
Six days, five puzzles, three countries, and innumerable rivals. What's more, the spark of attraction between them becomes harder to ignore, but distractions are dangerous. With twelve million dollars and multiple lives on the line, the Enigma Challenge is anyone's game. Will Zoe and Dane come out unscathed against the other players—and each other?
336 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication August 11, 2026
About the author
S.C. Godfrey
1 book33 followersSC Godfrey is the author of The Enigma Challenge (2026 from Viking Penguin). She's also the author of A Very Typical Family and The Second Chance Hotel writing under Sierra Godfrey. When not working on books, she can be found reading fast-paced, exciting thrillers, mysteries, and romance. She lives in the Bay Area with her family. Find her at sierragodfrey.com or on Instagram/Threads @sierragodfrey.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
December 6, 2025
This book was incredible and so unique. With fast-paced writing, vivid descriptions, and heart-pounding scenes it felt like an actual action movie. From the moment I picked it up I was hooked!
Dr. Zoe Wilder is an American academic cryptologist at a conference in Madrid. After ending things with her boyfriend Eric, she decides to enter the Enigma Challenge. Unfortunately, Zoe has no idea she’s just entered into a game with the highest stakes imaginable. Lose or drop out, and your entire identity will be permanently deleted. Solve the five puzzles and win, and you will receive 12 million dollars.
Dean Seaver, cybersecurity expert and Eric’s enemy number one, realizes the Enigma Challenge has begun and requests they team up. Suddenly, Zoe finds herself in a do-or-die situation as she learns just how far others will go to win. Dane and Zoe decide they must put some trust in one another as they fight to win and stay alive.
This was great from start to finish. I loved the ending and would love it even more if there was a sequel one day!
Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Dr. Zoe Wilder is an American academic cryptologist at a conference in Madrid. After ending things with her boyfriend Eric, she decides to enter the Enigma Challenge. Unfortunately, Zoe has no idea she’s just entered into a game with the highest stakes imaginable. Lose or drop out, and your entire identity will be permanently deleted. Solve the five puzzles and win, and you will receive 12 million dollars.
Dean Seaver, cybersecurity expert and Eric’s enemy number one, realizes the Enigma Challenge has begun and requests they team up. Suddenly, Zoe finds herself in a do-or-die situation as she learns just how far others will go to win. Dane and Zoe decide they must put some trust in one another as they fight to win and stay alive.
This was great from start to finish. I loved the ending and would love it even more if there was a sequel one day!
Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 27, 2025
I wasn't sure about this one for a while, but I'm glad I stuck with it because it wound up being fun (if a little repetitive in its relentless pursuit of the mystery). It's over the top, sure - but in a (mostly) good way, like a blockbuster movie. If you expect to not only suspend disbelief but throw the whole concept of it out the window early on, you'll find yourself on a wild ride that moves quickly and shuffles you about in zany ways.
The characters, plot, and pacing are all presented in an oversaturated technicolor bonanza of details that are engaging - and nerve-wracking. I did find some of the early back-and-forth with the puzzles to feel repetitive, but things smoothed out as the Challenge progressed, and from there to the end was a manic flurry of activity that I found quite entertaining. The last half definitely brought this solidly into four-star territory for me.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.
The characters, plot, and pacing are all presented in an oversaturated technicolor bonanza of details that are engaging - and nerve-wracking. I did find some of the early back-and-forth with the puzzles to feel repetitive, but things smoothed out as the Challenge progressed, and from there to the end was a manic flurry of activity that I found quite entertaining. The last half definitely brought this solidly into four-star territory for me.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A great book featuring main character Dr. Zoe Wilder who is a cryptologist from the San Francisco Bay area. She has traveled to Madrid to present a paper with the support of her boss and significant other, Eric. Zoe has a bigger objective: to play in the annual Enigma Challenge. Little does Zoey know how high the stakes are for losing.
The first clue brings Zoey to a famous statue in Madrid where she finds not only an encrypted clue to be solved but also Dane Seaver. Dane is heavily involved in cyber security. and is Eric's archnemesisis. He may either prove Zoeys knight in shining armor or her ticket to "being deleted".
As Zoey continues to solve clues, most of the time being in grave danger, she waves her way through European capital cities. I
I love the depth the author writes in to her characters. The descriptive way she writes about the locations of the clues, the chases, and even scenes between characters makes the reader feel as if they are present sometimes almost painfully so.
S. C. Godfrey has written books before under her given first name. I'm thinking the move toward the change is because of the change in the genre? Im following the author now as I'd love to hear all about her research on some of the aspects of this well-written novel.
Highly recommend. One of my few 5 stars this year.
This ARC was provided by NetGalley and VikingPenguin in exchange for an honest review.
The first clue brings Zoey to a famous statue in Madrid where she finds not only an encrypted clue to be solved but also Dane Seaver. Dane is heavily involved in cyber security. and is Eric's archnemesisis. He may either prove Zoeys knight in shining armor or her ticket to "being deleted".
As Zoey continues to solve clues, most of the time being in grave danger, she waves her way through European capital cities. I
I love the depth the author writes in to her characters. The descriptive way she writes about the locations of the clues, the chases, and even scenes between characters makes the reader feel as if they are present sometimes almost painfully so.
S. C. Godfrey has written books before under her given first name. I'm thinking the move toward the change is because of the change in the genre? Im following the author now as I'd love to hear all about her research on some of the aspects of this well-written novel.
Highly recommend. One of my few 5 stars this year.
This ARC was provided by NetGalley and VikingPenguin in exchange for an honest review.
December 27, 2025
i did not want to get off this rollercoaster ride of a book! it is action packed from the start. this reminds me of The Amazing Race but from a cryptography perspective.
i enjoyed the buildup of the romance between the main characters. all i got to say is poor Zoe, she went through the ringer in this book :(
the found family element is so sweet and added emotional depth to the plot.
the cliffhanger should be a crime, i need the next book now!
Thank you NetGalley and Viking Penguin for the eARC.
i enjoyed the buildup of the romance between the main characters. all i got to say is poor Zoe, she went through the ringer in this book :(
the found family element is so sweet and added emotional depth to the plot.
the cliffhanger should be a crime, i need the next book now!
Thank you NetGalley and Viking Penguin for the eARC.
December 5, 2025
This incredible book started off with a bang and just kept on going! I'm posting this review at 2 in the morning because I could not put it down. I read it during work (shhh...) and right through the night.
It starts off in Madrid, where Dr Zoe Wilder gets rid of her man/boss and enters the contest of her life. Who knew solving ciphers, which are Zoe's expertise, and puzzles could win millons? At the same time, it could cost her life. She teams up with Dane Seaver, who is easy on the eyes, and travels through Europe to try and win the Enigma Challenge.
One of my favorite parts about this book was looking up places they went to and seeing the beautiful things they saw. It put me right there with them as they traveled.
I highly recommend The Enigma Challenge and I'm hoping for a sequel!!!
Thank you big time to Viking Penguin, S.C. Godfrey and NetGalley for the ARC of The Enigma Challenge
It starts off in Madrid, where Dr Zoe Wilder gets rid of her man/boss and enters the contest of her life. Who knew solving ciphers, which are Zoe's expertise, and puzzles could win millons? At the same time, it could cost her life. She teams up with Dane Seaver, who is easy on the eyes, and travels through Europe to try and win the Enigma Challenge.
One of my favorite parts about this book was looking up places they went to and seeing the beautiful things they saw. It put me right there with them as they traveled.
I highly recommend The Enigma Challenge and I'm hoping for a sequel!!!
Thank you big time to Viking Penguin, S.C. Godfrey and NetGalley for the ARC of The Enigma Challenge
April 6, 2026
Review of an advanced copy received from NetGalley.
Full video review is available @DarinasReads BookTok (https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8gRRdwg/) and Bookstagram (https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWyirZ...).
I went into this book believing it is going to be Dan Brown Robert Langdon kind of action adventure with puzzles and treasure hunting elements.
While I got some of it, including detailed descriptions of beautiful landmarks across Europe, it was mostly underwhelming because it quickly turned into a romance at times switching to a silly romcom with the main character acting as a teenager even though she is a 30-year-old well-known cipher researcher.
There was nothing in the description about the romance being the main aspect of the story.
Most of the time I had a strong feeling that I was reading a YA novel. The main character’s infatuation with the physical appearance of a man overruled all common sense. She blindly trusts his every single word even though she just met him under very dubious and suspicious circumstances.
She wants to solve the notorious Enigma Challenge to win a main prize yet she knows nothing about the nature of these challenges. Everything she knows about them comes from a stranger who separates her from everyone saying that she is in danger and needs to follow him. So follow she does. All across Europe. And makes everything he says even when he outright tells her to break the law or gives her unknown medicine.
The whole panties situation is ridiculously cringy. She lost her panties he found them, tucked them into his pocket and later told her that he couldn’t stop thinking about them while tending to her wrist with these dirty panties.
They are trying to solve 5 hard puzzles while being chased by other murderous players and their lackeys. Instead of focusing on evading them, surviving and outmaneuvering them, they stroll and dine in public places while she is constantly drooling over his muscled body. Focus! Are you here for a tryst or do you want to live long enough to win? 🤦♀️
The additional spicy scene felt unnecessary and too over-descriptive for an action adventure. My honest opinion: it would be better if it remained “behind closed doors” book, without the explicit scene.
This whole concept of deleting identities of all who played but lost, all returning players with hired teams of mercenaries, tailored puzzles… While being fun, it is also such an overstretch.
There is a twist at the end. But I saw it coming from afar.
The book’s reading target audience is very limited due to the genre blend. It’s too brainy, too action packed and too over descriptive with the landmarks for romcom readers, and too silly and juvenile vanilla for action adventure readers.
My recommendation for the team: adjust the book blurb to reflect its plot accurately and reach its target audience. This will help to ensure book’s success.
Full video review is available @DarinasReads BookTok (https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8gRRdwg/) and Bookstagram (https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWyirZ...).
I went into this book believing it is going to be Dan Brown Robert Langdon kind of action adventure with puzzles and treasure hunting elements.
While I got some of it, including detailed descriptions of beautiful landmarks across Europe, it was mostly underwhelming because it quickly turned into a romance at times switching to a silly romcom with the main character acting as a teenager even though she is a 30-year-old well-known cipher researcher.
There was nothing in the description about the romance being the main aspect of the story.
Most of the time I had a strong feeling that I was reading a YA novel. The main character’s infatuation with the physical appearance of a man overruled all common sense. She blindly trusts his every single word even though she just met him under very dubious and suspicious circumstances.
She wants to solve the notorious Enigma Challenge to win a main prize yet she knows nothing about the nature of these challenges. Everything she knows about them comes from a stranger who separates her from everyone saying that she is in danger and needs to follow him. So follow she does. All across Europe. And makes everything he says even when he outright tells her to break the law or gives her unknown medicine.
The whole panties situation is ridiculously cringy. She lost her panties he found them, tucked them into his pocket and later told her that he couldn’t stop thinking about them while tending to her wrist with these dirty panties.
They are trying to solve 5 hard puzzles while being chased by other murderous players and their lackeys. Instead of focusing on evading them, surviving and outmaneuvering them, they stroll and dine in public places while she is constantly drooling over his muscled body. Focus! Are you here for a tryst or do you want to live long enough to win? 🤦♀️
The additional spicy scene felt unnecessary and too over-descriptive for an action adventure. My honest opinion: it would be better if it remained “behind closed doors” book, without the explicit scene.
This whole concept of deleting identities of all who played but lost, all returning players with hired teams of mercenaries, tailored puzzles… While being fun, it is also such an overstretch.
There is a twist at the end. But I saw it coming from afar.
The book’s reading target audience is very limited due to the genre blend. It’s too brainy, too action packed and too over descriptive with the landmarks for romcom readers, and too silly and juvenile vanilla for action adventure readers.
My recommendation for the team: adjust the book blurb to reflect its plot accurately and reach its target audience. This will help to ensure book’s success.
January 14, 2026
oh my gosh. we need a part ii immediately pls 😊😅🥹
January 1, 2026
The Enigma Challenge is fast-paced, engaging, and really well written. The challenges themselves were complex, but they were explained clearly enough that they were easy to follow—and they actually made me curious about learning and messing around with ciphers myself. I also liked how much the story moved around; even with all the location changes, each place felt vivid and easy to picture. The interactions between the main characters and side characters felt natural and believable, which made the whole story even more enjoyable to read.
I flew through this book way faster than I expected because it was so action packed. I look forward to the next book!
Thank you NetGalley and Viking Penguin for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I flew through this book way faster than I expected because it was so action packed. I look forward to the next book!
Thank you NetGalley and Viking Penguin for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 14, 2026
Thanks to Viking, Penguin Random House, and NetGalley for providing this eARC!
Action/adventure: 4/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️/5
What a FUN book! The whole time I was reading it I kept thinking what a great movie it would make. It had everything - mystery, suspense, puzzles, adventure, friendships, found family, forced proximity, love. The side characters were great, I adored Luca and Xhan! Is it over the top and completely unrealistic? Absolutely! But that’s what made it so fun!!
Is there going to be a sequel?? It ended in a way that left things open maybe. I would read it if there was!
#theenigmachallenge #netgalley
Action/adventure: 4/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️/5
What a FUN book! The whole time I was reading it I kept thinking what a great movie it would make. It had everything - mystery, suspense, puzzles, adventure, friendships, found family, forced proximity, love. The side characters were great, I adored Luca and Xhan! Is it over the top and completely unrealistic? Absolutely! But that’s what made it so fun!!
Is there going to be a sequel?? It ended in a way that left things open maybe. I would read it if there was!
#theenigmachallenge #netgalley
December 14, 2025
ARC review! 5 stars
I couldn't put this down. The plot was so unique and the FMC and MMC had amazing chemistry. I thought the spice was just the perfect amount. I really felt like I was in Europe, especially Spain. The ending had me absolutely screaming and I really hope we are getting a second book! I definitely recommend this to anyone who likes The Amazing Race & the puzzles and riddles in Survivor. Loved it!
Oh, and this line will live in my head forever, rent free.
"I haven't stopped thinking about them." -Dane
🥵🔥
Thank you Victory Editing for this arc!
I couldn't put this down. The plot was so unique and the FMC and MMC had amazing chemistry. I thought the spice was just the perfect amount. I really felt like I was in Europe, especially Spain. The ending had me absolutely screaming and I really hope we are getting a second book! I definitely recommend this to anyone who likes The Amazing Race & the puzzles and riddles in Survivor. Loved it!
Oh, and this line will live in my head forever, rent free.
"I haven't stopped thinking about them." -Dane
🥵🔥
Thank you Victory Editing for this arc!
December 3, 2025
I had so much fun with The Enigma Challenge. It’s perfect for grown fans of The 39 Clues series, the amazing race and national treasure. The plot kicks off right away and never slows down, and I loved how the mystery kept expanding in ways that actually surprised me. The characters were great and had fantastic chemistry.
This is one of those books where you think you’ll read a chapter before bed and suddenly it’s way later than it should be. If you like high stakes, clever twists, and an easy to fall into reading experience, this one deserves a spot on your shelf. I’m already tempted to reread it, especially if we get a sequel! Definitely one of top reads for 2025!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
This is one of those books where you think you’ll read a chapter before bed and suddenly it’s way later than it should be. If you like high stakes, clever twists, and an easy to fall into reading experience, this one deserves a spot on your shelf. I’m already tempted to reread it, especially if we get a sequel! Definitely one of top reads for 2025!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
December 6, 2025
The pacing of this book was very fast and exciting. Similar vibes to National Treasure or the DaVinci Code. I thought the romance happened a little too fast but I guess that’s what happens when you are running for your lives! A very enjoyable read.
February 4, 2026
Goodreads really needs a .5 star because I'd actually rate this 4.5. This book was a fun read that I did not want to put down. It was fast-paced with some fun twists. While I rooted for the main character, I appreciated her flaws (I hate when main characters are practically perfect). And, "touring" Europe as part of the game was an added bonus!
Plot - Academic Zoe has studied cryptology and is a master of cryptograms, having learned them from her father. At a conference in Madrid, Zoe innocently joins the Enigma Challenge, a puzzle "game" running across Europe with a huge prize and huge stakes, which she does not know when she signs up.
Spoilers - I don't love romances, and this one had just the right amount of romance. Plus, the romance factors into the plot and into whether characters can be trusted.
Thank you to NetGalley for the preview copy.
Plot - Academic Zoe has studied cryptology and is a master of cryptograms, having learned them from her father. At a conference in Madrid, Zoe innocently joins the Enigma Challenge, a puzzle "game" running across Europe with a huge prize and huge stakes, which she does not know when she signs up.
Spoilers - I don't love romances, and this one had just the right amount of romance. Plus, the romance factors into the plot and into whether characters can be trusted.
Thank you to NetGalley for the preview copy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Viking Penguin and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book (expected publication date of August 11th, 2026) in exchange for my honest feedback!
Come one, come all, the elusive Enigma Challenge is about to start! While the rules are very much unclear, and the puzzles are unpredictable, the prizes are life-changing, and consequences are unfathomable.
As an academic cryptologist, Zoe loves a good puzzle. However, when she signs up for the Enigma Challenge, she might not have appreciated the risks involved. Suddenly, she is running all around Europe with the incredibly handsome and inscrutable Dane Seaver, trying to solve puzzles that seem specifically tailored to her own academic work, all while trying to avoid being killed by numerous villains who have apparently never taken a class on ethics. Everyone seems super shady, and nobody is being forthcoming with her, so how can she know who to trust?
This book was so much fun! There was so much danger, risk, and excitement! The adventure was unpredictable, and I couldn’t put this book down! (I may have missed my train stop while reading this…)
Am I becoming a fan of romance novels?? I still don’t think I enjoy genre romance, but when it’s mixed with a horror or thriller, I can get into it (when it’s done well). Sure, the romance here was predictable, but it was still fun. I really liked the chemistry between Zoe and Dane, and it didn’t feel too cliche, and it didn’t feel like it fell into too many tropes.
One really fun aspect of this book was all of the fun locations it journeyed to. It felt like I was sightseeing at the Louvre, and in the wilderness of Scotland, etc. The author did a great job of painting the scene of all of these gorgeous places, without it droning on.
But really, the reason to read this book is the adventure. Zoe has to solve all of these cyphers, to help a mysterious and seemingly-evil organization, while working with an attractive man she wants to trust, all while avoiding multiple scary villains who only care about winning the game, no matter the cost. There was not a dull page in the entire book. (And, without spoiling the ending, THAT is how you write a good cliff-hanger! It should have been predictable—all the signs were there, but wow, I did not see that coming at all!)
Part of me wanted to try solving the cyphers by myself (for which we weren’t given enough info—we didn’t have the tour guide book, or the maps). But, on second thought, that would’ve made it feel too Nancy Drew. The challenges had to be too difficult to leave to the reader, as they had to be challenging for a leading expert in the field. It meant I had to go along with the story, rather than trying to solve everything myself, but it really did work.
I didn’t really know what to expect going into this book. But wow, it was such a fantastic read. I cannot wait to read more from this author!
Come one, come all, the elusive Enigma Challenge is about to start! While the rules are very much unclear, and the puzzles are unpredictable, the prizes are life-changing, and consequences are unfathomable.
As an academic cryptologist, Zoe loves a good puzzle. However, when she signs up for the Enigma Challenge, she might not have appreciated the risks involved. Suddenly, she is running all around Europe with the incredibly handsome and inscrutable Dane Seaver, trying to solve puzzles that seem specifically tailored to her own academic work, all while trying to avoid being killed by numerous villains who have apparently never taken a class on ethics. Everyone seems super shady, and nobody is being forthcoming with her, so how can she know who to trust?
This book was so much fun! There was so much danger, risk, and excitement! The adventure was unpredictable, and I couldn’t put this book down! (I may have missed my train stop while reading this…)
Am I becoming a fan of romance novels?? I still don’t think I enjoy genre romance, but when it’s mixed with a horror or thriller, I can get into it (when it’s done well). Sure, the romance here was predictable, but it was still fun. I really liked the chemistry between Zoe and Dane, and it didn’t feel too cliche, and it didn’t feel like it fell into too many tropes.
One really fun aspect of this book was all of the fun locations it journeyed to. It felt like I was sightseeing at the Louvre, and in the wilderness of Scotland, etc. The author did a great job of painting the scene of all of these gorgeous places, without it droning on.
But really, the reason to read this book is the adventure. Zoe has to solve all of these cyphers, to help a mysterious and seemingly-evil organization, while working with an attractive man she wants to trust, all while avoiding multiple scary villains who only care about winning the game, no matter the cost. There was not a dull page in the entire book. (And, without spoiling the ending, THAT is how you write a good cliff-hanger! It should have been predictable—all the signs were there, but wow, I did not see that coming at all!)
Part of me wanted to try solving the cyphers by myself (for which we weren’t given enough info—we didn’t have the tour guide book, or the maps). But, on second thought, that would’ve made it feel too Nancy Drew. The challenges had to be too difficult to leave to the reader, as they had to be challenging for a leading expert in the field. It meant I had to go along with the story, rather than trying to solve everything myself, but it really did work.
I didn’t really know what to expect going into this book. But wow, it was such a fantastic read. I cannot wait to read more from this author!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
You have solved the kickoff puzzle.
The Enigma Challenge begins now.
Zoe is a cryptologist... leading a rather normal, unassuming... boring life as a cryptologist studying ciphers in literature at a California university. That is until her research leads her to a cryptology conference in Madrid, Spain...and she finds herself involved in a dangerous competition with stakes that are far too high...and if you lose? Your identity is gone forever.
It doesn't take long for her to realize that she is in far over her head. That's when a mysterious hacker makes his appearance... Enter Dane Seaver... who knows the Challenge's secrets and its players. Regardless of how this ends up... for better or for worse, they need each other.
Twelve million dollars lies at stake. Six days. Five puzzles. Three countries.
Multiple lives at risk.
Will Zoe and Dane make it through the Challenge unscathed? Even more important... will their growing feelings for each other grow more... or will they be shattered apart?
Allow me to tell you now, grab on to something, and hold onto it tight... because you are absolutely not prepared for the wild ride that The Enigma Challenge will take you on. This starts off with a bang, and then descends into a rapidly dropping, utterly thrilling rollercoaster of a ride... one that I found so utterly thrilling that I just kept reading and reading until I was finished with it at 3 am in the morning.
And oh my stars, can S.C. Godfrey write. The scenery! She writes in such a vivid fashion that the whole novel seems to spring to life... and throughout the whole thing I almost felt as though I was experiencing the cities for myself... the sights, the smells, and the landmarks that each of these cities is known for...even though I have only managed to visit one or two of them myself. She then uses this same vivid imagery and wraps it into a masterful, heart-racing tale of puzzles, symbols, and ciphers... where danger lurks around every corner... all at the same time, we have a blossoming relationship as our two main characters get to know each other.
There is plenty here that will keep you engaged, and there is also plenty more that will leave you yearning to know more about the Challenge, about its puzzles, and all-in-all, the ultimate winner of the prize. S.C. Godfrey's writing is always a delight, and I cannot wait to see what she releases next.
Thank you to Pamela Dorman Books, Viking Penguin, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this in advanced! All thoughts and opinions are my own and the rest of my reviews may be found at: https://littlereapling.wixsite.com/fa....
The Enigma Challenge begins now.
Zoe is a cryptologist... leading a rather normal, unassuming... boring life as a cryptologist studying ciphers in literature at a California university. That is until her research leads her to a cryptology conference in Madrid, Spain...and she finds herself involved in a dangerous competition with stakes that are far too high...and if you lose? Your identity is gone forever.
It doesn't take long for her to realize that she is in far over her head. That's when a mysterious hacker makes his appearance... Enter Dane Seaver... who knows the Challenge's secrets and its players. Regardless of how this ends up... for better or for worse, they need each other.
Twelve million dollars lies at stake. Six days. Five puzzles. Three countries.
Multiple lives at risk.
Will Zoe and Dane make it through the Challenge unscathed? Even more important... will their growing feelings for each other grow more... or will they be shattered apart?
Allow me to tell you now, grab on to something, and hold onto it tight... because you are absolutely not prepared for the wild ride that The Enigma Challenge will take you on. This starts off with a bang, and then descends into a rapidly dropping, utterly thrilling rollercoaster of a ride... one that I found so utterly thrilling that I just kept reading and reading until I was finished with it at 3 am in the morning.
And oh my stars, can S.C. Godfrey write. The scenery! She writes in such a vivid fashion that the whole novel seems to spring to life... and throughout the whole thing I almost felt as though I was experiencing the cities for myself... the sights, the smells, and the landmarks that each of these cities is known for...even though I have only managed to visit one or two of them myself. She then uses this same vivid imagery and wraps it into a masterful, heart-racing tale of puzzles, symbols, and ciphers... where danger lurks around every corner... all at the same time, we have a blossoming relationship as our two main characters get to know each other.
There is plenty here that will keep you engaged, and there is also plenty more that will leave you yearning to know more about the Challenge, about its puzzles, and all-in-all, the ultimate winner of the prize. S.C. Godfrey's writing is always a delight, and I cannot wait to see what she releases next.
Thank you to Pamela Dorman Books, Viking Penguin, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this in advanced! All thoughts and opinions are my own and the rest of my reviews may be found at: https://littlereapling.wixsite.com/fa....
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5+ stars
Thank you to Net Galley and the Publisher for allowing me to read this book in advance.
WHAT A WILD RIDE! The Enigma Challenge is impossible to put down! And almost impossible to catch your breath along the way. From Madrid to France to Scotland...
Dr. Zoe Wilder (love that name!) isn't really certain what she's gotten herself into when she enters the Enigma Challenge. She's only heard rumors and tales about the challenge: Five puzzles must be solved for ONE WINNER to TAKES IT ALL. And All could be millions of dollars in cash. But there are rumors that Losers are "deleted"... their electronic identities wiped out. It's also whispered that perhaps Losers are permanently deleted, as in murdered.
Zoe is a cryptologist who learned from her father how to solve ciphers and now specializes in ciphers in modern literature. At a Cryptology Conference in Madrid, Zoe has to quickly decide if she can trust her now ex-boyfriend/boss Eric or Dane Seaver the bold, fascinating American that Eric can't stand and constantly warns her to avoid. Since Eric is such a PITA and Dane is so appealing and seems to know more about the Enigma Challenge, Zoe blows off Eric and escapes chaos at the conference by running with Dane. Except Zoe has something that the other Enigma Challenge Contestants want - a book with the next clue and the skills to win.
Twists, turns, constantly on the run, sketchy acquaintances, menacing monsters, and a companion who seems to know a lot but keep secrets, Zoe finds herself not only trying to solve the ciphers first but stay alive and out of the hands of those who may very well wish to kill her. Can she trust Dane? Is he telling her only what he wants her to know or is he truly helping her?
And when Zoe starts to fall for Dane, will she get more than her heart broken? Because Zoe discovers that once she starts this challenge, she can't just back out without the real possibility of being deleted in very way imaginable.
If you love action, adventure, mysteries, spies, and suspense, this book has it all with a bit of steamy romance thrown in. I'll be looking for upcoming books by S.C. Godfrey. This debut hits it out of the park!
Thank you to Net Galley and the Publisher for allowing me to read this book in advance.
WHAT A WILD RIDE! The Enigma Challenge is impossible to put down! And almost impossible to catch your breath along the way. From Madrid to France to Scotland...
Dr. Zoe Wilder (love that name!) isn't really certain what she's gotten herself into when she enters the Enigma Challenge. She's only heard rumors and tales about the challenge: Five puzzles must be solved for ONE WINNER to TAKES IT ALL. And All could be millions of dollars in cash. But there are rumors that Losers are "deleted"... their electronic identities wiped out. It's also whispered that perhaps Losers are permanently deleted, as in murdered.
Zoe is a cryptologist who learned from her father how to solve ciphers and now specializes in ciphers in modern literature. At a Cryptology Conference in Madrid, Zoe has to quickly decide if she can trust her now ex-boyfriend/boss Eric or Dane Seaver the bold, fascinating American that Eric can't stand and constantly warns her to avoid. Since Eric is such a PITA and Dane is so appealing and seems to know more about the Enigma Challenge, Zoe blows off Eric and escapes chaos at the conference by running with Dane. Except Zoe has something that the other Enigma Challenge Contestants want - a book with the next clue and the skills to win.
Twists, turns, constantly on the run, sketchy acquaintances, menacing monsters, and a companion who seems to know a lot but keep secrets, Zoe finds herself not only trying to solve the ciphers first but stay alive and out of the hands of those who may very well wish to kill her. Can she trust Dane? Is he telling her only what he wants her to know or is he truly helping her?
And when Zoe starts to fall for Dane, will she get more than her heart broken? Because Zoe discovers that once she starts this challenge, she can't just back out without the real possibility of being deleted in very way imaginable.
If you love action, adventure, mysteries, spies, and suspense, this book has it all with a bit of steamy romance thrown in. I'll be looking for upcoming books by S.C. Godfrey. This debut hits it out of the park!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I read 33% and then I skimmed the rest.
I'm so disappointed! The synopsis sounded so promising, kind of Dan Brown-esque with a dash more romance. I'm a massive fan of mystery/romance mash-ups, whether they're romance-forward, mystery-forward, or an even split. This seemed to be exactly my cup of tea.
Unfortunately, I'm not sure what was supposed to motivate me to keep reading.
Let's start with the plot: it moved too fast, too soon. Right from the start, we're thrown into mayhem and intrigue and we're never given a chance to catch our breath. Stakes and tension are all well and good but it gets old when that's all there is. And it's fairly predictable. The big twist at the end was so obvious! Instead of making me want to read more, it felt anticlimactic.
For a story about puzzles and cyphers, we don't get to experience much of the puzzling out process. They find a puzzle and bam! Zoe knows the answer and explains the process to Dane (and us) after the fact. It would've been nice to puzzle it out with Zoe, see a bit more of her thought process.
But I shouldn't be surprised because the characters are not compelling. There's so much telling that I wasn't able to connect with either of them. Zoe in particular had a muddy personality. I would imagine that someone who made solving puzzles and cyphers her life's work would be more curious and suspicious in nature. She just blindly trusts a stranger because . . . he tells her to? He exhibits a basic level of human decency? It doesn't make sense. I also had a hard time believing she couldn't find ANY information about the Enigma Challenge in her research. And for a 30-year-old, she reads like she's 22---especially with all that early drama with her boss/mentor.
Dane's personality is that he's a hacker and . . . he's hot? I need more than that.
The romance wasn't believable at all, and the writing of the steamy parts was clunky.
I think this has potential but it needs more work. As it stands, I wouldn't recommend it.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Pamela Dorman Books, and the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.
I'm so disappointed! The synopsis sounded so promising, kind of Dan Brown-esque with a dash more romance. I'm a massive fan of mystery/romance mash-ups, whether they're romance-forward, mystery-forward, or an even split. This seemed to be exactly my cup of tea.
Unfortunately, I'm not sure what was supposed to motivate me to keep reading.
Let's start with the plot: it moved too fast, too soon. Right from the start, we're thrown into mayhem and intrigue and we're never given a chance to catch our breath. Stakes and tension are all well and good but it gets old when that's all there is. And it's fairly predictable. The big twist at the end was so obvious! Instead of making me want to read more, it felt anticlimactic.
For a story about puzzles and cyphers, we don't get to experience much of the puzzling out process. They find a puzzle and bam! Zoe knows the answer and explains the process to Dane (and us) after the fact. It would've been nice to puzzle it out with Zoe, see a bit more of her thought process.
But I shouldn't be surprised because the characters are not compelling. There's so much telling that I wasn't able to connect with either of them. Zoe in particular had a muddy personality. I would imagine that someone who made solving puzzles and cyphers her life's work would be more curious and suspicious in nature. She just blindly trusts a stranger because . . . he tells her to? He exhibits a basic level of human decency? It doesn't make sense. I also had a hard time believing she couldn't find ANY information about the Enigma Challenge in her research. And for a 30-year-old, she reads like she's 22---especially with all that early drama with her boss/mentor.
Dane's personality is that he's a hacker and . . . he's hot? I need more than that.
The romance wasn't believable at all, and the writing of the steamy parts was clunky.
I think this has potential but it needs more work. As it stands, I wouldn't recommend it.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Pamela Dorman Books, and the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 21, 2025
Zoe Wilder es una investigadora apasionada por los códigos, que llega a un congreso en Madrid buscando nada más que presentar su trabajo y escapar de su exnovio y controlador jefe. Pero cuando tropieza con una serie de números escondidos en la estatua del Ángel Caído, desata sin saberlo un juego clandestino que nadie admite conocer pero que todos temen: la Enigma Challenge, una competencia donde resolver mal no implica perder puntos, sino perder la propia identidad.
En ese camino aparece Dane Seaver, un experto en seguridad que no solo ha ganado la Enigma Challenge dos veces, sino que también arrastra tantas sombras como habilidades. Lo que comienza como una alianza incómoda se convierte en un dúo obligado a confiar el uno en el otro mientras huyen de jugadores violentos como el 1982, ladrones de pistas, asesinos contratados y, lo peor de todo, ProtoDark, la organización criminal que dirige la competencia desde las sombras.
Mientras Zoe demuestra que su talento supera al de todos los criptólogos profesionales que la subestimaron, también descubre traiciones que la golpean más fuerte que cualquier ataque físico: la revelación de que tanto su excomo Dane estaban involucrados con ProtoDark mucho antes de que ella entrara en juego. Aun así, Zoe avanza, resuelve el último acertijo y enfrenta el dilema final: ganar significa ser reclutada por los mismos criminales que intentaron destruirla; perder significa ser “borrada” del sistema por completo.
Sin más salida que la victoria, Zoe redefine el juego, aprovechando sus propias reglas y convirtiéndose en la única persona capaz de derrotar a un grupo que lleva años reclutando a los mejores. En una competencia diseñada para quebrar a cualquier jugador, Zoe demuestra que los rompecabezas no se ganan por fuerza, sino por claridad, resistencia y la capacidad de ver patrones que los demás pasan por alto.
___
Zoe podrá ser inteligente, pero le falta sentido común.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
En ese camino aparece Dane Seaver, un experto en seguridad que no solo ha ganado la Enigma Challenge dos veces, sino que también arrastra tantas sombras como habilidades. Lo que comienza como una alianza incómoda se convierte en un dúo obligado a confiar el uno en el otro mientras huyen de jugadores violentos como el 1982, ladrones de pistas, asesinos contratados y, lo peor de todo, ProtoDark, la organización criminal que dirige la competencia desde las sombras.
Mientras Zoe demuestra que su talento supera al de todos los criptólogos profesionales que la subestimaron, también descubre traiciones que la golpean más fuerte que cualquier ataque físico: la revelación de que tanto su excomo Dane estaban involucrados con ProtoDark mucho antes de que ella entrara en juego. Aun así, Zoe avanza, resuelve el último acertijo y enfrenta el dilema final: ganar significa ser reclutada por los mismos criminales que intentaron destruirla; perder significa ser “borrada” del sistema por completo.
Sin más salida que la victoria, Zoe redefine el juego, aprovechando sus propias reglas y convirtiéndose en la única persona capaz de derrotar a un grupo que lleva años reclutando a los mejores. En una competencia diseñada para quebrar a cualquier jugador, Zoe demuestra que los rompecabezas no se ganan por fuerza, sino por claridad, resistencia y la capacidad de ver patrones que los demás pasan por alto.
___
Zoe podrá ser inteligente, pero le falta sentido común.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received an advanced copy of The Enigma Challenge by S.C. Godfrey from NetGalley and Pamela Dorman Books/Viking in exchange for an honest review. I knew this book would be a delight as soon as I read the first paragraph and realized the main character, Dr. Zoe Wilder, was in Madrid, Spain. S.C. Godfrey masterfully describes some of my most beloved places in the world: Madrid and Barcelona, Spain and Paris, France. I can almost taste the jamón Ibérico from the food market stalls in Spain and the smell the Beaujolais wine from the Parisian bistro alongside Zoe and Dane. She makes me want to see Edinburgh, Arthur's Seat, and Loch na Sealga in Scotland, too.
Alongside the alluring descriptions of these legendary European cities is an interesting premise. Zoe specializes in ciphers and travels to Madrid for a cryptology conference where she soon finds herself in the middle of a life or death race to solve 5 puzzles in the famed, secretive Enigma Challenge. Aka, the Hunger Games for nerds. She pairs up with a mysterious, handsome man named Dane, and together they race across Europe, trying to solve the puzzles, escape getting killed by other Enigma Challenge players, and avoid getting their identities erased by the Challenge organizers: ProtoDark. Oh, and there's a $12 million prize for the winner, too.
The plot is fast-moving and exciting. You can clearly tell that S.C. Godfrey knows and loves these locations. She describes them accurately and adoringly. I loved the cipher-solving aspect as well because it was so different and interesting (pictures or illustrations of these in the book would be fantastic). My only pain point is that I find Zoe and Dane's relationship to be a little bit off-putting. There's not a lot of depth or chemistry there, and I don't quite believe it. To be honest, I think the relationship could develop later, over time, because I SMELL A SEQUEL/SERIES! I loved that the ending was left open and I will be first in line to read what comes next.
Alongside the alluring descriptions of these legendary European cities is an interesting premise. Zoe specializes in ciphers and travels to Madrid for a cryptology conference where she soon finds herself in the middle of a life or death race to solve 5 puzzles in the famed, secretive Enigma Challenge. Aka, the Hunger Games for nerds. She pairs up with a mysterious, handsome man named Dane, and together they race across Europe, trying to solve the puzzles, escape getting killed by other Enigma Challenge players, and avoid getting their identities erased by the Challenge organizers: ProtoDark. Oh, and there's a $12 million prize for the winner, too.
The plot is fast-moving and exciting. You can clearly tell that S.C. Godfrey knows and loves these locations. She describes them accurately and adoringly. I loved the cipher-solving aspect as well because it was so different and interesting (pictures or illustrations of these in the book would be fantastic). My only pain point is that I find Zoe and Dane's relationship to be a little bit off-putting. There's not a lot of depth or chemistry there, and I don't quite believe it. To be honest, I think the relationship could develop later, over time, because I SMELL A SEQUEL/SERIES! I loved that the ending was left open and I will be first in line to read what comes next.
Read
June 4, 2026Many thanks to S.C. Godfrey for this ARC.
"The prize is rumored to be cash—millions, if you believe it. But word to the wise: If you enter, you have to play or risk being deleted."
Academic puzzle lover Zoe Wilder is in Madrid for a cryptology conference and has just broken up with her controlling and condescending boyfriend and boss, Eric. In the spirit of her newfound freedom, she decides to enter the Enigma Challenge, a shady puzzle competition that supposedly has a cash prize of many millions. But the Enigma Challenge is far more dangerous than Zoe could imagine, and soon she finds herself targeted by thieves and murderers, on a mad dash across Europe with the irresistible but mysterious hacker Dane Seaver.
An action adventure thriller set in various cities in Europe. This could easily be a movie with its fast-paced action, memorable city backdrops, steaming hot romance and intense action scenes. If you prefer your thrillers to be realistic and grounded, this isn't for you. This is a book for readers who are happy to suspend disbelief in return for a story about an unassuming main character ditching their normal life, facing dark forces with seemingly unlimited resources, fighting callous criminals and shady individuals, seeing some beautiful sights in Europe and running into an extremely handsome stranger who insists they must work together.
This is also a book about puzzles and cryptology, with many references to various different ciphers, decryption algorithms, and famous solved and unsolved ciphers and puzzles in history. Zoe even refers to studying ciphers in literature, an interesting subject that I wish we heard more about in the book! Unlike Zoe, I personally prefer word-based puzzles to ciphers and math, but I appreciated the way Zoe walks the reader through the ciphers, explaining the decryption methods she uses.
From cute and cozy dinners in Barcelona to violent encounters with psychotic criminals, Zoe is on a wild ride, and you can join her in her adventures when The Enigma Challenge releases on August 11, 2026.
"The prize is rumored to be cash—millions, if you believe it. But word to the wise: If you enter, you have to play or risk being deleted."
Academic puzzle lover Zoe Wilder is in Madrid for a cryptology conference and has just broken up with her controlling and condescending boyfriend and boss, Eric. In the spirit of her newfound freedom, she decides to enter the Enigma Challenge, a shady puzzle competition that supposedly has a cash prize of many millions. But the Enigma Challenge is far more dangerous than Zoe could imagine, and soon she finds herself targeted by thieves and murderers, on a mad dash across Europe with the irresistible but mysterious hacker Dane Seaver.
An action adventure thriller set in various cities in Europe. This could easily be a movie with its fast-paced action, memorable city backdrops, steaming hot romance and intense action scenes. If you prefer your thrillers to be realistic and grounded, this isn't for you. This is a book for readers who are happy to suspend disbelief in return for a story about an unassuming main character ditching their normal life, facing dark forces with seemingly unlimited resources, fighting callous criminals and shady individuals, seeing some beautiful sights in Europe and running into an extremely handsome stranger who insists they must work together.
This is also a book about puzzles and cryptology, with many references to various different ciphers, decryption algorithms, and famous solved and unsolved ciphers and puzzles in history. Zoe even refers to studying ciphers in literature, an interesting subject that I wish we heard more about in the book! Unlike Zoe, I personally prefer word-based puzzles to ciphers and math, but I appreciated the way Zoe walks the reader through the ciphers, explaining the decryption methods she uses.
From cute and cozy dinners in Barcelona to violent encounters with psychotic criminals, Zoe is on a wild ride, and you can join her in her adventures when The Enigma Challenge releases on August 11, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Enigma Challenge by S.C. Godfrey is a thrilling romp across Europe, blending cryptic puzzles with a race against time; and the ultimate threat of being “deleted.” Think Dan Brown vibes, but instead of solving a murder, our heroine is trying to prevent her own.
Dr. Zoe Wilder, an academic cryptologist specializing in literary ciphers, heads to Madrid to present her research at a cryptology conference. Fresh out of a toxic relationship with her boss, Eric, Zoe enters the annual Enigma Challenge without grasping its deadly stakes. The rules? Solve five increasingly complex puzzles before anyone else. The prize? Millions. The losers? Completely erased—degrees, accounts, social security numbers, everything wiped from existence. No wonder the competition is fierce…and dangerous.
Enter Dane Seaver, a two-time Challenge champion and millionaire heartthrob. He offers his assistance, but what’s his real agenda? Can Zoe trust him, or is he playing his own game? Together they follow the clues across Spain, France and Scotland while evading the competitors who will stop at nothing to win.
The puzzles escalate from simple substitution ciphers to more complex Vigenére ciphers with keywords, inviting readers to “play along.” The clues they reveal are cryptic yet rewarding, especially for those familiar with European landmarks, art, and cultural icons.
The story moves at a breakneck pace, mixing action-adventure with romantic tension and a dash of spice. While some twists lean predictable, the fun lies in unraveling the clues and racing alongside Zoe. It’s an engaging, puzzle-packed adventure perfect for fans of cerebral thrillers with a romantic edge.
=========================
A special thanks to NetGalley, Viking Penguin Publishing and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Dr. Zoe Wilder, an academic cryptologist specializing in literary ciphers, heads to Madrid to present her research at a cryptology conference. Fresh out of a toxic relationship with her boss, Eric, Zoe enters the annual Enigma Challenge without grasping its deadly stakes. The rules? Solve five increasingly complex puzzles before anyone else. The prize? Millions. The losers? Completely erased—degrees, accounts, social security numbers, everything wiped from existence. No wonder the competition is fierce…and dangerous.
Enter Dane Seaver, a two-time Challenge champion and millionaire heartthrob. He offers his assistance, but what’s his real agenda? Can Zoe trust him, or is he playing his own game? Together they follow the clues across Spain, France and Scotland while evading the competitors who will stop at nothing to win.
The puzzles escalate from simple substitution ciphers to more complex Vigenére ciphers with keywords, inviting readers to “play along.” The clues they reveal are cryptic yet rewarding, especially for those familiar with European landmarks, art, and cultural icons.
The story moves at a breakneck pace, mixing action-adventure with romantic tension and a dash of spice. While some twists lean predictable, the fun lies in unraveling the clues and racing alongside Zoe. It’s an engaging, puzzle-packed adventure perfect for fans of cerebral thrillers with a romantic edge.
=========================
A special thanks to NetGalley, Viking Penguin Publishing and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Sometimes, being contrary can be dangerous. After her ex-boyfriend warns her not to enter The Enigma Challenge, Zoe Wilder doesn’t stop to consider why there is no fine print. What follows is a suspenseful race across Europe with an irresistible man and dire stakes.
Even before the challenge begins, the suspense is already simmering. We know Zoe is going to enter; we know Dane Seaver is going to be significant, but seeing things coming down the pipeline only prepares us so much. The literary cryptograms are fascinating, as is learning about various types of cryptograms. Zoe is, therefore, convincingly brilliant, albeit a bit impulsive. The controlling exes and evildoers are suitably horrific. Zoe’s relationships with her father and sister are heartbreaking, tender, and indomitable. Her new friends bring warmth and an electric anticipation. These characters sing.
The Enigma Challenge is the kind of book that’s hard to put down. It’s fast; it’s driven — excellent craftsmanship. However, there is a brief order-of-operations issue — one that the narrative acknowledges and largely smooths over, though it lingers just enough to feel like something a security expert might have caught sooner. It was momentarily jarring, but the fantastic pacing, the intriguing cryptograms, and edge-of-your-seat suspense pulled me right back in.
If you like your suspense interwoven with a little mystery, logic puzzles, and romance, The Enigma Challenge is perfect for you. It’s tremendous fun, thought-provoking, and deadly dangerous!
Thank you, Viking Penguin, for the opportunity to read The Enigma Challenge. I received a complimentary copy through NetGalley, and I voluntarily wrote this review.
Even before the challenge begins, the suspense is already simmering. We know Zoe is going to enter; we know Dane Seaver is going to be significant, but seeing things coming down the pipeline only prepares us so much. The literary cryptograms are fascinating, as is learning about various types of cryptograms. Zoe is, therefore, convincingly brilliant, albeit a bit impulsive. The controlling exes and evildoers are suitably horrific. Zoe’s relationships with her father and sister are heartbreaking, tender, and indomitable. Her new friends bring warmth and an electric anticipation. These characters sing.
The Enigma Challenge is the kind of book that’s hard to put down. It’s fast; it’s driven — excellent craftsmanship. However, there is a brief order-of-operations issue — one that the narrative acknowledges and largely smooths over, though it lingers just enough to feel like something a security expert might have caught sooner. It was momentarily jarring, but the fantastic pacing, the intriguing cryptograms, and edge-of-your-seat suspense pulled me right back in.
If you like your suspense interwoven with a little mystery, logic puzzles, and romance, The Enigma Challenge is perfect for you. It’s tremendous fun, thought-provoking, and deadly dangerous!
Thank you, Viking Penguin, for the opportunity to read The Enigma Challenge. I received a complimentary copy through NetGalley, and I voluntarily wrote this review.
November 14, 2025
This book is a genre unto itself—it’s hard for me to put my finger on, but this exactly the type of book I love! It has National Treasure-esque qualities with the puzzles and cryptology and fast-paced adventure feel. I have so many compliments—fantastic title, engrossing premise, compelling characters, and incredible European setting!
Plot: Dr. Zoe Wilder is technically in Madrid for a cryptology conference—off the record, she’s there to participate in the notorious Enigma Challenge. With no idea of what the contest entails, she relies on adrenaline and newfound ally, Dane Seaver, to get her through the five puzzles that lie ahead. Luckily, puzzles and ciphers are Zoe’s thing. As she and Dane traipse across Europe solving each stage of the challenge, they start to build a rapport beyond just working well together. More than just puzzles stand in the way of the multi-million dollar prize—there are players who are out for literal blood. Oh and of course another incentive to win is avoiding identity deletion—the fate of all other players. Worth playing for? I’d say so.
Y’all—the only bad thing about this book is that it’s not being published until August 2026! But put it on your list now! This is one of the best books I’ve read this year and if I had the power to do so, I’d demand a sequel! We the readers need more Zoe & Dane! More action, more everything pretty please! I will be thinking about The Enigma Challenge for a while and am so impressed by Godfrey’s writing. This book was captivating from cover to cover—chef’s kiss in every way!
Thank you so much to Viking Penguin, S.C. Godfrey, and NetGalley for the ARC of The Enigma Challenge
Plot: Dr. Zoe Wilder is technically in Madrid for a cryptology conference—off the record, she’s there to participate in the notorious Enigma Challenge. With no idea of what the contest entails, she relies on adrenaline and newfound ally, Dane Seaver, to get her through the five puzzles that lie ahead. Luckily, puzzles and ciphers are Zoe’s thing. As she and Dane traipse across Europe solving each stage of the challenge, they start to build a rapport beyond just working well together. More than just puzzles stand in the way of the multi-million dollar prize—there are players who are out for literal blood. Oh and of course another incentive to win is avoiding identity deletion—the fate of all other players. Worth playing for? I’d say so.
Y’all—the only bad thing about this book is that it’s not being published until August 2026! But put it on your list now! This is one of the best books I’ve read this year and if I had the power to do so, I’d demand a sequel! We the readers need more Zoe & Dane! More action, more everything pretty please! I will be thinking about The Enigma Challenge for a while and am so impressed by Godfrey’s writing. This book was captivating from cover to cover—chef’s kiss in every way!
Thank you so much to Viking Penguin, S.C. Godfrey, and NetGalley for the ARC of The Enigma Challenge
February 11, 2026
If anyone has ever wanted to read a book similar James Bond/Mission Impossible, then this book is for you!
This is action packed, European heist like book I have been waiting for! I have always craved a read like this, courtesy of my love for these type of movies, This fulfills that craving. We follow Dr, Zoe Wilder, a cryptologist, who is in Madrid for a conference on her research. There she meets the enigmatic Dane Seaver who whisks her away on an adventure across three countries to partake in The Enigma Challenge which is a puzzle solving, yearly challenge put on by a nefarious company as a way to recruit others to join them. Through trials and tribulations, Zoe grows closer to Dane, but he has a lot of secrets he is hiding. She thinks she knows who he is but does she...?
I really loved the setting. As someone who had all of these cities/countries on my travel list, I was enamored. The way the author described the locations made me feel like I was actually there with them. The pacing is very quick, and coupled with the short length, equals a very quick read. The plot was super engaging with the puzzle solving and the threats coming for our duo at every angle. My only complaint would be the romance as I've become a little picky in that area. The buildup and tension was nice, but I wasn't satisfied when they finally got together. It was a little underwhelming to me.
Overall, I really fun story I would classify in the thriller category!
Thank you Viking penguin/Pamela Dorman Books and net galley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is action packed, European heist like book I have been waiting for! I have always craved a read like this, courtesy of my love for these type of movies, This fulfills that craving. We follow Dr, Zoe Wilder, a cryptologist, who is in Madrid for a conference on her research. There she meets the enigmatic Dane Seaver who whisks her away on an adventure across three countries to partake in The Enigma Challenge which is a puzzle solving, yearly challenge put on by a nefarious company as a way to recruit others to join them. Through trials and tribulations, Zoe grows closer to Dane, but he has a lot of secrets he is hiding. She thinks she knows who he is but does she...?
I really loved the setting. As someone who had all of these cities/countries on my travel list, I was enamored. The way the author described the locations made me feel like I was actually there with them. The pacing is very quick, and coupled with the short length, equals a very quick read. The plot was super engaging with the puzzle solving and the threats coming for our duo at every angle. My only complaint would be the romance as I've become a little picky in that area. The buildup and tension was nice, but I wasn't satisfied when they finally got together. It was a little underwhelming to me.
Overall, I really fun story I would classify in the thriller category!
Thank you Viking penguin/Pamela Dorman Books and net galley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is a review of an advanced reader copy provided by Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Dr. Zoe Wilder, a cryptographer, is drawn into a deadly international game that tests her skills at solving puzzles. Joined by the mysterious Dane Seaver and his trio of like-minded colleagues, Zoe and Dane try to outwit other killer contestants and race against the clock in this intriguing and deadly romp across Europe.
A little bit of National Treasure and a little bit of The DaVinci Code, The Enigma Challenge tests contestants' cryptographic knowledge. If you solve all 5 puzzles, you become a millionaire; fail and your identity is erased.
The characters have well-grounded motivations. S.C. Godfrey's descriptions of the locations, monuments, and food paint vivid pictures in your mind, and it is easy to imagine our characters as they rush from venue to venue. (Don't go into this book hungry!)
The romance feels a bit rushed and shoed-in. It is almost as if the author couldn't decide if this was a romance or a thriller and ultimately threw it all at the wall to see what would stick. The last chapter felt rushed, and I couldn't decide if it ended on a cliffhanger or not - it is slightly open-ended.
All-in-all, a good fun read that will keep you guessing. A solid 4/5 stars!
Dr. Zoe Wilder, a cryptographer, is drawn into a deadly international game that tests her skills at solving puzzles. Joined by the mysterious Dane Seaver and his trio of like-minded colleagues, Zoe and Dane try to outwit other killer contestants and race against the clock in this intriguing and deadly romp across Europe.
A little bit of National Treasure and a little bit of The DaVinci Code, The Enigma Challenge tests contestants' cryptographic knowledge. If you solve all 5 puzzles, you become a millionaire; fail and your identity is erased.
The characters have well-grounded motivations. S.C. Godfrey's descriptions of the locations, monuments, and food paint vivid pictures in your mind, and it is easy to imagine our characters as they rush from venue to venue. (Don't go into this book hungry!)
The romance feels a bit rushed and shoed-in. It is almost as if the author couldn't decide if this was a romance or a thriller and ultimately threw it all at the wall to see what would stick. The last chapter felt rushed, and I couldn't decide if it ended on a cliffhanger or not - it is slightly open-ended.
All-in-all, a good fun read that will keep you guessing. A solid 4/5 stars!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"You have solved the kickoff puzzle." The Enigma Challenge is an infamous competition where participants solve puzzles across different countries; the stakes are impossibly high, as losing means your identity is wiped forever.
The concept was enthralling. I didn't want to put the book down! It seemed like the challenge was going to be rather simple: Navigate five puzzles in three countries over six days against numerous rivals. Um, not so much. I was exhausted by the end of the book!
Zoe Wilder, an academic studying ciphers, is unexpectedly drawn into the enigma competition. She teams up with Dane Seaver, a mysterious hacker who knows the game and its players. Win, and they receive twelve million dollars. Lose, and they face identity erasure. Puzzles, cryptograms, and ciphers are central to the plot, and the way Zoe cracked ciphers was astonishing. The pace was incredibly fast! Along the way, there were some graphic injuries, and some rather explicit descriptions of sex that made me roll my eyes.
All in all, I loved the book, and would love for there to be a second one!
Big thanks to #PamelaDormanBooks, for providing this book for consideration and review via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own. The Enigma Challenge has an expected publication date of August 11, 2026.
#Ciphers #Romance #Mystery #Thriller
The concept was enthralling. I didn't want to put the book down! It seemed like the challenge was going to be rather simple: Navigate five puzzles in three countries over six days against numerous rivals. Um, not so much. I was exhausted by the end of the book!
Zoe Wilder, an academic studying ciphers, is unexpectedly drawn into the enigma competition. She teams up with Dane Seaver, a mysterious hacker who knows the game and its players. Win, and they receive twelve million dollars. Lose, and they face identity erasure. Puzzles, cryptograms, and ciphers are central to the plot, and the way Zoe cracked ciphers was astonishing. The pace was incredibly fast! Along the way, there were some graphic injuries, and some rather explicit descriptions of sex that made me roll my eyes.
All in all, I loved the book, and would love for there to be a second one!
Big thanks to #PamelaDormanBooks, for providing this book for consideration and review via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own. The Enigma Challenge has an expected publication date of August 11, 2026.
#Ciphers #Romance #Mystery #Thriller
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
So, I had to Google a lot of stuff while reading this book. If you aren't familiar with the subject matter, don't let that deter you!! If you do, you will miss out on a suspenseful, smart and fun, Indiana Jones sort of adventure! Zoe Wilder is a Dr. of Cryptology. Yes, this a thing. I Googled it. Zoe is invited to Madrid to speak at a Cipher Conference. or so she thinks. Yes, I Googled cipher too. In reality, she has been entered in a top-secret race across Europe to solve a cryptogram type puzzle. The race is called The Enigma Challenge, and the stakes are high with a $12million prize for the winner. Oh, and if you lose? Well, your entire identity will be erased. Along the way, Zoe teams up with Dane Seaver, who is no stranger to Zoe and has key information. And did I mention that he is a total jerk? This is an action-packed story! The author's descriptions of all of the countries were so cool! All places that I would love to visit. And the cryptogram parts were fascinating! I would have loved accompanying illustrations! I smell a sequel, or maybe that's just wishful thinking.
Thank you to #NetGalley, S.C. Godfrey and Viking Penguin | Pamela Dorman Books for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to #NetGalley, S.C. Godfrey and Viking Penguin | Pamela Dorman Books for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Enigma Challenge was a fun, fast-paced read that felt like stepping into a treasure hunt movie, full of intrigue, hidden clues, and clever twists. From the start, the story pulls you into a world of cipher puzzles and layered mysteries, making you feel like you’re solving the riddles right alongside the characters. The puzzle elements were especially enjoyable and added an interactive quality that kept me turning pages to see what would be uncovered next.
While the adventure and mystery aspects were strong, the love story didn’t quite work for me and felt unnecessary to the overall plot. It didn’t detract enough to ruin the experience, but I could have done without it and would have preferred more focus on the puzzles and the central mystery.
That said, the ending absolutely delivered. It was surprising, well-executed, and genuinely caught me off guard, in the best way. I didn’t see it coming at all, and it tied everything together in a satisfying way that made the journey worth it.
Overall, The Enigma Challenge is a solid choice for readers who enjoy puzzle-driven mysteries, codes, and a cinematic treasure-hunt vibe. If you like stories that keep your brain engaged and reward you with a strong twist at the end, this one is definitely worth checking out.
While the adventure and mystery aspects were strong, the love story didn’t quite work for me and felt unnecessary to the overall plot. It didn’t detract enough to ruin the experience, but I could have done without it and would have preferred more focus on the puzzles and the central mystery.
That said, the ending absolutely delivered. It was surprising, well-executed, and genuinely caught me off guard, in the best way. I didn’t see it coming at all, and it tied everything together in a satisfying way that made the journey worth it.
Overall, The Enigma Challenge is a solid choice for readers who enjoy puzzle-driven mysteries, codes, and a cinematic treasure-hunt vibe. If you like stories that keep your brain engaged and reward you with a strong twist at the end, this one is definitely worth checking out.
January 20, 2026
3.5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for providing this ARC for review consideration.
The Enigma Challenge is a fast-paced, action-movie style book. Somewhat similar to a National Treasure or Da Vinci Code, except the puzzles are part of a competition, instead of just something for historical treasure hunters. It offers high entertainment value, which is what I based my star rating on, not necessarily substance. It was fun. Nothing too mind blowing. I found all the different codes and ciphers interesting and actually feel equipped to handle my next escape room better, ha. Though I did expect them to be more complex.
I found the romance to elicit a few eye rolls. It was very cliche and predictable in my opinion. The constant predicament of getting stuck in the same hotel room was a little ridiculous, for example, as well as other things I’ll leave out for the sake of spoilers in the case that you can’t see them coming from a million miles away. The “found family” aspect also happened way too quickly and without much development.
Some of the details surrounding The Enigma Challenge seemed a little silly - such as being able to enter without understanding what was at stake.
Over all, would recommend for someone looking for a quick, light, entertaining read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for providing this ARC for review consideration.
The Enigma Challenge is a fast-paced, action-movie style book. Somewhat similar to a National Treasure or Da Vinci Code, except the puzzles are part of a competition, instead of just something for historical treasure hunters. It offers high entertainment value, which is what I based my star rating on, not necessarily substance. It was fun. Nothing too mind blowing. I found all the different codes and ciphers interesting and actually feel equipped to handle my next escape room better, ha. Though I did expect them to be more complex.
I found the romance to elicit a few eye rolls. It was very cliche and predictable in my opinion. The constant predicament of getting stuck in the same hotel room was a little ridiculous, for example, as well as other things I’ll leave out for the sake of spoilers in the case that you can’t see them coming from a million miles away. The “found family” aspect also happened way too quickly and without much development.
Some of the details surrounding The Enigma Challenge seemed a little silly - such as being able to enter without understanding what was at stake.
Over all, would recommend for someone looking for a quick, light, entertaining read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Enigma Challenge was a fun chase through several countries as Zoe Wilder and mystery man, Dane Seaver try to decode cyphers or face the terrifying consequences of losing the Challenge.
I enjoyed Zoe, who was in over her head most of the time. Dane was a bit too good to be true but made for a good partner. Dane’s two friends and coworkers were a good addition to the story as well. The locations were great, I could picture the streets and cafes so clearly. The plot moves right along, had the harried feeling of only being a half step ahead of the villains.
There were a couple of things that didn’t work as well. The instalove set up with Zoe and Dane. Yes, they were under a lot of pressure so feelings were big, but I just couldn’t buy it happening so quickly. Also, this is supposed to be an elite game with difficult-to-solve problems. Yet, Zoe could solve them in minutes once the clue was found. The information about the different styles of cyphers was pretty interesting and I would not having minded spending more time with each puzzle.
Altogether, if you are looking for a light, quick thriller, this was pretty engaging.
Thank you to Net Galley and Viking Penguin for the eARC.
3.5 stars
I enjoyed Zoe, who was in over her head most of the time. Dane was a bit too good to be true but made for a good partner. Dane’s two friends and coworkers were a good addition to the story as well. The locations were great, I could picture the streets and cafes so clearly. The plot moves right along, had the harried feeling of only being a half step ahead of the villains.
There were a couple of things that didn’t work as well. The instalove set up with Zoe and Dane. Yes, they were under a lot of pressure so feelings were big, but I just couldn’t buy it happening so quickly. Also, this is supposed to be an elite game with difficult-to-solve problems. Yet, Zoe could solve them in minutes once the clue was found. The information about the different styles of cyphers was pretty interesting and I would not having minded spending more time with each puzzle.
Altogether, if you are looking for a light, quick thriller, this was pretty engaging.
Thank you to Net Galley and Viking Penguin for the eARC.
3.5 stars
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