Codebreaker Girls: A Secret Life at Bletchley Park

by Jan Slimming

"What would it be like to keep a secret for fifty years? Never telling your parents, your children, or even your husband?"

Codebreaker Girls: A Secret Life at Bletchley Park tells the true story of Daisy Lawrence. Following extensive research, the author uses snippets of information, unpublished photographs and her own recollections to describe scenes from her mother's poor, but happy, upbringing in London, and the disruptions caused by the outbreak of the Second World War to a young woman in the prime of her life.

The author asks why, and how, Daisy was chosen to work at the Government war station, as well as the clandestine operation she experienced with others, deep in the British countryside, during a time when the effects of the war were felt by everyone. In addition, the author examines her mother's personal emotions and relationships as she searches for her young fiance, who was missing in action overseas. The three years at Bletchley Park were Daisy's university, but having closed the door in 1945 on her hidden role of national importance -- dealing with Germany, Italy and Japan -- this significant period in her life was camouflaged for decades in the filing cabinet of her mind. Now her story comes alive with descriptions, original letters, documents, newspaper cuttings and unique photographs, together with a rare and powerful account of what happened to her after the war.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, History, Womens, World War II, Biography Memoir

352 pages, Hardcover

Published December 1, 2020

Reviews

[Kammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for an advance copy of this book!

It is hard to believe that this book isn’t fictional! It reads as good as any novel yet is mesmerizing due to the fact that it tells the story of the real Codebreakers girls! Very personal and well researched, definite read for any history buff. Glad to see writers shining the light on females who broke down barriers in difficult times and helped the nation strive! Loved the picture of the girls holding a beer!

[Rosie Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Code Breaker Girls: A Secret Life At Bletchley Park. This is a biography of Daisy Lawrence who was just one of the many women employed by the secret service during the second World War.

Written by Daisy’s daughter after her mother’s death, this book attempts to piece together the war years of Daisy’s life which she kept a secret from her family for most of her lifetime.

I would describe this as a memorial to a mother whose mental health deteriorated almost certainly because she couldn’t talk about her war work, rather than diving deep into Daisy’s role and her work on the wartime codes, and it doesn’t give much insight into the work of other lesser known women.

The author went on to set this against a background of what has been revealed about Bletchley Park and how the surrounding pre- and post-war years affected Daisy and her family.

As a piece of history this was an interesting book, and it was such a shame that Daisy died without sharing her war story with her family; so much went to the grave with her and the family can only make guesses about what she did during the war. Her years of post-war struggle and her mental breakdowns were so sad to read about, especially in the twenty-first century where mental health is now treated differently.

I did expect a different book from the book title; I thought that there would be a big expose about what a group or groups of women did there during the war, so I was disappointed that the lives of Daisy and her friends remains a secret; however, there was quite a bit that I learnt about the subject as a whole from the background information. So overall, I did enjoy the book and found plenty of information that keep me entertained.

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Self explanatory title. This book covers just about everything to do with Bletchley Park which I admit to skimming through as my main interest in reading this was to find out more about Daisy and the other women who were there. Lots of things didn’t really need to be included as there are several books covering the machines, the men etc for people who want to know about that side of BP. It would have been lovely to find out a bit more about Stan and his family though and also what happened to Daisy’s brother Harry afterwards. Shameful that not more was done to help the people later the ones badly affected because they were terrified of revealing something. I would definitely recommend reading this in printed form rather than e-reader due to the difficulty of reading the text in some of the illustrations. A very interesting small peep into the lives of some of the ladies who did their bit at Bletchley Park and well worth reading. I was given this ARC by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Rona Simmons]

Having delved into World War II stories featuring complete strangers and family members, it was only natural that I would pick up fellow author Jan Slimming’s book, Codebreaker Girls. It is the story of Slimming’s mother, Daisy Lawrence, who served at the top secret Bletchley Park facility in England during the war. But the intriguing aspect is that Jan knew little or nothing of her mother’s story for many years. Codes and codebreaking were the stuff of secrets, whispers and memories. Although her mother did not live to tell her story, Slimming did her own code breaking of a sort—unraveling her mother’s history and bringing a heart rending tale of adventure, duty, love, and loss to light. Slimming’s detailed portrait of the lives and goings-on at BP is peppered with photos that bring the reader into Daisy Lawrence’s life and the secret world of codebreaking. Recommended for both those who know and those who might never have heard of Bletchley Park.

[Brad · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Codebreaker Girls by Jan Slimming is the story of the Slimming's mother, Daisy, at Bletchley Park during WW II. Bletchley Park was the center of British codebreaking efforts during WW II and many believe the efforts there helped shorten the war and save many lives. As the title suggest, there is a lot of information and stories about the role that women played in the activities at Bletchley. Sometimes the iformation is a bit overwhelming because there are lots of names and situations discussed, men and women. Many times in areas where Daisy was not involved.
Early in the book we get Daisy's family backstory. I can understand that the author would want to include some family stories but it doesn't really add to the overall narrative - until the London Blitz begins. I'm always amazed at the fortitude of the British during the Blitz.
Once Daisy is recruited to Bletchley we get the story of her involvement, but also the overall impact that Bletchley has. There is a lot of detail here. If you're a fan of codebreaking you will enjoy the amount of detail here.
The best part of the book is after the war, when Daisy returns home and is reunited with her fiance (who was a POW for much of the war) and they settle and start a family. The story of Daisy having to keep her secret, even from her family, and the toll it had on her is a story that's not told very much. It was tough to see Daisy struggle because of wanting to keep her role secret.
There are many anecdotes about the men and women of Bletchley like Alan Turing and the Wrens that gives them a bit more humanity.
History fans should enjoy this book, especially if you're interested in the activities of Bletchley Park.

[Kathy Penn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Tour de Force in so many ways!
I purchased this brilliant book for my 90-year-old American friend who departed France with her family on the last passenger ship out before the German invasion. Given her avid interest in history and particularly the WWII era, I knew she’d love it. Little did I know. When I took her to see the author at a book signing, she brought her copy, filled with colorful sticky flags marking interesting passages plus several pages of notes. I think her response to the book speaks volumes.

That day, I purchased my copy, and I was equally entranced—though I skipped the sticky notes!! Only recently has the work of the codebreaker girls at Bletchley come to light and been detailed in several books. “The Imitation Game,” the 2014 movie about Alan Turing and his team, was my first exposure to this history, but there’s so much more. What sets Jan Slimming’s work apart is the focus on the women of Bletchley and their experience as seen through the eyes of her mother Daisy Lawrence—during the war and long after.

Some will be fascinated by the ins and outs of the codebreaking process while others will be intrigued by the familiar names of many who worked there. The intelligence breakthroughs at Bletchley and how they contributed to the Allies winning the war are all here, but it’s the personal aspect that will stay with you. Imagine taking an oath never to reveal what you did during the war, never to speak of three emotionally fraught years of your life. This book reveals the everlasting toll the work and the secrecy took on but one of these unsung heroes and puts me in mind of the saying, “Not all who serve wear uniforms.”

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

As fascinating as I find the subject of Bletchley Park and the codebreakers who worked there, this book couldn't quite keep my attention. It kept meandering too far afield from what it was supposed to be - the story of Daisy Lawrence, one of the many women employed at Bletchley during WWII - and I didn't find the writing particularly engaging. Interesting, but not as gripping as I'd have liked.

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to read this book. I love reading about the people of Bletchley Park so this appealed to me. Unfortunately it wasn't what the cover and summary suggested.

The parts following Daisy and her story were interesting and it would've been better if that had been the format of the book throughout. I was especially saddened and intrigued by the mental impact of secret keeping post war.

I found it went off into long tangents about distant family members, how WW2 started, other famous people at Bletchley that Daisy didn't perhaps meet, and so on. Daisy's fiancee's story is only skimmed over and that could've been fascinating, how they both dealt with their very different war trauma.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautiful history book reads as smoothly as a novel but is a true and often unknown bit of history. I've been fascinated with the codebreaker girls for a while, so when I saw this ARC available on NetGalley I immediately wished for it and was thrilled to get the email granting it to me. I started reading as soon as it hit my Kindle app and I was hooked from page one. The writing is masterful, the story is powerful, and this bit of history is a fascinating yet necessary niche that is still relatively unknown. This was an enjoyable read from which I learned a lot.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher, Pen & Sword Military, for giving me access to this book as an E-ARC via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I enjoy reading about ordinary people in extraordinary times, and Slimming's book is an excellent example on how to do that. The book both tells the story on Bletchly Park and the work that was conducted there over the course of the Second World War but the book also takes in a personal portrait of one of the young women who did work with the war effort, Daisy Lawrence. Much of the material used for the book is taken from the personal archieve of Lawrence and that makes the whole book warmer, in a sense, as she was an ordinary young woman doing very important work.

Nice incooperation of pictures and pictures of documents. Made it more easy to visualise.

[John Purvis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Jan Slimming published the book “Codebreaker Girls: A Secret Life at Bletchley Park” in 2021 (March). This is Ms. Slimming's first publication and focuses on her mother.

I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘G’. This is the story of Daisy Lawrence and her experiences at Bletchley Park during WWII.

The story begins before the war and gives background information on Lawrence. The focus then shifts to her wartime experiences. It finishes up with the troubles Lawrence had after the war. She had to sign the Official Secrets Act to work at Bletchley. The restrictions placed upon her proved to be detrimental to her mental health.

Lawrence had become engaged early in the war. Some of the book follows the plight of her fiancee after he became a POW after the fall of Singapore. The later part of the book tells of her life in the years after the war.

While I enjoyed the 9.5+ hours I spent reading this 352-page WWII history. I have read and listened to podcasts about Bletchley Park. This book gave more everyday details than the other sources. I like the selected cover art. I give this book a 5 out of 5.

You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are two good reasons why I wanted to read this book. Firstly, I became interested in Bletchley Park (BP) when I learned that my grandfather had apparently worked there during the war. This is a man I know little about because he died before I was born. Secondly, I recently finished a fiction series set during World War One at the forerunner to BP; Room 40 at the Old Admiralty Building in London. Because Codebreaker Girls is about the women who were at BP, the author’s mother in particular, I didn’t expect it to reveal much about my grandfather’s life, but it promised to tell me something about the people who did work there.

Codebreaker Girls starts with Daisy’s early years in south London, leaving at school at 14 to go to work wasn’t unusual. She had a good grasp of mathematics, which enabled her to move from a shop floor job to a clerical one. Since the other side of my family is also from south London, this gave me an insight into how their lives might’ve been like in the time between the two wars. Readers learn how she met her fiancée and how he proposed to her. From there, we read how both became involved in the war. Stan joined up to fight, and she found herself at Bletchley Park and signing the Official Secrets Act.

Mixed in with the story of BP – and the processes involved with breaking codes, much of which went over my head – is the story of how Daisy and thousands of other people attempted to discover what happened to their friends and family members after the fall of Singapore. The Japanese offered little, if any, information about the soldiers they captured, and Stan’s daughter offers an explanation that the Japanese didn’t understand the notion of surrender and how families might want to have news of those who did so. There’s also information about rationing, and a short section on how Daisy’s nieces and nephew were evacuated away from the capital.

The most harrowing part of the book, however, looks at Daisy’s life post war. Trapped by secrets she couldn’t share, and a husband who didn’t know – and could never know – what she did while he was trapped behind enemy lines, her mental state changed. Because of the secrecy, those who worked at Bletchley Park weren’t properly acknowledged. They couldn’t receive the medals and accolades that those in uniform were rightly awarded. Daisy received recommendation letters stating she’d done important war work, but she couldn’t explain to any employer what she’d done. This is perhaps the crux of the book. Her daughter shares how there was no support for British non-military after the war, and how it took over 50 years for these vital workers received acknowledgement. Even now, only those still living received that when it came in 2009. That excluded Daisy, who’d died a couple of years previously.

It also excluded my grandfather, who died in 1975 aged 51. And this is where Codebreaker Girls hit me personally, and I began to understand the man a little more. I’ve heard that he was a drinker, that he could be abusive, and that he died of a heart attack. Other members of his family state that he was a kind man, who took great care of his younger siblings. They looked to him as a hero. What was the truth? I know the answer was probably a bit of both. But this book asked questions that I hadn’t thought about before. If Daisy suffered through not being able to share, how much more so my grandfather? He couldn’t have explained how he, a young man, never wore a uniform and never fought alongside his peers. Did he feel the pressure, and the guilt of not being on the front lines, of surviving when other men didn’t? How did others treat him? Did he lose respect once it was known that he was a civilian? Add in a rough home life, both before and after the war, and I’m beginning to understand him. It doesn’t excuse some of his behavior as described to me, but it does explain some of it.

I didn’t go looking for my grandfather in this book, but Jan Slimming’s book was an eye-opening experience. I think it’s vital reading for not only the children or grandchildren who did work of importance during the war, but for everyone. Our culture places a high sense of importance on our veterans, and rightly so in most cases, but we can’t ignore the civilians who worked behind the scenes. When we offer discounts at restaurants and other places for those who served in uniform, are we doing a disservice to those who worked just as hard to ensure that those in the military had all they needed to fight? My other grandfather was exempt from fighting as well: not only was he diabetic, but he was in a protected occupation and made lenses (which are useful for gun sights). Should he also be ignored? Without the likes of Daisy and my grandfathers, would the outcome of World War Two have been the same?

Disclaimer: Although I received an electronic copy of this book from the publisher, the opinions above are my own.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Words cannot express how fascinating this book is! I clung to every word from the first sentence to the last and learned a great deal about WWII, one of my favourite topics and eras. And who isn't mesmerized by ciphering and code breaking? Sometimes you find that book, that perfect book which seems to be written for you personally. Well, this is one of those books for me. It took my breath away. What appealed first and foremost was that this depicts a real person, the author's mother, Daisy Lawrence...the photographs, advertisements and illustrations are touching and laden with meaning. I also enjoyed reading about actual strips of codes and equipment used and the importance of enciphering. The work Daisy did, which she downplayed, may have been tedious but crucial.

As a young woman in England Daisy wanted to make a difference in the war efforts and found herself at the infamous Bletchley Park for three years. Not only did she keep her work secret during the war but for many decades after and learned to deflect questions. Her fiance and later husband didn't even know specifics, even after many years of marriage. Swearing secrecy and honour were very important but came at a price.

"The work of Bletchley Park and its satellite stations was said to be the best-kept secret of the Second World War, after the atom bomb." Wow. So much to learn here. How sobering to realize the average age of an allied pilot was only twenty and that many, many codebooks were discovered on seabeds! Daisy kept loads of newspaper clippings, thankfully, so we are privy to this type of information.

Daisy eagerly awaited news of Stan for months and months on end while working hard at her job, doing well at it. She also made close friendships. Room 40 is talked about, as are the Enigma and other machines/processes (cribs and kisses!). Daily life events such as meals, rationing (including a copy of food and clothing allowances) and sleeping quarters are detailed. Mental health problems were a very real issue, too, as the workers were not allowed to discuss any part of their work. The author describes what happened to Daisy and Stan after the war.

History buffs, you need to read this book, especially if you are intrigued by WWII and/or codebreaking. It is a very personal and rewarding experience.

My sincere thank you to Pen & Sword and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this enthralling book in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated.

[ManOfLaBook.com · Rating 4 out of 5]

For more reviews and bookish posts please visit: https://www.ManofLaBook.com

Codebreaker Girls: A Secret Life at Bletchley Park by Jan Slimming is a non-fiction account of the life of Daisy Lawrence, who worked at Bletchley Park during World War II. Ms. Slimming is Jan’s daughter who researched her mother’s work, experiences, and how they affected the rest of her life.

During World War II Bletchley Park was the center of England’s codebreaking efforts which historians agree help shorten the war, as well as save lives. In this book, the author discusses the important roles women played in this effort, along with her mother.

Codebreaker Girls: A Secret Life at Bletchley Park by Jan Slimming tries to be a bit of everything, a biography of Daisy Slimming, a short history of Bletchley Park and the efforts within, as well as the war efforts as seen from the rear, among others. The narrative moves between a moving biography of Daisy, to give an overall, but not comprehensive, view of the world around it.

I think Ms. Slimming tried to take on a bit too much in too short a space. The story of her mother was both fascinating and tragic. I’m sure this book will be treasured forever in the Slimming family. Daisy took her oath to stay quite very seriously and the British military provided on relief on that front, in fact they made it worst by threatening the women with jail or a firing squad if they even breath a word of it; instead of allowing the women to vent to qualified professionals who could also be sworn to secrecy (not to mention they could just listen and probably won’t understand what they’re hearing).
But times were different, and we’re better now.

Much of the material in this book was taken from the Slimming family archives, pictures, documents, and most important, the fascinating story which would have been lost forever. The book details the difficult and long wait Daisy had to endure while her future husband was missing in action (a POW they hoped), what the ladies ate, how they slept, and the mental issues they had during, and after the war.

There is a lot of details in this book, many people, and tons of fascinating anecdotes which makes it a worthwhile addition to any World War II, history, or code breaking library. Ms. Slimming is a very good writer who obviously did a lot of research to write a fascinating book which, I’m sure, would make her mother proud.

[Lori Sinsel Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Codebreaker Girls: A Secret Life at Bletchley Park" by Jam Slimming is the story of her mother and the role she played in WWII. Taken from personal family documents, files, photos and word of mouth it is a compelling story of everyday women who became heroines in their own right. Sworn to secrecy at the beginning of their time at Bletchley Park and held to this secrecy for many years after, their contribution to the war and the allies' victory of Hitler were not acknowledged until the official release of documents decades later in the 70's..

I have been fascinated with WWII for a while now. Got one reason my father served throughout the USA"s involvement, the other r3eason, I am intrigued at the selflessness and patriotism demonstrated by these heroic men and women. All ordinary everyday people, like me or you. people we meet, wee, talk to everyday but all of them saw and felt a need, were compelled to do their part in the fight against evil, and none of them asked for recognition or expected applause and rewards when they were done. They went on with their lives humbly, with dignity and determination.

Every book I read tells this about the people of WWII, they all extol the virtues of a generation that fills me with continuous awe and admiration. Codebreaker Girls does not disappoint. Telling Daisey's story with dignity. Seeking no accolades except to educate about the role the code-breakers and Bletchley Park filled.

I loved Daisey's story and loved learning about the inner workings of Bletchley. Some parts were a bit dry and held a little too much detail that could have been left out without detracting from the story. And it got a bit confusing with too many names to try to keep up with. The beginning with the background of Daisey and her childhood could have been summarized somewhat, I feel that it was a bit long also. But overall it was well written and very informative.

I recommend this book for anyone interested in the secrets and history of Bletchley Park, and of World War II.
I give this book 3 out of 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley got the advanced reader copy of the e-book in exchange for my honest review
#NetGalley
#codebreakergirls

[Vicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative, Informative, Interesting! I was blown away by the amount of people and the fact that so many were able to keep it “MUM”! What an amazing and awe inspiring experience except the emotional stress must have been excruciating at times.
Daisy, a young woman was recruited for a program and she ended up at Bletchley Park for three years. This was to be her home away from home without the comforts and the family dynamics. The mind is a funny thing and it may seem in one piece now, but after years of solitude in little to no stimulation other than a few others it could affect you later in life.

Daisy is engaged and her fiancé is captured by the Japanese and she is helping to break those very codes. Can you just envision that she can’t tell anyone if he is alive even if she did know! That strain in itself would have been a difficult situation for her to come to grips with knowing that she can’t say one word.
Two people in the same house suffering from PTSD, but one cannot talk about what she did for the war effort and the other doesn’t want to talk about the torture he had to endure. It is truly no wonder Daisy was closed off from her husband and children.

The author has went into such technical details and war details that it detracts from the core of the book which is the Codebreaker Girls. I was expecting a book more about the women and their lives , but instead I got history and technology lessons. I definitely thought it was interesting, but it was over my head at times that I skipped paragraphs to get into the lives of Daisy and the others.

I would recommend this book if anyone was looking for a book on codebreaking during the war and who was responsible for inventing what techniques. However, to say this was about Codebreaking girls, I would say 25% of the book was centered on their lives.

I received a free advanced copy from NetGalley and these are my willingly given thoughts and opinions.

[Annette Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Codebreaker Girls by Jan Slimming is a very personal account of one woman's experiences at Bletchley Park during World War 2 and how they impacted on the rest of her life. The book tells the story of Daisy Lawrence, a young woman who began work in Bletchley in 1942 shortly after her fiancee was declared missing in action, and is written by her daughter, who uses documentation and photographs from her mother's personal archives as well as her own memories and the accounts of other family members. While I really enjoyed the biographical style of the book and found the copies of documents and photos fascinating, I did struggle to stay engaged in the sections of the book which were devoted to the general running of Bletchley, the various scientists and military men involved etc, and unfortunately these sections were numerous. I think the book would have been better as a more focused biography with less emphasis on these details. I found Daisy's story to be very engaging and loved how the author was able to show how the war changed the course of her life completely. I also found the after effects of her experiences fascinating, and I had a lot of sympathy for the toll that keeping her wartime experiences secret took on Daisy's health and the psychological trauma she suffered through,
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

[Diane · Rating 2 out of 5]

What if you found out that your mother had a secret life that you never knew about? What if that secret was of worldwide historical value? How did keeping that secret for decades affect your mother’s life? Your life? Your extended family‘s life? Codebreaker Girls is the true story of Daisy Lawrence who, as a young woman , was selected to work at Bletchley Park.during WWII. Sworn to secrecy by the government, those who worked at Bletchley were unable to share their experiences with anyone except each other. Carrying a secret of this magnitude takes a toll,
The author is one of Daisy’s daughters. Upon finding some long hidden documents, she begins to investigate her mother’s role at Bletchley Park. The book weaves historical facts with her mother’s photos as well as documents and photos from others. At times there are long dry stretches of information about the buildings and processes. It is not that this is not of interest, but it is presented in a very textbook fashion. The portions of the book which I found most interesting were Daisy’s story, The impact on Daisy post war and through decades later as she struggled to keep the secrets she knew was impactful. This took a huge toll on how she raised her family, I would have enjoyed the book more if there was more of Daisy and lest of a history lesson.
My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Diane · Rating 2 out of 5]

What if you found out that your mother had a secret life that you never knew about? What if that secret was of worldwide historical value? How did keeping that secret for decades affect your mother’s life? Your life? Your extended family‘s life? Codebreaker Girls is the true story of Daisy Lawrence who, as a young woman , was selected to work at Bletchley Park.during WWII. Sworn to secrecy by the government, those who worked at Bletchley were unable to share their experiences with anyone except each other. Carrying a secret of this magnitude takes a toll,
The author is one of Daisy’s daughters. Upon finding some long hidden documents, she begins to investigate her mother’s role at Bletchley Park. The book weaves historical facts with her mother’s photos as well as documents and photos from others. At times there are long dry stretches of information about the buildings and processes. It is not that this is not of interest, but it is presented in a very textbook fashion. The portions of the book which I found most interesting were Daisy’s story, The impact on Daisy post war and through decades later as she struggled to keep the secrets she knew was impactful. This took a huge toll on how she raised her family, I would have enjoyed the book more if there was more of Daisy and lest of a history lesson.
My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Desiree · Rating 3 out of 5]

Codebreaker Girls tells the true story about the men, but mostly women, who were breaking the codes of encrypted messages during the second world war.
The story is told through the eyes of Daisy Lawrence, one of the thousands of woman who were deciphering, cataloguing and filing messages in secret at Bletchley Park.
I found the story very interesting, especially the first and last parts of the book. I have learned a lot about what went on in England during the war.
But I also found the book hard to read at times, mainly because after the initial part that narrated how Daisy came to be at Bletchley Park and her search for information about her fiancee Stan, there was a long stretch of endless explanation about the various coding systems, filing systems that were just too detailed and most tedious of all was the endless description of a the buildings and offices and the way their names kept changing. I couldn't see how all the information about the buildings was really significant for the story.
Than at the end it got very interesting again, when the author describes her mothers struggle with keeping what she did at Bletchley secret. I never realised how this influenced a lot of peoples minds.

Well, on the whole interesting, but I can't give more than 3 stars because of the tedious parts.

I thank Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Susan Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Princess Fuzzypants here: I recently read a book on the women and men who listened for messages during WWII and then passed them on for decoding. My complaint about that book was it was too dry. I belong to the group of history buffs who think it is more than facts and figures. It is real life regular people often doing extraordinary things in remarkable times. They deserve some passion and heart.

This book serves it up in spades. In fact, it covers the lives of many of people at Bletchley during the war but it is also a highly personal journey because it tells the story of the author’s mother. The information that she was able to learn came late in life because her mother took her vow to never reveal anything to the point where it caused her grievous harm. It is heartbreaking to read of the bravery and the grit of those who worked in the huts at Bletchley giving the British and the Allies an advantage. They were sworn, obviously, to secrecy and only when the information was made available decades later, did her family learn of what she endured.

It drove her to multiple admissions to mental hospitals and a life of drugs and chaos. Only when she could finally speak about her experiences would she find any relief. So this is a story of dedication and courage but also loss and sadness. It makes this book rather special. Kudos to Daisy and all those who served with her and kudos to Jan for telling the story.

Five purrs and two paws up.

[Sherry Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Code Breaker Girls is a historical account of the secret work of English civilians assigned to crack enemy messages being transmitted during World War II. This work was done at Bletchley Park, an English countryside location.

Much detail is given about the machines used to crack the codes—names like Enigma and Collasus may be familiar to history buffs. Those who have an interest in the details of World War II will find this interesting.

The protagonist of the story is Daisy, the author's mother. Her story is interwoven with history. It's her experiences as a codebreaker and as a young woman waiting for her fiance to come home from the war that makes it personal.

The final part of the story is what happens after the war. How the life of secrecy affected Daisy and her family. It's a heart-wrenching tale that brings to light how those people working at Bletchley Park suffered mentally for the remainder of their lives. The unfortunate thing is that they were never recognized officially for what they did to help win the war. It is the author's wish that these people eventually receive the recognition they deserve.

Codebreaker Girls is a well-researched book that will appeal to those who enjoy history.

[Shawna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Codebreaker Girls: A Secret Life at Bletchley Park is a fantastic blend of history and personal experience. Slimming combines the experiences of her mother, Daisy Lawrence, with enough historical information to give her mother's story the needed context. The photographs and documents help bring Daisy Lawrence's life story to life.

For those who enjoy the history of World War II, Codebreaker Girls give a personal insight into Bletchley Park and the critical events that transpired during the war. Being familiar with Bletchley Park, I was fascinated with the personal details of how Daisy come to work there, her years there, and the effect it had on her personal life following the war. The secrecy of Daisy's work at Bletchley Park in combination with Slimming's father, a Japanese prisoner of war, is compelling as they marry, raise a family, and navigate life. Codebreaker Girls shares a little told story of the hope, hardship, and postwar reality through the life story of Daisy Lawrence.

[Cherei · Rating 5 out of 5]

Codebreaker Girls: A secret life at Bletchley Park is one of those rare gems that if you're lucky, you will stumble upon and give it a read. It's a bit intense and filled with so much information about the early days of computers and the men and women who saved thousands of lives by using their wits to decode the enemies of Britain and the Allies during WWII. I was familiar with some of the names... but, the vast majority of these heroes will quietly slip from memory unless someone like the author takes a stand, digs deep into historical records, and interviewing those who were there or were somehow connected to those working at Bletchley Park. A very enjoyable read! Lots of tidbits to absorb. A must-have novel for those who have an interest in WWII as no library will be complete unless it has novels such as this, to get a full account of the very real history of those who fought with only their brains and aptitude to see patterns!

[Bertha Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exhaustive job of intercepting, collecting and decoding data and encrypted messages sent by the enemy, turned the civilians recruited to work at Bletchley Park into a powerful force that decisively influenced the victory of the Allies during World War II.
However, and although today it seems inconceivable to us, that community of around 10,000 incredible minds, of which more than 50% were women, went completely unnoticed and forgotten by history, and it is not until now, three quarters of century later, that his feat is being recognized thanks to books like Codebreaker Girls.
This book tells the story of Daisy Lawrence, a London girl who is recruited to do a secret job in Bletchley Park, helping to decode encrypted messages from the enemy, while dealing with her own problems: the uncertainty of war, the unknown whereabouts of her fiancé, a prisoner of war in Singapore while keeping his work as a codebreaker a secret, even from his family and closest friends.
An exceptional story that opens our eyes to the events that take place behind the scenes during wars and that makes us aware that in a war, it is not only the soldiers who fight in them.

[Karen McG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Codebreaker Girls is a historical true story of a young lady’s work at a secret facility in England. An interesting and informative read, the book follows the life of Daisy Lawrence pre-WWII and beyond.
I was intrigued reading of how her fiancee, Stan, goes off to war, yet she proudly offers her service to help at home. Daisy had to leave her family home, unable to let them know where or what she was doing. Her life during the war remained a secret for the rest of her life, and sadly hiding it made her suffer.
The book is about more than just this strong woman’s life, but a walk through the historical WWII era life. Packed with history and emotion, this book was hard to put down, especially knowing that it was true.
(I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review. Thank you Pen and Sword!!)
#Codebreakergirls
#NetGalley

[Heidi]

I would've liked this better if it had read less like a history lesson. I liked how Daisy's story started at the beginning, with her childhood between the two World Wars. I was intrigued by the impact the secret-keeping had for so long after the war ended, and this book will probably inspire me to find out more about Bletchley and its people. Unfortunately, the book went off on a lot of tangents about the start of the Second World War, distant family members who didn't really play any part in any of it, famous people at Bletchley whom Daisy may or may not have met, while at the same time not really giving much attention to the war experience of Daisy's fiancé and its impact. This seems like a bit of a missed opportunity.

(I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. The early biography information is very detailed and should have been boring but it wasn’t. Author Jan Slimming tells a great story about her mother. I was impressed by Slimming’s authenticity as she neither placed anyone on a pedestal nor dragged anyone through the mud. Nor was Slimming maudlin. I actually had to double-check that Slimming was the protagonist’s daughter. The only downside of the book is that at times the description of the activities at Bletchley Park is hard to follow, but this could also be due to the complexity of the operation. Overall this is a good read for anyone interested in history.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary advance reader copy of this book via Netgalley for review purposes.

[Leith Devine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting book about WWII code breaking at Bletchley Park. Many of the code breakers were women, because men were off fighting. I’ve always been interested in Bletchley and what happened there. It’s based on the true story of a woman named Daisy, who never talked about it to her family. Everyone had to sign the Official Secrets Act, and I was hoping for more about the toll that keeping a secret like this would take on mental health.
Parts of the book were tedious, lots of details about filing and the machines involved. I feel the book is more about code breaking itself and less about Daisy’s story. 3 stars.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Émilie Weidl · Rating 3 out of 5]

“We rubbed shoulders with brilliance, and we did our bit to win the war, but who would believe you?”

Slimming tells the story of her mother, Daisy Lawrence, who worked at Bletchley Park as part of its codebreaking operations during WWII. Unlike most books I’ve read on this subject, this one focuses on the consequences of the Official Secrets Act. Once the war ended, Lawrence was unable to tell anyone how much of a contribution she had made. While everyone thought she had worked as a clerk, she had in fact done much more important work.

The mental health effects of keeping such a large secret are hardly examined in the literature, but Slimming pays a lot of attention to this aspect of her mother’s life. I really appreciated this fresh perspective. Would recommend for anyone else who loves books about female espionage.

Thank you to netgalley and Pen & Sword for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.