The Rose Code is a brilliant novel to lose yourself in–a page turning historical fiction with well-drawn and vibrant characters, enduring love and painful loss, bits of humour, and a lot of interesting information about top secret code breaking which was crucial to winning the war, and even a bit about the royal family. Topically it was a delightful mix of two screen hits The Imitation Game and The Crown. If you liked those, you’ll love this.
Her other books The Alice Network and The Huntress were good too, but this one clearly surpassed both of those for me. The Author’s Notes at the end reveal the extensive research put into this work, but descriptions never slowed the pacing or became laborious. Quinn has a way of weaving it all together so the reading is effortless and the learning optimal.
There have been SO many books written about the second world war, and I’ve already read a lot of them. I don’t usually pick up another one without a strong recommendation, so thanks for that Karen!
In the earlier thread, as England prepares to fight the Nazis, three very different women answer the call to Bletchley Park, where the best minds in Britain train to break German military codes. Osla, a beautiful socialite with ties to the royal family, puts her fluent German to use as a translator of decoded enemy secrets. Mab, a headstrong woman with great determination, works the legendary codebreaking machines, and Beth, a shy simple country girl, conceals a brilliant facility with puzzles. She becomes one of the Park’s few female cryptanalysts.
In the later thread, as the royal wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip whips post-war Britain into a fever, the three women are reunited by a mysterious encrypted letter– the key to which lies buried in the long-ago betrayal that destroyed their friendship and left one of them confined to an asylum.
Joanne's Reading Blog 
I loved this book as well and am delighted that you agree, Joanne. The extensive descriptive detail, the weaving of the past and present as well as the mystery behind the betrayal captured and kept my interest and curiosity.
Thanks for your recommendation Karen!
Okay I’ll admit that I was skeptical about yet another WW2 historical novel but my trust in your discernment was rewarded. Thoroughly enjoyed this book and cared about the characters. A bit of a raised eyebrow over the inclusion of Prince Philip but who knows? Thank you for the recommendation.
That’s great Nancy! Glad you enjoyed it.