This book, and Kate Quinn, deserve their acclaim. Despite the story spanning over 600 pages, there was never a point that I felt was stagnant or lack lustre.

Mabel, Osla and Beth all work in different Huts At Bletchley Park during WWII; each doing top secret work, whether breaking codes or translating them. They take their oath of secrecy seriously but when word gets out that there’s a traitor, the consequences are devastating.

The book is dual time, with only seven years between the stories. Clearly something happened which tore the three girls apart, each spitting venom and accusing the other of betrayal. We then switch back to where it all began to fully comprehend the events which led up to friends hating each other. One final code crack might just bring them back together.

I absolutely loved this book! While it is quite lengthy, it is worth every minute spent reading it.

I loved Mab, Osla and even Beth. The way their lives become so intertwined based on one thing in common, that they were code breakers . All three girls are loveable in their own way. Even now, days after I finished reading, our three main characters still live in my heart and mind.

It is not easy to forget the sacrifices the men and women made during WWII. The things they gave up, the things they lost but also the things they gained in the process. This was a wonderful tribute to all those who gave their lives to service.

I loved learning about life at Bletchley Park. It was so fascinating to read about the real life events and people depicted in the book. This was the first book i have read about the codebreakers and I am so glad that I finally picked it up.

This book has a fantastic plot. The characters are wonderful and so believable
The writing is magnificent
A great historical story

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn is a historical fiction novel set during World War II. It tells the story of three women who work as codebreakers at Bletchley Park, the British intelligence center that cracked the Enigma code.
The Rose Code is a well-researched and exciting novel that brings to life the world of the Bletchley Park codebreakers. It is a story about friendship, courage, and the power of women to make a difference in the world.
The book also explores some of the darker aspects of war, such as the trauma of battle and the threat of betrayal. However, it ultimately offers a message of hope and resilience.

I would highly recommend The Rose Code to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, spy thrillers, or stories about strong women. It is a well-written and engaging novel that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.

I found this book interesting,as I didn’t know much about the work carried out by the code breakers at Bletchley Park, apart from the film about Alan Turing.It was good to know more about the whole organisation,and the stresses and constraints placed upon those who worked there,particularly the women.
It tells the story of Osla,Mab and Beth,who all performed different roles at Bletchley Park,and jumps in time between the war years and the days before the wedding of Prince Philip and the then Princess Elizabeth.When Beth,who was a code breaker,contacts her two former colleagues in desperate need of help after discovering evidence of a highly sensitive nature,there is a race to avoid a potential disaster.
The characters are all well portrayed,and there is a mix of fictional and real life people in the book.It really highlights the importance of the work done there and made me admire the women and men who did such important work which shortened the war by some time.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a review copy in exchange for an honest review which reflects my own opinion.

A well researched historical ww2 tale perfect for fans of the author or Lucinda Riley . The authors research and insight into this period and the ladies who worked at Bletchley is fantastic , an interesting absorbing read my only criticism is it is overly long it could have been edited down to around 400 pages at 600 plus it does loose some momentum

Having read Kate Quinn’s previous books I knew I was going in for the long haul with this one. Her novels take you on a journey and this did not disappoint. Another great historical fiction, great characters and storyline. Another unforgettable read by Quinn.

I was riveted by the drama of this book and could not put it down.

1940 - three very different women are sent to Bletchley Park to support the war effort. They become friends and each play their part in the work to break German codes and influence the outcome of the war. The war, loss and the pressure of secrecy will drive them apart.

1947 - the royal wedding - the three now enemies are brought together to find a traitor who betrayed them all.

Exciting, engaging and a historically fascinating.

One to be recommended.

Having never read Kate Quinn before I thought I would give this a go, the style of book is right up my street.

I wasnt a fan of the writing style so DNF.

An interesting historical novel centred around British female code breakers in World War II. A well researched story, and one cannot say that it lacks events and happenings, yet it took me forever to read this. For some reason, I was unable to read more than a couple of pages in one sitting. It dragged on, and I wished it was a lot shorter. The back and forth in the timeline did not help either.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for an Advance Review Copy.

This book will send you back in time to Bletchley Park . Three young women are working there all in different sections doing their own bit for the war effort. First is Osla. Growing up in society. Fluent in German and currently dating the Young Prince Philip of Greece. Then there is Mab (Mabel) she has been brought up in poverty in the East End of London. Then there is Beth. Her mother is very god faring and rules the house with an iron rod. Beth is a loner and awkward but very clever at puzzles.
Something happens at BP. Two girls feel betrayed and one disappears.

Then on the buildup to the wedding of Princess Elizabeth to Philip some years later. Osla and Mab receive a request from Beth. Will they put feelings aside and visit their old friend.

I loved this book. I quickly fell into the story and was transported to the 40's .

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to see an ARC

Far too long and far too many unnecessary and very unrealistic bits added. What on earth was the Prince Phillip love story about? It felt like a book written about a very British part of history written for a US market.
There is definitely a gem of an idea here but not accomplished in my opinion.

Historical fiction is fast becoming my favourite genre, particularly when the books are set in the WWII era. This book was truly fascinating to read about the comings and going s of Bletchley Park. You hear a lot about the Enigma Code and Turing but not much about the other work that went on there. I really enjoyed reading about the different hut’s and the work they did and how it all feeds and connects to the other huts. I was fascinated by the characters and how the story brought them all together. This was such a brilliant read, if you haven’t read it yet, I wholly recommend it. An easy 5 stars from me.

A brilliant and well written, well
researched story! The characters were well developed and I discovered Osla is based on a real person and had dated Prince Philip. There is mention of Prince Philip as her boyfriend and then later of his upcoming wedding to Princess Elizabeth which I thought made it all the more real.
The plot is based around the code-breakers at Bletchley Park during the Second World War. Three women are recruited to work at Bletchley park, even though they are very different to each other, different backgrounds, personalities and strengths, they form a strong friendship that later turns bitter. It is most intriguing way to start a book: I was desperate to know what happened between these Women! The story is in two time lines. One that is of the women first going to Bletchley Park and one seven years later after their fall out. It is full of suspense and emotion. I couldn’t put it down.

Engaging story about the women of Bletchley Park, using three very different characters. Debutante Osla, East End born Mab,determined to change her path, and local girl Beth, unexpectedly discovering her gift for code-breaking. The three form a friendship which breaks, but then is revisited after the war with a hunt for a traitor.

The book goes between the war years and the few days before the Royal Wedding in 1947, with a range of other characters and developments in the three women's lives. The Osla/Prince Philip connection was in some ways the least interesting, although based on real events, but it all made for enjoyable reading and the book would be great for a reading group with plenty to think about.

As usual in my reviews, I will not rehash the plot (plenty of reviews like that out there already if that's what you are looking for!).

I really enjoyed this novel. I've long been fascinated by the code breakers of Bletchley Park, and having visited the site recently knew how important the work carried out by young women there was during the war.

I liked the very different characters in this book - Osla the glamorous deb, Mab the "salt of the earth" Londoner, and Beth the shy genius type. They were all very well described, and felt real (in fact I discovered whilst reading the novel that Osla WAS a real person!). The pace of the book was excellent too - you could feel the desperation building up as the codebreakers strove to unravel communications in time!

I was initially slightly perturbed by the inclusion of Prince Philip in the novel (particularly as he had passed away fairly recently), but once I knew that Osla was a real person and had actually been one of his girlfriends, it made sense!

I felt that the book could have been a little more concise at times, but all in all it was a very enjoyable read. Recommended if you're interested in the codebreakers, and also the social history of the war period which is well described too.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.

The Rose Code is an exciting historical mystery with a definite ‘thriller’ edge to it. It’s set in Bletchley Park - which is precisely what drew me to it. I’ve been there with some friends, and discovered that one of their grandmothers had actually worked there during the war.

I actually listened to this on an audiobook, and although there were one or two pronunciation issues, I thought the narrator Saskia Maarleveld did a really good job. She added extra character to the three main women in the story - all friends, but all so different from one another: the debutante with fluent German; the practical East Londoner who wants to escape poverty; the local village girl who, it turns out, is a genius cryptographer.

I really enjoyed the way that these characters were developed, and how their unlikely friendship grew. The secondary characters were also all interesting and well-developed, and all came together at the climactic end. I was gripped throughout, listening at every opportunity. And the ending really was a breathless race to the finish.

Oh, and there’s a rather large part given to Prince Phillip as well. There is a foot placed in fact, but I’m not really sure just how much. Oslo Kendall did exist, and was Prince Phillips girlfriend (or friend, at the very least) before he married Queen (then Princess) Elizabeth. I liked the “is it true or not” element.

If you like war time fiction, and have an interest in Bletchley Park - or want to find out more - you might just enjoy this as much as I did.

A magnificent story, expertly told, with beautifully drawn characters. This amazing novel knits together female friendships, romantic love stories, tragedy, skulduggery and surprising heroes overcoming the odds. I absolutely loved it.

This is an interesting book as the code breaker story rarely says much about the women who were such an important part of the process, The characters are actually based on real women although the story is fiction. The characters are all interesting in different ways and it is a real page turner.

The idea for this book sounded really exciting, especially because I had seen the movie Imitation Game where a team of mathematical geniuses endeavor to decipher the notorious Enigma machine. So I was looking forward to a novelized version of this critical period of history.

The Rose Code is a very ambitious novel, covering a lot of ground (too much, maybe?). Unfortunately, I found it was quite slow and too “cluttered”. It is rather long and contains quite a lot of characters and subplots, which was quite a hindrance. Oddly enough, I found the author’s detailed notes at the end of the book far more riveting; they were about the historical context and the background of the actual people it was inspired by.

I have another book by Kate Quinn in my to-read pile. I hope “The Alice Network” will be a more fluid read!