I enjoyed this look into Arlington Hall and the work done by the women there. Set right after WWII, this book was interesting and I especially appreciated the look into code breaking.

I struggled with how much the characters revealed to each other outside of work. Especially after they each made a big deal about being sure not to discuss it.

I would have enjoyed less about their off hours and more of a detailed look into what they were doing.

While the audio was decent, I don’t feel the narrator was the right one for this book. I have listed to her narrate other books and she did a great job. For some reason her voice and this story didn’t work for me.

Thank you to Brilliance Audio for the ALC. All views are my own.

“The Women of Arlington Hall,” a historical fiction novel set post-WWII and before the Korean War, centers on female code breakers during the Cold War. Though predictable at times, it’s more of a historical romance.

Gail Shalan’s narration adds depth and distinction to the various voices and dialects.

This was my first time reading Jane Healey's work, and I enjoyed it very much. My favorite books center around World War II, and this book reminded me a lot of Kate Quinn's The Rose Code. (A book I HIGHLY recommend!) The narrator was okay. She has a kind of low breathy voice that grated on my nerves a bit, but her renditions of the different women's voices was very good. Overall, I would recommend this book, especially if you love novels based around this genre and timeframe.

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me a copy of The Women of Arlington Hall for my honest review

I enjoyed the Women of Arlington Hall by Jane Healey on audiobook. The narration was very good. The story kept me engaged throughout and I was interested to learn of the impact in history of the work that the women of the story carry out. However, I felt it took a long time to get to the heart of the story and it didn't keep my attention as much as I'd like. I'd recommend

I loved everything about this book! This author is remarkable writing the interactions between women. She is also great with the storylines and writing of the whole story. I listened to the audiobook of this and the narrator was really fantastic with making each character their own. I definitely recommend this book, whether audio or traditional! And read her other books too.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of the audiobook provided by NetGalley.

A great historical fiction read about the Cold War, code breaking women, friendship, and love. I felt a bit bored in the middle and wanted a little bit more action , but overall a great read and felt the audiobook was very well done with different characters and accents.

This was a really good Historical fiction about a group of codebreakers during the Cold War. I live a historical fiction with some great research and true history behind it so the authors note at the end was sooo good too explaining the characters and research. If you like this type of history and drama based on true events I would snag it.

There was love and mystery and drama and it was so good. It reminded me of the Jack Ryan series on prime. I really enjoyed it as an audio book with the different voices and dialects.

This was a gifted audiobook from NetGalley and Brilliance publishing. All views and opinions are my own.

Cat leaves school to go and work at Arlington Hall. This work of historical fiction details the roles and depth that the people that work there took to discover those working against the United States. The challenges and depth of the spy network from Russia had everyone on edge. It lead to those involved to begin to look internally to see if there were more spies working amongst them. Compelling read thanks to NetGalley!

Thoroughly enjoyed the narration of this one!

I really enjoyed this one and the narrator of this audio book was fantastic. This book follows Cat Killeen as she moves to take a post WWII job in cryptoanalysis. The codebreaking is part of the story, but more of this focus book is on friendships (and romance), which I enjoyed. Everyone needs friends who will help them in times of need. I enjoyed the unique perspective. Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for a chance to listen to this one in exchange for an honest review.

WARNING: it's another unpopular opinion!!

I have a weak spot for historical fiction with a codebreaking element, and especially when it's focused on the Cold War instead of the more common Second World War period. I guess it's therefore easy to understand why I wanted to read The Women Of Arlington Hall as soon as I first heard about it. I absolutely loved the sound of the Virginia Arlington Hall setting and its focus on women within the codebreaking operation, and I fully expected to love my time with this story... But sadly I ended up having mixed thoughts instead.

I guess I'm probably at least partly to blame for these mixed thoughts, because I had expected to find a completely different plot when I started reading The Women Of Arlington Hall. Sure, there is a brief mention of romance in the blurb, but I hadn't realized quite how much focus there was going to be on the romance in this book. In fact, The Women Of Arlington Hall is more romance than historical fiction, and it was surprisingly light on the historical details as well as the codebreaking itself. Nothing wrong with that, but not really what I was hoping to find and not exactly my cup of tea either.

I love a good story focusing on female friendship, and this is definitely one of the main elements in The Women Of Arlington Hall. I could appreciate the women of this story supporting each other and I can't deny that I enjoyed reading about their growing friendship... It was a shame that there was simply TOO much focus on their activities outside of their job though, and especially when it comes to numerous scenes of them going out with extremely detailed descriptions of insignificant details like for example what they were wearing. These lighter moments felt more important than their jobs and the codebreaking itself, making the story feel unbalanced as a result.

As for the romance itself... I can't say that I was a fan. If it would have been at least a well developed and profound connection, I probably would have been able to overcome it. BUT. Instead, the romance is way too cliche and incredibly cheesy. Add a love triangle and a whole lot of pining along the way, and my eyebrows were working overtime. The characters behave like teenagers most of the time, which just isn't credible for two characters that are supposed to be highly intelligent. There was also a lot of repetition involved, which only made it harder to look past the overdose of romance.

I do have to say that I'm very glad that I decided to listen to the audiobook, because I think this was the best format for the story. It sure made it easier to move past the undesired elements... The narrator had a voice that was easy to listen to, even though the pace was a tad slow. I could appreciate the fact that she used different voices/accents for some the characters, although I admit that some were more successful than others. It made it a lot easier to keep the different characters apart though.

The plot itself had its moments, but as a whole was way too predictable to be fully satisfying. Everything was way too black and white; the bad guys basically identified from the very start. This made it even harder to look past the fact that the main characters didn't discover the truth sooner... And that plan Cat and Jonathan came up with to clear her name was just plain ridiculous. The whole final part was disappointing to be honest, and not exactly credible as it was all just too convenient.

The Women Of Arlington Hall is one of those books that can work both ways depending on what you are looking for. If you are looking for a more in dept exploration of codebreaking during the Cold War, you will most definitely end up feeling disappointed... But if you prefer your historical fiction on the light side with romance and female friendship as its main focus, this book will most likely be an enjoyable experience for you.

Writing: 4.25
Plot: 4.5
Characters: 4.5
Impact: 4.5
Kept Interest: 4.75

Bonus Points: Excellent narration: +.25
Penalty Points: None

⸻

Set at Arlington Hall during World War II, this historical fiction brings to life the women working tirelessly in codebreaking, balancing patriotism, personal ambition, and complicated relationships. The audiobook narration by Gail Shalan is a true standout. Her ability to shift between male and female voices with clarity makes the characters instantly recognizable.

From the opening chapters, the story pulled me in with its well-researched historical backdrop and engaging pacing. The “enemies to lovers” romance, a trope I don’t usually enjoy, was charmingly executed and added a sweet counterbalance to the more serious wartime themes. There’s a seamless blend of humor, camaraderie, and the ever-present tension of working in a high-stakes environment.

Overall, this was a delightful listen with moments that made me smile and others that hit with quiet emotional weight. The combination of rich historical detail, compelling characters, and stellar narration makes it one I’d happily recommend to fans of historical fiction.

In 1947, Radcliffe graduate Catherine “Cat” Killeen joins the women of Arlington Hall to use her cryptoanalysis skills in the fight against Soviet espionage. As the stakes rise, her partnership with FBI agent and former rival Jonathan Dardis becomes as personal as it is patriotic.

I was gifted a copy of this audiobook by NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing in exchange for my honest review. Narrated by Gail Shalan, the performance was outstanding. She brought distinct personality and life to each character’s voice. The premise held so much promise for me, as I love stories about smart, strong women forging their own paths and using intellect and determination to break barriers, especially in male dominated arenas like a confidential military project. While I appreciated the blend of fact and fiction, I found the story leaned more into the women’s romantic and social lives than into showcasing the intelligence and ingenuity behind their cryptology work. I understand this is historical fiction, but I had hoped for a deeper dive into the codebreaking world and the strategic thinking that came with it.

That said, I truly appreciated the representation of both women and LGBTQ characters, and Jane Healey’s writing is engaging with a strong sense of structure and pacing. The plot kept me turning the pages, and the historical backdrop was compelling. Ultimately, I simply wanted more brains and a little less romance. My rating is 3.75 stars, rounded up to 4.

This was a little bit more drama and romance and thriller, and a little bit less code-breaking than I was hoping for.

Gail Shalan grandly performs a cast of characters in and around a government-led and top-secret anti-espionage troupe. The story centres on brilliant Cat, how she lands her placement, the friends she meets there, and her burgeoning romance with rival Jonathan. On that note, there was also a little too little of the other women.

As you can tell, I felt that this was marketed as something it wasn't. That didn't make it less enjoyable in the end. This is quite an adventure, if you take it in the context of the time period for which it was written. There's some dated hijinks and PG humour. The "wine and pizza" near the end kind of spells it out.

Reading about the women code breakers who served the U.S. during WWII and the ones that came after them in the Cold War is fascinating to me, and this book has fueled me to learn more about the subject. 'The Women of Arlington Hall' is the story of women who started out as coworkers tasked with breaking Russian codes who become close friends and work to uncover one of the biggest espionage cases in U.S. history. Catherine "Cat" Killeen is a whip smart Radcliffe grad who loves her family and wants to live HER life, not the one that's expected of her. An estranged relative becomes a recurring issue for her, which results in tests of her loyalty to America. 'The Women of Arlington Hall' audiobook is fantastic, with a great narrator, and I listened to the whole thing in a day - couldn't put it down.

I listened to the ALC of The Women of Alington Hall by Jane Healey and narrated by Gail Shalan. I thoroughly enjoyed this listen. Gail's narration was spot on and I found myself fascinated by the code breaking work and Cat was such a great FMC. Strong - walked away from a conventional marriage that everyone wanted for her. Everyone but Cat, that is. So she could take a job in Washington D.C. doing work that was important, that she was very good at and that is absolutely fascinating. I loved her frenemy situation with Jonathan. Very good historical fiction with a nice romance.

This book was released on August 1, 2025. I need to thank Net Galley and Brilliance Audio for my ALC!

Thank you to Brilliance Publishing for the opportunity to listen to an ALC of The Women of Arlington Hall. I enjoyed learning more about the US codebreakers during the 1950s. I also enjoyed the romance and mystery of the story, in addition to the strong female main characters and their friendships. Gail Shalan did a good job with the narration, especially in differentiating between some of the female characters.

I’ve been reading Jane’s books for years. She’s one of my favorite historical fiction authors. The Women of Arlington Hall was a fantastic book about, post World War II, Cold War America. The Codebreakers of Arlington Hall played a huge part in discovering the spies that were in the US after the war and how they were stealing American secrets. The women Jane writes in her book are composites of many of the women that actually worked in Arlington Hall and made such a large impact during the time.

Jane is a wonderful storyteller. It is very clear that she puts a great deal of time into her research.

I wanted to make sure that I got the book read before the event this week, so I snagged the audio from NetGalley as well as the digital copy (thank you Brilliance Publishing and Lake Union Publishing). Gail did a great job giving life to each of the female characters in this book. I was sucked right in and listened to this book in almost 1 sitting.

Title: The Women of Arlington Hall
Author: Jane Healey
Rating:
Format: Audiobook
Narrator: Gail Shawn
Publication Date: 1st August, 2025
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing & Brilliance Publishing

**Thank you NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the advance audiobook copy in exchange for an honest review.**

Jane Healey has an uncanny ability to give voice to the women history tends to forget—those whose service, sacrifice, and brilliance remained in the shadows. The Women of Arlington Hall continues that legacy, pulling back the curtain on the post WWII women who worked in silence, deciphering codes and contributing to U.S. counterintelligence during the fragile early years of the Cold War.

Set in 1947, the novel introduces us to Cat Killeen, a who arrives at Arlington Hall after walking away from the life she thought she was meant to live. What unfolds is not a story of high-stales espionage, but one of purpose, perseverance, and quiet power. Healey focuses no just on the women's work, but on the women themselves—highlighting their ambitions, friendships, insecurities, and the roles they were allowed (or denied) in a society will unsure of their place outside of marraige and modesty.

Cat is a deeply human character. She is flawed, tender, and driven, and at times, her perfectionism and social hesitance feels frustrating—but it only adds to her realism. She's a woman at odds with tradition, chasing something undefined, but undoubtedly hers. Her friendships with Gia, Effie, Rosemary and the rest of her peers form the heart of this novel—a sisterhood built not on dramatic exploits, but on late-night confidences, shared burdens, and unwavering loyalty.

The romantic element between Cat and Jonathan is warm and sweet, through, it did lean a little to congenital at time. Their chemistry, while gentle, unfolded in ways that softened Cat's fierce individuality. As someone carving out her own identity in a man’s world, I would have loved to see their dynamic challenge her character in more unexpected ways. Instead, the romance, though heartfelt, leaned a little too safe and diluted some of the fire that made Cat so compelling in the first place.That said, their relationship offers tenderness and the emotional grounding for the story's narrative.

Some of the plot developments did feel overly near, and a few twists were easy to anticipate. While they didn't detract from the novel's emotional resonance, it did temper the narrative stakes slightly—especiallyy given the paranoia and gravity of the Cold War backdrop. I would have loved more complication and consequence to mirror the era's reality—not just mention of it.

Still, Healey's prose is elegant and evocative. Her historical insight is woven seamlessly into the emotional arcs of her characters, never once feeling didactic. She's not just writing about women who broke codes, but writing about women who broke molds. Who loved fiercely. Who stood quietly at the edge of history, holding the line.

Gail Shalan's narration added a beautiful layer of depth to the story. Her performance gave a voice to each of the "Government Girls," which enhanced a certain warmth, tension and personality to all the right places.

The Women of Arlington Hall is a gentle, but deeply impactful novel that sines a deserved light on real women who shaped the world from the shadows. A moving, emotionally intelligent story of friendship, patriotism, love, and the courage to define your own life—even when the world expects otherwise. A true homage, and vivid retrospective of Arlington Halls very real "Government Girls" that breathes life into who they were beneath the surface.