Cover Image: The Cryptographer’s Dilemma

The Cryptographer’s Dilemma

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Member Reviews

Eloise Marshall, the cryptographer, has several dilemmas. Should she leave her cryptography job at the Navy and work with the FBI? Should she pose as FBI agent Philip C’s sister and travel cross-country with him? Should she confront her father who disappeared thirteen years ago? Should she tell her mother?
Colorblindness keeps Philip from serving in the military during World War II. He’s frustrated, but soon grows to appreciate the opportunity to work with Eloise. Their task is to find an American traitor who uses messages about dolls to convey information to the enemy.
Based on true events, the story moved along at a good pace and kept my interest.

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This is another great WWII read! This time, on American soil, the FBI is following leads to apprehend possible spies. Having just broken up a ring of traitors, loyal to Germany, a new search begins to find the author of letters referencing dolls that are suspected of having a double meaning. In WWII, women's roles began to change as the men marched off to war, leaving behind countless jobs that must still be done. Eloise, a cryptographer working for the United States Navy is pulled into the FBI to bring a woman's touch and her experienced code-cracking abilities to aid in the search for the new spy. Her partner, an FBI agent with a chip on his shoulder after being rejected for active military duty due to color blindness, must get along with his new partner, chosen by his uncle, also with the FBI. His one salvation, having four sisters and being more accustomed to women's moods than some men.
The story keeps the reader engaged and at times suspenseful, hoping the "Doll Woman" spy can be caught and brought to justice. Above all, so many secrets, kept by so many different parties, are bound to cause difficulties as the story unfolds.

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I don't think I have read anything by this author (Johnnie Alexander) before, and this was a good introduction to her work. The book was intriguing, with the right balance of romance and suspense elements. I think the author did a good job of keeping the reader interested from beginning to end, although the romantic elements seemed a bit rushed towards the end. The investigative/cryptographic elements were good -- not too deep for the casual reader like myself who is looking for entertainment, rather than a mystery to solve. I think this book would be a good read for those who enjoy historical fiction by Roseanna M. White or Elizabeth Camden. I would read more of this author's work.

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I really enjoyed this story set in World War II. The characters were flawed, but interesting and empathetic, so it wasn't difficult for me to get attached to them. I hadn't heard of the Doll Woman case, so it was fun to learn about that bit of history, as well. I hadn't read anything by this author before, but after reading this book, I'd definitely read others by her!

Thanks to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for the eARC of this story in exchange for my honest review.

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I selected this book because it highlights the role of cryptography, not a frequent theme in WWII novels. The story is based on true events, which to me makes a story extra attractive. I expected a suspense novel, but the book has a limited amount of tension. The main characters travel across the country, stop here and there, have a chat and a cup of tea while the reader is wondering where this is going. Although the objective is to find the “Doll Woman”, other unrelated events unexpectedly pop up. The book is a quick read and therefore there is no space to delve deep into the characters explaining where they are coming from. This makes certain events (for example Eloise losing control and an incriminating photograph) appear to come out of the blue. Eloise repeatedly following her own counsel left me speechless. I also found it hard to see a character who was so negatively portrayed initially, all of a sudden become (somewhat of) a good guy. An FBI man who acts the way Phillip did towards the end of the book, really? Overall it’s a quick and clean read with an interesting premise. I enjoyed the author’s writing style but I prefer thicker books with more back story and maybe that’s why it didn’t really strike a chord with me.

Thank you NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for providing me with an ARC, all opinions are my own.

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A fantastic novel made even better by the author's note about how it was based on a true story! Eloise and Phillip are an unlikely pair to go gallivanting across the country in search of foreign spies, yet they make it work. They meet up with some unexpected faces from the past, protect each other from danger, and discover a little bit about themselves along the way. Would love to see more from this author!

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I am always delighted to find a new novel by JOHNNIE ALEXANDER and THE CRYPTOGRAPHER'S DILEMMA definitely does not disappoint. Taking place during WW11, the book is exciting and inspirational and will grip you from beginning to end. Based on the true story of the Doll Lady, the author adds fictional characters that you will not forget in a hurry.
When Navy cryptographer, Eloise Marshall, is seconded by the FBI to unravel jargon codes in letters written by Japanese sympathizers after Pearl Harbor, she is determined to not let Agent Phillip Clayton or his uncle Richard Whitmer down. To start with, Phillip is not impressed with being partnered with a civilian, but his opinion soon changes when he experiences her interviewing skills and the easy way they work together.
There is a strong Christian message of forgiveness and reconciliation and of relying on the Lord who often engineers circumstances to bring about His purposes in a person's life. Add to this a sweet romance and plenty of intrigue and suspense and you have all you need for a great read.
I highly recommend The Cryptographer's Dilemma to anyone who enjoys this genre.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Barbour Publishing. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

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Thank you to Barbour Publishing for allowing me to read an ARC ebook of The Cryptographer’s Dilemma by Johnnie Alexander. As an avid WW2 historical fiction fan, I loved that this book focused on the war effort on US soil and a female cryptologist was a main character. Eloise Marshall worked for the US Navy as a cryptologist in Washington, DC and was recruited and trained by the FBI for a special mission. She joined FBI agent Phillip Clayton on a journey around the US by train, plane, and car to gather information and evidence to find and arrest a traitor to the war effort on US soil. The FBI needed a female agent for this mission as it involved doll collecting and only male agents were not going to get the results. In the 1940s, doll collecting was a women’s area only. Eloise was able to use her skills in cryptology to help decode and decipher content of letters confiscated by the FBI. There were a few surprises on the journey for Eloise and Phillip. I liked how their relationship changed through the book. The story moved along at a comfortable place and there were not excessive details or dialogue to slow you down. The number of characters was manageable, and I didn’t need to take notes on all the characters and family details. This is a shorter historical fiction book than others that I have read (so it was a quick read) but that left me looking for more details about the characters and their personal plot lines. It is not that type of WW2 book - it is not an expansive, epic book. This was a very clean book – no objectionable language or sex involved. There was some smoking but that was typical of the time period. There was minimal use of hand guns. There were numerous references to God and scripture. If this is good for you, enjoy the book. It was almost a turn off for me but that is my personal choice. Overall, if you want a short, good, WW2 book, give this one a read!! I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

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3 Reasons to read The Cryptopgrapher's Dilemma by Johnnie Alexander:

1. While Eloise's character is fictional, the story is based on a real FBI investigation of a woman who sold information to the Japanese government during WWII. It's unusual to find a WWII novel set entirely in the United States and interesting to read about the changes the war brought and how service-aged men who remained back were treated. 

2. Eloise and Phillip have real chemistry! Initially, Agent Phillip Clayton behaved petulantly when directed to take a civilian code-breaker along to investigate a series of suspicious letters. Eloise, on the other hand, was up to the challenge and undaunted by his estimation of her skill. Before long, he acknowledges her abilities and in time, begins to admire her for her tenacity, intelligence, and beauty. I really enjoyed how the author built their professional partnership into something more. 

3. Due to the nature of the case, the characters are always on the move. The constant need to collect or process information kept the plot advancing at a nice clip. 

This story was a real treat! Readers who enjoyed Roseanna M. White's The Number of Love or Sarah Sundin's The Sea Before Us will love this book. Highly recommend.

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Based on the FBI's investigation of the Doll Woman, who sold secrets to the Japenese. This story is about a cryptographer, Eloise, and Philip an investigator for the FBI, who are sent on a mission to decode letters sent by the Doll Woman. They travel across the country to unravel the source of the letters and the women who were named as the senders. Each wrestles with their place in the war and the losses suffered because of it. I really enjoyed this story!

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