Ok, before I even started reading this, I knew I was in for a treat. There is an interactive option as a reader - try and solve the code yourself or you just continue reading and enjoying the story. I thought that was such a unique option as a reader.

If you’re someone who really likes to solve puzzles or codes, I think this is the book for you!

This story has a little but of everything - action and adventure, mystery and suspense and a touch of romance too. There were hidden dark secrets and history woven into the story that definitely gave me National Treasure/Da Vinci Code vibes!

I was immediately rooting for Mia. She had been through so much and was on the run and it was so much fun solving the clues along the way! There are also good twists too!

This was a blast to read! It definitely gave National Treasure vibes which I loved as someone from the DMV, with all the local spots and setting in the nation’s capital. I was immediately hooked and stayed immersed throughout the whole book. The only thing holding me back from 5 stars was a fairly predictable plot and some things were just a bit too unbelievable despite this being a dramatic fiction story. Overall, great YA novel that I was shocked is a debut for this author duo!

Thank you to the publisher for an eARC to read and review.

Tropes/Themes: Puzzles, Conspiracy, Government Corruption

CW: Parent Death, Physical Altercations, Gun Violence

This was like reading a National Treasure x Inheritance Game style book- it was a little dark but enjoyable. The code aspect of the novel and the fact that there was a symbol to let you try to solve it first, was honestly just so much fun!

The book starts out with a bang... that is all I will say for that part.

When the FMC get's her clue for her annual birthday scavenger hunt her entire life is put on the line due to the secret that her dad stole from the US government. Then she and the MMC go on a code breaking adventure to find what he has left her at the end of the clues.

I had no idea where this book was going. All of the history tie in with Lincoln was fun.

Overall a enjoyable fast paced story with a little dash of romance.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for an early copy of this book in exchange for a honest review. This is the first book I have read by this author. I did enjoy this book, but felt it was slow in parts. I liked the storyline and the characters. I thought the characters had great growth. I would still recommend this book.

Codebreaker is an interactive thriller that has a National Treasure feel to it.

At the center of the story is Mia, a smart young woman whose been breaking codes her father sets for her since she was a child. She’s driven by a need to make sense of her father’s deception. She’s smart and strong and exactly the character you’d want at the center of an action-packed mystery.

One of the selling points of Codebreaker is its interactive nature. If you want, you can read the book straight through and enjoy it for what it is. If you want to go a bit deeper, author Jay Martel has provided all the clues for you to solve the puzzles as you read. There’s a marker that lets you know you’ve got all the information you need and to solve the clues before reading on. This helps readers become more invested, but the book is exciting with or without this element.

Codebreaker plays out almost cinematically, taking readers through American history while solving clues using ciphers from around the world. There’s action and romance balanced with quieter moments, making Codebreaker an exciting ride from beginning to end. I look forward to reading more from Martel (which is actually the husband and wife writing team Andy Bennett and Katy Helbacka) and hope there are more books in this world are in the works.

If National Treasure had a teenage lead and a side of grief, you’d land right in the thrilling pages of Codebreaker. This debut novel completely surprised me—in the best way. It’s a smart, twisty spy mystery that had me flipping pages like my life depended on it.

The story follows Mia, a teen reeling from the loss of her parents (for very different reasons), who suddenly finds herself on the run with Logan, a boy who’s charming, clever, and just the right amount of mysterious. Together, they’re trying to outsmart some very dangerous people while solving her father’s final treasure hunt—a puzzle packed with clues that are so cleverly woven together, I had to stop and admire the plotting more than once. Seriously, the puzzle-loving part of my brain was thriving.

Mia and Logan are the kind of characters that feel instantly familiar—relatable, raw, and quietly brave in the face of chaos. Their growing connection felt natural, even in the midst of car chases, cryptic codes, and close calls (which there are plenty of). And through it all, Mia’s emotional journey really grounds the story—her grief is palpable, her determination fierce.

Set in Washington, D.C., the backdrop is the perfect stage for a mix of political intrigue, historic secrets, and fast-paced adventure. I could practically see the monuments and feel the tension winding through every alley and hidden archive.

I’m only docking half a star because I maybe wanted just a smidge more depth in a few emotional moments—but honestly, that’s just me being picky.

Bottom line? Codebreaker is clever, fast-paced, and full of heart. A standout debut that promises big things from Jay Martel.

I loved the premise of this & felt like it was a good segue for middle-grade readers of some of the Cole-cracking texts who want to jump into YA. There were solid twists and turns that kept me guessing. I think my kids will enjoy those elements. There is a political subtext that felt heavy-handed. It’s such a shame because I have so many parents who won’t be willing to see the goodness of the book because they will cite some political agenda. I don’t think there is any agenda in the novel—aside from getting people to consider politics from all angles. I just know I have parents who won’t see it that way. Aside from the code-cracking piece (which would be difficult to translate easily) I think this will also be an excellent audio book. I know I’ll have some students get on board for that version! I’m definitely looking forward to more from this couple!

Here’s the setup: Mia Hayes is your typical 16-going-on-30 genius girl who has summer plans involving Harvard applications, caffeine, and presumably judging everyone who spells ‘you’re’ wrong. But SURPRISE! Her dad’s on the run from the government, her mom’s dead (in the first chapter, of course), and her whole world implodes faster than you can say, “We need to talk about your father.”

Naturally, she handles this trauma by… going to a protest? Sure, okay. And there she meets Logan, a charming teenage hacker who apparently learned advanced coding between TikToks. Together, they begin a whirlwind tour of D.C., decoding secret messages, dodging government agents, and apparently not eating or sleeping ever again.

Also, interactive elements! You get to solve codes along with Mia, which is fun until you realize that the solution is in the next paragraph. Thanks for the self-esteem boost, book.

There are moments of genuine tension, and some of the codebreaking scenes are clever (if you ignore the fact that Logan is essentially a hacker wizard with a tragic haircut), but the pacing is pure chaos.

I felt like I was on a caffeine bender I didn’t sign up for. And let’s not even talk about the romance. Do these two have chemistry? Debatable. Do they have trust issues, emotional baggage, and wildly impulsive behavior? Absolutely.

Also, I’m still not sure how half the government didn’t figure this whole thing out on their own. You’re telling me a teenager and her hoodie-clad hacker boyfriend cracked the case before the NSA did? Coolcoolcool.

Highlights:
• Mia has a personality made entirely of trauma and logic puzzles.
• Logan is 99% snark, 1% hoodie.
• Government agents = conveniently incompetent.
• D.C. tourism disguised as espionage.

Look, I didn’t dislike Codebreaker. I just didn’t enjoy it either. It’s that weird middle ground where you’re like, “Well, at least I got a workout from all the eye-rolling.”

If you like your thrillers with cryptic clues, high-speed historical tourism, and teens who are somehow smarter than the entire FBI, this one’s for you.

Review of Codebreaker by Jay Martel
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 out of 5 stars)

Codebreaker is a fast-paced, twisty YA thriller that blends puzzles, action, and conspiracy into one super fun ride. I picked it up expecting a good story, but I didn’t expect to get sucked into solving codes right alongside the main character—and honestly, that’s what makes this book so unique.

The story follows Mia Hayes, a soon-to-be senior who’s suddenly thrown into chaos when her parents are killed and she finds herself on the run. Her late father, a legendary codebreaker, leaves behind a trail of puzzles that might explain everything—including who Mia really is. With the help of a teen hacker named Logan, Mia races across D.C. trying to stay one step ahead of the people hunting her. It’s got all the makings of a Netflix series, and I’d absolutely watch it.

Even though it’s labeled YA, the political intrigue, code-breaking challenges, and high-stakes tension make it totally enjoyable for adults too. I loved that you can pause and try to solve the puzzles yourself—it added a fun, interactive layer to the story.

Some of the twists were a little easy to see coming, but it didn’t take away from the excitement. The pacing is tight, the action doesn’t let up, and the historical references sprinkled throughout had me wanting to Google more than once (in a good way!).

Overall, Codebreaker is a clever and engaging debut. If you like books with brains, action, and just the right amount of heart, this one’s worth checking out.

A big thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

🙌🏻 What worked for me:
- The brilliant, interactive codebreaking! Being able to solve the puzzles myself made this truly immersive and unique.
- A quick, engaging read with plenty of surprises. The story moved along so well and kept me hooked!
- "National Treasure" meets "The Da Vinci Code" vibes. Perfect for fans of adventurous, puzzle-driven reads with historical flair.
- Mia's compelling journey. Her life is turned upside down almost immediately, making it easy to sympathize with her as she follows her father's coded scavenger hunt.
- Cleverly woven history. The authors integrated historical facts in an interesting way that sparked my curiosity without ever feeling like a textbook.
- Broad appeal. It's a YA novel, but the action, cleverness, and intrigue will keep adults hooked too.

🚫 What didn't work for me:
- Slightly predictable twists. I caught the main reveals early, which lessened the surprise, but it was still an enjoyable ride!
- Occasional cringe-worthy dialogue. A minor point, but some exchanges between Mia and Logan made me briefly roll my eyes.

🤜🏻 Would I recommend: Absolutely! This is a smart, sharp, and highly entertaining read.

Read if you enjoy:
✔️ Interactive Puzzles & Codes
✔️ "National Treasure" / "Da Vinci Code" Vibes
✔️ Protagonists on the Run
✔️ Unraveling Family Secrets
✔️ Historical Intrigue

I had so much fun reading this book! The interactive element the authors included throughout really made this a unique reading experience! It was so fast paced I struggled to put it down. Codebreaker is perfect for fans of Dan Brown and Jennifer Lynn Barnes!

Thank you NetGalley, Wednesday Books, St Martins Press and the author for the the gifted arc!

Guys! This book is so much fun! Not only do the authors give you a fast paced, action packed thrill ride through the historical landmarks of Washington DC … but they also give you all the clues needed to do all the codebreaking on your own! I had a blast figuring out all the puzzles! Such an original concept that is page flippingly bingeworthy! A fantastic & highly entertaining YA thriller from a husband & wife duo!! (I think most grown-ups will enjoy it, too!)

Though the details of the story may sometimes seem rather hazy, the heavy suspense, the series of codes to be broken, and the likable main character of Codebreaker will grab readers’ attention and keep them racing along with Mia and Logan. It’s an entertaining pick for readers who enjoy action, adventure, and a good challenge.

Full review published on NightsAndWeekends.com and aired on Shelf Discovery.

This was a solid, entertaining YA suspense story with some fun twists and a structure that kept me engaged the whole way through. If you’re in the mood for something National Treasure adjacent with a splash of Da Vinci Code but make it YA, this will absolutely do the trick.

What worked for me most was how layered it was. It’s primarily a treasure hunt with puzzles and codes and the occasional well-timed escape, but it also dips into deeper territory without overdoing it. There are moments that touch on the nature of truth, how memory shifts with new information, and how our understanding of people, especially family, can change when hidden pieces fall into place. It doesn’t go particularly deep with any of that, but the fact that it was there at all gave the book more weight than I expected.

I also liked how the structure lets you play along. The author gives you the chance to pause and try to crack each puzzle before the answer is revealed, and that made it feel a little more interactive. Like a beach read for puzzle nerds.

That said, it didn’t break new ground and I saw every twist coming. But it’s well paced, well structured, and never boring. A fun, light read for anyone looking for a twisty, puzzley treasure hunt with a side of American history and a bit of heart.

“Codebreaker” was a had some romance elements but it was predominantly a mystery spy novel about a girl named Mia who looses her parents for different reasons and then finds herself on the run with a boy named Logan. She is trying to solve her father’s last treasure hunt and stop the agents that are after her. Along the way she finds herself falling for Logan while dealing with the gravity of her loss as well as the danger that she finds herself in. This novel is great for spy novel enthusiasts as well as anyone who likes the Inheritance game series as it has many similar elements.
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I found the way the author structured the plot to be interesting and I was hooked on the story from the start. There were many great twists and turns. The story connected together in really neat ways and the historical aspect of the code breaking that Mia did was very interesting. I liked the writing style very much but I found that the plot got a bit repetitive with the corrupt agents always breaking in and a fight ensuing after almost every code being solved. I also wish there was a bit more on the romance front but overall a great story!

First thank you to Wednesday books and NetGalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 💫 4.5 stars

Synopsis Mia is planning on earning some money and applying to college this summer but her plans change when government agents storm her house. During the struggle her world completely changes and she has to solve a mystery from her father to survive

What I liked: this book is amazing for national treasure or da Vinci code fans. I really liked the puzzles and history throughout the story. You can even pause and work the puzzles with the characters.
The mystery was so interesting and topical to current times and like the idea of younger people helping out. I learned a lot from this book. Logan and Mia were a great team and even through this was ya I really liked it. Sometimes ya can read too young but he did a great job with the characters. The pacing was great and he explained things very well without giving too much or not enough. I will definitely read more and hope this becomes a series.
One note I like the tension between Logan and Mia but not sure if the romance was needed. The book was great without it.

My thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books/St.Martin's Publishing for the ARC of 'Codebreaker' in exchange for an honest review.

Had a terrific time with this one, a super-fast YA mash-up of 'National Treasure' and '3 Days of the Condor'. That it zipped along like an action-rom-com thriller didn't surprise me, since the two authors writing under Jay Martel have theatrical writing backgrounds. And I've no doubt that soon two lucky teen actors will be cast as the leads when it reaches production as a series or film.

Living in a suburb near Washington D.C., 17 year old Mia Hayes sees her normal life turned upside down. Anonymous and brutal government operatives invade her house, seeking possible intel in the possession of her father, a CIA analyst and secret code specialist. The attack leaves her mother dead and her father escaped and in the wind. Only a few weeks later, Mia and quick witted hacker Logan are both on the run from the same shadowy, murderous agents. Before his own death, Mia's father reached out to her, sending her on perilous crack-the-secret-code mission to stop some possible catastrophic domestic terror event.

Whenever they can stop to take a breath (and dodge violent encounters with the relentless villains), Mia and Logan trade sharp quips, romantic sparks and solve staggeringly complex codes. (And the book extends an interactive invite for puzzle loving readers to join in join in themselves.....)

On top of all the chasing, fleeing, brawls, shootouts, smooches and secret messages, 'Codebreaker' throws in American History, famous historical sites along with a boiling-over pot of political turbulence. Quite a package for a teen thriller.

And that made for a book that took me less than a day and a half to finish. Enough said for a 5 star read? .

I cannot express how much I enjoyed this book. It was such a breath of fresh air to read. While it might be geared to the teen reader, I think that adult readers would truly enjoy it as well. This book gives off National Treasure vibes which are just lovely. Mia and Logan are characters that jump off the pages and make reading this book so enjoyable. The twists and turns also keep the reader engaged throughout.
Thank you so very much to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

3.5 stars

This is quite a unique read - which definitely made it fun and kept me intruigued. It felt very National Treasure x political spy thriller.

This is a fast-paced YA thriller - Mia is 17 but I found that this book skewed a touch on the younger side (which is interesting because the themes could definitely lean heavy - political espionage, internal sabotage, terrorism). There is some romance, I'd say its a bit instalovey, but Logan is a good foil for Mia.

This is mostly told from Mia's POV, but 3 chapters are told from other people's perspective, and it was done in a way that pretty seemlessly gave us useful background/important information.

There is a mechanism while reading that allows you to stop and try to solve the codes alongside the characters - you get given all the needed information to that you can take a crack at learning and breaking some legit, historical cyphers. It was definitely very fun! (but I would recommend using a physical copy if you're attemping this, because some of the codes might not work if you're using an ebook)

Thank you so much to NetGalley and SMP/Wednesday Books for the eARC!

Nancy Drew meets The Da Vinci Code

Codebreaker is a fast-paced interactive YA thriller by Jay Martel. I still cannot believe that this is their debut.

Mia Hayes has plans for the summer – working on college apps and getting a job. But these plans are destroyed when government agents come after her father, believing he took something valuable. When it's over, Mia's mother is dead, her father on the run. Finding herself at a protest in D.C., she meets Logan, a charming hacker. Now, Mia and Logan, entangled together in a mystery, runs against the clock and the agents after them, to clear her parents name and stop, possibly, a devastating tragedy.

The overall mystery was so intriguing, and I enjoyed seeing the ties to Mia's past with her parents. Everything is something. The way every single clue and bits of foreshadowing connected to one another was really cool to see.

I loved seeing Mia and Logan's relationship grow. Strangers to friends to possibly more is my ish right there. The two being at one of the lower points of their lives, and helping solve the puzzles, but each other's hearts.

I loved the dual way of reading Codebreaker. The entire novel is full of encrypted codes, and there is a symbol every time Mia and Logan gets a new clue. Being right there in the mystery, and trying to solve the mysteries along with them was so fun to experience. It makes you feel like you're right there in Washington D.C. with Mia and Logan.

Perfect for fans of Nancy Drew, National Treasure, and The Da Vinci Code; go on a journey of grief, mystery, and adventure, and enter the world of Codebreaker.

Trigger warnings below.
• death of a parent
• mentions of suicide
• violence of a child
• gun violence
• murder
• car accident
• brief mention of cancer


OUT JULY 22, 2025

Thank you to NetGalley, Wednesday Books and Jay Martel for the eARC! All thoughts and opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.