Mia, the main character, has spent her life solving the clever codes her dad creates, but this latest challenge is her biggest and most important one yet. I love when a YA book strikes the right balance, making it accessible for younger readers while still being engaging for adults. The interactive element of including real codes to solve was such a fun touch. I can’t wait to recommend this to my middle school students! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this advanced reader’s copy.

Codebreaker is the story of seventeen year old Mia who has to unlock some heavy duty codes in the aftermath of the loss of her parents. She teams up with Logan, who she meets at a protest and together they set out to solve her father's messages.

There are a few things you should know about me, first, I am a huge political nerd and I love DC, so I was enthralled in this story of cyphers, codes and conspiracy taking place in the nation's capital. Parts of it feel like a YA National Treasure and in my book, that's a positive. It definitely swings to the left politically (which is not a problem for me), so take that into account before reading. 4 stars for a fun YA political thriller.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Codebreaker is a fantastic YA Thriller debut from Jay Martel.

"Mia's plans for a peaceful summer are shattered when government agents crash into her house looking for her father. In the confusion, her mother is shot and her father flees in the night. Weeks later, Mia spends her 17th birthday at a protest rally where she meets Logan, a mysterious but charming hacker. A voicemail from her father sends her on a scavenger hunt. The same agents from before chase after them believing she has what they want. Mia must solve many puzzles to get to the end of what her father wanted to give her - and to keep the corrupt from seizing power."

Do you like codes and cryptography? If you do you'll love this story. The authors include lots of history with codes, especially those that were used by well-known figures in American history. There's an interactive aspect to the story where the author allows you to solve the code after having all of the clues. There's a surprising ending. And if you've ever visited the Mall in DC or the top of the Washington Monument you'll be able to picture it easily.
You will have to suspend belief a little - the bad guys are sometimes comic book, bad movie stereotypical - and you have to believe that inexperienced teenagers can outsmart adults. If you can do that, you'll enjoy this debut. This is a fast-paced story and I really did not want to put it down.

I hope we get more stories with Mia and Logan. Great debut from Martel.

This is a fun mystery for teens!

The story follows Mia as she attempts to unravel a mystery by decoding clues. Stakes are high, as she is trying to find out what is going on but also, save the country.

It gave me National Treasure vibes as Mis and her friend Logan run around busting historical sites and decoding clues. If you suspend belief, and root for Mia, try to solve the clues yourself and enjoy the story as it unfolds, this is a great book. I know I enjoyed it!

Such a great fast paced, fun and easy read! Really enjoyed Mia’s journey through her grief and showing that it’s not linear. Each time she had a memory or flashback, she felt the pain of loss, but also healed a little. Beautifully done!!!

This book was exactly what I was craving.

Growing up, Mia Hayes traveled the world, learning about history and solving riddles. Her professor father was always teaching her about the past, while her reporter mother taught her about the present. Every birthday, her father prepares a sequence of riddles and codes Mia has to break in order to find her present- a tradition which lasted throughout the years. As Mia’s birthday rolls around once again, she’s brimming with excitement to solve the code her father’s written, but everything changes when government agents come knocking down her door. Mia finds out that instead of the professor she always thought her father to be, he’s secretly a CIA agent, and he’s taken something the government wants back. When her dad runs, the CIA close on his tail, Mia finds herself hunting down clues her father’s left her, but instead of them leading to her birthday present, they lead to the truth of what her father’s really gotten himself into.

First of all, this was SO refreshing. I love stories about codes and riddles so much, and the way it surrounded history was just the cherry on top. My favorite thing about this story was that it provided you with all the information you needed to solve the clues with Mia, and I had so much fun doing just that. The use of historical events in the codes was so exciting to read about. I’ve been chasing the high National Treasure first gave me when I was 8, and I think this finally gave me that same feeling. I will always fall in love with stories about history and codes, and I’m glad to have fallen in love with this book.

Mia Hayes had her summer mapped out: land a part-time job, start her Harvard application, and enjoy a quiet break. But those plans explode when government agents show up at her house searching for something her father may have stolen. Her mother is killed. Her father vanishes. And Mia’s left reeling. On her seventeenth birthday, she receives a coded voicemail from her father—launching her and a mysterious hacker named Logan into a high-stakes mission across Washington, D.C. As they dodge government agents and follow historical clues, the duo races to uncover the truth and stop a devastating attack. Readers are invited to solve codes alongside Mia in this unique, interactive thriller.

I absolutely LOVED this book. A true 5-star read that completely exceeded my expectations. Codebreakers is like National Treasure meets The Da Vinci Code for a new generation—with gripping stakes, clever puzzles, and a non-stop thrill ride of a plot. The twist? You get to solve the ciphers and puzzles alongside the characters, which made this one of the most fun and immersive reading experiences I’ve had.

The emotional connection I felt with Mia and Logan caught me off guard in the best way. The story tugged at my heart, especially as Mia wrestled with grief, trust, and identity. It even made me tear up.

As a Freemason, I also appreciated the respectful and subtle references to the fraternity—it added a thoughtful and personal layer for me, and I loved how the book tied into themes of secrecy, legacy, and history.

This is the kind of book I can’t wait to reread someday with my future kids—solving puzzles together and bonding over the journey. I also genuinely hope this becomes a movie—it’s perfect for a family-friendly thriller film with heart, action, and brains.

Highly recommended to anyone who loves historical thrillers, puzzles, government conspiracies, or emotional, fast-paced YA stories. If you’re a fan of National Treasure, The Da Vinci Code, or even just love decoding mysteries, you’ll fly through this.

Content warnings: murder, grief/parental loss, government surveillance, mild violence.
(Also a bonus for fellow Freemasons—you’ll spot the nods!)

Book: Codebreaker
Author: Jay Martel
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars

I want to thank the publisher, Wednesday Books, for sending me an ARC. This one took me by surprise! It was a fun, quick, and action-packed read. I was quickly drawn into the story and had a hard time putting it down. While I did give this a four-star rating, it is a very high four-star rating.

In this one, we follow Mia, who enjoys solving a good code. When her mother is killed and her father becomes a fugitive, Mia’s summer plans are obliterated. Instead of relaxing or applying to Harvard, Mia is thrust into a dangerous world of government agents, coded messages, and a shocking conspiracy. After meeting Logan, a rebellious hacker, at a protest, Mia receives a voicemail from her father that shatters everything she thought she knew about her family and the events that led to her mother’s death. This voicemail contains an encrypted message that sends Mia and Logan on a high-stakes mission deep into the heart of the U.S. government, all while being chased by the very agents who want to keep the truth hidden. As Mia and Logan uncover American history’s darkest secrets, they must piece together the code to stop a catastrophic attack. This gripping thriller combines mystery, action, romance, and a unique interactive twist, allowing readers to test their codebreaking skills alongside Mia and Logan as they race to uncover the truth.

This offers readers a thrilling, immersive experience that goes beyond a typical action-packed novel. The book cleverly incorporates interactive elements, allowing readers to solve the codes right alongside Mia and Logan. The key to this interaction lies in how the clues are woven into the narrative. You’re provided with enough hints and details to work through the puzzles on your own, making it feel like you’re a part of the action rather than just a passive observer. This unique feature elevates the reading experience, as you actively engage with the story’s unfolding mystery.
However, what’s truly impressive is that the codes aren’t essential to enjoying the story. While solving them adds an exciting layer of immersion, the plot stands strong on its own. You can enjoy the book just as you would any other thriller, without needing to decipher every encoded message. This accessibility gives it a broad appeal, allowing readers to choose how deeply they want to immerse themselves in the puzzle-solving aspect. It’s an excellent touch, one that makes you feel as if you’re running alongside Mia and Logan through the streets of Washington, D.C., but without the looming danger that they constantly face.
One of the book's strengths is its pacing. While it is packed with non-stop action, it never feels overwhelming or exhausting. There’s a perfect balance between heart-pounding sequences and quieter, more reflective moments. For example, Mia’s growing bond with Logan introduces a softer side to the narrative. These moments of connection give the reader a breather, allowing us to explore the developing relationship between the characters while still being aware of the high stakes. The action scenes are skillfully plotted, maintaining suspense without ever feeling like they overshadow the emotional depth of the story.
The authors do a fantastic job of ensuring that the plot never feels one-dimensional. There are layers to both the action and the relationships. When Mia and Logan are on the run, trying to uncover the truth about her father, the mystery builds steadily, with each new clue revealing more about the larger conspiracy at play. What I liked was how these moments of action were always balanced with thoughtful introspection. Mia's journey is not just about solving a puzzle, but about reconciling her feelings of betrayal, grief, and confusion. As she and Logan navigate the dangers around them, we also get a sense of their personal growth, their developing trust in each other, and their evolving friendship.
The blend of fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat action with thoughtful character development keeps the narrative real and human. It’s a book that’s just as much about the emotional stakes as it is about the physical ones, and that’s what sets it apart from many other thrillers. It’s not all explosions and chases. There’s real heart and intelligence behind it, making it a rich reading experience that’s both entertaining and thought-provoking.
This is a thrilling, interactive journey that hooks readers not only with its high-stakes adventure but also with its well-crafted balance of action, puzzle-solving, and emotional depth. Whether you’re solving codes or simply following Mia and Logan on their wild ride through D.C., the book provides a compelling and immersive experience that’s both fun and fulfilling.

Overall, I did have a great time reading this. It is a quick summer thriller. If you enjoy an action edge-of-your-seat edge of your seat and something like National Treasure, then I think you will enjoy this one.

This book comes out on July 22, 2025.

Youtube: https://youtu.be/EkHpKNIeo3U

Thank you to netgalley and Wednesday books for providing me a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
This was overall a very fun fast-paced read. The characters were relatable and the dialogue felt realistic. One thing I thoroughly enjoyed was the pacing, as it felt very cinematic to have flashbacks that further explain the different layers to the mystery. It gave the story some more flavor to what could’ve come off as a simple scavenger hunt otherwise. The stakes were high as well, which I liked. Finally, I greatly enjoyed the amount of interactive ciphers included in the book. All of the pieces are there in the book, and there’s even an indication for when you can solve it yourself. Overall this was a nice fast-paced young adult thriller with some sleuthing flair. Highly recommend for those who grew up with the 39 clues, National Treasure, and Nancy Drew.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: July 22, 2025
“Codebreaker” is the debut novel by a husband-and-wife duo writing under the pseudonym Jay Martel. Fast-paced and interactive, “Codebreaker” is perfect for fans of “Puzzle Master” by Danielle Trussoni or “A Most Puzzling Murder” by Bianca Marais, who like to solve puzzles right alongside the protagonist.
Mia Hayes is about to become a high school senior and plans to follow in her mother’s footsteps by becoming a journalist. But her future plans are shattered the night a group of people claiming to be secret agents invade her home, leaving both of her parents dead and Mia on the run. Three weeks later, Mia listens to a voicemail sent by her father the day he died and realizes that she inadvertently stepped into a government conspiracy plot, and her father has sent her clues in the form of puzzles, which Mia knows will give her the answers about who her parents really were- and who Mia is. With the help of teenage hacker, Logan, she finds herself running through the streets of D.C desperate to solve the clues before it’s too late.
“Codebreaker” is a YA novel, but it is not simply for the young adult audience. The novel has pulse-pounding action, along with clever puzzles and a wide range of political conspiracy theories that will appeal to just about everyone. As Mia uses her knowledge to solve the codes and puzzles she discovers throughout the book, readers can choose to pause and try and solve for themselves, or they can continue on Mia’s journey without slowing down. Martel has allowed readers to read at their own pace, and to solve puzzles when (and if) they choose, which provides a deeply immersive experience that flows well from beginning to end.
Mia is a teenager whose life is completely turned upside down within the first few pages so it isn’t difficult for readers to sympathize with and root for her. Although her partner-in-crime, Logan, fills the romantic component of the novel, there’s a surprising twist with his character that I didn’t expect.
“Codebreaker” is smart and sharp, and Martel’s novel serves double duty as an entertaining read and a mind-puzzler. This has all the elements to become a movie, or a T.V series at the very least, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Netflix jumps on this. This is an impressive debut novel, and the relationship between the co-authors is just as interesting as the “Codebreaker” storyline itself, so I hope to see more from them in the future.

Mia has plans for her summer and it didn’t really include coming home one day and her parents giving her birthday present 3 weeks early, then their house being swarmed by government agents with guns who shoot and kill you mom and then send her dad running for his life, and poor Mia having no idea what is going on. Three weeks later, on her birthday she goes to a protest and meeting Logan. Mia is at her house and a mysterious voice mail come from he dad with a code in it that she needs to solve, but the agents show up there and so does Logan who helps get Mia out and then it is a race to solve the codes and find out what her father needs her to find, before the agent get it.
This is a wonderfully written book with lots of codes that if you want you can try and solve them before Mia does there are spots marked that let you know not to read further yet if you want to try and solve the code first. Just learning all about the different codes and how they work are so cool, and hard. The character are great, and the plot is full. I hope there will be more about Mia and Logan (?) as I really enjoyed this book a lot.

Codebreaker is a highly entertaining read. If you enjoy DaVinci Code or National Treasure, then this YA spin will be up your alley. Mia is reeling from the death of her mother and what appears to be a betrayal by her father, but Mia is now on a series of codebreaking missions set by her father to lead her to truth. Heavily steeped in the lore of the Lincoln Assassination, this was a frothy, fun read. I would highly recommend it if you're looking for something light and fast. I also enjoyed the interactive slant the authors gave it where you could help to crack the codes along with Mia.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Codebreaker
By Jay Martel
4.5 ⭐️

I’d call this book a YA action/spy agent thriller. There are puzzles throughout the story laid out like a scavenger hunt. The puzzles are not overly involved - I could solve them with the info provided. I think they’re good for YA readers of all ages - they have you think quickly then move on with the story. The MCs are likable. I really enjoyed the overall plot, the twist and turns, and the action. I was engaged throughout the story; as an eyeball read, that’s super important for me to get through a book. The underlying messaging of the book is bang on for current events. Solid book - I recommended this one.

Thank you NetGalley, Jay Martel, and St. Marten’s press for this eARC.

3.25 out of 5 - rounded down to 3.

I enjoyed Codebreaker—it’s a fast-paced, conspiracy-tinged YA thriller with definite potential—but I also found myself wishing it had pushed further in several areas.

The book promotes itself as an “interactive thriller” where readers can test their codebreaking skills, but that claim feels a bit overstated. There are about 9 or 10 codes throughout the story, but many of them are overly simplistic—one even provides a Morse code key right next to the message. The interactive concept is intriguing, but it’s underdeveloped. I would’ve loved to see actual puzzles or riddles, or maybe a system where readers learn a cipher early on and then apply it later without hand-holding. As is, it felt more like a gimmick than a meaningful part of the story.

That said, the emotional core of the novel is strong. Mia’s loss of her mother early on is written with real power—it stayed with me throughout her journey. She’s a compelling protagonist, although we never quite feel like we’re on her level in terms of the codebreaking or the plot unraveling. Logan, her sidekick, is a bit of a mixed bag: sometimes charmingly goofy, sometimes inexplicably clueless. His characterization felt inconsistent, and their conflicts often lacked emotional depth or resolution—they’d spark, then fizzle out without much consequence.

The plot definitely leans into National Treasure territory with a side of “My Date with the President’s Daughter” energy. It’s dramatic, fast-moving, and at times delightfully absurd—but occasionally crosses into implausible territory. The idea of a security guard disabling cameras and granting full access to teens in a college library because he liked Mia’s dad’s snacks… was a stretch. And don’t get me started on the multiple times Mia and Logan have access to a gun during high-stakes, life-threatening scenes—and don’t use it. I’m not advocating violence, but after the third close encounter with villains literally trying to kill them, maybe one leg shot wouldn’t hurt?

Still, the story delivers some fun late-game twists and never drags. The vilification of the CIA veers toward conspiracy-theory territory, but if you can suspend disbelief, there’s a lot of entertainment to be found here.

I’d recommend Codebreaker to YA readers or fans of political-lite thrillers who enjoy a fun ride and don’t mind some over-the-top plotting. I’d be curious to see what Martel writes next—there’s real promise here, even if this one didn’t quite crack the code.

Favorite line: “You say potato, I say pervert.”

5⭐️

“But we live in a new era. I don’t need a gun to change the world. I don’t need a bomb, or a virus. All I need to change the world now is the right lie.”

I finished this book in one sitting over about three hours and it will definitely be at the top of my 2025 list! I loved all of the codes that Mia’s dead left for her and I really enjoyed that the book would warn you before the answer was revealed so you could try to solve it by yourself. Mia’s memories of learning about each code system as well as the history of the codes being woven into the narrative were super interesting. Logan was such a great character and he brought just the right amount of humor to such serious scenes. I was immediately suspicious of him but loved how his story worked out.

As I was reading this, my first thought was this is going to end up on a banned book list. The way this book portrayed the current political situation in the United States was perfect and I enjoyed the conflicting feelings both Mia and her mother had about a revolution. The fact that the conspiracy theories that civil unrest, violence at protests, mass shootings or other disasters are inside jobs was actually true in this kept me on edge. I also really enjoyed the tie in of the Lincoln assassination and the belief that his assassination was supposed to put us back into a civil war. It really showed how much history repeats itself. This felt like the National Treasure movies with much higher stakes and I couldn’t get enough.

Thanks NetGalley and Wednesday books for providing this ARC to me!

First Line: “Arthur Zimmerman,” he said, “checking in.” Just four words. Simple ones, at that. But with them, he crossed the Rubicon.

Reasons to Read:
Government Secrets
When agents storm Mia’s house, her life is turned upside down, revealing that her seemingly ordinary family might be tied to something much bigger—and much more dangerous.


Puzzle Driven
A hidden message in a voicemail from Mia’s fugitive father kicks off a thrilling codebreaking journey where each clue brings her closer to the truth…and a looming threat.


Run for the Truth
With federal agents on their trail, Mia and hacker Logan race through iconic American landmarks in a desperate mission to solve a deadly mystery before time runs out.


Interactive Thriller
Readers aren’t just along for the ride—they get to crack codes and decipher clues alongside Mia in this immersive, action-packed, and brain-teasing adventure.




Good For People Who: like National Treasure, puzzles, fast paced mystery

Rating: 4 books and a magnifying glass

Thoughts: When I picked this book up, I had no idea that you could solve the puzzles yourself and the author gives you a symbol to tell you when you have all the clues to do it. This was fun, and I really loved following Mia through this. Really hoping there is another book or plans for a sequel because not only is this book fast paced, but it’s also very topical with things going on in the world.

fun and interactive thriller! the puzzles sometimes slow it down by giving you the methods to solve it, but i did feel that that drew in more. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

Although this was a short read, it was fun. There was a lot of action and puzzles. I’d recommend this for people who like the National Treasure movies.

Overall a fun interactive YA mystery/thriller! I didn't feel super connected to the characters and was hoping for more of the Da Vinci Code feel that the promotional materials promised, but I read this in one sitting and overall was entertained and had a good time!

When her life is turned upside down, puzzle enthusiast Mia must embark on a mysterious scavenger hunt for answers. This is a twisty mystery with lots of opportunity to solve the puzzles and codes yourself (something it turns out I'm only occasionally good at) and overall was quite a different and refreshingly original book!

Thank you to the publisher for sending a copy for review