I inhaled this novel that is a mother-daughter story set in the context of WWI and WWII. The author has created a compelling cast of characters set in the wonderful context of code-breaking. But it’s so much more. There’s a hint of romance in the first story that is sweet, but at its heart this book is about understanding and being understood. That is such a deep human need and spoke to me as the pages turned so quickly. I loved this story.

Through the story of a mother and daughter who played crucial home front roles throughout the conflict, this gripping dual timeline thriller highlights the unsung achievements of female codebreakers and covert spies in America throughout World War I and World War II. The historical narrative, which was inspired by real-life tales, captured my interest, left me in awe, and made me appreciate the courageous unnamed women to whom we owe so much. Strongly advised for your book club. There is so much to discuss.

This was a fascinating and inspiring look at the vital role women played behind the scenes during WWII. The story highlights the intelligence, determination, and resilience of female codebreakers who helped change the course of the war—yet often remained unrecognized. Well-researched and engaging, this book shines a light on a hidden part of history. A must-read for anyone interested in untold stories of courage and brilliance.

One thing I always appreciate about Green's books is that she has a unique focus about WWII. I learn a lot from her books. In this one, she wrote about codebreaking and the rumor group designed to hurt morale in Germany. I knew about Steinbeck writing propaganda but was unfamiliar with this whole group that created stories and rumors and drama. It was fascinating.

This book focused on both Lillian and her daughter, Dinah. Both parts were equally interesting. I loved Roger. He cared for Lillian and made her laugh and opened up doors for her that she never thought possible. He was a gentle, wise soul. Lillian and Dinah are more alike than they realize, I think. They both long to do something that matters. They both are intelligent and brave. It was fun watching as Dinah learned more about her mom and her past. It was just a great read. I loved it.

Thank you to Bethany House for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

The story takes place over two timelines–Dinah’s propaganda work with the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) in World War II, and Lily’s codebreaking work in World War I.

While the story is set 80 and 100 years ago, it deals with eternal questions about the relationships between mothers and daughters, and the question of how (especially as women) we find our purpose. Is it enough to be a wife and mother? This leads to other questions – what if we aren’t a wife, or if we can’t be a mother? Then where is our purpose?
Lily/Lillian is a viewpoint character in both timelines, so we see her struggle with letting her adult daughter go, and we see Dinah’s struggle to be the independent adult daughter. We also see the power of friendship.

The story is best encapsulated in the quote above. The Codebreaker’s Daughter isn’t like so many World War II stories, stories of ordinary people dong extraordinary things. It’s more a celebration of ordinary people doing ordinary things–the things they are called to do–and being satisfied with that.

It’s a quiet and slow story until almost the very end, but it is a story that raises and addresses some difficult universal (ordinary) questions.
Recommended for fans of World War II fiction from authors such as Jennifer Mistmorgan, or fans of fiction featuring codes and ciphers from authors such as Roseanna M White.

Thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

What a fabulous book. Flipping between two world wars, a mother and daughter are both pulled into secret government work, including code breaking. Both wars were fought on many fronts, behind the scenes very intensely as well. Taking place before the invasion of Normandy in WW2, Dinah doesn't find her job so exciting at first as she is asked to create rumors and deceptions, until she is caught in the middle of espionage, which involved her back before she went to Washington. Unbeknownst to her, her family and their friends were some of the original and most complicated cipher creators and breakers in the first World War. Family secrets and deep feelings are an undercurrent, with friction between her and her mother, yet they need each other more than they realize. Intense at times, it's very difficult to put down. Very realistically told, based on many historical facts. Fascinating to see behind the curtain and visualize it all. Makes you hold your breath the whole last part.

I received this book free from the author, publisher and NetGalley bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

#TheCodebreakersDaughter #NetGalley #AmyLynnGreen #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #BethanyHouse #ChristianHistoricalFicton

An only child with a sheltered upbringing, Dinah is thrilled when she is selected for a job in Washington, D.C. to work for the OSS. With World War 2 raging across Europe and the Pacific, there is no shortage of opportunities to prove herself a capable part of the department producing propaganda to lower enemy morale. When Dinah’s mother, Lily, accompanies her to Washington to visit old friends, Dinah has no idea that they will both end up using their wits to outsmart a devious spy. Filled with interesting facts from both world wars in a dual timeline, this suspenseful work of historical fiction will keep readers intrigued.

The Codebreaker's Daughter
Amy Lynn Green
Pub Date: June 17, 2025
Thanks to the author, Bethany and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Dinah Kendall's role in the U.S. Capitol for the Office of Strategic Services is far from the thrilling espionage career she dreamed of. Instead of covert missions, she crafts rumors aimed at undermining Axis morale while trying to live up to the expectations of her demanding mother, Lillian. As Dinah navigates her duties, she uncovers something startling: Her mother was once a codebreaker, breaking military ciphers during the Great War alongside some of the nation's most brilliant minds. The deeper Dinah dives into Lillian's journal, the more the secrets of the past come to light—including the steep cost of high-stakes codebreaking.
I really liked this book and will recommend it!
This gripping dual timeline novel highlights the unsung contributions by female codebreakers and secret agents in America during WWI and II, through the story of a mother and daughter who played critical home front roles during wartime. Inspired by true stories, the histfic tale kept me rapt, in awe, and grateful for the brave unknown women we owe so much to.

Really solid historical fiction novel with a unique dual timeline involving a mother and daughter. If you loved The Rose Code, you’ll enjoy this book about codebreakers in the United States. I also especially loved learning more about Elizebeth Friedman after reading Erika Robuck’s book about her last year (The Last Twelve Miles). Such an amazing story about intelligent women and the fraught times of the world wars.

The Codebreaker’s Daughter tells the story of Lillian Kendall and her daughter Dinah Kendall, and takes place in 1917 during the Great War and 1944 during World War II. It’s a story about two ordinary women, living in extraordinary and critical times; making choices and experiencing the consequences, both good and bad.. Overall I enjoyed the book, but it wasn't a couldn't put down novel for mr.

I appreciate the ARC

The Codebreaker's Daughter by Amy Lynn Green was an enjoyable historical fiction.
I couldn't put this book down! The author did an amazing job with the story telling and the era and setting.
The setting, characters and plot I found very interesting. Well written with an exceptional ending.

“I keep on because I have hope that if evil is ordinary, good might be too.”
This book was perfect for me because I am interested in codebreakers and spies and their origins in the World Wars. What was totally unexpected and remarkable was that one setting in Geneva, Illinois, was just 12 miles from my childhood home in South Elgin and I was never aware of it despite the many times I went to Geneva. I love that it was based on real people such as husband and wife team Elizebeth and William Friedman who were innovators in code breaking and ciphers in the early days all the way from WWI and WWII and beyond.
The dual timeline was interesting because it showed the parallels between Lily and her daughter Dinah and how they fit in to a secret, important aspect of the government. I did not guess who the spy was in the department that Dinah worked in but I got caught up in the feeling that she was being watched. There was a bit of tension between mother and daughter. When they got to collaborate on a project, it set the stage for some heartfelt revelations.
A stabilizing character was father Roger, who loved his wife and daughter, supported them, and allowed them to mature spiritually and emotionally.
This story was so good, I didn’t want it to end. It is my favorite by Ms. Green.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Bethany House through Interviews and Reviews via NetGalley. All opinions are mine alone.*

A poignant look at two women serving their country quietly in two world wars. I especially appreciated the nuanced portrayal of the multiple troubled mother-daughter relationships. I only thought the faith element missing a potential strong link to the loving father Roger.

The Codebreaker’s Daughter tells the story of two generations of women who faced similar wars in very different ways.

When we first meet Dinah Kendall she’s a volunteer for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). She arranges to casually encounter the spies they train away from their campus, masquerading as exactly what she is – a pretty, carefree young woman. Dinah has a gift for befriending strangers, and the OSS has her testing their spies to see just how quickly she can get a man to spill his secrets. For plenty of them, in spite of months of training, a simple meal in her sunny company derails their future in espionage.

When the Colonel she works with invites her to take a position at the Morale Operations division in Washington, D.C., she jumps at the chance. It’s an opportunity to put her skills to use on a larger scale. Initially, it’s a bit boring – creating rumors aimed at undermining Axis morale isn’t quite as fun as talking to would-be secret agents – but Dinah doesn’t have a lot of career options. Her effervescent, flighty nature, so unlike her perfect, brilliant, meticulous mother’s, means there are a lot of jobs she just isn’t cut out for. Where Lillian Kendall writes her journals in code, keeps a spotless house, and never has a hair out of place, Dinah can’t decipher a crossword clue, is endlessly behind schedule, and seems to move from one mess to the next.

There are many reasons why Lillian presents such a perfect picture to the world, but she has never shared them with Dinah. She knows she should, but she just isn’t ready to be quite that vulnerable with a daughter who is so bright, lively, and different from her. Dropping Dinah off in Washington, D.C. presents a perfect chance to visit with some old friends and seek their advice on how to reconnect with her increasingly distant child.

Only once Lillian gets there, she realizes that Elizabeth and William Friedman need her help far more than she needs theirs. Both are doing important war work, business which has consumed nearly all of Elizabeth’s time and is taking a serious toll on William’s mental health. Lillian immediately takes charge of the house, cooking, cleaning, and nursing William as much as he will allow it. Having her around puts them at ease since they know they can trust her. After all, Lillian had been a key part of their code-breaking team during the last war.

Lillian and Dinah might be in the same city, but both are too caught up in their own lives to have much time for the other. Until, that is, Dinah finds herself tangled up in an unexpected snarl at the OSS. She needs Lillian’s brilliant mind to help her figure out who is working so hard to get her fired – and why.

This dual timeline, dual-narrator novel covers Lillian’s story in both WWI and WWII and shows how that impacts Dinah’s story throughout her life. I liked that the narrative shows how people can live together, experience the same things, and still not share the same perspective. Dinah and Lillian have such different personalities that they endlessly rub each other the wrong way. The book doesn’t directly address it, but there is an implication that Dinah compares herself to her mother and finds herself wanting, which then puts a strain on how she interacts with her. Dinah’s conviction that her mom must be disappointed in her, and the storyline around it, does a nice job of representing how often we get the people closest to us wrong and how a conversation might go a long way towards clearing things up.

Roger, Lillian’s husband, is more like his wife than his daughter, although he is a friendlier, more convivial version of Lillian’s sharp wits and strong moral center. He’s able to serve as a bridge between his wife and daughter because his eloquence and laid-back demeanor make him seem less threatening to Dinah. Leaving him behind when both women head to D.C. means losing the buffer they have relied on for years, which ultimately helps their relationship.

One nice aspect of the dual timeline is that we see Roger and Lillian’s romance from its formation in 1918 to its maturity in 1944. So often, we don’t get to follow our hero and heroine as their relationship goes through the ups and downs of children, family life, and the mundane happenings of the everyday, and having it on page here was delightful. I especially liked that the building blocks that led to the first blossoming of love carry them through thirty years later as they face new challenges.

The story focuses on Lillian and Dinah’s respective growth, both as individuals and in how they interact with each other. Lillian, who had a hard childhood and carried those problems into adulthood and motherhood, has always been a fixer. Her love of problem-solving is what made her an excellent codebreaker during the First World War, but it has not made her a perfect mother for adventurous, accident-prone Dinah, whose youthful exuberance often gets her into trouble. Lillian’s response has always been to rush in with a solution, but at this point in their lives, Lillian has to learn to let go and be backup for Dinah. She also has to figure out who she wants to be and what she wants to do now that being a hands-on mom is no longer her job.

Dinah is not stupid, but her brilliance lies more in making connections and understanding human interactions than in the analytical work the other characters excel at. The threads that run through her storyline are learning to appreciate herself, step out independently, and trust her instincts. This makes Dinah’s sections read more like YA or New Adult than women’s fiction, but that actually worked well here. It was nice to see how, as a daughter learns to come into her own, a mother must learn how to let her do so.

This novel is published by Bethany House, which raises expectations of a strong Christian theology in the narrative, but the author handles this portion of her story with an extremely light touch. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being a high level of religiosity and 1 being zero mention of God, I would rank the story a 4. Roger speaks easily of his faith, Lillian is more guarded and insecure about what she believes, while Dinah is still discovering what it means to believe for oneself rather than blindly accepting what you’ve been taught. We watch all three grapple with their respective takes on God, but this plays out in the background rather than the forefront of the story.

The focus of The Codebreaker’s Daughter is on relationships. Figuring out how to be an adult daughter who, while respecting your parents, can also respect and appreciate yourself, is at the heart of the novel. It’s a quick, enjoyable read and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys women’s fiction.

The Codebreaker's Daughter by Amy Lynn Green
4 Stars

Amy Lynn Green always delivers compelling historical fiction stories and this one blends wartime intrigue, mother-daughter dynamics and roles of women in intelligence work during WWI and WWII.

Read if you enjoy:

• Codebreaking and wartime secrets
• Strong mother-daughter dynamics
• Dual timelines with journal entries
• Hidden histories from the Great War
• Women working behind the scenes in WWII
• Historical fiction with emotional depth
• Uncovering family legacies
• Intelligence work through words

We follow Dinah and her mother Lilian. We see the behind the scenes work Dinah does for the OSS in DC as she breaks through code and ultimately learns about her own mother's work as a codebreaker in WWI, as she reads through her mother's journal entries. She is trying to make sense of the entries and uncover the secrets her mother has kept hidden all this time.

We learn all about her mother's family history and struggles. Green also tackles mental illness topics in this book in a very important and respectful way.

This story is a slower paced, character focused one as we see the dynamics between mother and daughter play out. That is what elevates this book as Dinah is discovering so much about her mother's past. They have some conflict and a bit of a strained relationship, but the heart of the story is two brilliant women navigating their jobs, expectations and the complicated relationship between the two of them.

This was a very thoughtful, layered story that highlights some lesser known aspects of women's wartime contributions.

A thoughtful, layered novel perfect for fans of historical fiction that highlights lesser-known aspects of women’s wartime contributions. The authors note really explained so much of what was reality from war time and I appreciate that! I learned so much.

Thank you to Bethany House for providing a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts are my own.

I have read most of Amy Lynn Green’s books, and enjoyed every one that I read. She has a knack for telling a story in a fresh, new way. So, when I saw The Codebreaker’s Daughter available for review, I jumped at the chance! What a treat it was to read.
My thoughts:
Quite soon after I started reading The Codebreaker’s Daughter I realized that William and Elisabeth Friedman were important characters. That made me quite interested because I had just listened to Code Girls by Liza Mundy, which tells the story of the women who broke codes during World War II. (For the record, I found Code Girls extremely interesting for the history it told, but I can’t recommend it without reservations. It has a very feministic slant, and the author endorses same-sex relationships.) The Friedmans were leaders in breaking enemy codes during World War I, and helped with training and breaking codes during World War II. It was obvious that Amy Lynn Green had studied the story of the Friedmans; I thoroughly enjoyed reading their story in this book after hearing it in the other.
I was very interested in watching the interactions between Dinah and her mother. It made me think about my own relationship with my daughters—are there ways I can make them feel more loved and accepted, rather than feeling like they are inferior? Dinah ended up in trouble and danger in part because she felt like she had to prove herself to her mother. The ending was wonderful!
The Codebreaker’s Daughter is labeled as a Christian book. I didn’t see very many references to faith in it, but it was very clean. There is actually no romance in the story, and no violence, although one man tried to kiss Dinah against her will. I enjoyed it, and will be watching for more books by this author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley, and these are my honest thoughts about it.

The Codebreaker’s Daughter by Amy Lynn Green – Mystery, Intrigue, and Relationships

The Codebreaker’s Daughter is the first book I’ve read by author Amy Lynn Green. I wanted to read it because I enjoy World War II historical novels, along with mystery and intrigue.

The Codebreaker’s Daughter tells the story of Lillian Kendall and her daughter Dinah Kendall, and takes place in 1917 during the Great War and 1944 during World War II. It’s a story about mothers and daughters and how they impact and influence each other’s lives. It’s about trying to overcome difficult circumstances and live a good, decent, and meaningful live. It’s about two ordinary women, living in extraordinary and critical times for our Country and the world. It’s about doing important work and striving to do it well. It’s about marriage and caring for and being there for your spouse and family. It’s about lifelong friendships that endure over many seasons. It’s about making choices and experiencing the consequences, both good and bad.

The book was different than I expected. Yes, it takes place in WWI and WWII and involves codebreaking, espionage, and helping with the war effort. But underlying it all are the relationships and lives of the characters as the grow and change over the years.

My favorite character was Roger Kendall, the husband of Lillian. He was the steady and loving husband and father that undergirded and supported his wife and daughter. I enjoyed the friendships Lillian had with Elizebeth and Margot.

The Codebreaker’s Daughter is a slow-paced novel. While it does have mystery and intrigue, the main-focus is the characters and their stories. About twenty percent into the storyline my interest picked up more as the story focused on the work the women were doing to help in the war effort.

While the story unraveled slowly, there were some real gems in the book. Thoughts and insights from the characters that were thought-provoking and meaningful.

If you like World Word II historical fiction, mystery, intrigue, relationships, and stories that focus on the characters behind the historical backdrop, you may want to read Amy Lynn Green’s newest novel The Codebreaker’s Daughter. I look forward to reading more of this author’s work in the future.

I would like to thank Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of The Codebreaker’s Daughter by Amy Lynn Green. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.

“Brilliance wasn’t nearly so important as old-fashioned grit.”

Set in 1917 and 1944, the two storylines were connected by Lillian’s pragmatic, no-nonsense third person voice. 1944 timeline also featured Lillian’s daughter Dinah who was a complete opposite from her mother. I really enjoyed the history behind the story and loved learning about the secret world of codes and ciphers during WWI and WWII.
My favorite character was Roger, Lillian’s husband and Dinah’s father. His steadfast faith, deep-seated loyalty, unwavering love, and complete devotion made him a wonderful character. Though he didn’t have a voice in the plot, his actions and words spoke of his noble and honor-filled character.
Lillian had a difficult childhood and it affected her entire outlook on life. Only when she realized that she still had purpose did she blossom. Dinah was impulsive and a bit immature but had grit and drive. I unfortunately didn’t connect with either of these characters; they were a bit flat and one-dimensional. It felt like the story happened to them instead of their making the story happen.
Still historical fiction fans would enjoy this book that spans the two wars through the eyes of mother and daughter. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House via Interviews and Reviews and NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

I have always enjoyed Amy Lynn Green's books, but The Codebreaker's Daughter is by far my favorite. This dual timeline novel tells the story of Lillian Kendall's life and her work as a codebreaker in WWI; and the life of her daughter, Dinah, who was trying to serve her country in her own way during WWII. The true historical characters are well-portrayed alongside their fictional counterparts. The themes of mental health and overcoming insecurities are developed as we come to know the characters better and as the intrigue intensifies. Determining whom to trust while working in intelligence and special operations is not an easy task. Ulterior motives abound, even where least anticipated.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The Codebreaker's Daughter from Bethany House via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Thank you Bethany House for this arc.

One thing I really like about this book is that neither Lily nor Dinah are top notch “more special than anyone else” people. Instead, they’re good but, like most of us, they’re not the best. Lily grows in knowledge and confidence in her code breaking skills but she knows that she’s not as good as Elizebeth or William. Dinah begins to get the hang of the job she’s assigned – Rumors division – but she doesn’t suddenly blaze like a star through the department. I can relate to both women better as more ordinary people.

Both of them also make mistakes in their efforts to do more and be better. Lily’s fraught relationship with her own mother and determination to do better raising Dinah leads to a stiff relationship between them, one that Lily has to recognize and make the effort to thaw and overcome. Dinah’s zeal to prove herself has her breaking rules in ways that she thinks are okay in the pursuit of the ends but which might be her undoing. Her confidence cracked, she’s got to face what she did and come back from it.

Both mother and daughter grow as people. Lily has to learn to let people in and be more open with Dinah while Dinah has to decide if fitting in with the majority is worth shutting out someone who needs a friend more than she’s willing to admit.

The historical details which add color as well as the actual historical elements worked into the plot are great. The religious aspects are included to show that Lily and Dinah’s family are believers but without turning preachy.

This is a more quietly emotional story that focuses on the people as well as the actual espionage they do. As such it has a slightly slower pace at times. I enjoyed the relatable issues that main characters Lily and Dinah must face and resolve as well as how actual real life people and events are incorporated into the book. B