The Codebreakers Daughter is a fast paced gripping historical story set in Bletchley Park in 1942.Hana is recruited to crack Japanese naval codes as she is fluent in Japanese and also to expose the mole that is in her team. I have read a few books on Bletchley so it was refreshing to have one focussed on Japanese codes .I enjoyed this book very much as I found it interesting to learn of the women's role in wartime intelligence and the personal cost to the code breakers. A really enjoyable read .Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC.

A Bletchley Park story with a difference. Hana's story is a compelling page turner, being thrown in at the deep end working on Japanese naval codebreaking, she is also trying to find the mole giving away their secrets so she can trust no-one. Definitely a cut above a lot of the Bletchley Park novels this book is perfect for anyone who enjoys this genre

A heart-breaking betrayal. A secret to uncover at any cost. Bletchley Park, 1942.

This is the story of teacher Hana Phillips, recruited to Bletchley Park, ready to her her part in the war effort, cracking Japanese naval codes. And this book started from page one and had me turning the pages faster than I care to admit. This is a fantastic book, high octane to say the least. Breaking codes, searching for a mole, trying to survive. This is a book with all that and more. Fast paced and heart-wrenching this is a book you won't be able to put down.

So well written, so believable, so real! A very powerful and emotional read with plenty of suspense and thrills. A must read.

Thank you NetGalley and Embla Books for giving me the opportunity to read adn review this book.

I loved this book. I read it in one day! I literally couldn't put it down. It was fast-paced thrilling spy novel. It takes place at Bletchley Park during WWII. I've read hundreds of WWII books and several set at Bletchley Park, but this one covered new ground to me. It's about a Father and a daughter trying to find out who is the mole within a small yet critical team tasked with codebreaking Japanese interceptions.

Hana Fletcher is a teacher who is married. She is totally unprepared to be suddenly thrown into working with this group. Her ability to speak and read Japanese almost fluently is what qualified her for this role. But it comes with much more danger and intrigue than she anticipated. She gets tied up in the mystery and works hard to stay safe, and help save the British from the Japanese.

If you like suspense and high drama, you will love this historical fiction book.

Thanks to Netgalley and Embla Books for this advance copy in return for my honest review.

This one surprised me. It starts with a classic Bletchley Park setup: clever woman, war effort, secrets everywhere. But the emotional layers sneak up on you. Hana gets recruited after her father has a suspicious accident, and because he basically raised her to speak Japanese and think like a codebreaker, she steps into his role.

There’s a quiet intensity to the whole story. Hana’s thrown into a world of secrets and suspicion, while trying to hold together a crumbling marriage and navigate a workplace where literally anyone could be leaking information to the enemy. The mole hunt adds solid tension, but the real heart of this book is Hana herself—grieving, determined, and growing into her own power.

Some side characters felt more like plot devices than people, and the pacing hiccups here and there. But overall? It hit the mark. If you like your historical fiction with codebreaking, emotional gut punches, and just enough espionage to keep you side-eyeing everyone, this one’s worth picking up.

Fascinating ww2 story

This is a very engaging and interesting ww2 historical adventure romance. The characters are well developed and the storyline is extremely interesting. I especially liked the code breaking parts. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to the publisher who lent me a time limited e-arc via netgalley with no obligation. This review is optional and my own opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Embla Books for an advanced digital copy of this book.

From the onset, this story appealed to me as it checks all of the boxes for books I like to immerse myself in… World War II historical fiction, strong female protagonist, and mystery and suspense. Unfortunately for me, this book was the equivalent of picking up a beautiful piece of fruit, and biting into it only to discover it’s spoiled. While I truly wanted to love this book, it missed the mark for me in so many places.

To be fair, I’ll start with what I did like. I have read a great deal of WWII fiction, and have never read a book focused on Bletchley Park, so I found it interesting to learn about Britain’s counterintelligence hub for the war. The storyline, while somewhat predictable, was intriguing enough that it kept me engaged and reading along to see how it all played out.

While the plot was engaging, the main character, Hana, was not. I had a hard time growing to like her, and often found her words and actions to be somewhat childish. Because of this, I found her hard to relate to, but even more so, it was not believable for me that she would be recruited or succeed as a master codebreaker/translator.

My other major issue with this book was in the prose. There was a distinct lack of descriptive passages which typically spark the reader’s senses and let them feel that they are part of what is happening. In The Codebreaker’s Daughter, there was much more tell than show, so it read less like a novel and more like an article. Additionally, the dialogue often felt overly modern for the time period, causing a disconnect for me that kept pulling my focus away from the story.

Reading is entirely subjective, and for the right person, I’m sure this book would be highly entertaining. For me, however, it fell short of my expectations, and ultimately will not be on my list of favorites.

As someone fascinated by the stories of translators working at Bletchley Park during the war, I was immediately drawn to this novel, especially as it focuses on the less known Japanese division of the Park in Hut 7. The lead is a talented female linguist and lover of puzzles who steps in for her father. The story was quickly high in suspense and it kept me turning the pages late into the night.

What readers should know is that romance plays a significant role in the narrative. While the backdrop of Bletchley Park and the codebreaking work is certainly present, it often serves more as a lens through which the main character’s personal relationships are explored. These dynamics felt authentic and well-developed, adding emotional depth to the story.

However, I did find myself wishing for a bit more from the wartime intelligence side of the plot. The codebreaking aspect was fun but took a backseat to the romantic and interpersonal storylines, and certain elements felt unresolved. Because of that, I likely knocked a star off my rating.

That said, this was still a thoroughly enjoyable read. Fans of suspenseful historical fiction with emotional depth and a strong heroine will love it.

Thank you very much to Embla Books and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest opinion of the book. This review is available on Goodreads.

A moving and inspiring love story set during World War II at Bletchley Park. Unlike the usual tales from Bletchley, this one focuses on events in the Pacific. The Codebreaker's Daughter is an unputdownable novel packed with secrets, courage, mystery, and plenty of twists and turns. Highly recommended. 4 stars.
I would like to thank the author, Embla and Netgalley for my free copy of this novel, in exchange for my honest review.
#TheCodebreakersDaughter #NetGalley

School teacher Hana finds herself unexpectedly recruited to Bletchley Park, helping to translate Japanese naval codes. Whilst there, she is tasked with finding a mole in the team, who has been passing secrets to the Japanese - who can she trust, and can she stay safe?

A pleasant enough read, I liked Hana and her family - her angst over her estranged husband was well portrayed. I did find it a tad predictable, but enjoyable nonetheless. A book set in Bletchley Park is a must read for me, the subject fascinates me, and as always, this Suzanne Fortin novel is well researched.

3.5 ⭐️

After a targeted accident involving her father, Hana is given a job at Bletchley Park as a code breaker because of her Japanese language skills, but she is also tasked with rooting out the mole in the department. In a story filled with page turning intrigue, Hana must find the spy before she becomes the next target.

I enjoyed the pace of this book. With the intrigue of trying to figure out who the spy was, I constantly found myself wanting to read more. As each new clue came to light, I couldn’t wait to see how everything would come together in the end.

I love WWII historical fiction and this book felt like it gave a different perspective than many others that I have read recently. The focus on Bletchley Park, rooting out a mole, and code breaking was very fascinating and added a thriller element to this book.

I did have a bit of a hard time with the female main character though, which made it hard to truly connect with her. Hana and her husband, Gregory, have had a strained relationship ever since he was in an accident a couple years before. What bothered me was the way that Hana seemed to not try to make the relationship any better (and due to some questionable actions, even made it worse for a time) but wallowed in her unhappiness and then tried to make seeking her own happiness the priority even when it was against better judgment. While Hana’s character bothered me, I did really enjoy many of the supporting characters including her mom, Pamela, and her sister-in-law, Gwen.

Overall the book kept my interest and kept me turning pages in order to get to the end to see how it would turn out.

Thank you to NetGalley and Embla books for the ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This was a brilliant story about Hana Phillips she was recruited to work at Bletchley Park when her father was in an accident.Hana could speak Japanese like her father so was asked to do his job.There was thought to be a mole working in the hut she was working in and was asked secretly to find out it was..Will she find out who it is?Thank you to Netgalley and Embla Books.

Betrayal, secrecy, spy network, danger, mystery, broken promises, and renewed love are just some of the words that come to mind when thinking about this book.

It is set during WWII at takes place at the famous Bletchley Park.

After Hana’s father was struck by a car she is asked to take over his work at the printer. However, she quickly discovers he doesn’t work at the printer but is a codebreaker at Bletchley Park. He had been tasked with finding a mole in his group. Now it was up to Hana to find his notes, decipher his code, and find the mole.

There is nothing the mole won’t do to keep from being caught and exposed, including murder.

The book is full of twists and turns keeping you guessing with every page turn who the mole could be. There are red herrings throughout the book making you second guess every time you think you’ve solved the mystery.

I felt there was enough mystery and intrigue to keep me interested. It wasn’t too predictable either and it didn’t feel unrealistic. It was well written and the only negetive of the book for me was the fact that Hana did have an affair. It was an emotional affair and was contained to hand holding and kissing. Without giving away too much of the plot I will say in the end she reconciled with her husband and forgiveness was granted.

Content warning, other than the affair: there are some mild swear words throughout the book, there is attempted murder, and murder.

Thank you Netgalley and Embla Books for the advance copy of this book!

It's October 1942 in Buckinghamshire, England and Hana is teaching a class of eight and nine year old children, she can speak Japanese fluently and every day speaks to the children in Japanese to say good morning and goodbye, something that doesn't go down well with the parents and she is told to stop. After her father is knocked down in a hit and run accident you can't help but wonder if it was an accident or somehow connected, and when she is requested to take over from her father at the print works she starts to wonder what exactly he father did for his job. Then more secrets occur when she is requested to join the top secret world of Bletchley Park!
Hana is certainly kept busy at work and when she is asked to do some undercover snooping, she agrees but all the time doesn't know who she can trust.
When an American serviceman stays with them as well as working alongside Hana, things get a little bit more difficult at times, making sure nobody will let out important information and yet still Hana doesn't know who to trust. But when her own safety and that of her closest family are put at risk she doesn't know who to turn to and more importantly who to trust!

A story of secrets, espionage and family life set around Bletchley Park and the surrounding countryside. Full of friendships, but also doubts and secrets, as no-one knows who to trust. It certainly keeps your attention from the first few pages till the very end, keeping you guessing along the way. I personally think that it would make a great TV drama.

A gorgeous story that fans of WW2 saga fiction will adore, I really enjoyed it. A five-star read from me.

#netgalley
#SuzanneFortin
#emblabooks
##BonnierbooksUk

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book set in Bletchley Park.

Hana is a teacher who is employed to work at Bletchley Park, the previous day her father was involved in an accident where the person who injured him never stopped to see if he was okay.

Her marriage isn’t going well, she’s been told by her husband that a soldier will be living with them.

The story has you hooked from the beginning and keeps you turning the pages and there is lots happening.

For Hana, she wants to do her bit for the war, but what will it take from her and who can she trust?

I highly recommend this book.

This was a wartime thriller that blended historical fiction and spying. I couldn't put it down and read it in a day!

Set in Britain’s Bletchley Park during World War II, Hana Phillips was a teacher who was suddenly sent to Bletchley Park because of her language skills.

I really enjoyed Hana's character. I enjoyed reading about her going from a school teacher to a brave codebreaker, seeing her do this job and also have a married life.

Hana starts to realise she can’t trust anyone around her. I was kept on edge about the suspects and enemies until the end, and even then, I wasn't expecting the outcomes!!

BOOK REVIEW 🌸

The Codebreaker’s Daughter by Suzanne Fortin

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

ARC Ebook

Historical fiction

I love WWII-era historical fiction, and The Codebreaker’s Daughter is an excellent example of why! The story focuses on Hana, a school teacher recruited to work at Bletchley Park when her father is hospitalized. Code-breaking is such a fascinating aspect of WWII, and Hana’s character is bright and gifted at not only breaking codes but also translating Japanese into English.

In addition to codebreaking, there is a romance plot line as well; Hana falls for Robert, an American working in her hut, even though she is married to Gregory, an injured veteran. A third plot line involves her sweet family— her parents, nephew, and her sister-in-law— who stand by her when her world seems to be crumbling down.

I really enjoyed the complexity of the storyline and of Hana’s character. The pacing is quick, and I quickly became immersed in her world. The second half of the book was quite suspenseful as Hana got closer and closer to solving the most important code. I didn’t want the book to end!


This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, @sue_fortin_author @NetGalley and @Emblabooks for this advanced reader copy! The Codebreaker‘s Daughter will be available July 15!

🌸 Em

As a fan of The Rose Code and all things Bletchley Park, this book hooked me from the start. The Codebreaker’s Daughter is a gripping, twist-filled historical mystery that kept me turning pages late into the night.

Hana, a schoolteacher turned codebreaker, navigates the secretive world of wartime intelligence, family tragedy, and growing suspicion within the walls of Bletchley. The tension builds steadily as Hana investigates a suspected spy, cracks secret codes (including one left by her father), and uncovers betrayals close to home. With layered characters, especially the mysterious Robert and her complex relationship with her husband Gregory, the story keeps you guessing until the final reveal — and I loved the payoff.

Fortin blends suspense, emotion, and historical intrigue beautifully. Highly recommend for fans of WWII fiction with a strong female lead.

Thank you to NetGalley and Embla Books for the ARC!

I love good historical fiction, and this book's description drew me in. It was interesting to learn a bit about the work of the codebreakers, and gain greater understanding of the importance of their role.

The book is well written and easy to read. Characters are introduced at a pace that enables the reader to easily keep track of who is who, and how they relate to one another. The author spends a good deal of time exploring the relationships among the characters. In fact, this is far more a story of relationships than one of the historical perspective of the codebreakers.

I wasn't a fan of the protagonist, and that undoubtedly colors my view of the book. From the outset, she struck me as one who is more concerned about herself than others. Her husband has undergone tremendous trauma, and her marriage is failing, but she does not examine how she might be contributing to the situation. She is also wildly naive, illustrated through several other relationships that she has (not wanting to create any spoilers here...).

Overall, this was a good but not great book. Since it is a relatively quick read, and does have a bit of historical perspective, I would recommend it to those who enjoy historical fiction, especially readers who prefer stories that emphasize relationships more than history or culture.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC of #TheCodebreaker'sDaughter. This review reflects my unbiased opinion of the book.

Oh my word what a great book

I love to read about Bletchley Park and those deemed intelligent enough to be of use there. I had little idea that there had been Japanese decoders as well.

This book leaps in with mystery, intrigue, espionage and a touch of old-fashioned romance. It keeps going even after the events of the first few chapters.
The story revolves around Hana and Gregory and Hana’s family. There is also a house guest who inveigles his way into Hana’s home and to some extent her heart.

The book is obviously well researched and is very well written At one point towards the end it brought me to tears.
The end was perhaps a little rushed but the events needed to be brought together and to a satisfactory fruition. I would have liked to know what happened to a few characters - maybe imagination will have to be enough.

A great read - I am slightly sad it’s come to an end