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WW2 Secret Agent #1
The Silk Code
Based on the true story of ‘Englandspiel’, one woman must race against the clock to uncover a traitor, even if it means losing the man she loves.
England, 1943:
Deciding to throw herself into war work, Nancy Callaghan joins the Special Operations Executive in Baker Street. There, she begins solving ‘indecipherables’ – scrambled messages from agents in the field.
Then Nancy meets Tom Lockwood, a quiet genius when it comes to coding. Together they come up with the idea of printing codes on silk, so agents can hide them in their clothing to avoid detection by the enemy. Nancy and Tom grow close, and soon she is hopelessly in love.
But there is a traitor in Baker Street, and suspicions turn towards Tom. When Nancy is asked to spy on Tom, she must make the ultimate sacrifice and complete a near-impossible mission. Could the man she loves be the enemy?
England, 1943:
Deciding to throw herself into war work, Nancy Callaghan joins the Special Operations Executive in Baker Street. There, she begins solving ‘indecipherables’ – scrambled messages from agents in the field.
Then Nancy meets Tom Lockwood, a quiet genius when it comes to coding. Together they come up with the idea of printing codes on silk, so agents can hide them in their clothing to avoid detection by the enemy. Nancy and Tom grow close, and soon she is hopelessly in love.
But there is a traitor in Baker Street, and suspicions turn towards Tom. When Nancy is asked to spy on Tom, she must make the ultimate sacrifice and complete a near-impossible mission. Could the man she loves be the enemy?
375 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 17, 2023
513 people are currently reading
920 people want to read
About the author
Deborah Swift
33 books531 followersI am a novelist living in the Lake District in England. I write historical fiction but read widely - contemporary and classic fiction. I choose my books carefully, so I don't read many duds. If I do, they are not reviewed here, as a gesture of respect to other writers.
I blog at my website
www.deborahswift.com
I blog at my website
www.deborahswift.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
March 31, 2023
The Silk Code is a World War Two espionage story and features English agents sent to Holland.
Nancy leaves her Scottish home and a cheating fiancé to find work in London. She lodges with her brother and attends an interview for secretarial work. However, she discovers that the job is in the decoding department of the Special Operations Executive in Baker Street.
Tom Lockwood is on a mission to find new ways for secret agents in the field to send coded messages. He gets involved with the Dutch agents and is concerned that the Germans have infiltrated the Dutch Resistance.
Secrets, undercover activities and spying are central to this story, which takes place mainly in London and Holland and it is based on a true story of ‘Englandspiel’, a successful counterintelligence operation run by the Abwehr during the war. Nancy finds herself at the heart of finding the mole who is sending agents to their deaths.
I liked the Dutch setting and the problematic situation for the agents. The story tripped along at a good pace and there was plenty to keep me interested.
Nancy leaves her Scottish home and a cheating fiancé to find work in London. She lodges with her brother and attends an interview for secretarial work. However, she discovers that the job is in the decoding department of the Special Operations Executive in Baker Street.
Tom Lockwood is on a mission to find new ways for secret agents in the field to send coded messages. He gets involved with the Dutch agents and is concerned that the Germans have infiltrated the Dutch Resistance.
Secrets, undercover activities and spying are central to this story, which takes place mainly in London and Holland and it is based on a true story of ‘Englandspiel’, a successful counterintelligence operation run by the Abwehr during the war. Nancy finds herself at the heart of finding the mole who is sending agents to their deaths.
I liked the Dutch setting and the problematic situation for the agents. The story tripped along at a good pace and there was plenty to keep me interested.
May 7, 2023
An easy to read book but for me it lacked real depth of character or story. I did like that it was based on truth and it was fascinating to learn more about how women supported the war effort, but what some might find fast paced, I found a bit jarring with all the jumping from one crisis to another. Nancy and Tom could be interesting characters but I felt they could have been developed more - Nancy certainly, who seemed to go from wronged fiancée to a highly functioning operative in the blink of an eye. I envy the talents of writers who can formulate a story but for me this was a bit meh.
May 21, 2025
3.75 rounded up to 4. great book. great history. can't wait to read the next 2.
March 24, 2023
So, I had planned to make a start on this book...just get a feel for it. However, once I had read a few pages, I simply couldn't stop. Prior to reading this, I had only a superficial understanding of Englandspiel and had no idea how deeply rooted it was in the most important government departments during WWII. Reading this book was like being on a runaway train. As always, the depth of research this author does is obvious but she makes it so easily absorbable with characters you either hate or love and a plot that keeps the pages turning. She seamlessly threads the historical figures with her fictional ones but the treachery is very real.
These women who signed up as SOE agents deserve to be recognized in the history books used in schools. They were from all walks of life, brilliant, brave, and loyal, knowing that their life expectancy once parachuted behind enemy lines was only 6 weeks. I hope that there is another book in the works with at least a couple of my favorite characters. I didn't get much accomplished today but it was totally worth it. Many thanks to NetGalley & HQ Digital for providing me with the e-ARC.
These women who signed up as SOE agents deserve to be recognized in the history books used in schools. They were from all walks of life, brilliant, brave, and loyal, knowing that their life expectancy once parachuted behind enemy lines was only 6 weeks. I hope that there is another book in the works with at least a couple of my favorite characters. I didn't get much accomplished today but it was totally worth it. Many thanks to NetGalley & HQ Digital for providing me with the e-ARC.
April 21, 2023
The year is 1943 and Nancy finds herself on her way to England from Scotland to start over after a bad breakup. She has a job set up through her brother to help with the war effort, but little does she know the position that awaits her will change her life in every way imaginable. Before she knows it, she’s deciphering code and communicating with agents in the field - but something is amiss. Her trainer, Tom Lockwood, also suspects something is off. There’s a traitor amongst those at Baker Street. But who is it? Is it Nancy? Tom? Nancy’s brother? Their boss?
I loved the characters that author Deborah Swift crafted. I fell in love with Nancy’s bravery, Tom’s determination and the many, many characters along the way that helped piece the puzzle together. It was well written and a good mix of historical fiction and mystery. I enjoyed learning the historical facts and I learned of things that I didn’t know before about “Englandspiel” and the Dutch Resistance.
I loved the characters that author Deborah Swift crafted. I fell in love with Nancy’s bravery, Tom’s determination and the many, many characters along the way that helped piece the puzzle together. It was well written and a good mix of historical fiction and mystery. I enjoyed learning the historical facts and I learned of things that I didn’t know before about “Englandspiel” and the Dutch Resistance.
May 4, 2023
I am not familiar with Deborah Swift, but I have read many novels based in WW2, and I can honestly say that this is one of the best of that genre.
Although, it started off very cliched in rural Scotland, with a cad of a fiancé and a naïve young woman. Whilst I was not expecting it to improve, it did and I found myself wishing we could have had more of feisty Nancy in the Netherlands but that is possibly for the sequel.
This is a tough novel showing the horrors of war, and there are many casualties along the way, and I found myself reflecting on some of the deaths long after I finished the book.
A four star read.
Although, it started off very cliched in rural Scotland, with a cad of a fiancé and a naïve young woman. Whilst I was not expecting it to improve, it did and I found myself wishing we could have had more of feisty Nancy in the Netherlands but that is possibly for the sequel.
This is a tough novel showing the horrors of war, and there are many casualties along the way, and I found myself reflecting on some of the deaths long after I finished the book.
A four star read.
January 18, 2025
This was an excellent read! The genre and setting drew me in causing me to read late into the night.
I was fully invested in Nancy, Tom and Neil, wanting to see how their story developed. I found Deborah's style of writing well paced and engaging. Highly recommend this book and I will definitely be reading the other books in this Secret Agent series.
I was fully invested in Nancy, Tom and Neil, wanting to see how their story developed. I found Deborah's style of writing well paced and engaging. Highly recommend this book and I will definitely be reading the other books in this Secret Agent series.
May 20, 2023
Absolutely brilliant ,such believable characters all with in the turmoil of the second World War ,with the bravery of those who trained & went to work behind enemy lines, to those work hard to break the codes being transmitted , & the everyday folk who batted on regardless of being bombed & those very brave souls in Europe who suffered awful things under the hands of the Nazi's who invaded their countries . #NetGalley, #GoodReads, #FB, #Instagram, #Amazon.co.uk, #
, #
, #
, so I highly recommend this Book .
, #, #, so I highly recommend this Book .
June 19, 2023
What a story! Truly heartbreaking and heart rending.
The Silk Code is a really in depth story into the horrors of war, the pain and suffering, the losses and the small victories. The book relates the wartime exploits of a young woman in England flung into the heart of wartime Europe as part of secret government offices and their coding and decoding operations, and later as a wireless operator in occupied Holland. The depictions of violence are hard to read, the descriptions of the city and countryside provide both pictures of peace and calm, as well as destruction and death. This is an amazing story that is needed to understand war and it's consequences.
The only thing I had a hard time understanding was the nature and meaning of the codes and coding systems, but that is a small point. I highly recommend The Silk Code.
The Silk Code is a really in depth story into the horrors of war, the pain and suffering, the losses and the small victories. The book relates the wartime exploits of a young woman in England flung into the heart of wartime Europe as part of secret government offices and their coding and decoding operations, and later as a wireless operator in occupied Holland. The depictions of violence are hard to read, the descriptions of the city and countryside provide both pictures of peace and calm, as well as destruction and death. This is an amazing story that is needed to understand war and it's consequences.
The only thing I had a hard time understanding was the nature and meaning of the codes and coding systems, but that is a small point. I highly recommend The Silk Code.
May 3, 2023
This is my first book by Deborah Swift and what a great and amazing introduction into her books, I was not left disappointed. The Silk Code had me absolutely hooked from the first page. A great historical read based on the true story of the Englandspiel during WW2. A great storyline full of bravery, trust, love, survival, betrayal and determination. I am really looking forward to following where these characters go. Highly recommended 5 star read.
I would like to thank HQ, NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this complimentary copy for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I would like to thank HQ, NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this complimentary copy for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
July 30, 2023
I read a lot of WWII historic fiction and this was a great book! Nancy joins the SOE and begins to help with scrambled messages from agents in the field. She meets a man also involved in the war effort and falls in love. When things go wrong, she decides to become a field agent herself. Her brother is being blackmailed by the Germans, which certainly complicates things. It all comes together in an exciting conclusion!
July 22, 2024
I really enjoyed this thrilling WWII novel ! Suspense up to the end, with the big question of whom can Nancy trust? A bit of romance, but it didn't overwhelm the storyline. A page-turner which kept me awake till dawn!
April 28, 2023
What a really enjoyable book this was to read. Characters that you could get into and a storyline that kept you hooked wanting to read on to find out what happened next - my sign of a good book!
June 17, 2023
Simply brilliant historical fiction from start to finish. Well articulated characters and plot that would stand up to a great movie story. Great book highly recommended and superbly narrated too
July 28, 2023
WW2 Fans
Very good,great historical novel.Kept your attention and good plot line.Characters real andinteresting.Worth reading,looking forward to next book.Recommended for WW2 fans.
Very good,great historical novel.Kept your attention and good plot line.Characters real andinteresting.Worth reading,looking forward to next book.Recommended for WW2 fans.
May 17, 2023
One of the things that really impresses me about Swift’s writing is her ability to move, apparently effortlessly, between different historical settings. Recently, I was reviewing her 17th century Italian renaissance novel, The Fortune Keeper, and now we are in World War II. Life in London during the Blitz is wonderfully evocative, with trips to a Lyons Corner House where you eat Shepherd’s Pies that are mainly potato and beetroot is everywhere. Normal life continues between air raid warnings. It's spot on.
I can hardly mention the plot. It starts with Nancy being betrayed by her fiancé practically on the eve of their wedding. She flees her quiet life in Scotland to move to London where she gets a job in the offices where her brother works. When she applies, she has no idea that she will be a decoder with the Special Operations Executive – part of the lifeline supporting field agents in occupied Europe.
She soon finds herself falling for a young man who has arrived to shake up the way the SOE codes its messages. So far, so clichéd (and the opening pages with the cad in Scotland did leave me worrying that the book might all be a bit of a cliché). But suddenly the plot kicks into gear with twists and turns that continue throughout the book. Infuriatingly, as a reviewer, I can’t say anything about any of them because any clue as to what is coming will spoil the story. (The title is a spoiler in itself, which annoyed me. I bet that was the publisher’s choice and not the author’s.)
What I can say is that the romantic betrayal that the story starts with is just the first of many betrayals we are going to discover. This is a story about loyalty and betrayal: betrayal because of cowardice or betrayal because you have to sacrifice your friends for your country. It reminds us that not that long ago London was full of people with secrets, determined that no one should ever learn what they were doing for their country – or for the enemy.
Swift writes about the experience of agents in the field and how they can (or more often can’t) survive in a world where German troops are everywhere and where nobody can be trusted. There are scenes of considerable violence. I complained in a review of another Deborah Swift book that she couldn’t write a fight scene, but the fight scenes here are terrific – and she is not afraid to depict the horror of killing with bare hands or whatever tools are available. One agent kills someone by hitting them with a spade and the reality of that killing and how it feels to murder someone so up close and personal is chillingly spelled out.
Whatever you do, don’t get attached to anyone. The body count is high and the human costs of Occupation are graphically captured. Usually you can reassure yourself that it will all come well at the end, but I kept turning the pages worrying about who would die next.
The book ends without the irritating cliff hanger that too many authors put at the end of the first book in what is clearly going to be a series. (OK, someone survives. But I’m not telling you who.) The fact that there will be a book two leaves the end of The Silk Code mildly anticlimactic. There is still a war. There will be more deaths. But briefly, until the next book starts, we are allowed an interlude of something almost like peace.
This is a brilliant book, one of Swift’s best. I can’t wait for the next one.
I can hardly mention the plot. It starts with Nancy being betrayed by her fiancé practically on the eve of their wedding. She flees her quiet life in Scotland to move to London where she gets a job in the offices where her brother works. When she applies, she has no idea that she will be a decoder with the Special Operations Executive – part of the lifeline supporting field agents in occupied Europe.
She soon finds herself falling for a young man who has arrived to shake up the way the SOE codes its messages. So far, so clichéd (and the opening pages with the cad in Scotland did leave me worrying that the book might all be a bit of a cliché). But suddenly the plot kicks into gear with twists and turns that continue throughout the book. Infuriatingly, as a reviewer, I can’t say anything about any of them because any clue as to what is coming will spoil the story. (The title is a spoiler in itself, which annoyed me. I bet that was the publisher’s choice and not the author’s.)
What I can say is that the romantic betrayal that the story starts with is just the first of many betrayals we are going to discover. This is a story about loyalty and betrayal: betrayal because of cowardice or betrayal because you have to sacrifice your friends for your country. It reminds us that not that long ago London was full of people with secrets, determined that no one should ever learn what they were doing for their country – or for the enemy.
Swift writes about the experience of agents in the field and how they can (or more often can’t) survive in a world where German troops are everywhere and where nobody can be trusted. There are scenes of considerable violence. I complained in a review of another Deborah Swift book that she couldn’t write a fight scene, but the fight scenes here are terrific – and she is not afraid to depict the horror of killing with bare hands or whatever tools are available. One agent kills someone by hitting them with a spade and the reality of that killing and how it feels to murder someone so up close and personal is chillingly spelled out.
Whatever you do, don’t get attached to anyone. The body count is high and the human costs of Occupation are graphically captured. Usually you can reassure yourself that it will all come well at the end, but I kept turning the pages worrying about who would die next.
The book ends without the irritating cliff hanger that too many authors put at the end of the first book in what is clearly going to be a series. (OK, someone survives. But I’m not telling you who.) The fact that there will be a book two leaves the end of The Silk Code mildly anticlimactic. There is still a war. There will be more deaths. But briefly, until the next book starts, we are allowed an interlude of something almost like peace.
This is a brilliant book, one of Swift’s best. I can’t wait for the next one.
April 20, 2023
A truly moving and breath-taking story of intrigue and betrayal.
It's Britain in 1943 and war is raging. Nancy Callaghan moves from Scotland to England in an attempt to forget her two-timing fiancé, and to do her part for the war effort. She meets with her brother who has arranged a secretarial job for her, however her aptitude for languages mean that she is soon recruited as a code-breaker for the SOE. She is soon involved in decrypting ‘indecipherables’ – scrambled messages from agents in the field.
Up to her eyes in secrets and lies, she finds herself drawn closer to Tom Lockwood, a quiet codebreaking genius. Both soon come to realise SOE and its agents have been compromised, and that there's a traitor in the midst.
The story soon moves ahead at a rate of knots and the reader is immersed in a story full of suspicion, betrayal and some romance. Deborah Swift has expertly captured all of the emotion and atmosphere that must have existed at that time, within the closeted corridors of Britain's espionage community. Not knowing who to trust, fearful of letting the enemy in on some vital facet of the war effort, the story plays out against the real-life background of ‘Englandspiel’, The English Game operated by the Nazis.
Nancy's experiences both in Britain and later across Europe skilfully paint a picture of life during WW2, and she pulls no punches. Fifth columnists, spies, traitors and more are all represented across several story threads which call on real-life events and people. I've read more than a few SOE-based novels recently and this is up there with the best of them. I'd feared it would be a romance novel first and an espionage one second, but not so, and the book will appeal to fans of several genres. The research into how SOE operated is top-notch.
I really did race to finish this book, such was the level of anticipation it raised in me. I'm certain other readers will feel the same. Heartily recommended.
It's Britain in 1943 and war is raging. Nancy Callaghan moves from Scotland to England in an attempt to forget her two-timing fiancé, and to do her part for the war effort. She meets with her brother who has arranged a secretarial job for her, however her aptitude for languages mean that she is soon recruited as a code-breaker for the SOE. She is soon involved in decrypting ‘indecipherables’ – scrambled messages from agents in the field.
Up to her eyes in secrets and lies, she finds herself drawn closer to Tom Lockwood, a quiet codebreaking genius. Both soon come to realise SOE and its agents have been compromised, and that there's a traitor in the midst.
The story soon moves ahead at a rate of knots and the reader is immersed in a story full of suspicion, betrayal and some romance. Deborah Swift has expertly captured all of the emotion and atmosphere that must have existed at that time, within the closeted corridors of Britain's espionage community. Not knowing who to trust, fearful of letting the enemy in on some vital facet of the war effort, the story plays out against the real-life background of ‘Englandspiel’, The English Game operated by the Nazis.
Nancy's experiences both in Britain and later across Europe skilfully paint a picture of life during WW2, and she pulls no punches. Fifth columnists, spies, traitors and more are all represented across several story threads which call on real-life events and people. I've read more than a few SOE-based novels recently and this is up there with the best of them. I'd feared it would be a romance novel first and an espionage one second, but not so, and the book will appeal to fans of several genres. The research into how SOE operated is top-notch.
I really did race to finish this book, such was the level of anticipation it raised in me. I'm certain other readers will feel the same. Heartily recommended.
June 6, 2023
This is a good book for cold wet days; a bit of romance tangled up with delusion, regret, war, spies and treason along with resistance.
Nancy is all set for her impending marriage when the gossip reaches her ears of her financé's unfaithfulness. Disillusioned, she confronts him with the news for which he responds aggressively blaming her ineptitude and simple mindedness. Living in a small village where all eyes will be upon her she decides to contact her brother Neil who lives in London asking if he can find her a job and could he put her up for a while until she finds her own lodgings. This news isn't greeted well by her brother, however work is found for her within close boundaries for which he is involved. Arriving in London Nancy sees for herself the destruction the war has brought, living in her country village, one that had not seen any bombings she now becomes fully aware of the effects of this war.
Nancy becomes involved with deciphering codes that come in from various parts of war torn Europe for which is discovered she has a natural aptitude for spotting clues and irregularities. Tom who has come in from another department is rather taken by Nancy and the beginnings of a relationship start to form. However, there's a needle in the haystack, Neil is offhanded, tries to deter her from starting a relationship with Tom, reminding her of her past hiccup with a man and there's the official secrets act, no word or discussion on work matters, spies are everywhere.
However, it's Neil that's the problem. He is in a very bad situation, one that will threaten the life of his sister and that of Tom. His interference with Tom and Nancy sees her leave where she's working and in being persuaded to join a more active involvement for the war effort finds herself involved in activities she would never have thought she would be able to conquer, bravely she puts herself into extreme danger, one that also puts Neil right in the frame.
Nancy is all set for her impending marriage when the gossip reaches her ears of her financé's unfaithfulness. Disillusioned, she confronts him with the news for which he responds aggressively blaming her ineptitude and simple mindedness. Living in a small village where all eyes will be upon her she decides to contact her brother Neil who lives in London asking if he can find her a job and could he put her up for a while until she finds her own lodgings. This news isn't greeted well by her brother, however work is found for her within close boundaries for which he is involved. Arriving in London Nancy sees for herself the destruction the war has brought, living in her country village, one that had not seen any bombings she now becomes fully aware of the effects of this war.
Nancy becomes involved with deciphering codes that come in from various parts of war torn Europe for which is discovered she has a natural aptitude for spotting clues and irregularities. Tom who has come in from another department is rather taken by Nancy and the beginnings of a relationship start to form. However, there's a needle in the haystack, Neil is offhanded, tries to deter her from starting a relationship with Tom, reminding her of her past hiccup with a man and there's the official secrets act, no word or discussion on work matters, spies are everywhere.
However, it's Neil that's the problem. He is in a very bad situation, one that will threaten the life of his sister and that of Tom. His interference with Tom and Nancy sees her leave where she's working and in being persuaded to join a more active involvement for the war effort finds herself involved in activities she would never have thought she would be able to conquer, bravely she puts herself into extreme danger, one that also puts Neil right in the frame.
May 8, 2023
The Silk code is packed with action, deceit, treason and "Oh My Gosh" moments. The author grabbed my interest from the beginning. I became invested in the story and many of the characters. At times I had to pause a few before going on, fearing what was going to happen next to Nancy.
Nancy ended up in London, staying with her brother (not my favorite character). She thought she was going for a typing job at one of the war divisions on Baker Street. Her knowledge of French, German, Dutch and English makes her very desirable for more than typing. Her ability with puzzles has her standing out among other applicants. Soon she is knee deep in decoding for agents sent to Holland.
Nancy fled Scotland after a nasty breakup. Yet soon she finds her self drawn to Tom, the man that had taught her about coding. The chemistry between them heats up the pages. The tensions between Tom and her brother add fuel to the fire.
Tom has noticed problems in the coding. Something is wrong. It doesn't feel right. With Nancy's help he comes up with a solution but he has to sell his idea to others. At the same time someone is trying to take him down. What an eyeopening story. I didn't want to believe that it was so easy to infiltrate and influence others. How did they get anything done when everything, everyone was under suspicion?
War makes for strange bed fellows. War makes for dramatic stories. War makes for stories packed with action. War makes people grab a connection wherever they can. The Silk Code brought all of this out in a story that was difficult to put down and very easy to pick back up.
I am not sure about the ending. I am hoping that there will be a lot more stories. I hate being left hanging, but I guess it is something that many experienced during WW2.
Nancy ended up in London, staying with her brother (not my favorite character). She thought she was going for a typing job at one of the war divisions on Baker Street. Her knowledge of French, German, Dutch and English makes her very desirable for more than typing. Her ability with puzzles has her standing out among other applicants. Soon she is knee deep in decoding for agents sent to Holland.
Nancy fled Scotland after a nasty breakup. Yet soon she finds her self drawn to Tom, the man that had taught her about coding. The chemistry between them heats up the pages. The tensions between Tom and her brother add fuel to the fire.
Tom has noticed problems in the coding. Something is wrong. It doesn't feel right. With Nancy's help he comes up with a solution but he has to sell his idea to others. At the same time someone is trying to take him down. What an eyeopening story. I didn't want to believe that it was so easy to infiltrate and influence others. How did they get anything done when everything, everyone was under suspicion?
War makes for strange bed fellows. War makes for dramatic stories. War makes for stories packed with action. War makes people grab a connection wherever they can. The Silk Code brought all of this out in a story that was difficult to put down and very easy to pick back up.
I am not sure about the ending. I am hoping that there will be a lot more stories. I hate being left hanging, but I guess it is something that many experienced during WW2.
May 26, 2023
What remained with me after devouring The Silk Code was a feeling of total immersion into the devastating and heroic era of WWII. Along with being a superb storyteller, Ms Swift weaves in fascinating, authentic research. Her words draw you into this world as not just a reader or an observer, but as a participant.
With compelling characters who are tested beyond endurance on their courage and loyalty, The Silk Code explores the essence of bravery—and cowardice—and delivers a satisfying plot set against a backdrop of varying levels of good, evil, and faintheartedness. In Nancy Callaghan, Ms Swift has created a believable and likeable heroine, who grows into her potential as the novel progresses, and had me holding my breath through most of the last third of the book as she resourcefully navigated her way through enemy territory. What I also found enthralling was Ms Swift’s introduction of multiple points of view, even including fairly minor characters. Hard to do, but a technique that really enriched the novel, bringing a unique perspective to the agonizing conflict and deathly stakes everyone faced.
Throughout, the small details were superb, and I felt as though I was one of the resistance fighters, so meticulously choreographed was the planning and execution to aid Nancy’s mission. As with any struggle, at almost every potential win lurked betrayal and defeat, and whether it was circumstance or a variety of malevolent characters, I was on tenterhooks, willing Nancy to succeed. Complex codes, furtive radio transmissions, rescue planes and realistic disguises, false papers and brave citizens sacrificing everything to defeat the Nazis resulted in a brilliant, action-packed thriller. And although many of the outcomes were devastatingly tragic, the novel ends on a note of brave optimism that begs for a sequel. I will be first in line to read it. Highly recommend.
With compelling characters who are tested beyond endurance on their courage and loyalty, The Silk Code explores the essence of bravery—and cowardice—and delivers a satisfying plot set against a backdrop of varying levels of good, evil, and faintheartedness. In Nancy Callaghan, Ms Swift has created a believable and likeable heroine, who grows into her potential as the novel progresses, and had me holding my breath through most of the last third of the book as she resourcefully navigated her way through enemy territory. What I also found enthralling was Ms Swift’s introduction of multiple points of view, even including fairly minor characters. Hard to do, but a technique that really enriched the novel, bringing a unique perspective to the agonizing conflict and deathly stakes everyone faced.
Throughout, the small details were superb, and I felt as though I was one of the resistance fighters, so meticulously choreographed was the planning and execution to aid Nancy’s mission. As with any struggle, at almost every potential win lurked betrayal and defeat, and whether it was circumstance or a variety of malevolent characters, I was on tenterhooks, willing Nancy to succeed. Complex codes, furtive radio transmissions, rescue planes and realistic disguises, false papers and brave citizens sacrificing everything to defeat the Nazis resulted in a brilliant, action-packed thriller. And although many of the outcomes were devastatingly tragic, the novel ends on a note of brave optimism that begs for a sequel. I will be first in line to read it. Highly recommend.
May 25, 2023
Deborah Swift’s new WWII historical thriller, The Silk Code, is a pulse-pounding, totally immersive journey into a dangerous world of wartime espionage. From the first pages, I was hooked. Protagonist Nancy Callaghan is a heroine for the ages. Wounded by a romantic betrayal, she throws herself into her work as a wartime decoder, unscrambling messages from agents in the field. As she and Tom, a dashing coworker, develop a groundbreaking idea to print codes on silk, their collaboration turns into something deeper. But traitors lurk at every turn, and when Tom is targeted as a possible Nazi agent, Nancy is asked to spy on her new love. This impossible task is just the first of the increasingly dangerous missions Nancy must undertake. When she finds herself face to face with the true enemy, Nancy must call upon every shred of courage she possesses and deploy every scrap of her training to survive.
This is edge-of-your-seat stuff. I galloped through this thrilling novel, rooting for Nancy, appalled at the betrayals and the harsh realities of wartime existence in England. I especially loved reading about a female protagonist in a war novel who does dangerous, adventurous work in the field while her male counterparts stay behind—such a refreshing change from the usual scenarios. Nancy is beautifully drawn—strong but also sensitive, book-smart but also scrappy enough to navigate situations of high drama and terror. I can’t wait for the sequel. Highly recommended.
This is edge-of-your-seat stuff. I galloped through this thrilling novel, rooting for Nancy, appalled at the betrayals and the harsh realities of wartime existence in England. I especially loved reading about a female protagonist in a war novel who does dangerous, adventurous work in the field while her male counterparts stay behind—such a refreshing change from the usual scenarios. Nancy is beautifully drawn—strong but also sensitive, book-smart but also scrappy enough to navigate situations of high drama and terror. I can’t wait for the sequel. Highly recommended.
July 9, 2023
When I started reading this book I thought it might be a bit too 'women's fiction' for me - but I should have known better. Deborah Swift doesn't write cosy schmaltz, but history so real it's like a window back in time.
The story, set in 1943, centres around Nancy, a government admin worker solving radio messages from agents in the field, whose life takes a dangerous turn - and Tom, the innovative brain behind some clever coding systems. Yes, they fall in love, but I wouldn't class this as a romance novel at all.
During the first part of the book I was struck by how hard life must have been for Londoners during the war; my mother lived there during that time and talked about it sometimes, but this really brought home to me how little any of the people had. Food, clothes, options...
I enjoyed reading all about the coding systems and the suspicions about who might be working for the Germans, but for me the book really took off in Part 3, which takes places in the Netherlands. We can't imagine what it must have been like to live under Nazi occupation, but boy, does this book describe it in all its raw horror. Ms Swift holds nothing back - a lesser author would have saved more lives! It's gripping, tense, absolutely riveting. Part 3 alone earns the book its five stars.
The story, set in 1943, centres around Nancy, a government admin worker solving radio messages from agents in the field, whose life takes a dangerous turn - and Tom, the innovative brain behind some clever coding systems. Yes, they fall in love, but I wouldn't class this as a romance novel at all.
During the first part of the book I was struck by how hard life must have been for Londoners during the war; my mother lived there during that time and talked about it sometimes, but this really brought home to me how little any of the people had. Food, clothes, options...
I enjoyed reading all about the coding systems and the suspicions about who might be working for the Germans, but for me the book really took off in Part 3, which takes places in the Netherlands. We can't imagine what it must have been like to live under Nazi occupation, but boy, does this book describe it in all its raw horror. Ms Swift holds nothing back - a lesser author would have saved more lives! It's gripping, tense, absolutely riveting. Part 3 alone earns the book its five stars.
July 24, 2025
WWII 1943, Englandspiel (which I'd never heard of). Fleeing from a romantic let down, Nancy Callaghan travels to London to join her older brother Neil. He is working in an office on Baker Street and arranges an interview for her for a clerk but because of her Mathematics background, she is chosen to work in the coding decipher office instead. A genius Tom Lockwood is brought in to help speed up the work on the codes messages and soon Tom and Nancy are dating.
Neil is in another office in the same building but he's hiding a secret and he fears Tom will discover what it is. When Tom insists there is a traitor in the division, his attempts to persuade his bosses the agents sent to a specific area of Holland are being sent to their sudden death. Neil tries to deflect attention from himself by casting doubt on Tom. Nancy is given the assignment to spy on Tom which leads to their breakup.
It's an interesting story and I didn't want to put it down. I quite enjoyed it. I was surprised to hear how the Dutch people dug up tulip bulbs to eat as they were starving. I had just read a story written by a Dutch survivor in which he talked about this very thing. Looking forward to the second book in this series.
Neil is in another office in the same building but he's hiding a secret and he fears Tom will discover what it is. When Tom insists there is a traitor in the division, his attempts to persuade his bosses the agents sent to a specific area of Holland are being sent to their sudden death. Neil tries to deflect attention from himself by casting doubt on Tom. Nancy is given the assignment to spy on Tom which leads to their breakup.
It's an interesting story and I didn't want to put it down. I quite enjoyed it. I was surprised to hear how the Dutch people dug up tulip bulbs to eat as they were starving. I had just read a story written by a Dutch survivor in which he talked about this very thing. Looking forward to the second book in this series.
September 9, 2024
Once the story got going, with Nancy, the heroine, facing one life-threatening situation after another after she is parachuted into Holland, the book is a page turner, and I let the action pull me along. I appreciated learning about the real Englandspiel—German messing with the heads of England’s top spy organizations. I particularly appreciated the author’s notes explaining what was real and what wasn’t. I would have appreciated the notes even more had they explained to what degree women actually participated in the dangerous work that Nancy did. However, the author provides a list of books for those who want to pursue the WWII spying and resistance work in more detail.
It is perhaps unfair to Ms. Swift, that I read this book right after reading a book by Anne Patchett, a master of prose and character development. I found The Silk Code relied on cliche characters and situations (aside from the well researched historic situations) and the prose was unimaginative at best.
Obviously, there is a market for historical fiction that delves into the lesser know details, and Ms. Swift will continue to attract those readers who want their history with a dollop of romance. As for me, I think I’ll put the non fiction books she recommends on my own TBR list.
It is perhaps unfair to Ms. Swift, that I read this book right after reading a book by Anne Patchett, a master of prose and character development. I found The Silk Code relied on cliche characters and situations (aside from the well researched historic situations) and the prose was unimaginative at best.
Obviously, there is a market for historical fiction that delves into the lesser know details, and Ms. Swift will continue to attract those readers who want their history with a dollop of romance. As for me, I think I’ll put the non fiction books she recommends on my own TBR list.
June 1, 2023
5 stars, which I do not give lightly. A beautiful combination of suspense and historic fiction. Daniel Silva meets Noelle Salazar. A moving story of intrigue and betrayal.
In 1943, Nancy leaves her life and cheating fiance in Scotland to take a secretarial position and start a new life. Secretarial work quickly becomes espionage as she is recruited to be an SOE code breaker. While she is drawn to fellow codebreaker Tom, Nancy realizes that the SOE has been compromised. Not knowing who to trust, Nancy fights to survive Englandspiel. Swift doesn't pull punches with this story, nor does she shy away from the lesser-known, or discussed, aspects of life in WWII England and Europe. The romance angle took second fiddle to the true fears and threats that saught the main characters. The research and dedication to historical accuracy were impressive.
I highly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a good spy novel or historic fiction.
Thank you to Netgalley and HQ Digital for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
In 1943, Nancy leaves her life and cheating fiance in Scotland to take a secretarial position and start a new life. Secretarial work quickly becomes espionage as she is recruited to be an SOE code breaker. While she is drawn to fellow codebreaker Tom, Nancy realizes that the SOE has been compromised. Not knowing who to trust, Nancy fights to survive Englandspiel. Swift doesn't pull punches with this story, nor does she shy away from the lesser-known, or discussed, aspects of life in WWII England and Europe. The romance angle took second fiddle to the true fears and threats that saught the main characters. The research and dedication to historical accuracy were impressive.
I highly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a good spy novel or historic fiction.
Thank you to Netgalley and HQ Digital for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 4, 2023
I absolutely adored Deborah Swift's story, inspired by real events in the Second World War. From the first page, when we first meet Nancy, I was hooked. I'm fascinated by the female agents of the Special Operations Executive, and love writing and reading about this aspect of the war. The Silk Code was an incredibly authentic, exciting addition to the genre, and I learned so much.
In 1943, Nancy joins the SOE, and is set to work deciphering the codes sent back from agents in the field. But then she meets Tom, a quiet coding genius, and together they devise a new method of coding on silk. Their relationship grows, and they fall in love, but it can't last.
There is a traitor in SOE, and suspicions turn towards Tom. When Nancy is asked to spy on Tom, she must make the ultimate sacrifice. I genuinely couldn't put this down, the pages turned themselves, well into the night! Espionage fiction at its finest!
In 1943, Nancy joins the SOE, and is set to work deciphering the codes sent back from agents in the field. But then she meets Tom, a quiet coding genius, and together they devise a new method of coding on silk. Their relationship grows, and they fall in love, but it can't last.
There is a traitor in SOE, and suspicions turn towards Tom. When Nancy is asked to spy on Tom, she must make the ultimate sacrifice. I genuinely couldn't put this down, the pages turned themselves, well into the night! Espionage fiction at its finest!
December 4, 2024
I have to admit that at first I was overwhelmed with deja vu as there are so many novels out there about SOE and its shortcomings. The author does take a slightly different line and her research was good.
Nancy is enrolled into the coding section of SOE where her brother also works but his high levels of anxiety obviously cover darker secrets. Her love life with Tom, who also works there, is compromised when she is asked (forced) to spy on him.
Heart broken when their relationship collapses under the strain of this scrutiny, Nancy enrols to be an SOE agent in occupied Netherlands.
This is where the story came to life when Nancy is dropped into the country. The hardships and crushing anxiety of living under Nazi occupation was well written and added a new and orginal, for me, line.
I shall say no more but everything is set up well for future novels involving these characters.
Nancy is enrolled into the coding section of SOE where her brother also works but his high levels of anxiety obviously cover darker secrets. Her love life with Tom, who also works there, is compromised when she is asked (forced) to spy on him.
Heart broken when their relationship collapses under the strain of this scrutiny, Nancy enrols to be an SOE agent in occupied Netherlands.
This is where the story came to life when Nancy is dropped into the country. The hardships and crushing anxiety of living under Nazi occupation was well written and added a new and orginal, for me, line.
I shall say no more but everything is set up well for future novels involving these characters.
July 9, 2023
Leaves a Lasting Impression
MC Nancy Callaghan flees Scotland shortly before her wedding day, after discovering that her fiancé has been cheating on her.
She goes to her brother in London and finds a job in the decoding department of the Special Operations Executive in Baker Street.
Nancy finds herself at the heart of a conspiracy in which Germans are changing English agents codes, delivering them to their death.
Who is the traitor on the English side?
The story moves ahead at breathtaking speed.
Deborah Swift captures the emotion of highly situated politicians, just so ordinary people.
The story is a detail of WW2 that I had previously not heard about, thus I found it very interesting.
The author is not only a superb story teller, but her fascinating authentic research leaves a lasting impression.
Highly recommended.
MC Nancy Callaghan flees Scotland shortly before her wedding day, after discovering that her fiancé has been cheating on her.
She goes to her brother in London and finds a job in the decoding department of the Special Operations Executive in Baker Street.
Nancy finds herself at the heart of a conspiracy in which Germans are changing English agents codes, delivering them to their death.
Who is the traitor on the English side?
The story moves ahead at breathtaking speed.
Deborah Swift captures the emotion of highly situated politicians, just so ordinary people.
The story is a detail of WW2 that I had previously not heard about, thus I found it very interesting.
The author is not only a superb story teller, but her fascinating authentic research leaves a lasting impression.
Highly recommended.
March 9, 2025
Wow….and not in a good way! This book was a gift so I felt obligated to finish it, but it was very hard going. The book is told in three parts, largely focusing on the character of Nancy. Written in three distinct parts, Nancy went from betrayed fiancé who knitted socks for the war effort in her native Scotland, to “bad ass” secret agent for the allies in Europe, working with the local resistance to thwart the Nazis. The first two thirds of the book were not enjoyable, but in part three with the heroine on the ground in the Netherlands, things became more interesting and exciting. It was this that redeemed the book and made me glad I continued. 2.5⭐️/ 5 rounded up due to the interesting final third of the book. Overall, an average read with not particularly well drawn characters.
June 16, 2025
England, 1943. Fleeing from a broken heart, Nancy Callaghan joins the S.O.E. (Special Operations Executive) as a decoder, training to become a wireless operator behind enemy lines in the Netherlands. Nancy forges a relationship with Tom Lockwood, and together they come up with the idea to print codes on silk, easier for agents to hide and dispose of. Nancy's brother Neil is opposed to Nancy's relationship with Tom and has his own reasons to convince their superiors to have Nancy spy on Tom. When Nancy is deployed overseas, she finds out that rumors of a German counter-espionage operation, Englandspiel, are terrifyingly true, and she is completely on her own. She must rely on her instincts and training to make it out alive.
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