What do you think?
Rate this book
The Killing Code
A historical mystery about a girl who risks everything to track down a vicious serial killer, for fans of The Enigma Game and A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder.
Virginia, 1943: World War II is raging in Europe and on the Pacific front when Kit Sutherland is recruited to help the war effort as a codebreaker at Arlington Hall, a former girls’ college now serving as the site of a secret US Signals Intelligence facility in Virginia. But Kit is soon involved in another kind of fight: Government girls are being brutally murdered in Washington DC, and when Kit stumbles onto a bloody homicide scene, she is drawn into the hunt for the killer.
To find the man responsible for the gruesome murders and bring him to justice, Kit joins forces with other female codebreakers at Arlington Hall—gossip queen Dottie Crockford, sharp-tongued intelligence maven Moya Kershaw, and cleverly resourceful Violet DuLac from the segregated codebreaking unit. But as the girls begin to work together and develop friendships—and romance—that they never expected, two things begin to come clear: the murderer they’re hunting is closing in on them…and Kit is hiding a dangerous secret.
Virginia, 1943: World War II is raging in Europe and on the Pacific front when Kit Sutherland is recruited to help the war effort as a codebreaker at Arlington Hall, a former girls’ college now serving as the site of a secret US Signals Intelligence facility in Virginia. But Kit is soon involved in another kind of fight: Government girls are being brutally murdered in Washington DC, and when Kit stumbles onto a bloody homicide scene, she is drawn into the hunt for the killer.
To find the man responsible for the gruesome murders and bring him to justice, Kit joins forces with other female codebreakers at Arlington Hall—gossip queen Dottie Crockford, sharp-tongued intelligence maven Moya Kershaw, and cleverly resourceful Violet DuLac from the segregated codebreaking unit. But as the girls begin to work together and develop friendships—and romance—that they never expected, two things begin to come clear: the murderer they’re hunting is closing in on them…and Kit is hiding a dangerous secret.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published September 20, 2022
199 people are currently reading
13216 people want to read
About the author
Ellie Marney
18 books1,252 followersEllie Marney is a multi-award-winning, bestselling author of thrillers for teens and adults. Her most recent book is All Shall Mourn, the fan-favorite finale book in the electrifying None Shall Sleep series, which kicked off with New York Times bestseller None Shall Sleep and continued with Kirkus-starred sequel, Some Shall Break. Ellie's other titles include ARA Historical Novel Prize-nominated The Killing Code; the Every series - starting with Every Breath - and the companion novel No Limits; CBCA Notable book White Night; and the Circus Hearts series, starting with Circus Hearts 1.
Ellie’s spent a lifetime researching in mortuaries, talking to autopsy specialists, and asking former spies how to make explosives from household items - now she lives quite sedately in south-eastern Australia with her family. Find sign-ups for her newsletter, The Black Hand, at her website, and catch her @elliemarney or @elliemarneyauthor on socials.
Ellie’s spent a lifetime researching in mortuaries, talking to autopsy specialists, and asking former spies how to make explosives from household items - now she lives quite sedately in south-eastern Australia with her family. Find sign-ups for her newsletter, The Black Hand, at her website, and catch her @elliemarney or @elliemarneyauthor on socials.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 470 reviews
January 11, 2025
The Killing Code is a YA-Historical Mystery following Kit Sutherland, a young woman with a big secret.
The year is 1943 and the war is raging in Europe. In America, women have been recruited to aid in the war effort in a number of different ways. Kit is one of these women, hired due to her education to work as a code breaker.
Pictured above: Code Girls working at Arlington Hall, circa 1943.
The women work and live at Arlington Hall in Virginia, a former girls’ college now serving as the site of a secret US Signals Intelligence facility.
When Kit arrives she's full of trepidation. As noted above, she's harboring an important secret, the revelation of which could get her into a lot of trouble. In spite of this, Kit feels her job is crucial and she throws herself into it with gusto.
Kit befriends a few of the other girls, most importantly, Dottie, Moya and Violet. Kit is comfortable, she's happy. She feels like she belongs. She never expected it to be this way.
But then the murders start. Murders of government girls in and around D.C. This puts Kit and her friends on high alert. These killings are way too close to home.
When it appears the authorities aren't taking the killings seriously, or if they are, they aren't getting far, Kit and her friends decide to take matters into their own hands.
They can figure this out. They have too, or one of them very well could be next...
After being beyond impressed by None Shall Sleep, I was really excited to get more from Ellie Marney. Even though Historical Fiction isn't generally my go-to, I knew in Marney's hands it would be compelling.
Happy to report, I wasn't wrong. This was so good. I loved the characters and really hope we get another book following Kit and her friends. I feel like this one set up that possibility nicely.
Kit's character was so well-developed. From the very start, she's intriguing. She has a solid backstory, one that could set her up for failure, but she was smart and determined. She pushed through when a lot of people would have given up.
I liked and respected that about her character, finding her easy to follow and root for. The other girls in her friend group were super likable as well, all with their own unique personalities and contributions to the group.
The mystery was solid. I did get confused at times, tracking the men they considered suspicious, but maybe that's because I was so distracted by the dynamics going on amongst the girls.
I'm looking at you, Kit and Moya...
I was definitely satisfied with the resolution though and would love to hear news that this is actually a start to a series. That could be so fun!
I recommend this to Readers who enjoys a strong historic setting mixed with an even stronger dark mystery plot. We're talking serial killers. Also, if you love girl groups, kicking butt and not taking no for an answer, you could really end up loving this.
Finally, while this is classified as a YA-story, I feel like Readers of all ages could enjoy this one. It didn't really feel YA, except in the fact that the characters are late-teens, early-20s in age.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I appreciate it so much and look forward to getting more from Ellie Marney!
The year is 1943 and the war is raging in Europe. In America, women have been recruited to aid in the war effort in a number of different ways. Kit is one of these women, hired due to her education to work as a code breaker.
Pictured above: Code Girls working at Arlington Hall, circa 1943.
The women work and live at Arlington Hall in Virginia, a former girls’ college now serving as the site of a secret US Signals Intelligence facility.
When Kit arrives she's full of trepidation. As noted above, she's harboring an important secret, the revelation of which could get her into a lot of trouble. In spite of this, Kit feels her job is crucial and she throws herself into it with gusto.
Kit befriends a few of the other girls, most importantly, Dottie, Moya and Violet. Kit is comfortable, she's happy. She feels like she belongs. She never expected it to be this way.
But then the murders start. Murders of government girls in and around D.C. This puts Kit and her friends on high alert. These killings are way too close to home.
When it appears the authorities aren't taking the killings seriously, or if they are, they aren't getting far, Kit and her friends decide to take matters into their own hands.
They can figure this out. They have too, or one of them very well could be next...
After being beyond impressed by None Shall Sleep, I was really excited to get more from Ellie Marney. Even though Historical Fiction isn't generally my go-to, I knew in Marney's hands it would be compelling.
Happy to report, I wasn't wrong. This was so good. I loved the characters and really hope we get another book following Kit and her friends. I feel like this one set up that possibility nicely.
Kit's character was so well-developed. From the very start, she's intriguing. She has a solid backstory, one that could set her up for failure, but she was smart and determined. She pushed through when a lot of people would have given up.
I liked and respected that about her character, finding her easy to follow and root for. The other girls in her friend group were super likable as well, all with their own unique personalities and contributions to the group.
The mystery was solid. I did get confused at times, tracking the men they considered suspicious, but maybe that's because I was so distracted by the dynamics going on amongst the girls.
I'm looking at you, Kit and Moya...
I was definitely satisfied with the resolution though and would love to hear news that this is actually a start to a series. That could be so fun!
I recommend this to Readers who enjoys a strong historic setting mixed with an even stronger dark mystery plot. We're talking serial killers. Also, if you love girl groups, kicking butt and not taking no for an answer, you could really end up loving this.
Finally, while this is classified as a YA-story, I feel like Readers of all ages could enjoy this one. It didn't really feel YA, except in the fact that the characters are late-teens, early-20s in age.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I appreciate it so much and look forward to getting more from Ellie Marney!
October 10, 2022
5 ⭐️
WHEN I TELL YOU THIS IS THE BEST MYSTERY/ THRILLER I HAVE EVER READ. AND THE ROMANCE?! OH MY GOD IT IS FANTASTIC!!
although you can pretty much guess who it’s going to be a bit early on, I think the plot was still amazing because it wasn’t JUST about the mystery and I really enjoyed that!
the romance… I literally got butterflies when they kissed. This book is top tier in my eyes. I’m in love y’all😍
WHEN I TELL YOU THIS IS THE BEST MYSTERY/ THRILLER I HAVE EVER READ. AND THE ROMANCE?! OH MY GOD IT IS FANTASTIC!!
although you can pretty much guess who it’s going to be a bit early on, I think the plot was still amazing because it wasn’t JUST about the mystery and I really enjoyed that!
the romance… I literally got butterflies when they kissed. This book is top tier in my eyes. I’m in love y’all😍
October 30, 2022
5⭐
Ɱ◎◎ĐႽ…
➨ Historical Mystery Thriller ➨ WWII Female Code-breakers ➨ A Serial Killer with a personal vendetta ➨ YA-ish ➨ Sapphic Romance (clean)
In a sea of mediocrity, this book was a stand-out for me. Did you know it was a woman code breaker who, in 1945, became the first American to learn that World War II had officially ended?
Inspired by the historical part of this story that is actually based in truth, upon finishing this, I was on a mission to learn more about the real-life codebreakers of WWII. There were upwards of 10,000 American women codebreakers who worked behind the scenes of WWII, keeping up with the conveyor belt of wartime communications and intercepts. This article here can tell you more about them and it is really quite interesting, or/and…you could read/listen to this book because this fictional story highlights how these ladies helped to win WWII. As a bonus, there’s also a possible serial killer to catch and a sweetly romantic, sapphic love story.
➨ Narrated by: 🎙️ Natalie Naudus & Kelsey Navarro📣 They were fantastic!
Total Score 9.50/10 | Opening-9 | Characters-9.5 | Plot- 9.5 | Atmosphere-9.5 | Writing Style-10 | Ending-9 | Overall Enjoyment- 10
Ɱ◎◎ĐႽ…
➨ Historical Mystery Thriller ➨ WWII Female Code-breakers ➨ A Serial Killer with a personal vendetta ➨ YA-ish ➨ Sapphic Romance (clean)
In a sea of mediocrity, this book was a stand-out for me. Did you know it was a woman code breaker who, in 1945, became the first American to learn that World War II had officially ended?
Inspired by the historical part of this story that is actually based in truth, upon finishing this, I was on a mission to learn more about the real-life codebreakers of WWII. There were upwards of 10,000 American women codebreakers who worked behind the scenes of WWII, keeping up with the conveyor belt of wartime communications and intercepts. This article here can tell you more about them and it is really quite interesting, or/and…you could read/listen to this book because this fictional story highlights how these ladies helped to win WWII. As a bonus, there’s also a possible serial killer to catch and a sweetly romantic, sapphic love story.
➨ Narrated by: 🎙️ Natalie Naudus & Kelsey Navarro📣 They were fantastic!
Total Score 9.50/10 | Opening-9 | Characters-9.5 | Plot- 9.5 | Atmosphere-9.5 | Writing Style-10 | Ending-9 | Overall Enjoyment- 10
March 21, 2023
Overall this book was incredibly interesting and was different than any book I’ve read before. Definitely recommend!
I found this book after reading None Shall Sleep by the same author and this one is definitely different but in a good way. None Shall Sleep was a bit more psychologically thrilling, whereas this is more of a classic murder mystery. I loved the relationships between the women in this book and the whole female code-breaking aspect was interesting and fresh - not to mention empowering for women.
The story takes place in the 1940s when Kit Sutherland is recruited to help codebreak for the US Signals Intelligence agency in Arlington, Virginia. When girls from Arlington have been found dead nearby, Kit and her code-breaking friends try to crack the muderers code and discover who is behind the killings. But Kit is not who she says she is, and as she dives deeper into the case, her safety comes more in jeopardy. Topics addressed include racism and civil rights, LGBTQ+ relationships, injustice of police system, women’s rights, and stolen identity/treason.
This book wasn’t as easy to get into as None Shall Sleep purely because the first few chapters are flashbacks that tell Kit’s story. I found these chapters confusing though because the two main characters at this point were Kathleen and Katherine, and I could not keep straight which one was which. I understand why the names had to be close for plot purposes but it was hard to read. Once the story advanced to the future timeline I was able to catch on quickly and became interested fast. I enjoyed the writing throughout the book and thoughut the codebreaking provided some urgency and entertainment on top of the murder mystery. All in all I enjoyed my time spent reading this book and it was completely different from other WWII era books that I’ve read.
Now for SPOILERS!
After the whole Katherine vs. Kathleen issue was resolved I sped through the rest of this book quickly. I loved Kit’s relationship with Moya and thought it was refreshing to see that in a book set so long ago. Dottie was really annoying to me the whole time and always seemed to be in the way, but toward the end I liked her better. I loved Violet’s spunk and the power she held once she revealed that she knew who Kit was. I do have to say that I had a hunch that the killer was Emil for the second half of the book but I was interested to see how that panned out and what the resolution would be. I loved the ending with Kit and Moya and that they ended up paving a new path together.
I found this book after reading None Shall Sleep by the same author and this one is definitely different but in a good way. None Shall Sleep was a bit more psychologically thrilling, whereas this is more of a classic murder mystery. I loved the relationships between the women in this book and the whole female code-breaking aspect was interesting and fresh - not to mention empowering for women.
The story takes place in the 1940s when Kit Sutherland is recruited to help codebreak for the US Signals Intelligence agency in Arlington, Virginia. When girls from Arlington have been found dead nearby, Kit and her code-breaking friends try to crack the muderers code and discover who is behind the killings. But Kit is not who she says she is, and as she dives deeper into the case, her safety comes more in jeopardy. Topics addressed include racism and civil rights, LGBTQ+ relationships, injustice of police system, women’s rights, and stolen identity/treason.
This book wasn’t as easy to get into as None Shall Sleep purely because the first few chapters are flashbacks that tell Kit’s story. I found these chapters confusing though because the two main characters at this point were Kathleen and Katherine, and I could not keep straight which one was which. I understand why the names had to be close for plot purposes but it was hard to read. Once the story advanced to the future timeline I was able to catch on quickly and became interested fast. I enjoyed the writing throughout the book and thoughut the codebreaking provided some urgency and entertainment on top of the murder mystery. All in all I enjoyed my time spent reading this book and it was completely different from other WWII era books that I’ve read.
Now for SPOILERS!
After the whole Katherine vs. Kathleen issue was resolved I sped through the rest of this book quickly. I loved Kit’s relationship with Moya and thought it was refreshing to see that in a book set so long ago. Dottie was really annoying to me the whole time and always seemed to be in the way, but toward the end I liked her better. I loved Violet’s spunk and the power she held once she revealed that she knew who Kit was. I do have to say that I had a hunch that the killer was Emil for the second half of the book but I was interested to see how that panned out and what the resolution would be. I loved the ending with Kit and Moya and that they ended up paving a new path together.
November 4, 2022
This was an excellent YA historical fiction murder mystery set during WWII, a group of young code breakers band together to help track down a serial killer hunting young women. I loved the diverse representation in this book, the queer romance story line, the strong young women code breakers. It was full of rich historical detail and amazing suspense. Overall it was just a really entertaining listen that worked perfectly for me. Highly recommended for fans of The rose code and great on audio narrated by Natalie Naudus and Kelsey Navarro (two of my fav narrators!).
October 30, 2022
I loved it and couldn't put it down. The mystery was compelling and I loved the warm, vibrant characters. The girl squad here was fantastic, and really focuses on the strength of character rather than casting them out based on secrets or mistakes.
I really enjoyed the relationship formed upon mutual trust and attraction between Moya and Kit.
Full rtc
I really enjoyed the relationship formed upon mutual trust and attraction between Moya and Kit.
Full rtc
December 22, 2024
ellie marney is a fucking genius
March 28, 2024
For fans of historical mysteries, women groups, and interesting jobs. Set in Virginia, 1943, we start with a group of women working as code breakers, including one who technically was given a dead woman’s identity – which will obviously complicate things. The women are all very different from each other but come together with one goal: solve the murder of a woman. A crime scene they stumbled across when they went out to find one of their own who hadn’t come home. Soon it’s clear this is a serial killer and the women spend their days working to break codes for the war and their off hours following clues, joining with a reporter, and doing their best to catch a killer. So clearly they’re also putting themselves in danger! I really loved the women, friendship, the sapphic love story, the details of their breaking codes, and rooting for each one of them. Bonus: Natalie Naudus and Kelsey Navarro do an excellent job narrating the audiobook.
(TW date rape drug use, no assault/ murder victims raped, not on page nor detailed/ antisemitism/ attempted sexual assault)
--from Book Riot's Unusual Suspects newsleter
(TW date rape drug use, no assault/ murder victims raped, not on page nor detailed/ antisemitism/ attempted sexual assault)
--from Book Riot's Unusual Suspects newsleter
January 25, 2023
I felt like I was just bored. I was expecting this to be 5 stars. It had feminism, women codebreakers and a murder mystery. What’s not to love? A lot apparently.
The murderer just seemed kind of random and it felt like there was more to be discussed. It’s as if the author ran out of time and went, “Who’s a person who it sort of could be?” And picked them.
I also felt Moya and Kit’s romance was a bit rushed. Everything felt rushed to be honest. I wish there was more focus on the actual codes and how they broke the codes too.
The murderer just seemed kind of random and it felt like there was more to be discussed. It’s as if the author ran out of time and went, “Who’s a person who it sort of could be?” And picked them.
I also felt Moya and Kit’s romance was a bit rushed. Everything felt rushed to be honest. I wish there was more focus on the actual codes and how they broke the codes too.
September 20, 2022
My first Ellie Marney and I have to say, I rather enjoyed this! I thought this was an excellently plotted, very well-paced, SAPPHIC, YA historical thriller about a group of female code-breakers during WW2. It was a lot more gory and bloody than I expected! I love when a book turns out to be a bit darker than anticipated, and this was one of those.
There’s a series of murders at Arlington Hall, and a group of code-breakers decide to investigate the murders themselves as they don’t trust the police who are ignoring evidence and other murders. There’s twists and turns with a main character’s hidden identity, a sapphic romance, and of course, a lot of code-breaking! The code breaking setting is fabulous, I absolutely loved it, my favourite part of this book. It’s also probably one of my favourite settings to read about in war books? It’s just such an interesting piece of war history and you can see the amount of research Marney has put in to write this book. I want to go out and find out so much more about code-breaking now. And the romance is brilliant, Moya is *chefs kiss* I would like her entire wardrobe please.
My one complaint is that it does get quite didactic at times around the issues of racism. I can see Marney was trying to explore the issues of race and segregation that were typical of the time period, and I appreciate the attempts at this, but it got quite didactic at times as it felt like she had to keep reminding the reader that all these things that were happening were bad actually, very much jolting you out of the narrative. It was all very 'in your face 101 racism is bad for white people' style, and just lacked the real depth of research you saw with the code-breaking and other elements of history. (In saying this: it almost feels like this was done intentionally? There were moments it felt like it was going somewhere and then in would pop a "racism is bad, white person shocked it exists!" moment, as if an editor had asked for it to be made more obvious this was in fact bad or something. It was rather odd.)
But overall, I enjoyed this, it was a pacy and twisty and bloody historical YA thriller!
Content warnings: racism, sexism, war, nazism, anti-semitism, death of loved one (friend), rape, murder, blood and gore, non-consensual drug use (drink spiking), gun violence, fire, violence
There’s a series of murders at Arlington Hall, and a group of code-breakers decide to investigate the murders themselves as they don’t trust the police who are ignoring evidence and other murders. There’s twists and turns with a main character’s hidden identity, a sapphic romance, and of course, a lot of code-breaking! The code breaking setting is fabulous, I absolutely loved it, my favourite part of this book. It’s also probably one of my favourite settings to read about in war books? It’s just such an interesting piece of war history and you can see the amount of research Marney has put in to write this book. I want to go out and find out so much more about code-breaking now. And the romance is brilliant, Moya is *chefs kiss* I would like her entire wardrobe please.
My one complaint is that it does get quite didactic at times around the issues of racism. I can see Marney was trying to explore the issues of race and segregation that were typical of the time period, and I appreciate the attempts at this, but it got quite didactic at times as it felt like she had to keep reminding the reader that all these things that were happening were bad actually, very much jolting you out of the narrative. It was all very 'in your face 101 racism is bad for white people' style, and just lacked the real depth of research you saw with the code-breaking and other elements of history. (In saying this: it almost feels like this was done intentionally? There were moments it felt like it was going somewhere and then in would pop a "racism is bad, white person shocked it exists!" moment, as if an editor had asked for it to be made more obvious this was in fact bad or something. It was rather odd.)
But overall, I enjoyed this, it was a pacy and twisty and bloody historical YA thriller!
Content warnings: racism, sexism, war, nazism, anti-semitism, death of loved one (friend), rape, murder, blood and gore, non-consensual drug use (drink spiking), gun violence, fire, violence
December 31, 2023
It was incredible from start to finish.
It takes place in Virginia, in 1943, while the war rages. Katherine Sutherland － Kit arrives at Arlington Hall
where a bunch of women have been recruited to work as codebreakers to help decode important information. However Kit harbors a secret, and as gruesome murders begin to occur, it becomes difficult to keep it safe.
The characters were so well written to be honest, a bunch of badass ladies that I love so much. Brave and different and still so beautiful. However Kit's character growth really stood out the most, it was EVERYTHING.
Hell, I knew this would be a fourth star read, but the last 20 percent gave me such an adrenaline rush. I saw stars EXPLODING and MY HEART RACING so fast.
I knew I would give it 5 stars, it was beautiful, so engagin' and interesting. The amount of research about the codes needs to be praised because it was fabulous.
It takes place in Virginia, in 1943, while the war rages. Katherine Sutherland － Kit arrives at Arlington Hall
where a bunch of women have been recruited to work as codebreakers to help decode important information. However Kit harbors a secret, and as gruesome murders begin to occur, it becomes difficult to keep it safe.
The characters were so well written to be honest, a bunch of badass ladies that I love so much. Brave and different and still so beautiful. However Kit's character growth really stood out the most, it was EVERYTHING.
－˚.༄ Kit Sutherland
“I am the code you never broke.”
Hell, I knew this would be a fourth star read, but the last 20 percent gave me such an adrenaline rush. I saw stars EXPLODING and MY HEART RACING so fast.
I knew I would give it 5 stars, it was beautiful, so engagin' and interesting. The amount of research about the codes needs to be praised because it was fabulous.
October 21, 2022
Book Club - 2.5⭐️
This wasn’t really my type of book, it was ok, felt like there was a lot of filler and not a lot of action…
This wasn’t really my type of book, it was ok, felt like there was a lot of filler and not a lot of action…
July 6, 2022
Thanks to Edelweiss for a digital ARC of this book.
Wow! This is so good though I will admit totally different than None Shall Sleep!
This is about a group of women who are codebreakers during WWII and they develop a friendship that is in part based on a desire to work together to solve a couple of murders of other women. It becomes so much more though... the characters, the relationships, the history, the working together to get clues to solve the crimes... and then how it all comes together in the end! Enjoy.
Wow! This is so good though I will admit totally different than None Shall Sleep!
This is about a group of women who are codebreakers during WWII and they develop a friendship that is in part based on a desire to work together to solve a couple of murders of other women. It becomes so much more though... the characters, the relationships, the history, the working together to get clues to solve the crimes... and then how it all comes together in the end! Enjoy.
June 21, 2022
LOVED IT!
Fabulous historical setting & details; ingenious code-breaking, mystery solving gals and a delightfully swoony queer romance
Another ripper from one of my favourite authors
Fabulous historical setting & details; ingenious code-breaking, mystery solving gals and a delightfully swoony queer romance
Another ripper from one of my favourite authors
June 30, 2022
This was an interesting one. Objectively, this is a good and interesting story. It moved quickly, I liked the characters, and it had a fine resolution.
Here's the thing: I only know Ellie Marney from None Shall Sleep, which will undoubtedly be one of the best books I read in 2022. That book undid me, and I expected this to follow suite.
This book is VERY different. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but the similar topics (murder and young adults solving the aforementioned) and the similar covers made me think they'd be similar books. This is very... soft, while NSS is very sharp. Once I got over the sort of tonal whiplash of this book as a follow up it did grow on me, but it never seemed to fully find its footing. It wasn't quite silly enough to pull off "these teens are goofing around AND solving murder!" like a Karen McManus book, and while the romance was sweet and a good slow burn, I think I never got over the surprise of there being a center-stage romance at all — again, because None Shall Sleep was free of any overt romance.
I also read this book on an ebook instead of doing the audio, and I am curious at how the audio will be. NSS used narrators in a way I've never experienced before (in an incredible way — the perpetrator was a different voice actor from the main reader) and I wonder if the formula would be replicated. Because of that experience the reader knew the perpetrator whenever they were on screen; it built suspense, and was amazing. Because I read this book as an ebook I read as more of a traditional mystery, and when I figured out the perpetrator fairly early on I was kind of disappointed at the reveal. But maybe the point was to know — and the audio would have given me that same suspense build up?
Ellie Marney does EXCEL at something few others do: violence in a way that never ever ever feels romanticized or graphic for the sake of being graphic, and I could kiss her feet for that. I rarely read crime/thrillers about violence against women (which is,,,,,pretty much all of them) but Marney is one of the few I trust.
Basically: if I hadn't read NSS this would have been an A- book, so really it's on me. I know that's not entirely fair — authors don't have to live in boxes — but I do maybe wish the covers/titles hadn't been so similar.
Thanks to the publisher for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review! And thanks NetGalley for existing at all
PopSugar 2022: a sapphic novel
Here's the thing: I only know Ellie Marney from None Shall Sleep, which will undoubtedly be one of the best books I read in 2022. That book undid me, and I expected this to follow suite.
This book is VERY different. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but the similar topics (murder and young adults solving the aforementioned) and the similar covers made me think they'd be similar books. This is very... soft, while NSS is very sharp. Once I got over the sort of tonal whiplash of this book as a follow up it did grow on me, but it never seemed to fully find its footing. It wasn't quite silly enough to pull off "these teens are goofing around AND solving murder!" like a Karen McManus book, and while the romance was sweet and a good slow burn, I think I never got over the surprise of there being a center-stage romance at all — again, because None Shall Sleep was free of any overt romance.
I also read this book on an ebook instead of doing the audio, and I am curious at how the audio will be. NSS used narrators in a way I've never experienced before (in an incredible way — the perpetrator was a different voice actor from the main reader) and I wonder if the formula would be replicated. Because of that experience the reader knew the perpetrator whenever they were on screen; it built suspense, and was amazing. Because I read this book as an ebook I read as more of a traditional mystery, and when I figured out the perpetrator fairly early on I was kind of disappointed at the reveal. But maybe the point was to know — and the audio would have given me that same suspense build up?
Ellie Marney does EXCEL at something few others do: violence in a way that never ever ever feels romanticized or graphic for the sake of being graphic, and I could kiss her feet for that. I rarely read crime/thrillers about violence against women (which is,,,,,pretty much all of them) but Marney is one of the few I trust.
Basically: if I hadn't read NSS this would have been an A- book, so really it's on me. I know that's not entirely fair — authors don't have to live in boxes — but I do maybe wish the covers/titles hadn't been so similar.
Thanks to the publisher for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review! And thanks NetGalley for existing at all
PopSugar 2022: a sapphic novel
August 24, 2022
Trigger warnings: murder, death of a friend, blood, gore, misogyny, fire, war, racism, lying
4.5 stars
This was one of my most anticipated books of the year and I'm not joking when I say that I would read Ellie Marney's shopping lists and still be absolutely hooked. I was lucky enough to win an ARC copy from the publisher, Allen & Unwin, and I started reading the second it hit my doorstep. And I *flew* through this.
The characters are utterly delightful, and the friendship that develops between the group is wonderful. I loved the setting, and for Marney's first foray into historical fiction (okay, FINE, None Shall Sleep is set nearly 40 years ago, but hush), it felt very authentic to the time period and she's clearly put a lot of research into making it feel like the 1940s.
The mystery itself was compelling, and the added complexities of security checks and curfews and establishments with racist policies were well handled. I loved the romance that develops in the course of the story, although I did want eeeeeeever so slightly more in terms of build up than I got. But that's a super minor personal preference thing.
All in all? Would read a dozen more books about these girls solving crimes using their code breaking skills.
4.5 stars
This was one of my most anticipated books of the year and I'm not joking when I say that I would read Ellie Marney's shopping lists and still be absolutely hooked. I was lucky enough to win an ARC copy from the publisher, Allen & Unwin, and I started reading the second it hit my doorstep. And I *flew* through this.
The characters are utterly delightful, and the friendship that develops between the group is wonderful. I loved the setting, and for Marney's first foray into historical fiction (okay, FINE, None Shall Sleep is set nearly 40 years ago, but hush), it felt very authentic to the time period and she's clearly put a lot of research into making it feel like the 1940s.
The mystery itself was compelling, and the added complexities of security checks and curfews and establishments with racist policies were well handled. I loved the romance that develops in the course of the story, although I did want eeeeeeever so slightly more in terms of build up than I got. But that's a super minor personal preference thing.
All in all? Would read a dozen more books about these girls solving crimes using their code breaking skills.
Want to read
July 14, 2023"For fans of the enigma game and A good girl's guide to murder."
I'm listening.
I'm listening.
August 3, 2022
Content warnings: racism, murder, blood and gore, sexual assault mentions, assault, serial killer, war themes, misogyny. There may be more content warnings, but this is off the top of my head.
Rep: Kit (MC) is sapphic (probably lesbian but the 1940s language wasn't using that word), Moya (MC) is lesbian, Violet is Black.
I've been following Ellie on Instagram for a while now, and in 2020, I was lucky enough to be in a Zoom meeting with her when None Shall Sleep came out (I also loved this one) and this is when I discovered my love for her books. I still need to catch up on her past books, but I am looking forward to it.
This book is incredible from start to finish.
Kit is one of the codebreakers at Arlington Hall - one of many girls who work every day and night to break the codes sent during the war. She works hard, she keeps her head down and to herself - and she has good reason to. Her identity isn't her own, but one that was given to her by the girl she used to care for.
Kit is "just a maid" but she is so much more than that.
When her best friend, Dottie, doesn't come home at curfew after a dance, Kit is worried, and rightly so. Dottie is fine, but Kit stumbles upon a brutally murdered woman who is also a codebreaker.
That is all I'll say in my (poor) summary of the book without going into spoilers.
The sheer amount of research that Marney has done for this novel shows - the way she describes the girls codebreaking is amazingly well done. The attention to detail is phenomenal and I found myself being in awe of this throughout the entire novel.
I loved the quotes at the top of each and every chapter, and upon reading the author's note at the back of the book, seeing the effort that Marney went into to get these quotes and permission for them, and the amount of research she also did leaves me in utter awe.
The entire story was amazing. It was incredibly well written, the characters were fleshed out and had me on the edge of my seat more than once.
The sweet, sweet romance between Kit and Moya made my heart so happy, too.
I love all 4 of these girls and I would die for them.
I can't wait for everyone to read this brilliant book and love it as much as I did.
And for those that read it and who are smart - can someone tell me what the codes in the back are? The two that are in Ellie's author's notes? I am not smart so they make zero sense to me.
I will also be buying this one via audio because I absolutely need to have a few copies of this one.
An easy 5 stars from me.
Bookish links: Instagram / Twitter / TikTok / Blog
Rep: Kit (MC) is sapphic (probably lesbian but the 1940s language wasn't using that word), Moya (MC) is lesbian, Violet is Black.
I've been following Ellie on Instagram for a while now, and in 2020, I was lucky enough to be in a Zoom meeting with her when None Shall Sleep came out (I also loved this one) and this is when I discovered my love for her books. I still need to catch up on her past books, but I am looking forward to it.
This book is incredible from start to finish.
Kit is one of the codebreakers at Arlington Hall - one of many girls who work every day and night to break the codes sent during the war. She works hard, she keeps her head down and to herself - and she has good reason to. Her identity isn't her own, but one that was given to her by the girl she used to care for.
Kit is "just a maid" but she is so much more than that.
When her best friend, Dottie, doesn't come home at curfew after a dance, Kit is worried, and rightly so. Dottie is fine, but Kit stumbles upon a brutally murdered woman who is also a codebreaker.
That is all I'll say in my (poor) summary of the book without going into spoilers.
The sheer amount of research that Marney has done for this novel shows - the way she describes the girls codebreaking is amazingly well done. The attention to detail is phenomenal and I found myself being in awe of this throughout the entire novel.
I loved the quotes at the top of each and every chapter, and upon reading the author's note at the back of the book, seeing the effort that Marney went into to get these quotes and permission for them, and the amount of research she also did leaves me in utter awe.
The entire story was amazing. It was incredibly well written, the characters were fleshed out and had me on the edge of my seat more than once.
The sweet, sweet romance between Kit and Moya made my heart so happy, too.
I love all 4 of these girls and I would die for them.
I can't wait for everyone to read this brilliant book and love it as much as I did.
And for those that read it and who are smart - can someone tell me what the codes in the back are? The two that are in Ellie's author's notes? I am not smart so they make zero sense to me.
I will also be buying this one via audio because I absolutely need to have a few copies of this one.
An easy 5 stars from me.
Bookish links: Instagram / Twitter / TikTok / Blog
October 10, 2022
Without fail, I always have a terrific time reading Ellie Marney’s books. This is less thriller/horror than her last book, None Shall Sleep, less murder mystery than her Every series, less romance than her Circus Hearts series. Instead, it’s a satisfyingly balanced version of the best parts of these wrapped up in a well-researched historical fiction package. Tore through it in a day and closed the cover feeling well sated.
May 20, 2022
I have loved Ellie Marney ever since I read the Every series, which is hands down both my favourite slow burn romance and also my favourite Sherlock Holmes retelling.
The Killing Code is something completely different, but just as excellently crafted. Whisking us back to 1943 and the middle of World War II, Ellie Marney plunges us into the lives of Kit, Dottie, Moya and Violet - four girls working as code breakers at Arlington Hall in Washington DC.
Ellie pulls in threads of racial tension, queer romance and class discrimination in the guise of a murder mystery.
I loved the code breaking angle, which showed clearly that Marney had done her research and included a lot of fantastic details about how the girls broke codes, how they lived in the dorms, and what they did in their spare time. And as a side note, the descriptions of all their clothes was wonderful - I am dying for Moya's wardrobe.
I really loved the romance between Kit and Moya, although there was a little bit of insta-love going on, which was a shame because, as above, Ellie Marney is an absolute queen of the slow burn and natural romance. But once they were together, Kit and Moya were an adorable couple.
I particularly loved the camaraderie between the four girls, but also between all the girls working as code-breakers. It was gorgeous to see all those girls working together, rooting for each other, backing each other up, and helping each other, with nary a sign of cattiness anywhere. I live for these sorts of books where girls are shown as clever, kind, brave and supportive of each other, rather than being in competition.
The ending where Kit figures out who the murderer is felt a little rushed, as did the final showdown, but that was a small part of what was otherwise an excellently told story.
Really, really enjoyed this one - highly recommend!
The Killing Code is something completely different, but just as excellently crafted. Whisking us back to 1943 and the middle of World War II, Ellie Marney plunges us into the lives of Kit, Dottie, Moya and Violet - four girls working as code breakers at Arlington Hall in Washington DC.
Ellie pulls in threads of racial tension, queer romance and class discrimination in the guise of a murder mystery.
I loved the code breaking angle, which showed clearly that Marney had done her research and included a lot of fantastic details about how the girls broke codes, how they lived in the dorms, and what they did in their spare time. And as a side note, the descriptions of all their clothes was wonderful - I am dying for Moya's wardrobe.
I really loved the romance between Kit and Moya, although there was a little bit of insta-love going on, which was a shame because, as above, Ellie Marney is an absolute queen of the slow burn and natural romance. But once they were together, Kit and Moya were an adorable couple.
I particularly loved the camaraderie between the four girls, but also between all the girls working as code-breakers. It was gorgeous to see all those girls working together, rooting for each other, backing each other up, and helping each other, with nary a sign of cattiness anywhere. I live for these sorts of books where girls are shown as clever, kind, brave and supportive of each other, rather than being in competition.
The ending where Kit figures out who the murderer is felt a little rushed, as did the final showdown, but that was a small part of what was otherwise an excellently told story.
Really, really enjoyed this one - highly recommend!
September 11, 2022
This is very good. Blends history, mystery and romance into an exciting and absorbing read.
Loved it.
Loved it.
January 25, 2023
Ellie Marney’s skills as a writer of superb crime fiction with fascinating settings, well-crafted characters, deft twists and a cracking pace are all on display in her latest adult crime novel, The Killing Code. It’s set in Arlington Hall, America’s code-breaking HQ during World War II, where thousands of women worked together in US Signals Intelligence.
In June 1942, the Arlington Hall girls’ school is closing down to make way for the war effort. Just as the school is closing – just as she’s dying – wealthy but sickly schoolgirl Katherine Sutherland gives her nurse, maid and companion Kathleen Hopper a dangerous and irresistible gift: her own identity. By using Katherine’s birth certificate and papers, Kathleen (Kit) has a chance to use her intellect and change her stars. By the end of the first chapter, she has seized her moment and joined the ranks of the code-breaking women of Arlington Hall.
We next see Kit in March 1943 in the Arlington workroom, leading a collaborative team of her colleagues in successfully cracking some coded communications. We see how far she’s come, but how much she still fears discovery as she. She has other secrets too – chiefly her attraction to Moya Kershaw.
Of course, this is a murder mystery about people working with ciphers, so Kit isn’t the only one who fits the theme. When Kit discovers the first murder victim, and then later learns that the government girl she found was in fact the second victim, the themes of secrets, overlooked talents, forbidden romance and the dangers of impersonating dead people having taken an oath about official secrets coalesce.
The reader isn’t only swept up in the awful puzzle of who is slaughtering these women, but in how that investigation will affect Kit and her friends. Her friends include Violet, a Black girl who knew about the first victim, another Black girl, Moya, Kit’s crush, and Dottie, Kit’s roommate. Their comradery, courage and sharp intelligence are the backbone of the novel, which addresses attitudes to how some viewed women’s roles in wartime, towards people of different classes and races, and towards ideas of love and friendship.
Marney sets a cracking pace from the start, and that pace pushes relentlessly on through the dangers of a serial killer on the hunt and the devastating consequences for Kit if her true identity is revealed. It’s a joy to watch Kit and her friends bring their code-cracking skills to uncovering the nature and identity of the killer, while their trust and support of one another is put to various tests.
The Killing Code is exciting, intriguing, delightful and very satisfying.
In June 1942, the Arlington Hall girls’ school is closing down to make way for the war effort. Just as the school is closing – just as she’s dying – wealthy but sickly schoolgirl Katherine Sutherland gives her nurse, maid and companion Kathleen Hopper a dangerous and irresistible gift: her own identity. By using Katherine’s birth certificate and papers, Kathleen (Kit) has a chance to use her intellect and change her stars. By the end of the first chapter, she has seized her moment and joined the ranks of the code-breaking women of Arlington Hall.
We next see Kit in March 1943 in the Arlington workroom, leading a collaborative team of her colleagues in successfully cracking some coded communications. We see how far she’s come, but how much she still fears discovery as she. She has other secrets too – chiefly her attraction to Moya Kershaw.
Of course, this is a murder mystery about people working with ciphers, so Kit isn’t the only one who fits the theme. When Kit discovers the first murder victim, and then later learns that the government girl she found was in fact the second victim, the themes of secrets, overlooked talents, forbidden romance and the dangers of impersonating dead people having taken an oath about official secrets coalesce.
The reader isn’t only swept up in the awful puzzle of who is slaughtering these women, but in how that investigation will affect Kit and her friends. Her friends include Violet, a Black girl who knew about the first victim, another Black girl, Moya, Kit’s crush, and Dottie, Kit’s roommate. Their comradery, courage and sharp intelligence are the backbone of the novel, which addresses attitudes to how some viewed women’s roles in wartime, towards people of different classes and races, and towards ideas of love and friendship.
Marney sets a cracking pace from the start, and that pace pushes relentlessly on through the dangers of a serial killer on the hunt and the devastating consequences for Kit if her true identity is revealed. It’s a joy to watch Kit and her friends bring their code-cracking skills to uncovering the nature and identity of the killer, while their trust and support of one another is put to various tests.
The Killing Code is exciting, intriguing, delightful and very satisfying.
September 20, 2022
"And he doesn't work in a male dominated environment. He works with women all the time. He's subordinate to women - and he doesn't like it."
Set in Virginia 1943 when World War II was raging, Kit Sutherland is recruited to help break codes. Arlington Hall was once a girls college but is now a secret US signals intelligence facility. Kit quickly gets caught up in the chaos surrounding government girls being brutally murdered. When she finds a bloody murder scene she knows she needs to find the killer!
Kit joins forces with her code breaker crew, Dottie the gossip, the resourceful Violet and the blunt and whitty Moyra and together they begin to put the pieces together. They know the murderer is close, but they underestimate how close!
This was such a fun read, it has me turning pages right to the very end!
I loved None shall sleep novel and am so excited for the sequel, when I saw this I couldn’t not jump on it and it did not disappoint. For fans of a good girls guide to murder but with a historical twist!
Set in Virginia 1943 when World War II was raging, Kit Sutherland is recruited to help break codes. Arlington Hall was once a girls college but is now a secret US signals intelligence facility. Kit quickly gets caught up in the chaos surrounding government girls being brutally murdered. When she finds a bloody murder scene she knows she needs to find the killer!
Kit joins forces with her code breaker crew, Dottie the gossip, the resourceful Violet and the blunt and whitty Moyra and together they begin to put the pieces together. They know the murderer is close, but they underestimate how close!
This was such a fun read, it has me turning pages right to the very end!
I loved None shall sleep novel and am so excited for the sequel, when I saw this I couldn’t not jump on it and it did not disappoint. For fans of a good girls guide to murder but with a historical twist!
October 4, 2022
TW: Murder, racism, blood/gore, sexual assault mentions, assault, serial killer, war themes, misogyny
This was a brilliant read. Gripping, and I just really was simply keen for this one ever since the project was called Arlington Hall.
It didn't disappoint at all - it has espionage, it has adventure, and it has that Ellie Marney vibe.
The research that has gone into this book also shows, and I also loved the quotes from the real world codegirls at the start of each chapter - it made the book feel all that more real!!!
Read this one on audio and I definitely recommend it wholeheartedly!
This was a brilliant read. Gripping, and I just really was simply keen for this one ever since the project was called Arlington Hall.
It didn't disappoint at all - it has espionage, it has adventure, and it has that Ellie Marney vibe.
The research that has gone into this book also shows, and I also loved the quotes from the real world codegirls at the start of each chapter - it made the book feel all that more real!!!
Read this one on audio and I definitely recommend it wholeheartedly!
June 28, 2024
Finally, a good queer girlies in WW2 book.
Also pretty feminist-y, totally recommend.
Also pretty feminist-y, totally recommend.
September 20, 2022
4.5, really great book!! Find some of my thoughts here as part of my bookstagram tour stop for this book :)
October 9, 2022
5 stars
1943 - WWII is in full force and it's unknown how long the war will last. Kit Sutherland is a code breaker working at Arlington Hall, helping to break codes from enemy lines. While Kit works for the war effort, she uncovers a string of murders that seem to be targeting girls who work for the government. Kit teams up with her supervisor Moya Kershaw, Dottie Crawford, and Violet DuLac to review the evidence and find out who's behind the murders.
I loved everything about this book! I loved the setting in Virginia and how they work in the same compound near Washington DC. I liked how in each chapter of The Killing Code there were quotes from actual codebreakers in the war. I thought it added to the aesthetic and setting of the book.
Kit Sutherland's story is interesting. Kit's story becomes a big part of the book and I felt that it kept the stakes of the book high. Besides Kit, I felt each character has their own personality and story associated with them. Moya grew up in New York and it's hinted that she has been through a lot. She is the supervisor and it's clear she puts the girls that she works with first. She holds her own and keeps a calm head during stress. Dottie is feminine and flirty, but she's also fiercely intelligent and is slowly understanding how unequal the world is. Finally, there's Violet who faces racial discrimination and is debating applying to college. I felt each character had something memorable about them.
I liked reading about the codebreaking aspect of the book. I felt Ellie Marney does a good job at writing about codebreaking without it being too complicated to understand.
I loved the reveal of the serial killer in the end. Kit ends up putting everything together of who the killer is and I felt as I was reading this section, I could sense her brain putting the pieces together even though it may have been too late. This had an epic conclusion.
Once I started The Killing Code, I couldn't stop reading. I kept thinking about The Killing Code throughout my day and how much I was looking forward to finishing the book.
The Killing Code was so good! I'm going to be on the lookout for Ellie Marney and what other books she writes. This is a contender for being one of my favorite books I read in 2022.
1943 - WWII is in full force and it's unknown how long the war will last. Kit Sutherland is a code breaker working at Arlington Hall, helping to break codes from enemy lines. While Kit works for the war effort, she uncovers a string of murders that seem to be targeting girls who work for the government. Kit teams up with her supervisor Moya Kershaw, Dottie Crawford, and Violet DuLac to review the evidence and find out who's behind the murders.
I loved everything about this book! I loved the setting in Virginia and how they work in the same compound near Washington DC. I liked how in each chapter of The Killing Code there were quotes from actual codebreakers in the war. I thought it added to the aesthetic and setting of the book.
Kit Sutherland's story is interesting. Kit's story becomes a big part of the book and I felt that it kept the stakes of the book high. Besides Kit, I felt each character has their own personality and story associated with them. Moya grew up in New York and it's hinted that she has been through a lot. She is the supervisor and it's clear she puts the girls that she works with first. She holds her own and keeps a calm head during stress. Dottie is feminine and flirty, but she's also fiercely intelligent and is slowly understanding how unequal the world is. Finally, there's Violet who faces racial discrimination and is debating applying to college. I felt each character had something memorable about them.
I liked reading about the codebreaking aspect of the book. I felt Ellie Marney does a good job at writing about codebreaking without it being too complicated to understand.
I loved the reveal of the serial killer in the end. Kit ends up putting everything together of who the killer is and I felt as I was reading this section, I could sense her brain putting the pieces together even though it may have been too late. This had an epic conclusion.
Once I started The Killing Code, I couldn't stop reading. I kept thinking about The Killing Code throughout my day and how much I was looking forward to finishing the book.
The Killing Code was so good! I'm going to be on the lookout for Ellie Marney and what other books she writes. This is a contender for being one of my favorite books I read in 2022.
September 12, 2022
This is the queer historical thriller you didn't know you needed. Stay tuned for a full review to come soon!
June 16, 2023
A collective bunch of ✨ girlbossing & slays ✨
I need moya’s wardrobe. And a moya irl 🥵
I need moya’s wardrobe. And a moya irl 🥵
September 25, 2022
4.5*
Here's a fun fact for you: I own like every book that Ellie Marney has written, but this is the first one I have read. And based on how fabulous it was, it certainly won't be the last! I loved how many different concepts were woven into The Killing Code, but it never felt overdone or overwhelming.
What I Loved:
►The group of girls' camaraderie. Oh, I lived for this! Young women, all from very different walks of life, coming together to support each other while trying to help the country win the war? Here. For. It. I loved Kit, to be sure, but I also loved each of the others too. They're all very well fleshed out, and I grew to care about each of them, both in the context of the group, but also as characters in their own right.
►The code cracking bits were well explained. I was worried that this bit would go right over my head, frankly. But alas, the author did an amazing job of explaining how it was done, in a way that was simple enough for any codebreaking novice to understand. In fact, I found it quite interesting, and enjoyed the tips and tricks the girls shared!
►Obviously, I was invested in the murder mystery. It was, quite simply, horrific that young women were being murdered, and that any one of our characters could be next. I loved that they were so intent on solving these crimes, especially since the cops didn't particularly seem to be that concerned.
►The romance! I will say nothing more, because you don't know who it is between for awhile, but I loved it!
►Tackled a ton of important issues, especially for the time period. Let's be real though, they're all still relevant today. Issues of race, sexuality, women's rights, class issues. Society is... well, you know. But like I said before, these are handled really well and not in an overwhelming way.
►Kit's origin story is a heartbreaker. You'll read about this very early on, but it becomes a recurring issue throughout the story. I think my only minor gripe about the book is that during this storyline, we encounter the trope of lack of communication, or perhaps lie of omission, and although it absolutely makes sense for the story, it still frustrated me a bit? But the whole backstory (actually, the backstory of all the characters) was great.
Bottom Line: Loved this story about friendship and fighting for what is right set in the troubled times of WWII.
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
Here's a fun fact for you: I own like every book that Ellie Marney has written, but this is the first one I have read. And based on how fabulous it was, it certainly won't be the last! I loved how many different concepts were woven into The Killing Code, but it never felt overdone or overwhelming.
What I Loved:
►The group of girls' camaraderie. Oh, I lived for this! Young women, all from very different walks of life, coming together to support each other while trying to help the country win the war? Here. For. It. I loved Kit, to be sure, but I also loved each of the others too. They're all very well fleshed out, and I grew to care about each of them, both in the context of the group, but also as characters in their own right.
►The code cracking bits were well explained. I was worried that this bit would go right over my head, frankly. But alas, the author did an amazing job of explaining how it was done, in a way that was simple enough for any codebreaking novice to understand. In fact, I found it quite interesting, and enjoyed the tips and tricks the girls shared!
►Obviously, I was invested in the murder mystery. It was, quite simply, horrific that young women were being murdered, and that any one of our characters could be next. I loved that they were so intent on solving these crimes, especially since the cops didn't particularly seem to be that concerned.
►The romance! I will say nothing more, because you don't know who it is between for awhile, but I loved it!
►Tackled a ton of important issues, especially for the time period. Let's be real though, they're all still relevant today. Issues of race, sexuality, women's rights, class issues. Society is... well, you know. But like I said before, these are handled really well and not in an overwhelming way.
►Kit's origin story is a heartbreaker. You'll read about this very early on, but it becomes a recurring issue throughout the story. I think my only minor gripe about the book is that during this storyline, we encounter the trope of lack of communication, or perhaps lie of omission, and although it absolutely makes sense for the story, it still frustrated me a bit? But the whole backstory (actually, the backstory of all the characters) was great.
Bottom Line: Loved this story about friendship and fighting for what is right set in the troubled times of WWII.
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
Displaying 1 - 30 of 470 reviews