The Codebreakers
by
Alli Sinclair
They will dedicate their lives to their country, but no one will ever know...
Publisher: Harlequin Australia
Imprint: Mira
Publication date: 3rd March 2021
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 496
RRP: $29.99AUD
Format read: Paperback
Source: Courtesy of the publisher
About the book
1943, Brisbane:
The war continues to devastate and the battle for the Pacific threatens
Australian shores. For Ellie O'Sullivan, helping the war effort means
utilising her engineering skills for Qantas as they evacuate civilians
and deliver supplies to armed forces overseas. Her exceptional logic and
integrity attract the attention of the Central Bureau-an intelligence
organisation working with England's Bletchley Park codebreakers. But
joining the Central Bureau means signing a lifetime secrecy contract.
Breaking it is treason.
With her country's freedom at risk, Ellie works with a group of elite women who enter a world of volatile secrets; deciphering enemy communications to change the course of the war. Working under immense pressure, they form a close bond-yet there could be a traitor in their midst. Can the women uncover the culprit before it's too late?
As Ellie struggles with the magnitude of the promise she's made to her country, a wedge grows between her and those she holds dear. When the man she loves asks questions she's forbidden to answer, how will she prevent the double life she's leading from unravelling?
With her country's freedom at risk, Ellie works with a group of elite women who enter a world of volatile secrets; deciphering enemy communications to change the course of the war. Working under immense pressure, they form a close bond-yet there could be a traitor in their midst. Can the women uncover the culprit before it's too late?
As Ellie struggles with the magnitude of the promise she's made to her country, a wedge grows between her and those she holds dear. When the man she loves asks questions she's forbidden to answer, how will she prevent the double life she's leading from unravelling?
My review
The Codebreakers is a fictional story inspired by the real code breaking women of Australia’s Central Bureau operational during WWII and situated in the Brisbane suburb of Ascot.
I was mesmerised by this story from start to finish. Ellie O’Sullivan is a captivating character. Nothing phases her and she has an intelligent come-back to every put-down whether it comes from a male or a fellow female.
Alli Sinclair highlights how, during the war, women stepped into jobs usually occupied by men however there was still much prejudice and differing conditions and, I’m sure, wages between the two. The men working on intercepting Japanese radio communications were in a house whilst the women deciphered coded messages in the garage out the back thus the origin of the name ‘The Garage Girls.”
I love any books featuring WWII whether it be on the troops fighting or the affect on civilians, set in any country around the world, I have read many yet I am always learning something new and finding each author has their own unique way of telling a story. The Codebreakers was another unique story where I was continually learning new aspects of how the war impacted life in Australia.
The Codebreakers features the war’s affect on all Australian citizens and how the women of the Central Bureau contributed to ending the war in the pacific. Alli Sinclair goes beyond the work that the women were involved in to include some off duty activities as they attend dances, go to the movies and fall in love. I found the story a wonderful, believable depiction of Australia during the war.
The demand for total secrecy put a huge burden on the women who felt they had to continually lie to their loved ones. It took many, many years before the women were officially honoured and recognised. With many of them passing away before this happened, which was heartbreaking.
I was mesmerised by this story from start to finish. Ellie O’Sullivan is a captivating character. Nothing phases her and she has an intelligent come-back to every put-down whether it comes from a male or a fellow female.
Alli Sinclair highlights how, during the war, women stepped into jobs usually occupied by men however there was still much prejudice and differing conditions and, I’m sure, wages between the two. The men working on intercepting Japanese radio communications were in a house whilst the women deciphered coded messages in the garage out the back thus the origin of the name ‘The Garage Girls.”
“All this happened under the roof of a regular-looking garage in suburban Brisbane and no one outside Central Bureau would ever be the wiser.”
I love any books featuring WWII whether it be on the troops fighting or the affect on civilians, set in any country around the world, I have read many yet I am always learning something new and finding each author has their own unique way of telling a story. The Codebreakers was another unique story where I was continually learning new aspects of how the war impacted life in Australia.
The Codebreakers features the war’s affect on all Australian citizens and how the women of the Central Bureau contributed to ending the war in the pacific. Alli Sinclair goes beyond the work that the women were involved in to include some off duty activities as they attend dances, go to the movies and fall in love. I found the story a wonderful, believable depiction of Australia during the war.
The demand for total secrecy put a huge burden on the women who felt they had to continually lie to their loved ones. It took many, many years before the women were officially honoured and recognised. With many of them passing away before this happened, which was heartbreaking.
5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
About the author
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| Photo: Goodreads |
Australian Women Writers Challenge #AWW2021
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Historical Fiction Challenge #HistFic2021
Other books I've read by Alli Sinclair
I really hope this book gets published in the US - it sounds exactly what I enjoy!
ReplyDeleteIt is a fabulous account of war-time Australia.
DeleteInteresting. Sounds like an Australian version of Blechley Park in England - which is what The Rose Code by Kate Quinn is about.
ReplyDelete