Book Review: The Code Breaker's Secret, by Catherine Law

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

Kent, 1939: Soon to marry her childhood sweetheart, Eliza thinks her life is set. But when war breaks out, everything changes and, while helping the soldiers returning from Dunkirk, she bumps into Lewis, an unforgettable stranger from her past.

Evocative and poignant, The Code Breaker's Secret is a glimpse into the lives and work of the men and women who find their work could change the course of the war.

I particularly like how Catherine Law explores the depth and complexity of the relationships between her ensemble cast, and the atmospheric world of Forstall manor, In turns comforting and claustrophobic, thoer home is haunted by memories of the past.

Living so close to the Kentish coast means the war is never far away, and throws them all into disarray. At one point the protagonist, Eliza, observes that, ‘The war had blighted them all, turned everything upside down.’

The heroic Lewis is an unforgettable and well-drawn character, with enough mystery to keep readers guessing. I honestly didn’t see the plot twist coming, but it lifts the narrative to an unexpected level.

A masterclass in how to add a new dimension to wartime romance, I am happy to recommend The Code Breaker's Secret and will look out ofr more books by Catherine Law.

Tony Riches

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About the Author

Catherine Law was born in Harrow, Middlesex, and now lives ten minutes from the sea in Margate. She started her career as a secretary at the BBC in the days of manual typewriters and carbon copies before moving into the world of glossy magazines, where she worked as a sub editor for over 30 years. And, ever since she was a little girl, she’s had her nose in a book and scribbled stories. Her novels are set in the first half of the 20th century, in and around the First and Second World Wars, inspired by the tales our mothers, grandmothers and great-grandmothers tell us, and the secrets they keep. Find out more from Catherine's website https://www.catherinelaw.co.uk/ and find her on Bluesky @catherinelaw.bsky.social