Title: The Killing Code
Author: Ellie Marney
Publisher: Little, Brown
Publication date: Septeber 20, 2022
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Summary
It’s Virginia in 1943 and WWII is in full force in Europe. Kit Sutherland has been recruited as a codebreaker. A former women’s college has been converted into a US Signals Intelligence facility. But Kit is soon going to be pulled into a different kind of mystery after stumbling on a brutal homicide scene. Soon, she finds herself drawn into the hunt for the killer.
But she is not alone. Her fellow codebreakers, Dottie, Moya, and Violet work together to find who has been targeting government women. After all, if they don’t do it, no one will. But as they get closer to the killer, they might soon learn that Kit is also hiding a secret of her own.
Review: The Killing Code
Thanks to Little, Brown for an advanced copy of The Killing Code to review! If you’re looking for a queer historical thriller to read this fall, this is definitely the book for you! It has a murder mystery, a great group of kickass ladies, and lots of codebreaking.
Right from the beginning, you’re hooked into Kit’s story. Marney does a great job creating characters that you’re rooting for throughout the entire book. Yes, they’re focused on helping the war effect however they can, but it’s clear they also care immensely about each other. They’re fiercely loyal, and they’re very smart. A winning combination when solving a murder mystery.
The evolving relationship between Moya and Kit was also adorable and realistic. There were some truly sweet moments, which help balance out some of the darkness in the book. Even when the secrets about Kit’s past come out. Seriously, they might have been my favorite part.
Finally, you can tell Marney did her research for this book. It feels historically accurate, and all of the little details about codebreaking were great. It’s just like solving a puzzle!
All in all, this is a well-written historical thriller full of a great cast of characters you definitely won’t forget.
4 stars