The Codebreaker’s Secret by Sara Ackerman
My Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Thank you to the publisher, MIRA and NetGalley, for providing me with an ARC of The Codebreaker’s Secret in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The Gist
It is again written in the perspective of two women living in two different time periods but are still connected.
The Details
We have two female protagonists.
Isabel Cooper works as a codebreaker at Station HYPO in Pearl Harbor, in 1943 and in her free time she retraces the last days of her brother who was killed during the attack on Pearl Harbour by Japanese flight fighters.
And then we are brought to 1965 and meet the young journalist Lu Freitas. She is sent to her home island Hawai’i to report about the grand opening of Rockefeller’s glamorous Mauna Kea Beach Hotel.
Both women are soft, likable and a bit plain.
They are, no doubt, intelligent and highly talented.
Unfortunately, the author could not bring the powerful facetes of their characters to full life.
I found myself looking for a deeper connection with them, but was disappointed, because there was nothing more to find.
The writing was equally soft. It had a nice flow, was easy to follow, but about half through the book, I had to push through some boring sections.
It was idling in the middle of the story and I was debating if I should continue or not. At the end I was glad that I didn’t give up, because the story picks up in tempo and entertainment.
Yes, it is a historical fiction, but also a mystery. That is the charm of this story.
We are faced with a similar destiny of both women, they are connected without knowing, and even closer than they imagine.
There is a nice twist, and a reminder that life has a mind on its own more often than we think.
The Verdict
Overall, this story is a pleasant read.You will not be faced with cruel descriptions.
As an historical fiction I would describe it as safe; as a mystery as subtle.It is a novel you can pick up, enjoy and read before bedtime.
I recommend this book to everybody who is looking for a bit more than historical fiction, loves soft romance and is still not bored by the historical elements.
About the Author
Sara Ackerman is a USA TODAY bestselling author who writes books about love and life, and all of their messy and beautiful imperfections. She believes that the light is just as important as the dark, and that the world is in need of uplifting stories. Born and raised in Hawaii, she studied journalism and later earned graduate degrees in psychology and Chinese medicine. She blames Hawaii for her addiction to writing, and sees no end to its untapped stories.
