The Rose Code by Kate Quinn (William Morrow; LJ starred review) is the top holds title of the week (3/8/21). LibraryReads and Library Journal offer read-alikes for patrons waiting for this buzziest book.

In 1940 England, Mayfair society debutante Osla Kendall and brassy, determined typist Mab Churt, from London’s East End, seem to have nothing in common—until they become roommates and colleagues decoding German messages at the top-secret cryptanalysis center at Bletchley Park. Elizabeth Finch, their landlady’s shy, silent, bullied daughter, is an even less likely companion, but she possesses an unnatural talent for puzzles and soon is poring over code with an intensity that makes the rest of the world fall away. The stress of the work at Bletchley is relieved by Mad Hatter tea parties and high jinks, but eventually these give way to bitterness and betrayal, as the war exacts its cost on each of the women, leaving them scarred and alone. It is not until several years after the war and Bletchley’s disbandment that the discovery of a possible turncoat forces the three women into an uneasy alliance and a frantic race to catch the traitor before it is too late. VERDICT Quinn (The Huntress; The Alice Network) writes with an immediacy and level of detail that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Her latest is a deft blend of romance, mystery, and suspense that will appeal to lovers of those genres, and to her many fans. Reviewed by Cynthia Johnson, formerly with Cary Memorial Lib., Lexington, MA , Feb 26, 2021 

READ-ALIKES

The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict (Sourcebooks Landmark)

Appeared on the January 2019 LibraryReads List

“A fascinating look at a famous movie star with an unexpected past: Hedy Lamarr, the Austria-born screen siren who was also a brilliant inventor. Brisk pacing and atmospheric scenes of pre–World War II Europe round out this intriguing work of historical fiction.” —Alissa Williams, Morton Public Library, Morton, IL

All the Ways We Said Goodbye: A Novel of the Ritz Paris by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White (William Morrow; LJ starred review)

Appeared on the January 2020 LibraryReads List

“Three time periods, three women, three authors combine for an absorbing read. Aurelie is ready to fight the Germans during WWI. Daisy, a woman with a collaborator husband, is embroiled in the fight against the Nazis. Babs, an Englishwoman in the 1960s, is anxious to find the truth about her dead husband. For readers who liked The Alice Network and Sarah’s Key.” —Ellen Firer, Merrick Library, Merrick, NY

Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly (Ballantine Books; LJ starred review)

Appeared on the April 2016 LibraryReads List

“This is story of the Ravensbrück Rabbits: 74 women prisoners in the Ravensbrück concentration camp. Using alternating first-person narratives, the characters relate their experiences from 1939 through 1959. Drawing upon a decade of research, Hall reconstructs what life was like in Ravensbrück. More than a war story, this is a tale of how the strength of women’s bonds can carry them through even the most difficult situations. Lilac Girls is a solid, compelling historical read.” —Andrea Larson, Cook Memorial Public Library, Libertyville, IL