A very good historical thriller and mystery about three very different young women in England who become friends while working at the Bletchley Park code-breaking facility in World War II. Each of the young women comes from a different background, with different personalities and talents that contribute to the code-breaking effort, and to the community of their friends and colleagues, in different ways.
Of course, it has the obligatory spy thriller sub-plot about a betrayer in the community, and the race to figure out who it is and to expose the traitor. There was also another intriguing thread about the romantic relationship between one of the women and the young naval officer Prince Phillip, that lasted through most of the war. It all added up to a rich historical novel about one of the great British technical and organizational triumphs of World War II, and the important role that women played in it.
What was even more surprising was to find out in the Afterword how closely the fictional story adheres to the real lives and experiences of several of the actual female veterans of the Bletchley Park code-breaking team (and of Prince Phillip!). A well-researched and entertaining novel of women's contribution to the Allied war effort in this very unique time and place. Recommended.
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