Review: The Cryptographer's Dilemma

 

The Cryptographer’s Dilemma

by Johnnie Alexander

About the Book

A Code Developer Uncovers a Japanese Spy Ring

FBI cryptographer Eloise Marshall is grieving the death of her brother, who died during the attack on Pearl Harbor, when she is assigned to investigate a seemingly innocent letter about dolls. Agent Phillip Clayton is ready to enlist and head overseas when asked to work one more FBI job. A case of coded defense coordinates related to dolls should be easy, but not so when the Japanese Consulate gets involved, hearts get entangled, and Philip goes missing. Can Eloise risk loving and losing again?

My Thoughts

Brimming with suspense, mystery, romance, and exquisite detail, Johnnie Alexander’s latest WWII offering is sure to please fans of Christian historical fiction.

I absolutely loved this book! The era, the settings, the characters… it was all pitch perfect. Incorporating true events from the Second World War and combining them with the romance of two hurting souls results in a page-turning novel you won’t want to miss.

Eloise was such a fun heroine to read about. She’s incredibly smart and gifted and quite analytical. Yet she also has a fun side, making her a very balanced character. In the beginning, I wasn’t so sure about Phillip, thinking him to be a bit of a hot-head. It is to be understood, though, given his frustration from not being able to contribute to the war the way he wanted to. Yet as the story unfolds, we see another side of him, and you soon forget the chip he had on his shoulder. Reading about these two working undercover and traveling across the country together in search of the Doll Woman was such a treat. Alexander masters the art of vintage romance in this story.

It is obvious that this book was meticulously researched, creating an authentic WWII setting. It was fascinating to read about the codebreakers, as well the search for the Doll Woman. When you add in all the details of classic ‘40s movies and actors, period clothing, and the bits of everyday life from that time, you are given a top notch reading experience.

The Cryptographer’s Dilemma is a fantastic read. Those who love war-time novels with plenty of suspense and romance will definitely want to read this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.