Ratings3
Average rating4.5
From USA TODAY and internationally bestselling author Genevieve Graham comes a gripping World War II novel about two sisters who join the war effort—one as a codebreaker and the other as a pilot—and the secrets that threaten to tear them apart. Perfect for fans of The Rose Code and The Nightingale. Twin sisters Dot and Dash Wilson share many things, and while they are practically inseparable, they are nothing alike. Dot is fascinated by books, puzzles, and Morse code, a language taught to both girls by their father, a WWI veteran. Dash’s days are filled with fixing engines, dancing with friends, and dreaming of flying airplanes. Almost always at their side is their best friend Gus—until war breaks out and he enlists in the army, deploying to an unknown front. Determined to do their duty, both girls join the WRENS, Dash as a mechanic and Dot as a typist. Before long, Dot’s fixation on patterns and numbers takes her from HMCS Coverdale, a covert listening and codebreaking station working with Bletchley Park in England, to Camp X, a top-secret spy school. But when personal tragedy strikes the family, Dot’s oath of secrecy causes a rift between the sisters. Eager to leave her pain behind, Dash jumps at the opportunity to train as a pilot with the Air Transport Auxiliary, where she risks her life to ferry aircraft and troops across the battlefields of Europe. Meanwhile Dot is drawn into the Allies’ preparations for D-Day. But Dot’s loyalties are put to the test once more when someone close to her goes missing in Nazi-occupied territory. With everyone’s eyes on Operation Overlord, Dot must use every skill at her disposal to save those she loves before it’s too late. Inspired by the real-life stories of women in World War II, The Secret Keeper is an extraordinary novel about the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood and the light of courage during the darkest of nights.
Reviews with the most likes.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author for an advanced copy of The Secret Keeper. This is my honest review. This is a compelling look at two very different sisters. Both of whom were strong in their own way. Margaret (Dash) was good with engines and knew how to fly and Dorothy (Dot) was good with codes and puzzles. When WW2 started each sister felt they needed to get involved and in doing so, they both grew as people and ended up growing apart, where they had once been inseparable.
The characters, both the primary and secondary ones in this book were so well done and the plot continuously was moving forward. It was a heartwarming, thrilling tale of family, friendship, romance and being your authentic self. I was enthralled with the stories of the roles that women played in WW2, some even close to where I would later grow up. The strength and persevance of these women was so well thought out and the author seamlessly blended real life and fiction into a fantastic novel.
It needs to become a movie and it should definitely be on your must buy list for 2024. It comes out April 2.