The Codebreaker’s Secret
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Manufacturer: Sara Ackerman
Brand: Historical Fiction
Brew: Paperback
Steeping Time: 371 pages
Tea Service: Book Club
Strength: 
Synopsis: 1943. As war in the Pacific rages on, Isabel Cooper and her codebreaker colleagues huddle in “the dungeon” at Station HYPO in Pearl Harbor, deciphering secrets plucked from the airwaves in a race to bring down the enemy. Isabel has only one wish: to avenge her brother’s death. But she soon finds life has other plans when she meets his best friend, a hotshot pilot with secrets of his own.
1965. Fledgling journalist Lu Freitas comes home to Hawai’i to cover the grand opening of the glamorous. Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Rockefeller’s newest and grandest project. When a high-profile guest goes missing, Lu forms an unlikely alliance with an intimidating veteran photographer to unravel the mystery. The two make a shocking discovery that stirs up memories and uncovers an explosive secret from the war days. A secret that only a codebreaker can crack.
By now, I think you all know about my deep love for WWII historical fiction.
The Codebreaker’s Secret, surprise surprise, was my suggestion for book club last month, and I’m so glad everyone voted to read it. It’s been on my shelf for a good year, just waiting for me to dive in. I can’t believe this story has just been sitting there, quietly waiting for me to discover how wonderful it is.
The Codebreaker’s Secret follows a dual timeline, a particular favorite of mine. In 1943, we follow Izzy, a codebreaker in D.C. who desperately wants to get to Hawaii, where her brother was killed during the Pearl Harbor attacks. Izzy is incredibly relatable and so easy to root for. She is the kind of smart I wish I was. Sharp as a tack, her mind works to unravel code and mysteries, both within the military and outside of it.
In 1965, we meet Lu, a Hawaiian native who has come back to cover the opening of the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. Lu may be young, but she knows what she wants and she’s here to make a name for herself as a reporter. I love her heart and the line she draws for herself that she’s not willing to cross in order to get a good scoop. Just like Izzy, and every other character in The Codebreaker’s Secret, she is so well rounded. Every character feels developed and genuine. None of them fall flat.
I don’t want to get into characters too much and spoil some of the surprises, so I’ll just say this.
The relationships developed throughout the book are beautiful. They all feel genuine, and I fell in love with so many of these wonderful characters. The Codebreaker’s Secret is exactly the kind of story I adore. There’s friendship, mystery, intrigue, secrecy, hope, and yes, even love. And hey, a handsome fella in uniform is just an added bonus! (Again, I don’t want to spoil anything, but he’s one of my favorite characters. You’ll know who I’m talking about when you read the book. I find his character so deep and nuanced and heartbreakingly relatable.)
On top of a wonderful cast of characters, the setting is superb. How can one not fall in love with Hawaii? It was twofold for me. I visited Hawaii in 2023, and many locations in the book were places I went to during that trip. Because I’d stood there, I could picture each of these locations with such clarity. While on that trip, we spent three days on Oahu exploring Pearl Harbor and the history there. We stayed at Bellows Air Force Station on the other side of the island, ensuring a breathtaking drive every morning and evening. Pali Lookout was another location I could see perfectly in the book. But even if I hadn’t been there myself, the descriptions are spot on.
Couple all of this with a killer pace, and you’ve got one hell of a book.
The pacing was bang on for me. The story read easily, there was plenty of variation between slow, calm moments and ratcheted tension, and the dual timelines played very well together. Personally, it was everything I wanted it to be. And it also made me want to hop a plane to the islands immediately!
I loved the real elements of history that Ackerman used, but I also appreciated the artistic license she took with certain things. It was believable and totally immersive. There wasn’t a moment that pulled me out of the story. I was one hundred percent hooked from start to finish. The Codebreaker’s Secret is a story that will stay with me for a very long time, occupying a space in my heart forever.
If you enjoy WWII historical fiction, a solid love story, mystery, and a phenomenal setting, please go pick up The Codebreaker’s Secret. It’s worth it.
Have you read The Codebreaker’s Secret? Leave a comment and let me know what you thought about it! Want to read it for yourself? Click here to get a copy of your own.
Cheers,
Lydia
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