THE BLETCHLEY GIRLS

MY THOUGHTS:

Stefania Carmichael is living in Rome, loving her life and engaged to Matteo.  Life is good and she is happy as can be.  But her life changes in an instant.  World War II rages on across Europe and the bombs being dropped are destroying everything in their path.  Steffie arrives at the mysterious Bletchley Park.  She immediately signs the Official Secrets Act.  She was recruited because of her knowledge of different languages and is used as a codebreaker.  She doesn’t know anyone so she isn’t sure who she can trust.  But she soon befriends Fran in logistics and Ailsa a radio operator.  Steffie settles into her assigned tasks and her world is turned upside down once again when her native country of Italy partners with the wrong side, and she soon discovers that her loving fiancé Mattero becomes the enemy.

I was completely captivated by this phenomenal story from the opening of the cover to the turn of the last page.  This story was so overwhelming and and left me completely emotional.  I was heartbroken to discover that this was a story based on true events.  The courageous women of Bletchley Park during the War was shocking, stunning and incredibly fascinating.  The story of Bletchley Park was not one I had heard much about and so to read about it now was very heartbreaking.  This is one area of history that I will definitely dive deeper into.  I can’t recommend this story enough, it was so well researched, and well written.  But make sure you read it with a box of Kleenex by your side because you are sure to need it.  This one will stay with me for a long, long time.  This is such a fabulous story and I highly recommend it.

Thank you Anna Stuart for yet another amazing historical fiction.  I found it to be absolutely fascinating and I really enjoyed it.  I absolutely recommend it. 

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Rating: 5 out of 5.

DESCRIPTION:

THE BLETCHLEY GIRLS
Author:  Anna Stuart
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: September 19, 2022
Pages: 415 
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1940, Bletchley Park: I stand alone outside the gates, with no idea what lies ahead. It’s cold and dark. All I have are my suitcases and a handful of letters from my fiancé. Every day, the bombs have been getting closer. I’m only an ordinary civilian, but I was asked to come here in secret, and I’m determined to fight in whatever way I can for freedom and for love…

Inspired by the unforgettable true story of the women of Bletchley Park, this utterly gripping novel of secrets, love and courage shines a light on the incredible wartime work that changed the course of history.

When Stefania Carmichael steps into the mysterious world of Bletchley Park, she immediately finds herself signing the Official Secrets Act. In whispers, she is told that she’s been recruited because of her talent for languages. Before the war ripped Europe apart, Steffie was living in Rome, charming everyone she met with her quick wit and sharp mind, and engaged to the man of her dreams, handsome and brave Matteo. Now everything has changed.

With secrets swirling around the building, Steffie finds it hard to know who to trust, until she forms a close bond with two other new recruits. Ailsa is a gifted radio operator and Fran a logistics genius, and the two women help Steffie navigate her new world of codebreaking. But even though Steffie’s skills are crucial to the war effort, her position is put in jeopardy when Italy joins the opposite side of the battle – and her beloved fiancé becomes the enemy.

Her heart belongs to Matteo, but Steffie knows she must do whatever it takes to help England win the war. So when she is asked to go on a classified mission, she jumps at the chance. But it soon becomes clear there’s a traitor in their midst, and all eyes turn to her…

With her life at stake, can she prove herself innocent and save the man she loves? Or will Steffie lose everything?

ABOUT ANNA STUART

Anna Stuart lives in Derbyshire with her campervan-mad husband, two hungry teenagers and a slightly loopy dog. She was hooked on books from the moment she first opened one in her cot so is thrilled to now have several of her own to her name. Having studied English literature at Cambridge university, she took an enjoyable temporary trip into the ‘real world’ as a factory planner, before returning to her first love and becoming an author. History has also always fascinated her. Living in an old house with a stone fireplace, she often wonders who sat around it before her and is intrigued by how actively the past is woven into the present, something she likes to explore in her novels. Anna loves the way that writing lets her ‘try on’ so many different lives, but her favourite part of the job is undoubtedly hearing from readers.

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