About the Book

A Code Developer Uncovers a Japanese Spy Ring
 
Full of intrigue, adventure, and romance, this new series celebrates the unsung heroes—the heroines of WWII.
 
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 oversees 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 Phillip goes missing. Can Eloise risk loving and losing again?

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In My Opinion

The Cryptographer’s Dilemma by Johnnie Alexander is the first book in the new Heroines of WWII series from Barbour Publishing. The book is set in the US with an FBI investigation that takes readers to a few different states.

The nature of the investigation is what keeps the story moving. From Washington state to Missouri and New York, Eloise and Phillip are on the move. Readers also travel with the hero and heroine through shifting opinions about each other. Phillip isn’t too happy to have Eloise in his investigation at first, but as they spend time together, that shifts to respect and then more.

The actual spy craft and espionage parts of the book were less than I anticipated from the description of the book. And with the title, I expected more of the cryptography to play into the story. While this book was based on true events, the fictional aspect didn’t quite live up to its full potential.

However, if you appreciate character-driven plots with touches of mystery, then The Cryptographer’s Dilemma checks all the boxes.

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.