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lakecake's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
katreader's review against another edition
4.0
DEADLY CYPHER by Kate Parker
The Seventh Deadly Mystery
It's November 1939 and although fighting hasn't truly begun, England is at war. With her new husband working in parts unknown for the army, Olivia Redmond is once again conscripted to work for Sir Malcolm. A young woman working as a codebreaker has been murdered. Livvy replaces her, taking on her work to help the country as she tries to solve the woman's murder. Was it a jealous beau or is there a traitor in the mix?
The start of the war is as cold as the winter temperatures around Bletchley Park. Gone are the carefree parties of summer, now a chill has taken hold of the country and it's up to Olivia Redmond to find a traitor working right beside her.
DEADLY CYPHER had me absolutely captivated. To me World War II started on September 1, 1939, I was unaware that the start of the war was considered a "phony war" in England. That's one of the things I love best about the DEADLY Mystery series, I'm always learning something new. It was fascinating to read about about Bletchley Park, the women working the TypeX machines, knitting projects, and the way civilians lived at the start of World War II.
I've always liked Livvy and I love how she's grown and is able to stand her ground. Continually put down by her father, she's able to know when she's right and is not afraid to speak her mind, in defiance of men in authority. The mystery here was ingenious. Fully fleshed out characters inhabit the pages and I didn't know who to trust. The ultimate clue was brilliant and I caught on just as Livvy got an inkling that she couldn't quite grasp.
DEADLY CYPHER is a richly developed mystery filled with historical details, tough women, and good people giving up life as they know it in order to help their country no matter the cost.
The Seventh Deadly Mystery
It's November 1939 and although fighting hasn't truly begun, England is at war. With her new husband working in parts unknown for the army, Olivia Redmond is once again conscripted to work for Sir Malcolm. A young woman working as a codebreaker has been murdered. Livvy replaces her, taking on her work to help the country as she tries to solve the woman's murder. Was it a jealous beau or is there a traitor in the mix?
The start of the war is as cold as the winter temperatures around Bletchley Park. Gone are the carefree parties of summer, now a chill has taken hold of the country and it's up to Olivia Redmond to find a traitor working right beside her.
DEADLY CYPHER had me absolutely captivated. To me World War II started on September 1, 1939, I was unaware that the start of the war was considered a "phony war" in England. That's one of the things I love best about the DEADLY Mystery series, I'm always learning something new. It was fascinating to read about about Bletchley Park, the women working the TypeX machines, knitting projects, and the way civilians lived at the start of World War II.
I've always liked Livvy and I love how she's grown and is able to stand her ground. Continually put down by her father, she's able to know when she's right and is not afraid to speak her mind, in defiance of men in authority. The mystery here was ingenious. Fully fleshed out characters inhabit the pages and I didn't know who to trust. The ultimate clue was brilliant and I caught on just as Livvy got an inkling that she couldn't quite grasp.
DEADLY CYPHER is a richly developed mystery filled with historical details, tough women, and good people giving up life as they know it in order to help their country no matter the cost.
meezcarrie's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars
Before starting Deadly Cypher, I’d never read a book by Kate Parker, nor by default had I read another book in the Deadly series. That said, I didn’t have any problem catching on to the main characters or the past events that led to Olivia’s going undercover at Bletchley Park, though I did think the story started a bit abruptly (which briefly made me think I was missing something, even though I really wasn’t).
One of my favorite things about this book is the insight into the WW2 codebreakers at Bletchley Park. From not being able to tell anyone what they were doing, to both the working & lodging accommodations, to the whole set-up in general, I found this glimpse to be fascinating and it made me want to read more about them. It’s into this world that Olivia goes undercover to solve the mysterious murder of a young woman, in fact takes her place as a linguist and stays in her room. I liked how the author uses this to make Olivia’s questions about her death feel like a natural curiosity, as a means to avoid a similar fate. I also liked how many possibilities there were for motive – was it a jilted lover or something related to the codebreaking or something else altogether? This created an atmosphere of not being sure who to trust, even as I began to genuinely like some of the side characters.
Bottom Line: British historical cozies have a slightly different feel than a regular cozy, but I find them both delightful. Deadly Cipher fits the bill very well with intriguing characters and a congenial narrative voice. The mystery has several layers and readers will enjoy unpacking them with Olivia as the story progresses. I did feel it was a bit longer than necessary, and I had a difficult time staying invested, at times, during the middle of the story. However, the last quarter of the book picked up again and held my attention until the end. Grab your favorite hot beverage, put on your Agatha Christie house slippers, and cozy up to this read that’s full of intrigue and clues!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
Before starting Deadly Cypher, I’d never read a book by Kate Parker, nor by default had I read another book in the Deadly series. That said, I didn’t have any problem catching on to the main characters or the past events that led to Olivia’s going undercover at Bletchley Park, though I did think the story started a bit abruptly (which briefly made me think I was missing something, even though I really wasn’t).
One of my favorite things about this book is the insight into the WW2 codebreakers at Bletchley Park. From not being able to tell anyone what they were doing, to both the working & lodging accommodations, to the whole set-up in general, I found this glimpse to be fascinating and it made me want to read more about them. It’s into this world that Olivia goes undercover to solve the mysterious murder of a young woman, in fact takes her place as a linguist and stays in her room. I liked how the author uses this to make Olivia’s questions about her death feel like a natural curiosity, as a means to avoid a similar fate. I also liked how many possibilities there were for motive – was it a jilted lover or something related to the codebreaking or something else altogether? This created an atmosphere of not being sure who to trust, even as I began to genuinely like some of the side characters.
Bottom Line: British historical cozies have a slightly different feel than a regular cozy, but I find them both delightful. Deadly Cipher fits the bill very well with intriguing characters and a congenial narrative voice. The mystery has several layers and readers will enjoy unpacking them with Olivia as the story progresses. I did feel it was a bit longer than necessary, and I had a difficult time staying invested, at times, during the middle of the story. However, the last quarter of the book picked up again and held my attention until the end. Grab your favorite hot beverage, put on your Agatha Christie house slippers, and cozy up to this read that’s full of intrigue and clues!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
henrismum's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Audiobook (All of my entries on The Story Graph are audiobooks.)
#7 in series
Will I read other installments?Probably Not Maybe Likely Most Likely Definitely I am committed to this series.
Comparison to others in series: BetterAbout the same Not as good Good, but it could have been better I enjoyed this installment. The change of setting for main character was refreshing. The traitor was easy to pick out.
The narrator was Henrietta Meire and she gave a solid permformance as always.
#7 in series
Will I read other installments?
Comparison to others in series: Better
The narrator was Henrietta Meire and she gave a solid permformance as always.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
Minor: War
amandajeanne's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
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