Mary Anna Evans

I’m going to shout through the rooftops recommending this book to EVERYONE!!

Honestly, I wanted to read this book because of the NOLA setting. Since, my family was one of the first to settle in this great state…I honestly judge books more harshly when set here…especially, when actual places aren’t fictionalized by the author.

This book had everything I want in my reading. A well thought out plot, that bends and turns so much that had me guessing until the very end. A captivating cast of characters. Plus, for bonus points showing just how wise an 8th grade educated woman from the bayou could be smarter than most people assume!

This is one genre bending spy thriller/mystery/historical fiction/romance you can not miss!… (altro)

It's 1944 and the United States is spending considerable manpower in gathering information from the enemy and breaking their codes. A college in Virginia has been taken over by the Army and houses hundreds of people working to decode hundreds of documents. Justine among them but she is there to find a traitor in the midst of all of the hard working people. She is thrilled to be rooming with her friend Georgette. They've been friends since their shortened training to become spies for the US government. Working with this intelligent group of people, she finds it hard to believe that there is a traitor among them who is selling secrets to the enemy. Justine decides to become friendly with her suspects to figure out who the traitor really is. She has a few clues but when she's attacked, she realizes that someone may be suspicious of her. It's a real cat and mouse game and a real page turner to find out who the traitor is. Along with the friendship between Justine and Georgette, there is a bit of romance and a lot of really neat James Bond type gadgets and disguises.

I've read several books about code-breakers during WWII but they have all taken place in England. It was interesting to read about the Code Girls of Arlington Hall and I have spent some time on google to learn more about the work that they did. I always enjoy reading a book that teaches me about something new.

The Traitor Beside Her appears to be part of a series. The main character, Justine, is also the main character in an earlier book The Physicists' Daughter. Also, the ending leaves questions unanswered for a new book. That said, this book is a standalone and there was no confusion from not reading the first book. I did enjoy this book so much that I plan to read The Physicists' Daughter soon.… (altro)