Jenniferreads

by Katherine Reay

Historical Fiction | 5⭐️ | 3/5/24 | Harper Muse

When CIA codebreaker discovers a symbol she recognizes from her childhood on coded letters from Berlin, she embarks on a journey to learn more about the secrets of her childhood and her family as the Berlin wall was constructed during the Cold War and eventually torn down. 

This is the first book I’ve read about the Cold War in awhile and apparently, even living through most of it, knew very little. Told through dual timelines and dual POV, Katherine Reay has crafted a thoroughly researched and engaging novel set in Berlin during the tumultuous Cold War. I loved the character development and growth that she achieved through the dual timeline. There were some times when there were some info dumps, but if you know me, I enjoyed those and don’t think they took away from the story, but added to the understanding and stakes in the story. This book achieved everything I want for historical fiction and I highly recommend.