I wasn’t initially sure I was going to finish “Code Name Verity.” It took a while, maybe 75 pages or so before I got hooked on the story and wanted to know what came next.

It’s dark and upsetting—and I study WWII history for work and for pleasure. It’s a work of fiction but so well researched and authentic in its delivery that you know that the events aren’t just probable, it’s very likely—almost guaranteed—that they happened to many people during the war. There is a recurring theme of hope and resilience through the book that makes the difficult parts more bearable and that keeps you hooked to know what comes next.

In all, "Code Name Verity" was masterfully written and is an excellent book but a difficult one to say if I actually liked it. I was on the edge of my seat after the book found its rhythm but it gave me horrible nightmares after finishing it.