This is the story of the American female code breakers whose vital work helped win World War II, but whose work has gone unsung for decades. 10,000 American women served the U.S. Army and Navy as cryptanalysists; their call to action came in the form of a letter that asked them two short questions: did they like crossword puzzles, and were they engaged to be married? A fascinating, thoroughly researched, and well-told true account.

For the lover of little-known histories (or the Madam Secretary fan!). This sweeping, suspenseful history reveals the untold story of the crucial roles women have played in American spycraft. The CIA began in 1947 as a male-dominated institution. Women were hired to type memos, manage expense accounts, and, above all else, keep secrets. These employees used sexism to their advantage, able to move unnoticed wherever intelligence was needed. And they proved that they could do even more, making critical contributions during the Cold War through 9/11.