The Women of Arlington Hall

A Novel

By: Jane Healey

Narrated by: Gail Shalan

A female codebreaker puts her future and her heart on the line in a stirring novel about love, loyalty, betrayal, and Cold War spy games by the bestselling author of The Secret Stealers.

1947: Adventurous Radcliffe graduate Catherine “Cat” Killeen cancels her wedding and upends a future that no longer suits her. At the behest of her professor and hungry for a challenge, Cat arrives in Virginia to work on a confidential military project. A student in cryptoanalysis, Cat is already ahead of the game—to assist in rooting out Soviet spies who have infiltrated the US.

Joining the “government girls” of Arlington Hall, Cat gains the respect of her superiors and the friendship of her peers. Then, on a night out in DC, Cat runs into Jonathan Dardis, her arrogant and privileged Harvard rival and newly minted agent for the FBI. What Cat and Jonathan share is a competitive drive and an attraction that’s becoming just as spirited. They’re also united in the same critical goal for America. Together, they’re diving deep into the shadows of espionage.

The stakes of the codebreaking operation grow ever higher, and Cat’s relationship with Jonathan opens her heart. Amid dangerous intrigue and grave secrecy, Cat is ready for every risk. No matter how personal the stakes get.

©2025 Jane Healey Ungashick. (P)2025 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“A stirring tribute to the American codebreakers who helped identify spies during the Cold War, Healey’s novel offers up a joyful ensemble of women at the top of their game while also providing a nuanced look at the motives behind those who chose to betray their country. This is a terrific read: ripe with romance, filled with nail-biting suspense, and a celebration of the power of female friendship.”—Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Stolen Queen

“Jane Healey knocks it out of the park with her new heavy hitter The Women of Arlington Hall. This page-turner has all the goodies historical fiction lovers will devour: Cold War espionage; a brilliant, fiery female codebreaker; spies in love (yes, please); girl code; passion; and suspense. Catherine (Cat) Killeen, just out of Radcliffe, is accepted into the special Russian Section intelligence unit to help foil the Russians’ plot to steal atomic secrets from the United States in the 1940s. A woman of her time and ahead of her time, Cat stops at nothing to reconstruct the elusive KGB codebook and track down those Russian spies living in America, who infiltrated the highest levels of government—even if the price tag is her own life. Healey doesn’t miss a beat merging real-life events with fictional flair and rich plot twists. Lots of recognizable Cold War players make cameos: Herbert Hoover, Klaus Fuchs, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg. Unputdownable. Healey at her very best.”—Lisa Barr, New York Times bestselling author of The Goddess of Warsaw

“With The Women of Arlington Hall, author Jane Healey brings historical fiction readers everything we look for in an enthralling read. Healey weaves deep and meticulous research on the Cold War-era codebreakers into a page-turning plot replete with spies, romance, intellectual puzzles, little-understood historical events, betrayals, and suspense. Alongside a heroine who, appealingly, is both brainy and still finding her way in life, we learn about the complex world of post-World War II political intrigue, even as she navigates the twists and turns of her personal life. A fascinating, fun, and compelling read.”—Joy Jordan-Lake, bestselling author of Echoes of Us