Rock the Boat scoops historical adventure by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

Rock the Boat has snapped up Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin’s middle-grade historical adventure, The Bletchley Riddle, set in Bletchley Park.

Editorial director Shadi Doostdar acquired the UK and Commonwealth rights from Penguin Random House US. The paperback original will be published on 10th October 2024.  

“These days, you do not know who you can trust or who might be a secret spy,” the synopsis says. “Maths whizz Jakob Novis has been recruited to the secret code-breaking centre at Bletchley Park. As Jakob works to crack the Nazi’s Enigma cipher, his younger sister Lizzie is busy on an undercover mission of her own: to solve the disappearance of their mother.”

The authors commented: “We are so excited to partner with Rock the Boat to present readers with secret codes, puzzles, and a quirky family story that is full of surprises. We will be eager to hear if UK readers can crack the code!”

Doostdar added: “Combining flawless historical research and award-winning writing with a pacy, unputdownable story, The Bletchley Riddle  brings Britain’s top secret [Second World War] code-breaking centre to life like no other. The authors have also cunningly planted clues for the reader throughout the book (and the cover!) and even at Bletchley Park itself, so we can all hone our deciphering skills!”