Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What was the most surprising thing you learned about Elizebeth Smith Friedman or the history of US intelligence?

2. The book joins a tradition of nonfiction, like Margot Lee Shetterly’s Hidden Figures, that uncovers forgotten stories. How did learning about Elizebeth’s life change your understanding of women’s roles in 20th-century science?

3. Jason Fagone structures the biography to read like a spy thriller. Did you find this narrative style effective for a work of nonfiction?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. At what point in Elizebeth’s life or career do you think she showed the most courage, and why?

2. Elizebeth and William Friedman’s partnership was a blend of romance and intense intellectual collaboration. What do you see as the greatest strengths and challenges of their partnership?

3. Did reading about Elizebeth’s defiance of her family’s expectations to pursue her own path resonate with any of your own experiences?

4. George Fabyan and Elizabeth Wells Gallup were formative mentors, yet Elizebeth had to move beyond their influence to find her own truth. Can you think of a time when it was important to trust your own judgment over that of an authority figure?

5. What personal qualities do you think enabled Elizebeth to persevere through decades of seeing her work go unrecognized or credited to others?

6. How do you imagine the constant need for secrecy in their work and personal lives affected the Friedmans?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The book details how J. Edgar Hoover’s media campaigns systematically erased Elizebeth’s contributions. What does this reveal about how historical narratives are constructed and whose stories are prioritized?

2. Do you think the government’s raid on the Friedmans’ personal library was justified for national security, or was it an act of historical erasure?

3. What parallels do you see between the Gilded Age patronage of Fabyan and the way modern technology billionaires fund scientific research today?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Fagone frames the book as a historical recovery project from the very beginning. How did this authorial choice shape your reading of Elizebeth’s story?

2. What does the eccentric and controlling environment of Riverbank Laboratories symbolize in the narrative?

3. How does the author build suspense and a sense of rivalry between Elizebeth’s quiet unit and Hoover’s publicity-driven FBI?

4. William’s story runs parallel to that of his British contemporary Alan Turing. What do their stories collectively say about the burdens of genius in service to the state?

5. The act of codebreaking is itself a powerful motif in the book. Do you think the author was successful in making this highly technical process feel compelling and understandable?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Elizebeth’s son described his father as a man torn between his love for puzzles and his hatred of war. How would you describe the central conflict or passion that drove Elizebeth throughout her life?

2. Imagine you are adapting this book for the screen. Which part of Elizebeth’s career would you make the central focus, and who would you cast in the lead role?

3. If Elizebeth had been free to write her own unconstrained memoir, what title do you think she would have chosen for it, and why?