Review of the expanded edition of Codebreaking: A Practical Guide by Elonka Dunin and Klaus Schmeh: No Starch Press, 2023. 488 pages, Hardcover, $24.04. ISBN 978-1-7185-0272-7.

The expanded edition of "Codebreaking: A Practical Guide" by Elonka Dunin and Klaus Schmeh is a valuable addition to crypto-literature, offering a mix of well-known and lesser-known ciphers and codes in a non-technical manner. The book includes historical background, examples, challenges, and modern tools like CrypTool and hill climbing algorithms for cryptanalysis. Updates in the expanded edition cover recent success stories in codebreaking, such as the decipherment of the Zodiac Killer's Z340 message and the decryption of encrypted letters by Mary Queen of Scots, showcasing the blend of traditional and modern techniques in classical cryptology. The book serves as a supplementary text for general audience undergraduate cryptology courses or for those interested in problem-solving in classical cryptanalysis. [Extracted from the article]