The Margaret Code

Meet the detective duo you'll never forget in this compulsive and charming debut crime novel

By: Richard Hooton

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Paperback | 29 January 2026 | Edition Number 1

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Paperback

Dimensions(cm)
19.6 x 12.6 x 2.6

Paperback

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MEET THE DETECTIVE DUO YOU'LL NEVER FORGET

For readers of The Marlow Murder Club, Richard Osman and The List of Suspicious Things...
'One of the best books I've read this year' ALEX GRAY

'An absorbingly unusual murder mystery' CHRIS BROOKMYRE

'Who knew that an 89-year-old and a teenager would make the perfect crime-fighting duo?!' Reader Review ?????

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89-year-old Margaret has lived on Garnon Crescent all her life, except for those few years she never talks about. She knows all the neighbours; their hopes, their heartbreaks.

Only recently, Margaret's memory isn't what it used to be. She is sure Barbara, her best friend and neighbour, told her something important. Something she was supposed to remember.

When Barbara is found dead, Margaret determines to recover her missing memory. She and her grandson James begin to investigate, but soon strange incidents occur in her home. Margaret's daughter thinks her memory is getting worse, but Margaret knows somebody wants her out of the way.

Because Margaret holds the key to solving this crime. If only she could remember where she put it.

'Beautifully written. Heartwarming. Everyone should read it.' Reader Review ?????

'Delightfully cosy' PETERBOROUGH TELEGRAPH

'I laughed, cried and was amazed' Reader Review ?????

'Wry, compelling and ever so poignant' NAOMI KELSEY

'Perfect if you love quirky, senior investigating' Reader Review ?????

'A cleverly crafted mystery with an amateur detective duo you root for even against the odds' EMILY CRITCHLEY

Industry Reviews

One of the best books I've read this year. It has so much to say about memory loss and the terrors of having to leave one's own home. I very much hope to meet Margaret and James again!

Humorous and heartbreaking. This is a cleverly crafted mystery with an amateur detective duo you root for even against the odds. Absorbing and heartwarming, the characters are so well drawn I felt they could be my own neighbours! This is a confident and empathetic debut. I couldn't stop turning the page!

I read this one late into the night, unable to wait to find out what happens next. Skilfully written . . . the characters are expertly drawn. A gentle crime novel, and so much more.

If you're looking for an uplifting crime novel that merges Elizabeth Is Missing with Three Things about Elsie, I highly recommend you preorder The Margaret Code. It tells the story of Margaret, whose investigation into the murder of her neighbour Barbara is complicated by her Alzheimer's, and her grandson James, who is determined to help her solve the case. Wry, compelling, and ever so poignant, it's a wonderful mystery as well as a touching portrayal of the challenges in both ageing and caring for the ageing. .

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