Reviews tagging 'War'

The Twyford Code by Janice Hallett

14 reviews

siobhanward's review

mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I really liked <i> The Appeal </i> and <i> The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels </i> by Hallett, but this one just didn't work as well for me. I generally like Hallett's non-traditional formats for her books, but I found the transcribed audio recordings to be clunky in this case. I also don't love when a mystery relies on an author withholding information from the reader in order for it to work, since writing the transcription software as flawed is how Hallett was able to keep up the mystery of the book for the most part. It just kind of felt like a cheap way out. The plot itself was fine. Some of it was twisty and surprising, but it was also equally hard to follow and frustrating. This was mostly disappointing because the idea was really cool, but the execution just wasn't there. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Violence, and Murder

Minor: War

staceyinthesticks's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Violence, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, and War

Minor: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, Blood, and Abandonment

psnchz's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Violence, Xenophobia, and War

bronzel's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent and Murder

Moderate: Abandonment and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: War

libraryfrog's review against another edition

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Minor: Ableism and War

gphemsley's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, and Classism

Minor: Alcoholism, Drug use, Vomit, and War

kylieqrada's review

adventurous emotional lighthearted mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Janice Hallett's mixed media mysteries are so fun!! It would be such a good time for the reader to try to solve the mystery, but I am too dumb. 🤣

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, and Murder

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Violence, and Death of parent

Minor: Drug use, Alcohol, and War

rorikae's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

‘The Twyford Code’ by Janice Hallett is a twisty found audio mystery centered around a code in a children’s book that led to a teacher’s disappearance. 
Told through audio files, mostly voice recordings, the story centers on Steven Smith, a man trying to find his way after getting out of prison. After his release, he becomes obsessed with the Twyford Code, a code in a series of children’s books that he found when he was a child. The code is connected to the disappearance of one of his favorite teachers and Steven believes that he can not only crack the code but also figure out what happened to his teach all of those years ago. 
Hallett does a great job of utilizing the audio files to tell a story where you’re never quite sure what is true. Since we are getting the story primarily through Steven’s audio recordings, including his own recollections of encounters with acquaintances, it leaves the truth of what is going on up in the air as he begins to unravel the code. 
There was a point towards the end where the story was heading in a direction I wasn’t a fan of but Hallett did manage to bring the story around to a satisfying conclusion. 
The audiobook is a great option for this story since the story is told through audio files. I do wish there had been a few more narrators incorporated to make it feel more like an audio drama but I also understand that ultimately this wouldn’t have served the story. 
I’m interested to read more of Hallett’s work since I love stories told through letters, documents, audio files, and the like. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Classism

Minor: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and War

aileron's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment

Minor: Infertility, Kidnapping, and War

tamara_joy's review

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent and Murder

Minor: Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Grief, Alcohol, and War