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staceyinthesticks's review against another edition
- 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
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
bronzel's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death of parent and Murder
Moderate: Abandonment and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: War
kbio's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Minor: Child abuse, Confinement, Dementia, Alcohol, and Classism
felofhe's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Minor: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Sexism, Violence, Dementia, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
sarahdenn27's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Minor: Alcoholism, Drug use, Gun violence, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment
toomanytbr's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug use, Gun violence, Violence, Murder, and Abandonment
angela005's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Cursing, Violence, and Abandonment
Minor: Drug use, Gun violence, Infertility, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
beepbeep101's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, and Classism
Minor: Torture
savvyrosereads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Steve “Smithy” Smith has recently been released from prison and is hunting for a mysterious code in the children’s books of author Edith Twyford, which may be tied to the decades-old disappearance of his teacher.
I love a good mystery/puzzle and heard really great things about this one, which is told in a series of transcribed audio files, a truly unique format (I don’t think I’ve ever read anything quite like it). I was able to read this as part of a buddy read, which absolutely added to the fun, as we were able to put our detective hats on and discuss.
That said, while I was definitely intrigued the whole time, The Twyford Code ultimately didn’t land in quite the way I hoped—I found myself confused and a bit frustrated with the way the mystery played out, and while that may be the point, it isn’t my preferred style at all. I felt like I never knew what the actual questions were, so I couldn’t really focus on solving them, and it made the reveal(s) at the end feel a bit out of left field. I also felt like there were a bunch of unanswered questions in the end, and as someone who really likes closure in a book the lack of resolution wasn’t my favorite.
All of that said, I truly know people who ADORE this book, and if it sounds intriguing to you I would absolutely say to give it a shot! It will easily go down as the most original thing I’ve read this year (and maybe ever) and I think if you are the type of person who will enjoy this one you’ll REALLY enjoy it.
Recommended if you like: puzzle books; unconventional/epistolary(ish) formats; multiple plot threads
CW: Violence/injury/blood (all mild); death/loss of parents (off-page); mentions of domestic abuse
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
aileron's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Gun violence, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment
Minor: Infertility, Kidnapping, and War