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angorarabbit's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
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
4.75
TLDR: A fun mystery with a message.
Written in the first person by the male main character with a few additions by others this novel delves deeply into his background. I was impressed by how believable Steve was and a little disappointed that some of the secondary characters, for instance Lucy, were not as well defined. In fact I was quite worried about Lucy, feeling like she was getting in over her head.I also had a few problems with believing the main plot line. In the end it all makes sense though.
To me the really exciting part was that I totally missed all the plot twists. Usually when reading a mystery I may not figure out who did it, but I do usually see at least some of the twists before they are spelled out for me. Maybe I’m dense but I only started getting a clue when I was over 80% of the way through the book. I did not feel one bit guilty reading this one and will definitely check out more of Ms Hallett’s writing.
This may be a harder read for some people. The story is told as a collection of audio files and calls that have been transcribed. So some dialect is transcribed oddly. I have an auditory narrator (like some 33% of the population) so the transcripts were sounded out as I went for me. Otherwise I didn’t catch too many Brisitisms that a USian would have difficulty with.
I am almost curious enough see if my library has the audio of the book. It would be interesting to see how all the different voices were handled.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Drug use, Gun violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Confinement, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Domestic abuse and Infertility
Grafic drug dealing, drug addiction, and organised crime.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
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
kbio's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- 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
i picked this up at a bogo sale and i’m very glad i did. the book is told in a transcript format, which adds more fun to the voice in your head that reads! there are endless twists and turns until the very end. 4.5 for me. incredibly well done.
Content Warnings
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
gphemsley's review against another edition
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
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 against another edition
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. 🤣
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Classism
Minor: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and War
savvyrosereads's review against another edition
challenging
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- 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
Out now! [Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!]
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
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
aden_'s review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Murder
emma6544's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
relaxing
sad
medium-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Death of parent
Minor: Cancer, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Dementia, and Murder
mercurialbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
5.0
Thank you to Pigeonhole and Janice Hallett for letting my read this book ahead of its publishing date.
I don't know how to review this. The Twyford Code is excellent.
It is a puzzle within a puzzle and I can see people reading it twice to check through if they missed anything the first time.
I would absolutely say to everyone to make sure you have a physical copy of this book rather than audio or e-book, as flicking back to different pages will be something you want to do.
Essentially, an ex-con (Steve) wants to trace a teacher he once knew in secondary school that disappeared. He doesn't know exactly where to start so he goes back to ask his old school friends. They act shifty around the subject and it leads him to discover The Twyford Code. A code hidden within children's novels written during WWII. This author is no longer enjoyed by modern audiences due to her sexist, racist and elitist writing and is a great pastiche of Enid Blyton. Steve and his friends follow a trail of clues to try to discover what they mean, and how on Earth they are related to the former teacher never coming home. There are a lot of flashbacks to Steve's younger years, including his not so nice family life, so please check content warnings. But the whole thing is tied up with Steve's humorous point of view, he is often unexpectedly funny and quite without meaning to be.
The ending is NOT what you are expecting.
I found reading with Pigeonhole that a few readers dropped out quickly due to the format of the book. It is written as transcriptions of voice recordings. I think this bothered me less as I am not compelled to read each time stamp associated with the paragraph and could skim over them, but some others felt obliged to read them and they found this quite frustrating.
This had the best reveal of any novel I have read in a long time and I genuinely loved it. I'd not read The Appeal (also by Janice Hallett) but now it's all I want to read!
I don't know how to review this. The Twyford Code is excellent.
It is a puzzle within a puzzle and I can see people reading it twice to check through if they missed anything the first time.
I would absolutely say to everyone to make sure you have a physical copy of this book rather than audio or e-book, as flicking back to different pages will be something you want to do.
Essentially, an ex-con (Steve) wants to trace a teacher he once knew in secondary school that disappeared. He doesn't know exactly where to start so he goes back to ask his old school friends. They act shifty around the subject and it leads him to discover The Twyford Code. A code hidden within children's novels written during WWII. This author is no longer enjoyed by modern audiences due to her sexist, racist and elitist writing and is a great pastiche of Enid Blyton. Steve and his friends follow a trail of clues to try to discover what they mean, and how on Earth they are related to the former teacher never coming home. There are a lot of flashbacks to Steve's younger years, including his not so nice family life, so please check content warnings. But the whole thing is tied up with Steve's humorous point of view, he is often unexpectedly funny and quite without meaning to be.
The ending is NOT what you are expecting.
I found reading with Pigeonhole that a few readers dropped out quickly due to the format of the book. It is written as transcriptions of voice recordings. I think this bothered me less as I am not compelled to read each time stamp associated with the paragraph and could skim over them, but some others felt obliged to read them and they found this quite frustrating.
This had the best reveal of any novel I have read in a long time and I genuinely loved it. I'd not read The Appeal (also by Janice Hallett) but now it's all I want to read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Violence
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexism, Dementia, and War