The Margaret Code – Richard Hooton

Published By: Sphere
Pages: 352
Released On: 10/04/2025

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.

*****

Thanks to NetGalley and Sphere for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.

I have been so excited by this book, it sounded so much fun.

I love that cosy crime has become so popular recently and I cannot get enough. And I love having older protagonists too, and Margaret was instantly gorgeous and I loved her. I don’t like how people treat her, particularly her family, especially her daughter. It’s like, just because she’s 89, that means she is obviously too old to know what she’s doing. No-one (bar her Grandson) seem to believe she could possible know what she’s doing, but that made her even more likeable for me.

I read another review that said this was like Elizabeth Is Missing crossed with The Marlow Murder Club and I couldn’t have described it better myself. That’s exactly what it is – and those other two books are fabulous as well.

This had my attention from the very start to the very end. The pacing was good, the characters loveable, a fun premise; it was easy to read, quick, well written and just a delight.

It is a crime novel yes, with its thrills and spills. But it’s also about friendship, secrets, grief, loss, ageing, health, family, loneliness, peer pressure, trying to fit in, and love.

I have found that, generally, with cosy crime I’m able to figure out, or get close to figuring out, the whodunnit, more so than with a thriller. But I had no idea with this one. I had some suspicions but the reveal is so well woven in and hidden.

Occasionally I found the dialogue a smidgeon stilted, but that’s a minor point and didn’t impact the enjoyment of it, but as this is an honest review, I have to mention everything I thought.

It doesn’t really have legs for a sequel or a crime-fighting series but it does bode well for Richard’s future work and I’ll definitely be keeping my eye out.

I read it in less than 24 hours, it was fantastic, and is a really wonderful debut. Who knew that an 89-year-old and a teenager would make the perfect crime-fighting duo?!