Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Viper (2022), Edition: Main, 368 pages
Description
Fiction. Mystery. Suspense. Thriller. HTML:INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER "[A] delicious premise and clever execution....with a bravura final section." �??The New York Times The mysterious connection between a teacher's disappearance and an unsolved code in a children's book is explored in this new novel from the "modern Agatha Christie" (The Sunday Times, London) and author of The Appeal. Forty years ago, Steven "Smithy" Smith found a copy of a famous children's book by disgraced author Edith Twyford, its margins full of strange markings and annotations. When he showed it to his remedial English teacher Miss Iles, she believed that it was part of a secret code that ran through all of Twyford's novels. And when she later disappeared on a class field trip, Smithy becomes convinced that she had been right. Now, out of prison after a long stretch, Smithy decides to investigate the mystery that has haunted him for decades. In a series of voice recordings on an old iPhone, Smithy alternates between visiting the people of his childhood and looking back on the events that later landed him in prison. But it soon becomes clear that Edith Twyford wasn't just a writer of forgotten children's stories. The Twyford Code holds a great secret, and Smithy may just have the key. "Filled with numerous clues, acrostics, and red herrings, this thrilling scavenger hunt for the truth is delightfully deceptive and thoroughly immersive" (Publishers Weekly, starred revie… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member cathyskye
Puzzle lovers will have a field day with The Twyford Code, although I can see some readers being put off by the format. Steven "Smithy" Smith records each step of his investigation into the long-ago disappearance of his teacher in a series of recordings on an old iPhone, and at the beginning,
Aided by Lucy the librarian, Smithy finds himself on a trek down Memory Lane as he tries to find out just what the Twyford Code leads to and what happened to his teacher, Miss Iles. But the further into his investigation we get, red flags begin to go up. Why are old classmates being so evasive? What kind of treasure could the Twyford Code possibly lead to? And just how forthcoming is Smithy being in telling us about his investigation? Could something else be going on?
I really enjoyed the unfolding of all the puzzles and Smithy's character in particular. My deductive skills really got a workout, but by book's end, the resolutions were coming so thick and fast, it was almost overload-- like eating a favorite flavor of ice cream much too fast and then getting brain freeze.
If you love pitting your detective skills against a skilled puzzle master then you must read Janice Hallett's The Twyford Code. No doubt about it, I'll be looking for the other books she's written.
(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Net Galley)
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readers are told that the software used to transcribe the recordings can sometimes make mistakes. As a result, "Miss Iles" becomes "missiles". "Gonna" becomes "gun a" and so on. It can take a bit of getting used to, but this format actually made Smithy's voice more distinctive in my mind as I read.Aided by Lucy the librarian, Smithy finds himself on a trek down Memory Lane as he tries to find out just what the Twyford Code leads to and what happened to his teacher, Miss Iles. But the further into his investigation we get, red flags begin to go up. Why are old classmates being so evasive? What kind of treasure could the Twyford Code possibly lead to? And just how forthcoming is Smithy being in telling us about his investigation? Could something else be going on?
I really enjoyed the unfolding of all the puzzles and Smithy's character in particular. My deductive skills really got a workout, but by book's end, the resolutions were coming so thick and fast, it was almost overload-- like eating a favorite flavor of ice cream much too fast and then getting brain freeze.
If you love pitting your detective skills against a skilled puzzle master then you must read Janice Hallett's The Twyford Code. No doubt about it, I'll be looking for the other books she's written.
(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Net Galley)
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LibraryThing member Eyejaybee
One of my favourite books from last year was Janice Hallett’s novel, The Appeal, which took the form of a dossier of emails, witness statements and transcripts of telephone calls collated from a group of residents in a small town where a murder had occurred. The dossier was presented to two
This new novel has some similarities, with the text being a series of transcriptions of voice memos or calls stored on a mobile phone. The owner of the phone is Steven Smith, recently released from prison and struggling to adjust to life on the outside, while determined never to go back inside. Some forty years ago, while still at school, Steve had found a copy of a book discarded on a bus. The book proved to be by Edith Twyford, who had been a prolific writer of children’s adventure stories, and seems reminiscent of either Enid Blyton or E Nesbit (or possibly both). Because of the difficulties he experienced in reading, Steve had been assigned to a Remedial English class at school, presided over by Miss Iles, a teacher who managed to inspire much affection and attention from her pupils. Presented with the book that Steve had found, Miss Iles becomes convinced that there is a secret message within it, and engages the class in trying to work out what it might be trying to convey.
Her research into the book, and her attempts to engage and retain the attention of the class culminate in her taking them on a trip out into the country to visit the author’s old home. That school trip looms large as one of the major events in Steve’s memories of his childhood, not least because that outing represented the last time that he saw Miss Iles. She had disappeared from the pupils’ lives from that day on. Following his release from prison, Steve becomes obsessed with trying to discover what had happened to Miss Iles, and what secrets might actually be lurking behind the book.
As with The Appeal, Hallett manages the flow of the story expertly, helping the reader to suspend disbelief completely. The characters, as they emerge from Steve’s recorded notes, are all plausible. Not only does Hallett excel in recreating Enid Blyton’s style when invoking Ms Twyford’s book, but the novel itself is a paean to the engrossing high adventure espoused by those books.
This is as highly entertaining as The Appeal was.
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paralegal interns by the barrister involved in the case, with a request that they review the papers and offer any conclusions, without having had any prior knowledge of the case. I am occasionally wary of what could be seen as a novelty approach, but Janice Hallett managed the material with great dexterity, and the documents all added to the verisimilitude rather than seeming merely gimmicky.This new novel has some similarities, with the text being a series of transcriptions of voice memos or calls stored on a mobile phone. The owner of the phone is Steven Smith, recently released from prison and struggling to adjust to life on the outside, while determined never to go back inside. Some forty years ago, while still at school, Steve had found a copy of a book discarded on a bus. The book proved to be by Edith Twyford, who had been a prolific writer of children’s adventure stories, and seems reminiscent of either Enid Blyton or E Nesbit (or possibly both). Because of the difficulties he experienced in reading, Steve had been assigned to a Remedial English class at school, presided over by Miss Iles, a teacher who managed to inspire much affection and attention from her pupils. Presented with the book that Steve had found, Miss Iles becomes convinced that there is a secret message within it, and engages the class in trying to work out what it might be trying to convey.
Her research into the book, and her attempts to engage and retain the attention of the class culminate in her taking them on a trip out into the country to visit the author’s old home. That school trip looms large as one of the major events in Steve’s memories of his childhood, not least because that outing represented the last time that he saw Miss Iles. She had disappeared from the pupils’ lives from that day on. Following his release from prison, Steve becomes obsessed with trying to discover what had happened to Miss Iles, and what secrets might actually be lurking behind the book.
As with The Appeal, Hallett manages the flow of the story expertly, helping the reader to suspend disbelief completely. The characters, as they emerge from Steve’s recorded notes, are all plausible. Not only does Hallett excel in recreating Enid Blyton’s style when invoking Ms Twyford’s book, but the novel itself is a paean to the engrossing high adventure espoused by those books.
This is as highly entertaining as The Appeal was.
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LibraryThing member pgchuis
I loved Janice Hallett's 'The Appeal', but this was a disappointment. It was just so tedious and it went on and on. There were things left teasingly unresolved, which was also tiresome, but the details and implications of the main revelation had to be spelt out for the reader at length, which I
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would say is the sign of a device that hasn't been entirely successful. Show Less
LibraryThing member Twink
I thought Janice Hallett's book, The Appeal, was a fantastic listen. But, I think The Twyford Code is even better!
Steve Smith is in his fifties when he's discharged from prison. Having had lots of time to ponder on things, he is determined to solve a mystery from his childhood. As a child, Steve
Determined to find out what happened to Miss Iles all those years ago, Smithy starts investigating. Armed with an old iPhone, he records his thoughts, memories, interactions and more. What a novel way of telling a story. I love epistolary books and The Twyford Code is the audio version of that style. Brilliant!
I was completely caught up in the complex puzzles that arise as the search begins - and the direction they take. Hallett is a clever, clever writer. Listen closely to those iPhone entries - the answers are there. But they're difficult to see and hear. A story within a story is waiting for keen listeners. I was (happily) caught completely off guard at the final 'ah hah' moment.
I've often said I feel more immersed in a tale when I listen to it. And that is absolutely the case with The Twyford Code. The narrator was Thomas Judd. His voice is pleasant to listen to and he enunciates well. The pace of his reading is just right. Judd interprets Hallett's book perfectly, capturing the emotions and actions of the plot. His voice is changed to work with different characters. An excellent presentation of a wonderful book!
Steve Smith is in his fifties when he's discharged from prison. Having had lots of time to ponder on things, he is determined to solve a mystery from his childhood. As a child, Steve
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found an illustrated children's book left on a bus, took it to school and showed it to his teacher Miss Iles. As the five students in the remedial class cannot read well, she reads the book to them. And as a treat, she takes the children on a field trip to one of the places the book describes. And....she disappears.Determined to find out what happened to Miss Iles all those years ago, Smithy starts investigating. Armed with an old iPhone, he records his thoughts, memories, interactions and more. What a novel way of telling a story. I love epistolary books and The Twyford Code is the audio version of that style. Brilliant!
I was completely caught up in the complex puzzles that arise as the search begins - and the direction they take. Hallett is a clever, clever writer. Listen closely to those iPhone entries - the answers are there. But they're difficult to see and hear. A story within a story is waiting for keen listeners. I was (happily) caught completely off guard at the final 'ah hah' moment.
I've often said I feel more immersed in a tale when I listen to it. And that is absolutely the case with The Twyford Code. The narrator was Thomas Judd. His voice is pleasant to listen to and he enunciates well. The pace of his reading is just right. Judd interprets Hallett's book perfectly, capturing the emotions and actions of the plot. His voice is changed to work with different characters. An excellent presentation of a wonderful book!
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LibraryThing member thiscatsabroad
Outstanding.
LibraryThing member LizARees
I enjoyed Janice Hallett's previous book "The Appeal" which had interesting characters, a good plot and an innovative structure using e-mails to reconstruct a timeline. Her follow-up, which is based on computer (mis)transcription of audio files is just tedious, however. I did consider an extra star
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rating for the twist towards the end but ultimately I didn't think it merited it. I hope that the author will follow up with a properly plotted book rather than another outlandish concept. Show Less
LibraryThing member camharlow2
An unusual and highly imaginative novel recounted through a series of audio recordings on a mobile phone that is otherwise wiped clean of any other data. They are the recordings of the memoirs of Steve Smith, a former enforcer for an eat London gang of criminals, the Harrisons. He attempts via
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these recordings to make sense of a mystery that has dogged him for the past 40 years, since his teenage time and through his criminal career and prison. Steve attempts to co-opt his former school mates into this convoluted investigation and also to protect them and his new friend, Lucy, from the vengeance of the Harrisons, after he has cheated them of the rich haul from a robbery. It is an audacious and very entertaining take on a crime novel, which keeps you intrigued right to the end. Show Less
LibraryThing member bell7
Ex-con Steve Smith records audio files on his son's old iPhone 4, detailing his investigations into the disappearance of his remedial English teacher back in 1983. The class had been introduced to a series of books by Edith Twyford, in which the author may or may not have put in a code with clues
This. Was. Fantastic. I do not exaggerate when I say I may have found my favorite book of 2023. I absolutely loved the puzzle of who Steve is and what he is searching for. The ending was a great mix of surprising moments and "I thought so!" responses, and oh so satisfying. I read the last hour and a half or so in one nearly breathless sitting, hoping I'd beat the clock to finish it before I had to go to work. I'm only sorry I didn't have a paper book that would have been much easier to go back and look for clues I had missed.
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to follow during World War 2. In the course of Steve's adventures, he explains his past working for a gang and how he ended up in jail.This. Was. Fantastic. I do not exaggerate when I say I may have found my favorite book of 2023. I absolutely loved the puzzle of who Steve is and what he is searching for. The ending was a great mix of surprising moments and "I thought so!" responses, and oh so satisfying. I read the last hour and a half or so in one nearly breathless sitting, hoping I'd beat the clock to finish it before I had to go to work. I'm only sorry I didn't have a paper book that would have been much easier to go back and look for clues I had missed.
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LibraryThing member smik
This book not only describes a mystery, but also presents a number of them for the reader to solve. But that is not the only challenge, The narrative is presented as 200 audio files from an iPhone 4 transcribed into text in batches of text files. The iPhone was one of a number of items belonging to
In the audio files, Steven Smith describes his search for the last teacher who made an impact on him. He tracks down those who were in the same remedial English class as he was 40 years before when his teacher Miss Iles went missing.
But as the reader discovers, Steven's narration, while comprehensive, does not always tell the truth.
I did find the format of the narration challenging, and even at times considered whether I wanted to finish reading the book.
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a recently reported missing person. In the audio files, Steven Smith describes his search for the last teacher who made an impact on him. He tracks down those who were in the same remedial English class as he was 40 years before when his teacher Miss Iles went missing.
But as the reader discovers, Steven's narration, while comprehensive, does not always tell the truth.
I did find the format of the narration challenging, and even at times considered whether I wanted to finish reading the book.
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LibraryThing member jnmegan
Embedded codes and clues are spread throughout Janice Hallett’s latest puzzler, The Twyford Code. The novel is comprised of a series of voice recordings (often erroneously transcribed) by a man seeking to relate his story to his parole officer. After attempting unsuccessfully to reunite with his
Thanks to the author, Viper and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
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estranged son after his eleven years of imprisonment, Steven Smith is compelled to explore his past and solve a personal mystery. He recalls a field trip from his youth that resulted in the mysterious disappearance of his teacher. Steven hunts down his fellow classmates to obtain a more complete picture of that day and enlists their help in locating the missing woman. Steven suspects that the chain of events may be linked to an old children’s book containing cryptic notes about a lost treasure. Accounting his constantly evolving theories and discoveries about his lost teacher’s fate, Smith diverges into confessions of his past crimes and reveals how he became convicted. The Twyford Code rewards the perseverant and those willing to re-examine earlier chapters to fully appreciate the novel’s intent. The casual reader may become easily overwhelmed, and at times the clues are so clever as to appear random. Hallett uses the unusual narrative form to misdirect the reader in a meticulously calculated way. Grammatical mistakes in the transcripts and the narrator’s abrupt switches between two intersecting timelines create an interrupted flow that slows the pace. This results in a virtual mandate for deeper scrutiny of the plot and acceptance of uncertainty about some unexplained quirks. Fans of The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle (Stuart Turton) and The Cartographers (Peng Shepherd) would be most likely to successfully untangle and enjoy Hallett’s new knotty mystery.Thanks to the author, Viper and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
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LibraryThing member jetangen4571
verbal-humor, amateur-sleuth, murder, suspense, literacy, dyslexia, dysfunctional-families, friendship, frustration, decryption *****
While I found the audio files format quite distracting, I really got into the story and loved it.
In the basics, after learning to read near the end of his prison
I requested and received an eGalley from Atria Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
While I found the audio files format quite distracting, I really got into the story and loved it.
In the basics, after learning to read near the end of his prison
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sentence, Steve is obsessed with searching for his old teacher and solving the mystery of a field trip they were on (in which she disappeared) and the memories of Steve and his old mates have some curious gaps. The trip involved a book written by a Ms. Twyford and was peppered throughout with an unknown code. Sleuthing is unusual and fascinating for those of us who are word nerds and pundits. Excellent fun!I requested and received an eGalley from Atria Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
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LibraryThing member VanessaCW
This tale begins with a children’s storybook written by a famous banned author. It’s found on a bus by Stephen Smith who begins to believe that it holds secret messages and puzzles, all connected to the disappearance of his remedial English teacher and the mystery of the Twyford Code. Will
I thought this book was brilliant, it’s so very clever. I loved the way it’s written and narrated in the form of audio files. It’s very different, unique. There are nods to Enid Blyton, Douglas Adams, William Holding and Kit Williams. I never knew quite what was going on and it had my head in a whirl trying to work the code out. It definitely takes you on a wild goose chase and a thrilling adventure. A gripping and exhilarating read. Sit back and enjoy the ride!
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Stephen crack the code and solve the puzzle of Miss Isle’s exodus?I thought this book was brilliant, it’s so very clever. I loved the way it’s written and narrated in the form of audio files. It’s very different, unique. There are nods to Enid Blyton, Douglas Adams, William Holding and Kit Williams. I never knew quite what was going on and it had my head in a whirl trying to work the code out. It definitely takes you on a wild goose chase and a thrilling adventure. A gripping and exhilarating read. Sit back and enjoy the ride!
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LibraryThing member foggidawn
Steve Smith, an old gangster just out of prison, seeks to make things right in his life. This includes getting in touch with estranged family members, figuring out what happened to his favorite teacher from his school days, and solving an old mystery that involves World War II spies, missing gold
This is a great puzzle mystery for readers who enjoy stories that feature codes, acrostics, and treasure hunts. It also has a lot of great literary references. The format is a bit of a drawback, as the reader is presented with automated transcriptions of audio files that include some mangled words, partly due to Steve's dialect and occasional use of cockney rhyming slang, sometimes explained and sometimes not. The ending comes up quickly and left my head spinning; I'm not sure I've dealt with all of the implications even now. If you can get past those quirks, this is a really fun puzzle mystery. I'll be interested in reading more by this author.
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bullion, and a secret code hidden in long-disparaged children's books (think Enid Blyton). His past may not be done with him, though, as shadowy figures seem to stalk him at every turn. Since he doesn't read so well, he records his adventures on an old iPhone. When he disappears, these recordings may be the key to solving more than one mystery.This is a great puzzle mystery for readers who enjoy stories that feature codes, acrostics, and treasure hunts. It also has a lot of great literary references. The format is a bit of a drawback, as the reader is presented with automated transcriptions of audio files that include some mangled words, partly due to Steve's dialect and occasional use of cockney rhyming slang, sometimes explained and sometimes not. The ending comes up quickly and left my head spinning; I'm not sure I've dealt with all of the implications even now. If you can get past those quirks, this is a really fun puzzle mystery. I'll be interested in reading more by this author.
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LibraryThing member nicx27
Janice Hallett's first novel, The Appeal, was an innovative murder mystery story told in emails and messages. With The Twyford Code, she has established herself as the master of the inventive and original read with another tale told in an unusual format, this time through audio files left by Steven
Steven records his memories of finding a book by Edith Twyford when he was at school 40 years earlier, a discovery that appeared to lead to his favourite teacher, Miss Iles, disappearing. Twyford is clearly Blyton-esque, a beloved children's author from the 1930s and 40s whose prose has fallen out of fashion. Steven has always wondered what happened to Miss Iles and his quest to find out leads him to look for a secret code in the Twyford books.
I don't know how Hallett does it but she pulls together the most intricate and cunning storyline to perfection. It's complex yet accessible, a deep dive into a coded past with long-reaching tentacles into the present day. I was engrossed as Steven recorded everything that was happening to him alongside his own childhood story and events that led eventually to a long prison sentence.
I was in awe of the incredibly clever conclusion which only started to dawn on me as it happened and so was almost totally unexpected. This story is not only an intelligent and skilful code-breaking adventure, it also considers family and the effects of what happens in childhood upon the adult we become. The Twyford Code is another triumph from Janice Hallett which thrilled and delighted me.
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Smith on his son's old iPhone, and the delivery of the files to a professor for analysis and interpretation. Steven records his memories of finding a book by Edith Twyford when he was at school 40 years earlier, a discovery that appeared to lead to his favourite teacher, Miss Iles, disappearing. Twyford is clearly Blyton-esque, a beloved children's author from the 1930s and 40s whose prose has fallen out of fashion. Steven has always wondered what happened to Miss Iles and his quest to find out leads him to look for a secret code in the Twyford books.
I don't know how Hallett does it but she pulls together the most intricate and cunning storyline to perfection. It's complex yet accessible, a deep dive into a coded past with long-reaching tentacles into the present day. I was engrossed as Steven recorded everything that was happening to him alongside his own childhood story and events that led eventually to a long prison sentence.
I was in awe of the incredibly clever conclusion which only started to dawn on me as it happened and so was almost totally unexpected. This story is not only an intelligent and skilful code-breaking adventure, it also considers family and the effects of what happens in childhood upon the adult we become. The Twyford Code is another triumph from Janice Hallett which thrilled and delighted me.
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LibraryThing member rmarcin
Brilliant! Hallett has written another unique mystery. This time, the correspondence is a series of transcripts of audio files recorded on an old phone. Steven "Smithy" Smith is telling his son a story of a book he found years earlier. The book was written by Edith Twyford, and Smithy took it to
His son tries to make sense of the transcripts and work with the investigator on the disappearance of his dad.
This is such a clever mystery! Absolutely brilliant!
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his remedial English teacher, Miss Iles. Miss Iles read the book to the class, and this influenced Smithy's life. He recounts a life of crime, a heist, and his stint in jail. His son tries to make sense of the transcripts and work with the investigator on the disappearance of his dad.
This is such a clever mystery! Absolutely brilliant!
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LibraryThing member KallieGrace
I listened to this, thinking audio would be a good way to take in a book made of mostly voice recordings. It was enjoyable to listen to, but I think I should have had the text to follow along with. It was difficult to keep track of what was a voice recording and what was present day narrative.
I
I
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really enjoyed the puzzles and mystery, and the ending snuck up on me. I think this one needs a reread. Show Less
LibraryThing member Sensory
Very clever novel, loaded with twists, I really enjoyed this one. It was refreshingly different.
LibraryThing member sogamonk
i was looking forward to reading this book after reading the Appeal and truly enjoying it.
But this was a waste of time. Convoluted at best.
Not enjoyable reading.
But this was a waste of time. Convoluted at best.
Not enjoyable reading.
LibraryThing member passion4reading
In this frame narrative, a police inspector sends a maths professor the transcripts of 200 voice recordings with a request for his professional expertise in order to help locate a missing person. All the voice recordings are made by Steven Smith, a middle-aged convict trying to go straight and
The premise sounded intriguing and I enjoyed Janice Hallett's previous offering, The Appeal. It was interesting to read through the first and second batch of transcripts, but I quickly suspected that I was dealing withan unreliable narrator . There was a lot of narration with very little plot development, which saw the portrayed events become increasingly convoluted and far-fetched, to the extent that I had to skip ahead to the end to check whether it was worth continuing – never a good sign. From what I saw it appears that there's not just one but several twists, so I gave the author (and Steven) the benefit of the doubt and carried on until I came across a WTF? moment near the halfway point of the novel. In light of the twist(s) to come this probably has some significance, but I decided that my time was better spent reading a book I actually enjoyed.
What may have looked good on paper is definitely too long and too complicated to have any appeal for me; other reviewers have clearly enjoyed the twisty nature of the novel – curious how certain books completely split opinion. Since the author's third novel, The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels, is yet another example of epistolary fiction, the thought of a one-trick pony sprang to mind, and I'll probably skip further books by this author.
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solve a mystery from his childhood. The transcripts detail Steve's quest for the truth.The premise sounded intriguing and I enjoyed Janice Hallett's previous offering, The Appeal. It was interesting to read through the first and second batch of transcripts, but I quickly suspected that I was dealing with
What may have looked good on paper is definitely too long and too complicated to have any appeal for me; other reviewers have clearly enjoyed the twisty nature of the novel – curious how certain books completely split opinion. Since the author's third novel, The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels, is yet another example of epistolary fiction, the thought of a one-trick pony sprang to mind, and I'll probably skip further books by this author.
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LibraryThing member isabelx
I popped to the Spar before coming in here. Picked up a bottle dead cheap. Ukrainian vodka. From the library to the Spar to the gym, I been all eyes today. Taken this time to work out if I'm being followed. See if I got a tail before I do anything. It's familiar territory for me, this. Lots of
I enjoyed this book much more than the author’s first book, “The Appeal”. The twists and turns of the story really keep you guessing.
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things you learn by doing. And I learned how to spot a tail by being a tail myself.I enjoyed this book much more than the author’s first book, “The Appeal”. The twists and turns of the story really keep you guessing.
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LibraryThing member srms.reads
The narrative of Janice Hallett’s The Twyford Code is presented through a series of 200 audio files that have been recovered and deciphered from an iPhone 4 belonging to Steven Smith, an ex-con recently released from prison after being incarcerated for 11 years. The files have been transcribed
As the narrative progresses, Steven talks about his early childhood, him and his older brother Colin being abandoned by their parents and how after the mysterious disappearance of their remedial English teacher, Miss Isles, during a field trip to Dorset almost 40 years ago , he stopped going to school and fell in with a bad crowd which led him into a life of crime. Steven's memories of the day his teacher disappeared are vague and he is consumed with the need to uncover what happened to her. When he was 14 years old (1983), he had found a copy of a children's book written by author Edith Twyford (similar to author Enid Blyton) , on a bus and brought it to school where Miss Isles read it to the whole class, despite the author’s work being banned on account of “sexism, racism, misogyny and xenophobia”. It was rumored that Edith Twyford was more than just a childrens' author. Miss Isles believed that Twyford’s stories contained coded messages that would ultimately lead to the solution to a puzzle/ mystery dating back decades. In the present day, Steven reaches out to his former classmates from his R.E. classes- Paul, Shell(Michelle), Donna and Nate (Nathan) and though a few of them initially show an interest in the mystery and the code, one by one they opt out from pursuing the matter further. From the audio files, it is apparent that Steven and his friends are not alone in their quest and Steven is being followed by people who don’t want him to succeed. Steven befriends Lucy who works in the local library and she enthusiastically assists Steven in trying to crack the code. All of Steven’s efforts- his interviews and conversations, details about the places he explores and the history he uncovers, his successful and unsuccessful attempts at cracking The Twyford Code and details about his life and ties to a crime family are recorded as entries in his phone.
Is there any truth in the story behind the Twyford Code or is it just a myth or a figment of the author’s imagination? Is Miss Isle’s disappearance truly linked to The Twyford Code? Who are the people trying to prevent Steven from uncovering the truth? Can he trust his friends or do they know more than they are letting on?
The Twyford Code by Janice Hallett is a sharp and unique novel with an engaging premise, a well-woven mystery and an ending that I did not see coming! For those who enjoy puzzles, codes and acrostics, this book is definitely a treat. The beginning and the unique format hooked me in from the very first page. I will admit my interest did wane in the middle and I was prepared to be bored with the slow progression of the plot but after a series of clues, clever twists and red herrings, the author manages to pull off a magnificent ending (which elevated my original rating from a 3.5 to a 4). The audio transcription is not great (by design) and the approximations and errors take a while to get used to. (We are provided a key to help us make sense of it)This is not a novel that you can flip through or skip sections and requires more than a little patience and diligence to follow, but I would advise you to not give up because it is totally worth it in the end! I loved the literary references in the narrative and enjoyed the intrigue behind both Edith Twyford’s story and the present-day adventure and loved how everything comes together in the end. Overall, this was an enjoyable read and well worth the time invested!
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using specialized software and though the end result isn't quite perfect, it renders the content not too difficult to understand. As the narrative progresses, Steven talks about his early childhood, him and his older brother Colin being abandoned by their parents and how after the mysterious disappearance of their remedial English teacher, Miss Isles, during a field trip to Dorset almost 40 years ago , he stopped going to school and fell in with a bad crowd which led him into a life of crime. Steven's memories of the day his teacher disappeared are vague and he is consumed with the need to uncover what happened to her. When he was 14 years old (1983), he had found a copy of a children's book written by author Edith Twyford (similar to author Enid Blyton) , on a bus and brought it to school where Miss Isles read it to the whole class, despite the author’s work being banned on account of “sexism, racism, misogyny and xenophobia”. It was rumored that Edith Twyford was more than just a childrens' author. Miss Isles believed that Twyford’s stories contained coded messages that would ultimately lead to the solution to a puzzle/ mystery dating back decades. In the present day, Steven reaches out to his former classmates from his R.E. classes- Paul, Shell(Michelle), Donna and Nate (Nathan) and though a few of them initially show an interest in the mystery and the code, one by one they opt out from pursuing the matter further. From the audio files, it is apparent that Steven and his friends are not alone in their quest and Steven is being followed by people who don’t want him to succeed. Steven befriends Lucy who works in the local library and she enthusiastically assists Steven in trying to crack the code. All of Steven’s efforts- his interviews and conversations, details about the places he explores and the history he uncovers, his successful and unsuccessful attempts at cracking The Twyford Code and details about his life and ties to a crime family are recorded as entries in his phone.
Is there any truth in the story behind the Twyford Code or is it just a myth or a figment of the author’s imagination? Is Miss Isle’s disappearance truly linked to The Twyford Code? Who are the people trying to prevent Steven from uncovering the truth? Can he trust his friends or do they know more than they are letting on?
The Twyford Code by Janice Hallett is a sharp and unique novel with an engaging premise, a well-woven mystery and an ending that I did not see coming! For those who enjoy puzzles, codes and acrostics, this book is definitely a treat. The beginning and the unique format hooked me in from the very first page. I will admit my interest did wane in the middle and I was prepared to be bored with the slow progression of the plot but after a series of clues, clever twists and red herrings, the author manages to pull off a magnificent ending (which elevated my original rating from a 3.5 to a 4). The audio transcription is not great (by design) and the approximations and errors take a while to get used to. (We are provided a key to help us make sense of it)This is not a novel that you can flip through or skip sections and requires more than a little patience and diligence to follow, but I would advise you to not give up because it is totally worth it in the end! I loved the literary references in the narrative and enjoyed the intrigue behind both Edith Twyford’s story and the present-day adventure and loved how everything comes together in the end. Overall, this was an enjoyable read and well worth the time invested!
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LibraryThing member Romonko
This is a difficult read because of the vernacular and because it's made up of many different voice messages, and there are a lot of sudden stops and starts. Also, the book is built on deceit, plenty of red herrings, indecipherable codes, lies, betrayals and because the whole story is created by a
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genius. Janice Hallett must have a twisted and complex mind, and I mean this in a good way her books are like falling down a rabbit hole, and you just can't come up for air until you finish her tricky and complicated plots. I love Steve Smith (the author of all the voice messages and also aka Little Smithy). Through his remarkable insight we get a good look at what his life was like from a young boy to manhood. He was from a very dysfunctional home, and when his parents were gone he was raised by his older brother, who probably couldn't really even take care of himself. He leaves home at 14 and is taken in by a very unsavoury London gangster family, where he is fed, and looked after along with a number of other boys who come from somewhat the same background as him. Yes, it is very Fagin-like and Oliver Twist's storyline appears often, along with other recognizable classics like Lord of the Flies, Animal Farm and many others. I could not put this down and couldn't wait to see where Steve and his cronies, family and enemies would pop up next. It broke my heart as Steve was recording all his voice message on what he calls throughout is his son's phone. Steve didn't even know he had a son until after he came out after a long stretch in prison, and his son gives him an old iPhone 4. It's heartbreaking as we Steve say over and over that he is recording his story for his son, who had told him when he last saw him that he wasn't ready to deal with an ex-con, biological father at that time. I don't want to go into too much detail on the story on fear of giving it away, and thus ruining further readers' experiences with this remarkable book. I will suggest, as you read, keep your head on straight, take nothing at face value and pay attention to every detail. And yes, you must try to make sense of the vernacular in order to pick up on the numerous clues and red herrings. This is a great read for those who love stories with puzzles, and with loveable and fallible characters. Highly recommended. Show Less
LibraryThing member thisisstephenbetts
Fun and highly inventive mystery novel, with just enough heart. Perhaps a little too tricksy, and slightly overlong, but still gripping.
Awards
British Book Award (Shortlist — 2023)
Theakstons Old Peculier Prize (Longlist — 2023)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2022-01-13
ISBN
1788165314 / 9781788165310
Local notes
Forty years ago, Steven Smith found a copy of a famous children's book, its margins full of strange markings and annotations. He took it to his remedial English teacher, Miss Isles, who became convinced it was the key to solving a puzzle. That a message in secret code ran through all Edith Twyford's novels. Then Miss Isles disappeared on a class field trip, and Steven's memory won't allow him to remember what happened. Now, out of prison after a long stretch, Steven decides to investigate the mystery that has haunted him for decades. Was Miss Isles murdered? Was she deluded? Or was she right about the code? And is it still in use today?
Signed by the author with blue sprayed page edges.
Signed by the author with blue sprayed page edges.