The Twyford Code

Author/Guide: Janice Hallett

Why a Booktrail?

2000s: It’s time to solve the murder of the century…

ISBN: B0984VDLWF
Genre: Fiction, Mystery

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What you need to know before your trail

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? Desperate to recover his memories and find out what really happened to Miss Isles, Steven revisits the people and places of his childhood. But it soon becomes clear that Edith Twyford wasn’t just a writer of forgotten children’s stories. The Twyford Code has great power, and he isn’t the only one trying to solve it…

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Travel Guide

Twyford

Twyford is not a place in the novel but a code and a clue. There is little mention of location to be fair but there is a mention or two to Bournemouth.

This novel is not set anywhere in particular and the main place for intrigue is the humble iphone. So, a booktrail would either take you in and around all the apple stories in the UK or to the places called Twyford. So, the latter is on the map as being the more interesting of the two.

Booktrailer Review

Another fascinating read from Janice Hallett. A mystery to solve within a book. Such a great way of writing it too – this time we have transscripts of messages from an old iphone.

Short plot – a man released from prison gets a phone and decides to start investigating something that has been bothering him for years – the disappearance of his remedial English teacher, Miss Isles. He had found a book tht the teacher reads but never returns. She takes the class to the author’s house Edith Twyford in Bournemouth. The same day, Miss Isles vanished.
What a premise for what is another thrilling read.

This is so unique and fresh although it did take me a while to get into. It’s worth it. There are puzzles and fun to be had. You feel you are part of a special club of ‘people in the know’ when you read Janice’s books and it’s a very good feeling.

This book actually spoke to me in many ways – there are several words written wrongly via the transcription service where Miss Isles for example is written as ‘ missiles’. This is just how I learned to transcribe in interpreting class! I was so shocked yet happy to see this in a book. Ah this book and that part in particular just made me smile with its quirky traits. I love things like this.

I enjoyed this read and would definately recommend along with The Appeal.