book cover of The Margaret Code
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The Margaret Code

(2025)
A novel by

 
 
In this bittersweet, hilarious, and suspenseful crime debut, a grandmother with a failing memory teams up with her grandson to solve the mysterious murder of her friend and neighbor.

Margaret Winterbottom, 89, has lived on Garnon Crescent her entire life—except for a few years she never talks about. She knows all the neighbors: their lives, their hopes, their heartbreaks. Only recently, Margaret’s memory isn’t what it used to be. She’s sure Barbara, her best friend and neighbor, told her something very important . . . but what?
       ��When Barbara is found dead in an apparent homicide, Margaret is determined to recover the missing memory. Margaret and her grandson, James, begin investigating, but soon strange things begin happening in her home—objects moving and cropping up in odd places, the television turning on by itself. Some believe her memory is worsening, but Margaret knows somebody wants her out of the way because she holds the key to solving the case—if only she could recall where she put it . . .

Perfect for fans of Emma Healey’s Elizabeth Is Missing, Helene Tursten’s An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good, Robert Thorogood''s The Marlow Murder Club, and Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building.


Genre: Cozy Mystery

Praise for this book

"An absorbingly unusual murder mystery." - Chris Brookmyre

"Humorous and heartbreaking. This is a cleverly crafted mystery with an amateur detective duo you root for even against the odds. Absorbing and heartwarming, the characters are so well drawn I felt they could be my own neighbours! This is a confident and empathetic debut. I couldn't stop turning the page!" - Emily Critchley

"One of the best books I've read this year. It has so much to say about memory loss and the terrors of having to leave one's own home. I very much hope to meet Margaret and James again!" - Alex Gray

"If you're looking for an uplifting crime novel that merges Elizabeth Is Missing with Three Things about Elsie, I highly recommend you preorder The Margaret Code. It tells the story of Margaret, whose investigation into the murder of her neighbour Barbara is complicated by her Alzheimer's, and her grandson James, who is determined to help her solve the case. Wry, compelling, and ever so poignant, it's a wonderful mystery as well as a touching portrayal of the challenges in both ageing and caring for the ageing." - Naomi Kelsey


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