Reviews

Guilty by Definition by Susie Dent

frizzbee's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious reflective tense 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

5.0

runawayplankton's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

stephh's review against another edition

mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

hannahruth_bookworm's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Absolutely loved this! The perfect mystery. 

hooksforeverything's review against another edition

dark informative medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Oddly noticeable which of the characters have to deliberately return to their bodies and senses and which characters inhabit them naturally. I knew I'd enjoy the plot and the style but that was an unexpected touch.

sarajg's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? It's complicated

3.5

tamarasbooknook's review against another edition

5.0

The debut novel from Countdown's resident Dictionary Corner expert is a mystery set in a fictional dictionary publisher in Oxford, within the world of etymology and prestigious scholars of Shakespeare.

Dent weaves her love of language and its roots together with cryptic clues which lead to longburied secrets and lies being brought to the surface.

Ten years previously, Martha's precocious sister disappeared shortly before completing her PhD and there is still no trace of where she could be or what might have happened to her.

Martha has recently returned from Germany where she has spent the last 10 years hiding from her feelings of guilt that she is somehow responsible for her sister leaving.

When her team start receiving cryptic messages with strong Shakespearean links, Martha realises that to solve the clues she has to face up to what happened all those years ago, and consider what really happened with fresh eyes.

lesleyc66's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

onequietreader's review against another edition

dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

karenestevenson's review against another edition

4.0

What a great debut loved the mystery/crime elements it has secrets puzzles and more I don’t what to give to much spoilers loved the characters 4 stars thank you NetGalley and Bonnier Books UK for the arc