Take a photo of a barcode or cover
bagpuss1 's review for:
The Margaret Code
by Richard Hooton
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Great book! Interesting premise and very readable: 'cosy crime', but with just the right amount of real life edge and a loveable and memorable protagonist.
The book is narrated by 89 year old Margaret. I loved spending time with her - finding out about her interesting past, her love for her late husband Albert, and her cutting wit. She felt realistic, especially as her memory issues progress and she's never quite sure what is and isn't real, and those around her (apart from grandson James) become more and more patronising.
Her age and everyone's assumption that she was muddled due to this increased the mystery but never felt like a plot device - her denial and fear felt very real.
If I had one criticism it would just be that the crime felt too neatly wrapped up at the end, though it was a satisfying resolution after I'd galloped through the book and I'll be looking out for other books by this author.
The book is narrated by 89 year old Margaret. I loved spending time with her - finding out about her interesting past, her love for her late husband Albert, and her cutting wit. She felt realistic, especially as her memory issues progress and she's never quite sure what is and isn't real, and those around her (apart from grandson James) become more and more patronising.
Her age and everyone's assumption that she was muddled due to this increased the mystery but never felt like a plot device - her denial and fear felt very real.
If I had one criticism it would just be that the crime felt too neatly wrapped up at the end, though it was a satisfying resolution after I'd galloped through the book and I'll be looking out for other books by this author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia