Guilty by Definition - Susie Dent

 Guilty by Definition - Susie Dent

Pub. Date: Sept. 30, 2025

She read

Martha to grapple with the loss. Seeking solace, Martha fled to Germany but has now returned to Oxford, where she works at the Clarendon English Dictionary (CED). When a series of postcards and letters are delivered to CED and individual staff members with cryptic hints about secrets related to Charlie’s disappearance, it is up to Martha and her colleagues to unravel the mystery behind these enigmatic writings by decoding puzzles hidden within the correspondence. 

This well-crafted debut novel shows a deep appreciation for linguistics. As in any compelling mystery, there are twists, turns, secrets, and hidden clues that must be interpreted. I enjoyed the character development and the camaraderie among the puzzle solvers. 

If you have an appreciation for etymology, puzzles, literature, and mysteries that are more cerebral than action-packed, this book is for you. 

Thanks to #NetGalley and @Bookmarked for the DRC.

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