I'll admit this was harder to get into for me than other Hallett books. It felt a little choppy and hard to follow sometimes. In the end, I wasn't even 70% if I understood the twist.

Told in the format of transcriptions of digital recordings, Steve Smith has left a puzzle of a story on the cell phone of his estranged son. After being released from prison, he looks into the disappearance of a teacher and a children's book that have haunted him for years. What appears to be an adventure to solve the mystery of the Twyford Code is full of twists and turns and characters from Steve's childhood, family, criminal associates and new found friends. This started slowly for me but they was a full on wild ride to the end.

The Twyford Code by Janice Halley is a clever and engaging mystery that combines an epistolary format with a puzzle-driven narrative. The story follows Steven, a recovering convict, as he uncovers clues in his former teacher’s disappearance. The author uses emails, voice notes, and transcripts to tell the tale. The intricate plot is filled with red herrings and surprise twists. This is a challenging and compelling read. The characters are well developed. Suspense is maintained throughout. I thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Janice Hallett has a schtick - stories told through correspondence, documents, writings, etc. In most of her books, it works. Sadly for The Twyford Code, I couldn't get through it. DNF.

Not my favorite Janice Hallett book, but true to form it's an engaging story that is spun out bit by bit.

3.75 stars
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TW: Murder, Gun violence, Violence, Death of parent, Death, Abandonment, War, Alcohol, Drug use
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This is the perfect on-page treasure hunt, if you love solving riddles and mysteries this is the book for you. If you don't enjoy books that use mixed media and will have you puzzled until the very end, this book probably won't be for you! Although I found the concept interesting, I opted to listen to this one on audiobook and I think the format just wasn't for me - I often found myself scratching my head just in total confusion.

Janice Hallett's books are always super interesting and will make you feel like you're solving a mystery while you read. Although I hadn't cracked the code by the end, I enjoyed the ending and what had been happening while we were reading! Told via 200 voice memos made on an old iPhone for his parole officer - Maxine. The phone was his son's old phone, a son he didn't know he had until he was in prison.

The story spans our main character - Steven Smith's life as he recounts his story and experience with the Twyford Code. I found this was a slower pace, and the narrative wasn't enough to keep me captivated. I was a huge fan of The Appeal so I had some high hopes for this one, although, it wasn't my cup of tea, it certainly won't be my last.
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I would like to thank Atria Books, Janice Hallett, and NetGalley for a copy of The Twyford Code in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. The Twyford Code was published on January 24th, 2023 - you can order your copy today!

In The Twyford Code, we follow Smithy, an ex-con who's recently been released from prison and is trying to get back on his feet. However, Smithy has actually gone missing, and the only clues to his whereabouts are transcripts from a series of audio files he recorded on a phone given to him by his estranged son. The files/transcripts follow his spiraling obsession with solving something called the Twyford Code which he believes is linked to the disappearance of his childhood English teacher.

I'm giving this four stars overall. This is my least favorite of Janice Hallett's full-length novels, but a just-okay Janice Hallett book is still a really damn good book.

The mystery in this story really caught my attention, and I think that's helped by the almost stream-of-consciousness narration that makes up the book; Smithy is obsessed with the Twyford code and draws the reader into that obsession. Because of that narration, I think your enjoyment of this book will hinge upon whether you like Smithy, because ultimately, this feels a lot more like a character study than a mystery. It almost reads like a theatrical monologue, which I think is intentional. The story is about the code, but it also spiderwebs out to examine Smithy's childhood, his involvement in organized crime, his time in prison, and his efforts to get back on his feet since his release. I personally really like Smithy and loved the way this book used Smithy's perspective to explore ideas of justice, freedom, and the importance of literacy.

The only real issue I have with this book is that because of the narration style, it kind of drags in the middle. The puzzle elements are really strong in the beginning and end, but the middle is more focused on three timelines of stories that Smithy is telling to his audience (the files are addressed to Maxine) to explain how he has ended up where he is now.

The middle dragging meant it took me a long time to get through this, but the payoff for all the set up is fantastic. I think I had my jaw on the floor for most of the last 10% of the story. We get answers to the puzzles and new puzzles to figure out. The last line is probably one of my favorite last lines ever, it's just so clever. It once again validated Janice Hallett as an auto-buy author for me.

Overall, I had a great time with this one. I think if you've liked Janice Hallett's other works, you'll like this one, too. I think this is also a great one to pick up if you like character studies and very psychological books. It really digs into Smithy's background and his feelings about everything that's happened to him. This might even be a good place to start if you're interested in mixed media mysteries but you're worried about keeping all the information straight in your mind; this is more linear, I think, and easier to follow than some of her other books due to being a single format of media.

I loved The Appeal by Hallett, so I was excited to read The Twyford Code! Unfortunately, this did not work for me.

The story follows Steve, a man who was recently released from prison who is determined to figure out what happened to his teacher who went missing in 1983. This book is told through a series of audio recordings that Steve records. Steve discusses his troubled past in a London gang and his search for the truth of what happened to his teacher 0 Ms. Iles. The mystery also centers around "The Twyford Code" which was supposedly a code in a series of childrens' books. No one knows that the Twyford Code leads to - money? buried treasure? Nazi secrets?

The format of "audio recordings" didn't bother me, but overall, this was too long and tedious for me. I didn't really have an interest in it until 70-75% in. And even then, the ending wasn't worth it for me. I think Steve was too unreliable a narrator and the plot was too unbelievable and convoluted for me.

I am willing to try another book by Hallett since I loved The Appeal so much.

Thank you to Atria & NetGalley for the eARC!

The Twyford Code follows former convict Steven Smith as he uncovers a decades-old mystery surrounding his teacher’s disappearance and a series of hidden codes in a children’s book by Edith Twyford. The story is uniquely told through transcribed voice notes, which adds an intriguing layer to the narrative. The puzzles, twists, and complex structure make it a clever, engaging read. As a new-to-me author, I’m thrilled to have discovered Janice Hallett—her writing is fresh, and the intricate plotting kept me hooked. Looking forward to reading more of her work!

Wow what a miss for Janice Hallett. I liked it even less than The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels and that one wasn't great. I liked the surprise ending of this one but the way it got there was...meh. The only thing that got me through it was switching to the audiobook.

I absolutely loved The Twyford Code. Janice Hallett keeps you guessing until the very end. After finishing this book, I bought her other books and loved them too!!

Janice Hallett’s The Twyford Code is an ambitious and intricately woven tale that pulls readers into the mystery of a forgotten children’s book and the secrets it might conceal. The story follows Steve Smith, an ex-convict haunted by the disappearance of his remedial English teacher, Miss Iles, during a school trip decades ago. Armed with only an old iPhone and the fragmented memories of his childhood, Steve embarks on a quest to decode the enigmatic messages supposedly hidden within the works of author Edith Twyford. The narrative is told through a series of audio transcripts, a unique format that challenges readers to piece together the truth alongside the protagonist.

Hallett’s decision to present the story through voice recordings is both a strength and a weakness. On the one hand, it creates an immersive and engaging reading experience, inviting readers to become detectives in their own right. However, the complexity of the format, coupled with the story’s dense layering of puzzles, can sometimes feel overwhelming. The plot is deeply intricate, with twists that are nearly impossible to predict, leaving some readers frustrated by the sheer difficulty of piecing everything together. While this will undoubtedly appeal to fans of unconventional mysteries, it may deter those who prefer a more straightforward narrative.

Despite these challenges, The Twyford Code stands out for its originality and the depth of its characters. Steve’s journey is not just a search for answers about Miss Iles; it’s also a reflection on his own troubled past, making the novel as much about personal redemption as it is about solving a mystery. Hallett’s writing is sharp and full of wit, and while the story may not resonate with everyone, it is a testament to her creativity and willingness to push the boundaries of the genre. For readers who enjoy a literary puzzle with a heart, The Twyford Code is a bold and intriguing read.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the read!

Halley’s books are a treat to read and this was no exception. The fun use of multimedia formatting is engaging and keeps the story going. The plot is entertaining and the interaction between characters is always fun. I will continue to read and recommend the work of this author.
#AtriaBooks #TheTwyfordCode #NetGalley

I had a fun time reading the author’s first book, The Appeal, but I just couldn’t get into this one. The bulk of the book is taken up with transcriptions of messages a man records into the used iPhone his long-estranged son gives to him, a story he is telling, but is it the truth or not. The end of the book are messages left by that estranged son, a professor, for a police detective. Missing gold, a long -ago robbery, a series of children’s books perhaps embedded with a code. Others liked this a great deal, but I never found myself inside it.

Thanks to Atria Books and and Netgalley for the arc.

This book was pretty complicated and I knew off the bat I had no hope of being able to guess or solve the mystery, but I did find myself intrigued to find out Steve's fate and learn more about what happened in his criminal past. Unfortunately the ending really fumbled for me and I was left confused and scratching my head about what actually happened. I'm still not sure what was real and what wasn't.

This is an interesting read with a unique writing style. I really liked the Appeal and found this book to be a bit different. I enjoyed it but maybe not my preference.

Another great book by this author. This was not only a good read, but a fun one which is rare. I enjoy all her books! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher!

A copy of a famous children's book by disgraced author Edith Twyford was found 40 years ago, its margins bursting with strange markings and annotations. When he showed Miss Iles, his remedial English teacher, she thought it was part of a secret code that runs through all Twyford's books. Smithy gets convinced that she was right when she disappears on a class field trip.



Now that he's out of prison, Smithy decides to look into the mystery that's haunted him for decades. On an old iPhone, Smithy alternates between visiting the people from his childhood and looking back on the events that landed him in prison. It soon becomes clear that Edith Twyford wasn't just a writer of forgotten children's stories. Smithy may just have the key to the Twyford Code.



"Filled with clues, acrostics, and red herrings, this thrilling scavenger hunt for the truth is delightfully deceptive and thoroughly immersive" (Publishers Weekly).


I give The Twyford Code five and five stars!


Happy Reading!

What is not to love about a book within a book with hidden puzzles that will lead the reader on a treasure hunt to find hidden gold ? Nothing right? Wrong! I was sooo fascinated by the premise for this book and then faced the ultimate disappointment when the execution completely failed to give justice to the premise. The use of alternate mediums for storytelling had worked in the author’s previous work which I loved but in this case it did nothing but create confusion and make an already convoluted plot even more convoluted. Even from the very first chapter the narration and the plot felt forced and not at all realistic or believable. And instead of making everything simple and clearer, the climax ended up convoluting it all the more😵‍💫. So this one unfortunately is a miss for me.

Wow, what a wild ride! I’ll admit it took me a little bit to get into The Twyford Code and to adjust to the transcript format. By the end I was left in awe of the masterful web that Hallet had woven and the way she tied everything together was amazing. Great book!