The Twyford Code

A Novel

By: Janice Hallett

Narrated by: Thomas Judd

The mysterious connection between a teacher’s disappearance and an unsolved code in a children’s book is explored in this new novel from the “modern Agatha Christie” (The Sunday Times, London) and author of The Appeal.

Forty years ago, Steven “Smithy” Smith found a copy of a famous children’s book by disgraced author Edith Twyford, its margins full of strange markings and annotations. When he showed it to his remedial English teacher Miss Iles, she believed that it was part of a secret code that ran through all of Twyford’s novels. And when she later disappeared on a class field trip, Smithy becomes convinced that she had been right.

Now, out of prison after a long stretch, Smithy decides to investigate the mystery that has haunted him for decades. In a series of voice recordings on an old iPhone, Smithy alternates between visiting the people of his childhood and looking back on the events that later landed him in prison. But it soon becomes clear that Edith Twyford wasn’t just a writer of forgotten children’s stories. The Twyford Code holds a great secret, and Smithy may just have the key.

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

Critic reviews

"Thomas Judd narrates the story of Smithy, a former English gang member newly released from prison who is obsessed with the need to track down his beloved former reading teacher...With a neutral tone, Judd describes Smithy’s search for information about his teacher, who disappeared on a class field trip while visiting the cottage of Edith Twyford. Is it possible that Twyford’s old-fashioned books for young children carry encoded secrets?"

just ok

This had a promising start, but my interest fizzled out in the second half. It felt overly long and tedious, with an ending that fell flat. The narrator did an ok job, but his female voices were not very convincing.

Interesting read with added exploration

I originally listened through with audiobook. It was a good story with a fun twist. The author engages the reader on multiple levels. I ended up purchasing the kindle version as well to better appreciate some if the codes.

Interesting and inventive way to tell a great story

I was worried when I first started this book that I wouldn’t like it because of the format, however, as I kept listening, I quickly became engrossed in the story. I loved all the twists and turns as the story unfolded. My advice to readers - stick with it! The story is really good!

A boy, a treasure hunt, and the story of his life.

What an interesting story. So complex and yet so simple. The story of a young boy and treasure. A little confusing at times, but that’s what the rewind button is for.

too long

the story is too long and complicated. the narration has a computer generated feel so as to be true the story, but beeps for swear words and the narrator repeating "inaudible" and "bakgrpund noise" are annoying and tedious