3.5/5 very enjoyable mystery book. I really enjoy Susie Dent on countdown and her personality has really come across in this book. A little wordy and slow at times but an all round good read. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read!

Really enjoyable book. Cleverly written.

Will appeal to anyone who likes words, and a bit of mystery.

This story revolves around Martha Thornhill, senior editor for the Chambers English Dictionary, and her team. Anonymous letters are being sent to each of the team, each containing clues about the sudden disappearance 10 years ago of Martha's older sister, Charlie.
The lexicographers are aptly suited to solving word puzzles and soon become wrapped up in a mystery getting deeper and deeper as more letters are received.

I was really looking forward to giving this a read, knowing Susie Dents lexicography work mainly from TV's Countdown, where her history of words and sense of humour are clear to see.
Susie Dent love of the history of the English language is clear for all to see in this novel, managing to weave into the narrative lots of words and their origins without being distracting to the reader.

The word puzzles and clues within the letters were cleverly created and were certainly beyond my powers of deduction, although the villain of the piece was easier to deduce. I found the world of lexicography strangely compelling and seems to contain a lot of detective work, so it makes sense for Martha and her team to have the skills to piece the evidence together.

I do hope Susie Dent ventures into the world of Mystery novels again. I would love to read more.


I would like to convey my thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own

Really enjoyed this mystery thriller set in Oxford. It's a great premise and an intriguing plot with a few twists and turns along the way. As you would expect and hope, Susie Dent makes full use of her knowledge of lexicography, cleverly intertwining meaningful and unique words to enhance the story - and maybe provide a few further clues?! I certainly learnt a few new words along the way.

All in all, a well written but easy read that will keep you guessing until the end.

Thanks to NetGalley, Bonnier Books and Susie Dent for an ARC in exchange for an honest review of the book.

This one was everything I hoped for - and so much more!

Martha Thornhill returns to Oxford after a decade away as the senior editor of the Clarendon English Dictionary. When an anonymous letter is received in the office, it's obviously related to the disappearance of Martha's sister Charlie and includes hints and clues which need to be solved - and it's just the beginning.

What an intriguing read! With clues and puzzles to be solved, this novel pulled me in and didn't let me go until the very end. Very cleverly crafted and beautifully written, this is a good solid read with lots going on and several surprises along the way. A stunning read, definitely earning all five stars and my recommendation.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

A great debut novel Guilty By Definition by Susie Dent. Loved the references to words and definitions throughout the book and the nod to how words are in the dictionary and the team of people who work behind the scenes to make dictionaries exist.

A real mystery with hidden clues intertwined throughout the plot to keep you guessing and wanting to turn the page.

Loved the characters and the complexity of how they are all brought together into the book. So many pieces of a jigsaw that all fit together at the end!

A must-read for all word lovers, a true mystery and fab summer holiday read, rated 5⭐️’s

Susie Dent wrote a book and it was exactly as I expected. This one kept me entertained and kept me on my toes. It was so much fun her using some very outdated words, thank god for google, but I would expect no less from the UK's leading lady of words.

This book screams Susie Dent and I just loved that!
It is a missing woman mystery and I didn't actually know this going into the book. Our main character is Martha, who I wouldn't say is a standout but there are a lot of characters in this story. I would say this is definitely more character driven than plot driven, so more similar to books such as The Thursday Murder Club, where you have that focus on the characters and their connections. I also love workplace mysteries and how much you trust your colleagues, I really liked this academia setting of Oxford.
I think I lost a little interest in the middle of the book, it didn't keep my attention unfortunately as it just felt too long until the action kicked in for the ending. I'll hide this as a spoiler but it is very mild <spoiler>there is a lot of Shakespeare in this book, and I have very little knowledge myself so I didn't get as much enjoyment from this storyline as others would.</spoiler>
I was surprised by some of the twists and reveals, it definitely went in a direction I wasn't anticipating. I would love to see if Susie Dent decides to publish more fiction in the future as I loved the focus on language and all the random words I learned.
3.5/5 (rounded down to 3) ⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to NetGalley, Bonnier Books UK and Susie Dent for the opportunity to read this advanced reader copy.

Review posted to Goodreads, The Storygraph and Amazon.

An entertaining book but far too slow. The first half of the book was very much a dictionary with a plot attached in contrast to the second half being a story with definitions attached. As expected with Dent and the title, the book was going to revolve around definitions and sources of words but the first half was so overloaded it was almost like reading a text book. I nearly gave up at that point but the last 20% which concentrated on the plot was very good.
I think Dent has potential for fiction but limit the overlap of her non-fiction.

Susie Dent is well known in UK for being in Dictionary Corner on TV programme, Countdown, so it is no surprise that unusual words feature in this book. Martha works at Claredon English Dictionary at Oxford updating the words in it, including when the word was first recorded to being used. Often the public offer information and one day she receives a postcard with a cryptic quotation relating to her missing sister, Charlie, also a lexographer. When other people who work at CED or knew Charlie start to receive postcards and a cryptic letter arrives, inviting Martha to solve the clues to find out what happened to Charlie.
I did wonder if there would be an unusual word overload but mostly there was a definition within the text. I read this as an ebook, very useful as you can get an instant definition.
The story is really interesting, even though I am not a classical English scholar. I do like knowing the origins of words,however.
The pace and solving the puzzles was good and the characters are well drawn. Looking forward to Susie's next book

Susie Dent is a logophile, so it was no surprise to come across a treasure trove of unusual words, along with a cracking plot: an excellent, articulate and perfectly formed novel. (An office team of lexicographers, led by Martha, is sent on a hunt for a very unique bit of literal history, via very cryptic messages, and the discovery of which, could answer the mystery of the disappearance of Martha's sister some years earlier).

Dent uses some wonderful words and phrases you've never heard of before. Some of them really ought to be in current usage. How delightful are words like 'conjobble', ipsedixitism, 'broggle', 'cherubimical' and a whole lot more. I'm not spoiling it, though…you'll have to look them up to discover what they mean...or better still, read the book!

I went from page to page, enthralled by the story, but equally captivated by Dent's wonderful colourful writing.

She's written a few non-fiction books, but I sincerely hope this isn't the last we see of her in the fiction arena. Martha and her team would make a very good team of sleuths.

Well done, Susie, ten out of ten!

I loved this from start to finish! Suzie dent can write. Not that anyone should expect less of her! The plot was charming, the characters were all anyone could want and need! I’m so glad I snapped this up and can’t wait to tell everyone all about it! What a joy and experience this was

The book is set at the 'Clarendon English Dictionary' offices in Oxford. I know Susie has worked for Oxford University Press in the past - so I'm guessing she's drawing on personal experience for a lot of the setting (maybe novel 2 will be set in the world of TV?!)

Martha has returned from working in Berlin to a role at the CED - where her older sister, Charlie, had been employed before she disappeared many years before. Martha and her colleagues, and other people connected to Charlie, start to receive cryptic letters and postcards which they try to decipher.

I have to say some of this deciphering went over my head a bit - as my Shakespeare knowledge is not extensive - but that didn't detract from enjoying the book.

The start of each chapter features an unusual word which is then explained (some I knew, some I didn't - but do now) and as you would expect, the language throughout the book is just wonderful. I felt like I was being educated whilst enjoying a fantastic book at the same time! This did mean that at the start the storyline felt quite slow - as lots of page space was taken up explaining the meaning of words - but I enjoyed that. I'm not sure if I just got used to that - or if the pace did pick up - as the 'mystery' element of the book seemed to gather momentum throughout.

The relationships between Martha and her colleagues are explored - and Martha and her parents and particularly how that changed after Charlie disappeared. The fact that someone who disappears / dies is remembered through rose coloured spectacles is also looked at, along with 'recollections may vary' between different parties of the same experience and 'survivor' guilt. That makes it sound really heavy - but it's not at all - it's a great read.

I thoroughly enjoyed the whole book - from an educational standpoint - but also as a well written mystery novel. A huge thank you to the publishers for my ARC. It actually was released 2 days ago - so if it's taken your fancy, you can order it right now.

My only 'slight' quibble, is that a certain pop group from the 1990s were never mentioned................

This was an interesting book, quite a slow pace and I did find the clues and all the unusual words a little hard to follow. (Cryptic crosswords have never been my forte) That said it was a good mystery with a well wrapped up ending.

This is an intriguing cold case of a missing person from 10 years ago 2010). Not much was ever discovered, as it was all concealed to mislead. When Martha, sister to the missing Charlie, returns to the Uk, after 10 years in Berlin, strange events occur. Letters, cryptic in nature, start to arrive & accusatory postcards to key people, all with clues from Chorus. Martha & her work colleagues start to investigate. This is very cleverly constructed. You need to understand Susie Dent to appreciate the words used, especially the chapter headings. One of the best murder mysteries that I’ve ever read (& I have read hundreds). Wonderfully engaging. Totally riveting! Highly recommend

Wow, what a wonderful book! Not primarily the characters or the plot, though they both have their not inconsiderable strengths, but, oh, the words! The sheer wordiness of this book is an absolute delight, though I was happy to read it on my Kindle as I could summon immediate help with much (but not all!) of the more obscure vocabulary.
For me, this book was a delight from start to finish. Read it!!

I so enjoyed reading this book and learning new words with each chapter.
I was completely immersed in the story. Great characters each with their own flaws. A believable storyline. An ending that took me by surprise..

3.5 Stars
One Liner: Good but... could have been better!

When an anonymous letter arrives at the office of Clarendon English Dictionary, the new senior editor, Martha Thornhill, wonders if it is one of those pranks. However, she and her team (fellow editors) decipher the clues in the letter to realize it hints at a case that occurred in 2010.
Martha’s older sister, Charlie disappeared without a trace never to be found. Unable to handle the aftermath, Martha settled in Berlin and lived there for a decade, creating a new life. However, family issues brought her back to London, and her return seems to have triggered something.
As more letters arrive, Martha and her colleagues have to unravel the mystery using their talents with words. It is like solving a word puzzle, only far more dangerous.
The story comes in the third-person POV of Martha, Alex, and Zoe.

My Thoughts:
As a fan of mysteries, I was excited to read this one. Cases that have puzzles and clues are more interesting than the ones with gun fights. Brain power and all that. ;)
This is a slow-paced mystery with many heavy-weight words and complex clues. Given the author’s expertise and the chosen professions of the main characters, it’s no surprise that the content reads like a dictionary. Much to show off in this one and it gets excessive sometimes.
The mystery as such is decent and easy enough to put together in the second half. In fact, you can identify the culprit in the first half if you go by the vibes (even if you don’t know the whats and whys).
Though the book is set in 2023, it has an old-world feel to it. If not for the talk about messages and stuff, I would have forgotten this is a contemporary read.
The setting is Oxford (which the author seems to love). As the book progressed, it felt more surreal than tangible. The descriptions should make it atmospheric but for me, it felt a tad overdone.
In fact, a lot of the book is overdone, making it way too slow than it needed to be. The same goes for characters. I am really glad we get Zoe and Alex’s POVs which balance out Martha’s. As the main character, Martha was infuriating most of the time. She has this ethereal and untouchable vibe which made it hard to connect with her. Also for someone who is in their early 30s, she sounded like a 50-something woman.
That’s a pity since the character arc deals with important themes – being the shadow sibling, the blurring lines between worshipping and hating the golden child aka the popular sibling, living the ghosts of unresolved past and guilt, wanting to avoid the truth, choosing perceived safety over reality, etc. These should have enriched her character but somehow it doesn’t happen.
I like that there are subtle hints of romance between the two characters and it never shadows the central plot – the mystery. This is a good decision and has been executed well.
Each chapter starts with a difficult word and its meaning. I think some align with the chapters but some don’t. Even the complex clues are solved easily but I’m not complaining. The characters have years of experience in the field. They are supposed to be good at what they do to be in their positions. Moreover, the story dragged on enough as it is. Additional delays would have been disastrous!
The epilogue ties up the loose ends and provides a bittersweet and hopeful ending. I wish the ARC had the author’s notes. Would love to read it.

To summarize, Guilty by Definition is a debut novel by a celebrity and it shows. The book has worthy elements, which are at the risk of drowning in heavy vocabulary and a hard-to-connect MC.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bonnier Books UK (Zaffre), for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Although a bit bit of slow burner, it is well worth sticking with this book. Beautifully written and truly a masterpiece.

When I saw that Susie Dent had turned her hand to fiction writing, I was intrigued. As a lover of words and their etymology, I was hoping for a book with a rich vocabulary and I was not disappointed.

Based in the offices of the Clarendon English Dictionary, this follows the employees as they set out to solve a mystery surrounding the older sister of the editor, Through a series of letters, they use their literary knowledge to piece together information.

I thoroughly enjoyed this debut novel.