Thank you to NetGalley and Zaffre for the ARC.

A compelling concept with an intriguing premise. Dent’s loved of words was obvious and enjoyable, allowing the reader to learn some new vocabulary which seemed fitting with the format.

Some characters like Alex and Zoe were likeable but unfortunately, Martha and her sister Charlie were not likeable enough for me to care much about Charlie’s case - I was more interested in the mysterious letters and their sender.

Excellent description and Dent has a lovely way with words but the plot was lacking and left me putting the book down on several occasions. A satisfying ending but felt a little rushed after a lot of repetition of plot points for the first two thirds.

If you know Susie Dent’s work in the Countdown Dictionary Corner and in her podcast with Gyles Brandreth, you’ll know she likes obscure words and etymology. Her first foray into detective fiction is therefore sprinkled with funny words (with definitions) and is set in an Oxford dictionary.

I thought the pace was quite slow and I didn’t really warm to the main protagonist whose sister had gone missing years before. But I liked Susie Dent’s authorial voice and found the conclusion satisfying.

It's a must for fans of the written word. Considering the author, it was not surprising that this book was full of definitions with an Oxford backdrop to boot. While it engaged me, maybe because of the time of year, I did feel slowed down by the definitions, etc., making it harder work than I liked in August. Maybe one for a long winter's beside a fire.
Thank you, NetGalley and the publishers, for the ARC

I almost DNFed this as the focus on words in the first half of the book was just too much and the actual story seemed to get lost. It did get better and picked up pace a little when I got to the halfway point and I quite enjoyed the last quarter or so.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

I think this does exactly what it says on the tin, and is exactly what a reader would expect from a Susie Dent novel.

Clever plot, interesting characters and a lovely Oxford backdrop.

If you love words and are fascinated by language then this is absolutely the read for you.

Guilty by Definition by Susie Dent focuses on Martha, who works at the Claredon English Dictionary and who is haunted by the disappearance of her sister Charlie. Mysterious letters start arriving, sent to friends and colleagues, that seem to taunt them about what happened to her sister and what secrets she was hiding.

English is not my first language, nor have I ever been to Oxford, but I found the book to be approachable and interesting and doesn't require any previous knowledge to get enjoyment out of the book. The words, phrases and clues are explained well enough to inform the reader. I am not a big mystery or crime reader but I really enjoyed this book and found it easy and fun to read. I flew through it despite the length. If you have an appreciation for language I could see you thoroughly loving this book even if the genre isn't your usual cup of tea.

The pacing is good, the chapters a great length and the language is (as to be expected) readable and beautiful. Even if you can figure out the mystery the book still has enough in it to keep you invested and wanting to hear how it all unfolds.

Martha loves her job at the Clarendon English Dictionary, but when anonymous letters start to arrive giving clues to what happened to her sister Charlie over a decade earlier, she is quickly on the case. With the talented team around her offering their help, they need all their lexicography talents to crack these particular clues.

This was such an interesting read! I knew I was going to be in for a particular type of mystery when I saw it was Susie Dent's debut and, despite some of it going over my head, I loved the focus on language and thought it was well-incorporated without being too overpowering. The cast of characters was great, I particularly enjoyed the dynamics of Charlie and her team and think they could make an excellent crime-fighting team! If you love a word puzzle, you will absolutley love this!

This is the ideal mystery for someone who loves language used accurately, etymology and literary references.

The story has as its pivot the disappearance, ten years earlier, of Martha’s sister, Charlie. Martha now works for the Clarendon Oxford Dictionary and she and her co-workers in the realms of word origins and definitions work hard to unravel the cryptic clues which arrive in letters and on postcards at the CED office.

Gradually as the complex and intriguing plot unfurls, the truth about Charlie is revealed , forcing Martha to face up to some unpleasant realities.

Susie Dent has produced an assured debut novel which is challenging yet highly-enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Zaffre Publishing Group for the digital review copy.

What an absolutely delightful debut this is! As you would expect from Susie Dent, the writing is superb. The plot is playful but engrossing, the principal characters are fascinating and Oxford presents an impressive backdrop. Vocabulary is naturally a key element, erudition emanates from everywhere and, essentially, this is damn good crime fiction.

For those who truly love language and etymology, this novel will not disappoint. Dent has merged her love of words with a story set in Oxford. Martha Thornhill works at the Clarendon English Dictionary and receives an anonymous cryptic letter about her sister, Charlie’s disappearance. With references to old English and Shakespeare amongst others, the story evolves to finding out what happened to Charlie as more letters arrive. Dent delves into Martha’s and her sister’s histories as Martha and her work colleagues mull over the clever clues. Some cracking sections about the origin of phrases which make the reader smile. Guilty by Definition is wonderful and Susie Dent deserves every success with this.

I’m conflicted in regards this book. It took me a while to get into it. The constant words and explanations really slowed me down and hurt my brain. It’s my own fault obviously, because Susie Dent is such an intelligent, lover of words, but I just wanted a story to enjoy.

The actual concept behind the book is really good and there where parts that flowed easily for me but then when each letter from Chorus came, I found myself skimming through as I just didn’t understand any of them.

I feel this book is for the more intelligent reader, unfortunately I am not one of them.

Sorry Susie!

Guilty by Definition is Dictionary Corner's Susie Dent's first novel, and like Rob Rinder before her, she is born to write. It starts off pretty sedate, when we meet Martha, who works at the Clarendon English Dictionary with colleagues Alex, Simon and Zoe. The CED office receives a lot of post, and one day a cryptic letter turns up, written by the mysterious Chorus. Once the team decipher the clues, they are shocked to discover it's referring to the disappearance of Martha's sister Charlie, more than 10 years ago.

They set off on a literary quest, to uncover the truth about what happened to Charlie, and why she disappeared, What they uncover is not all jolly hockey sticks and ginger beer, which gives the storyline a certain edge. Charlie is not the charming heroine, and Martha must face some unwelcome home truths along her journey.

Guilty by Definition had me gripped from start to finish, with an outcome that didn't not disappoint. I look forward to more from Susie Dent!

What a clever book! An anonymous letter arrives at the Clarendon English Dictionary and the staff are drawn into a mystery as one of their colleagues (and sister to Martha, their editor) disappeared years ago and the letters seem to be providing clues to what has happened to her. Together they work to unravel the clues as more postcards arrive, and more information about what Charley had been doing comes to light.

The plot is complex and interesting, but the use of language (including the little snippets at the start of each chapter) are just a delight for anyone who enjoys language and its origins. I'll never read an old word again without thinking about its history and usage. The author paints a great picture of Oxford, enticing the reader to want to visit.

I thoroughly enjoyed it, a very different and fascinating 'who dunnit'. Thank you to NetGalley and Bonnier Books UK for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

An academic's murder mystery.

This was just what I anticipated - a genre read with clues, suspects and red herrings, but with word play, quotes and a lot of references to literature.

Susie Dent handles the material really well, it doesn't feel like a debut. The structure, character, backstories and clear setting are all there.

And it's Oxford!! How lovely to feel yourself among the history and academia, in the offices of a Dictionary, snuggled up between the staff members writing definitions and entries... and getting enigmatical postcards sent referencing a decade-old missing person's case.

Martha's sister went missing over 10 years ago, and the postcards bring it all back to the surface, hinting at nefarious actions but insisting she and the rest of the Clarendon English Dictionary team solve the puzzles and word riddles to work out exactly what this mysterious 'Chorus' might know.

Everything seems to revolve around the dictionary itself, the staff there, and readers will have to concentrate hard to follow and keep up with the Shakespeare, the wonderful old words, the clue-solving.

Personally I got a little lost at times, with explanations, characters I couldn't remember apart and solutions that I just let wash over me. But I probably needed to concentrate a little harder.

Loved the chapter headings and inclusion of some wonderfully archaic terms, and seeing lexicographers the stars of their own story for once.

Will definitely be of interest to Countdown/Shakespeare/wordplay fans.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.

A well written erudite novel. The story is intriguing and the main characters draw you in. The story takes us back to an event that was never resolved and the cast of characters are sent postcards encouraging them to try and work out what happened. The setting of Oxford and a dictionary office felt unique and the references throughout the book backed up this feel. There were twists I didn't see coming and I liked the relationship between the main character Martha and the police.

A cleverly crafted mystery that centres around the mystery of Charlie Thornhill who disappeared ten years ago. Her younger sister has now begun working at the same place, Clarendon Dictionary, when mysterious cryptic postcards start arriving for all employees pointing towards the unsolved mystery.

I really enjoyed the way Susie's knowledge of words is incorporated into the clues and contained so much interesting knowledge. I found the cast of lexicographers fascinating, an area I knew nothing about before reading but the collection of words is such a important job. The mystery of the missing girl was really absorbing and well plotted. An impressive debut and I hope to read more about Martha and the other lexicographers especially Zoe.

There were lots of red herrings as I tried to solve the cold case along with Martha and the other employees at the dictionary, they were all clever and believable and the conclusion to the book was well written.

I would definitely read anthing else that Susie writes.

I was disappointed once I'd finished this. I confess I found some of it a bit over my head, I'm not as familiar with Shakespeare as the characters. I was beyond pleased when I managed to figure out two of the clues! Once I'd finished I actually missed the characters, which is rare for me.

What a great debut! I loved Guilty by Definition by Susie Dent. Admittedly it starts slowly, and I’m not familiar enough with Shakespeare to get all the quotes, but it’s a well-woven story with a good range of characters - both likeable and not so nice. It’s set in Oxford, where Martha has just returned from Berlin to take a job at the CED - Clarendon English Dictionary- when strange letters and postcards begin to arrive to the whole cast of characters. Uncovering the mystery surrounding her sister Charlie’s disappearance becomes the team’s main priority. I particularly loved some of the supporting roles such as Alex and Zoe - two of Martha’s colleagues at CED - but also Martha and Charlie’s father Gabriel.
One for lovers of more gentle mysteries, fans of Hamnet but also those with an interest in etymology and lexicography.

A fast-paced tale, involving secrets and lies wound around the disappearance of a young, but brilliant, lexicographer, whose younger sister is determined to discover the truth. On her journey of discovery, she uncovers evidence of betrayal and murder by people she thought she could trust.

I found the book interesting, but quite hard to get into to begin with. As the plot unfolds, it does get easier to connect with the characters, and develop feelings for them, both good and bad.

I really don’t like to give negative reviews and I really thought I would like this book. Unfortunately it made me feel uneducated as there were just so many obscure words I got lost in trying to understand them and then completely lost the flow of the book.

I’m sure there are lots of readers who will absolutely love this book but it wasn’t for me. Well written and clever; and the celebrity author should be a draw