I loved this book, part mystery, part ageing/Alzheimer’s and part family ties. Despite the fact that this is a murder mystery, it is tender and heartfelt with memorable characters. I particularly identified with the daughter, who is stuck in a sandwich between her ageing mother and her husband and son.

When a neighbour is murdered elderly Margaret Winterbottom, along with her grandson, decides to investigate. Margaret's memory may be failing but she's convinced she knows something that can help her solve the murder - if only she could remember what it is.

I love books featuring aging protagonists and in The Margaret Code author Richard Hooton has created a classic. I just wanted to scoop Margaret up and protect her. Widow Margaret is eighty-nine and fiercely independent, she has lived in the same house for sixty years. The vast majority of her neighbours have lived in their homes for quite a long time too. Everyone seems to know everybody else's business, although some people are a little too nosey.

The murder of long-time neighbour and friend Barbara is a shock to Margaret and when the police appear to be clueless she decides to find the murderer herself. She remembers talking to Barbara the day she was murdered and can recall a fragment of a conversation she had with her that she's convinced is a vital clue, unfortunately, her "senior moments" are becoming more frequent, hampering her from pinpointing exactly what the clue means.

To the reader, it's obvious that Margaret is in the early stages of Alzheimer's. Some of the situations she found herself involved in because of the disease are heartbreaking. We also get a glimpse of the emotional pressure that is placed on families. There are little hints as to Margaret's background. I guessed pretty early on what the background was, although I didn't figure out how it fitted into the plot, and knowing her background makes Margaret's illness even more poignant and cruel.

Refusing to accept defeat, and ably assisted by a grandson who is equally determined, Margaret works her way through a suspect list that involves neigbours, local youths and the window cleaner. If only she could remember her conversation with Barbara! When the puzzle pieces finally fall into place Margaret finds herself in danger but still refuses to give in.

Margaret's neighbour and friend, Barbara, is found strangled to death on her kitchen floor. Who would want to hurt Barbara, and why? Margaret knows that Barbara told her something important the last time they spoke. But unfortunately, that vital piece of information has vanished in one of the many black holes that are now Margaret's memory. When it looks as if the wrong person might catch the detectives' eyes and be charged with something they haven't done, it becomes even more crucial that Margaret remember her last conversation with Barbara. Will she be able to help? Or will Barbara's words be lost to her forever?

To be honest, I found that as the story went on, the mystery surrounding Barbara's murder took somewhat of a backseat for me. I was far more invested in the relationship between Margaret and her grandson, James. It was so wonderful to see how James would try to help Margaret restore her memories, or try to cope with her new reality. He was such a great support to her, and just like him I wanted to find answers. Not necessarily about Barbara, but about the mysterious Uncle Harry, what Margaret was hiding in her desk, and things about her past she seemed so reluctant to talk about.

I must admit that 'The Margaret Code' turned out to be a far more emotional read for me than I had expected. Having witnessed a grandparent with dementia myself, some of the things Margaret goes through hit a little too close to home and there were various moments where I nearly reached for a tissue. Incidents that were all too familiar, like leaving a gas cooker on. The inability to recall something that happened mere hours ago, yet being able to tell you whatever you wanted that happened decades ago. Those who know, know. Luckily for me, as well as for James, there are also many, many fabulous memories to cherish forever.

Obviously, Margaret is one of those characters you just want to wrap up in a warm hug. But I also felt like doing that for her daughter, Shirley. She has so much to deal with, and taking care of Margaret is becoming more and more difficult. There are a great deal of things to look out for and Shirley can't be there 24/7. Did Margaret lock the door? Did she turn off the taps? Is the neighbour Shirley relies on trustworthy? There are countless pitfalls, but there are also only so many hours in the day and Shirley is stretched quite thinly. I appreciate that the author tried to bring that to the reader's attention, as well as the more complex decision on whether or not Margaret should be in a care home.

I didn't quite figure out the final reveal or solve Barbara's murder. One aspect in particular I thought was very well done, although, in hindsight, I also felt I should have picked up on it. I would have liked to have learnt far more about Margaret's past, her marriage to Arthur, her life in general. I hope she told her grandson all about it. He can be her memory keeper, and maybe tell her story some day. In the meantime, I'm keeping Margaret safe in my own memories and I'll be sure to remember her "famous" words : mustn't grumble.

4.5 stars

I have been so excited by this book, it sounded so much fun.

I love that cosy crime has become so popular recently and I cannot get enough. And I love having older protagonists too, and Margaret was instantly gorgeous and I loved her. I don't like how people treat her, particularly her family, especially her daughter. It's like, just because she's 89, that means she is obviously too old to know what she's doing. No-one (bar her Grandson) seem to believe she could possible know what she's doing, but that made her even more likeable for me.

I read another review that said this was like Elizabeth Is Missing crossed with The Marlow Murder Club and I couldn't have described it better myself. That's exactly what it is - and those other two books are fabulous as well.

This had my attention from the very start to the very end. The pacing was good, the characters loveable, a fun premise; it was easy to read, quick, well written and just a delight.

It is a crime novel yes, with its thrills and spills. But it's also about friendship, secrets, grief, loss, ageing, health, family, loneliness, peer pressure, trying to fit in, and love.

I have found that, generally, with cosy crime I'm able to figure out, or get close to figuring out, the whodunnit, more so than with a thriller. But I had no idea with this one. I had some suspicions but the reveal is so well woven in and hidden.

Occasionally I found the dialogue a smidgeon stilted, but that's a minor point and didn't impact the enjoyment of it, but as this is an honest review, I have to mention everything I thought.

It doesn't really have legs for a sequel or a crime-fighting series but it does bode well for Richard's future work and I'll definitely be keeping my eye out.

I read it in less than 24 hours, it was fantastic, and is a really wonderful debut. Who knew that an 89-year-old and a teenager would make the perfect crime-fighting duo?!

Margaret and Barbara are elderly neighbours. Margaret's memory isn't what it used to be. She's sure Barbara told her something important. But she can't ask her, because Barbara is dead.

Margaret ropes in grandson Jason to help her find out what it was she's supposed to remember. But it looks as though someone is trying to stop them

Took me a while to get into this book although it was nice to read about Margaret and her tales. Overall it was a bit slow for me but that's because I only read Psychological thrillers so I knew beforehand this would be a different read for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the LBBG for this ARC which I did enjoy in a strange sort of way.

Well, I read it in one day! The Margaret Code was a twisty little tale. While Margaret's dementia made me stop and examine my own discomfort around her situation, it was a theme that added to the emotion of the story. All the characters and their relationships with each other were well developed, Hooton captured the relationship between Margaret and her grandson beautifully and that bond between grandmother and grandson was very realistic. The plot kept me interested and this is a book I really enjoyed reading.

Great book! Interesting premise and very readable: 'cosy crime', but with just the right amount of real life edge and a loveable and memorable protagonist.

The book is narrated by 89 year old Margaret. I loved spending time with her - finding out about her interesting past, her love for her late husband Albert, and her cutting wit. She felt realistic, especially as her memory issues progress and she's never quite sure what is and isn't real, and those around her (apart from grandson James) become more and more patronising.

Her age and everyone's assumption that she was muddled due to this increased the mystery but never felt like a plot device - her denial and fear felt very real.

If I had one criticism it would just be that the crime felt too neatly wrapped up at the end, though it was a satisfying resolution after I'd galloped through the book and I'll be looking out for other books by this author.

3.5 stars rounded down. This sounded an interesting and character-led mystery novel, and to be fair it did deliver both of those things. It was just that it was very slowly paced for my liking, and Margaret’s constant talking in her head to her recently dead husband and her internal monologues were a little overdone for me. Thankfully the mystery did wrap up by the end of the book in quite a nice way - and I think it would probably appeal to people who like the Thursday Murder Club series, though there are fewer characters here to root for other than really Margaret and Jamie.

I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.I’m

Can you call something a cosy crime if the story revolves around a woman's struggle with dementia? It's a tricky one to call, I think. The story does have humour and warmth, yet at the same time there is the awareness that Margaret is struggling more and more with her memory, and it's only going to get worse. But I enjoyed reading this, mostly because I liked Margaret and her relationship with her grandson, so I wanted to see how things would resolve.

From the crime side of things, I was disappointed that it wasn't more clever - when you find out Margaret's history, and where she worked with her husband during the war, I hoped that the puzzle would be difficult, and she would be the only one who can solve it, because of her experience, and it would be marvellous when she did! So from that point of view I felt there was a waste of what could have been a really interesting, tricksy potential storyline. But still, I was interested enough in Margaret to commit to the story, and I enjoyed the ride, even if the murder side of things wasn't all that.

Oh what a joy this book is to read.

Margaret is an amazing character and the story gives the reader all the emotions.

Barbara is found dead...murdered and Margaret is sure she has the information needed to solve the case. But... she forgets. Her memory isn't what it was so she and her grandson forge together and solve the whos and whys.

This is a wonderful debut novel and I loved how the author has used his relationship with his own grandmother as inspiration. You can feel the warmth between the two main characters and the reality of a elder who is still relevant even though age has taken its toll.

I laughed cried and was amazed ... it's brilliant.

4* Sad at times, loving in parts, and also quite poignant and emotional.

What makes this a refreshing tale for me is its believability due to its setting being plain old England. There's no faux gloss, no zooming police cars, nothing cliché or deja vu, just a murder and a some sleuthing, some decent but flawed people that felt real, and of course, a bad guy. Or perhaps, plural, though 'bad' may be a bit strong to describe some characters.

It made me smile in parts and made me sad in others. What was lovely was the love that James had for his gran, despite his mum and dad thinking her a burden and a danger because she was sadly becoming senile. It hit home with me, as I suspect it will with people with parents of a certain age.

Margaret had periods of lucidity that helped her and James solve the murder, but sadly, she was in decline and wasn't in denial during these periods. It was sad to see her struggle and mix the past and present and miss her late husband so much, but it was lovely to see ger constant conversations with him and how vividly she still saw him. Her estrangement from her son was sad, and the reveal about her brother was such a betrayal and shock. But, by the sound of it, he didn't profit from his crimes, so well done, author.

The end is poignant and sad. Margaret's been alone for a year now and it's clear that she's ready to see her husband again, and both she and I thought it'd happen soon. I'm glad I read this book, despite it not being my usual choice.

ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Sphere/Little Brown Books for my reading pleasure.