The Twyford Code

I liked The Twyford Code better than Hallett's debut, [b:The Appeal 54621096 The Appeal Janice Hallett https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1600352529l/54621096.SY75.jpg 85222105]. The story is told primarily through transcripts of audio tapes from an old iPhone, so it reads like a first-person memoir. This allows the reader to become emotionally involved with one (possibly unreliable) narrator, instead of the numerous characters whose letters and emails comprised The Appeal. I am not adept at deciphering codes or solving mysteries, but I was caught up in Steven “Smithy” Smith's story, from his Dickensian childhood to his attempts to find meaningful connections after 20+ years in prison. But I only partially understood what happened when the mysterious Twyford Code was unlocked and how the important questions were answered. 3 stars for the convoluted mystery and 5 stars for the compelling human story underneath it all. I'd like to see what Janice Hallett can produce when she doesn't use narrative gimmicks, although for now she's established an intriguing niche for her books.