At a glance
The Twyford Code
Mystery
The Twyford Code
352 pages · First published 2022
Forty years ago, schoolboy Steven “Smithy” Smith discovered a children's book by the controversial author Edith Twyford, its pages filled with strange annotations and mysterious symbols. When he showed it to his remedial English teacher, Miss Iles, she became convinced that the markings revealed a secret code hidden throughout Twyford's books. Then, during a class trip connected to the author, Miss Iles vanished without explanation. Now, newly released from prison after a lifetime marked by hardship and crime, Steven is determined to discover what happened to the teacher who once believed in him. Armed with an old iPhone, he records his investigations, reconnects with former classmates, and follows increasingly puzzling clues that may lead to a secret dating back to World War II. But Steven's recollections are incomplete, the people he questions are not always trustworthy, and the automatic transcripts of his recordings contain mistakes that conceal clues of their own. Told through a cleverly constructed collection of audio transcripts, this inventive British mystery is ideal for readers who love cryptic puzzles, unreliable narrators, hidden messages, literary mysteries, and stories that reward close attention to every word.
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No surprises at chapter twelve
Content notes
Murder, deaths, gun violence, physical attacks, kidnapping, and criminal activity, including theft and organized crime. Childhood abandonment and neglect, domestic abuse, troubled family relationships, parental death, and grief. A reference to suicide by hanging involving a character's father. Alcohol and drug use, with references to addiction and substance abuse. Imprisonment, emotional distress, and the difficulties of reintegrating into society after incarceration. Dyslexia, childhood educational neglect, and social prejudice. Racist and sexist attitudes associated with outdated children's literature. Profanity and brief crude sexual references, including mentions of pornographic magazines and masturbation; passing allusions suggesting sex work. Sexual harassment is also reported by some readers, but no explicit sexual encounter was independently verified.
Alcohol-Free Pour
Editor’s Red Pen
Strange annotations in an old children's book set Steven's investigation in motion, making this tart, red-pen-inspired fizz a natural pairing for a mystery hidden between the lines.
What you'll need
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- Combine the noncarbonated ingredients in a glass or shaker and stir or shake until mixed. Pour over ice, top with any carbonated ingredient, and stir gently.
- Garnish: Use a matching citrus wheel, berry, or herb from the recipe when available.
- Glassware: Highball glass.
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Highball glass ↗Cocktail shaker ↗Cocktail Pour · 21+
Lost Word Collins
For adults of legal drinking age. Please drink responsibly.
In a mystery where misheard words and faulty transcripts may conceal the most important clues, this Lost Word Collins is a fitting companion to Steven Smith's search for the truth.
What you'll need
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How to mix it
- Shake gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup with ice. Strain over fresh ice and top with soda water.
- Garnish: Lemon wheel.
- Glassware: Collins glass.
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