Review: Guilty by Definition

4/5 stars

Guilty by Definition, by Susie Dent (2019)

Martha is the newly appointed senior editor of the Clarendon English Dictionary in Oxford, England, working with fellow lexicographers Alex, Safi, and Simon. When they start receiving cryptic letters in the mail, at first they don't think much of it. But as they look closer and start to decipher some of the clues, it becomes apparent that the writer, who calls him or herself "Chorus," is dropping hints about the mysterious disappearance of Martha's sister, Charlie, over a decade ago. Does this "Chorus" person know where Charlie is - dead or alive? As more and more letters arrive - not just to the 4 lexicographers, but to their boss, their former boss, and Charlie's ex-boyfriend - the team begins to unravel the puzzle, with Martha at the helm learning things about a sister she thought she knew.

Any word-nerd who also enjoys a mystery novel will love this. And if you also love Shakespeare, you'll be hooked. Each chapter begins with an obscure word and its definition - many originally coined by Shakespeare.... or so we thought. Yes, I'm being intentionally vague!

If you like a literary, cerebral mystery with etymology, puzzles and riddles, and a little light murder, this is a very fun read.

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UP NEXT: Rogues: True Stories of Grifters, Killers, Rebels and Crooks, by Patrick Radden Keefe