This one appears to have been previously published by a different publisher but is now available in Canada through HarperCollins. The only main difference seems to be the change of names (mainly Zoe becomes Safi) based on a quick read of reviews for the original publication in the UK.

The use of older/unusual words is to be expected with the story based at the offices of the Clarendon English Dictionary and the author in general but it felt a little overdone. With a slightly longer book than most mysteries, they became tedious as they were often unrelated to the actual storyline and broke up the pacing of the book. I get that some people buying Dent's books will be looking for new and unusual words but when you stuff 4-5 meaning the same thing in one sentence, a bit much.

The mystery portion is decent. Not especially hard to work out who might be involved but some decent misdirection sprinkled through the book. It felt like they worked out some of the clues and the twist a little too easily/quickly and you are left with a few 'why would they do that?' questions but it ties up well.

What it did do well is the mess left behind when someone is missing long term like that. The guilt they all felt for various reasons. The suspicions from various characters. The shadows you live in when the unanswered questions loom over every decision you make (and some the people involved make for you).

It was far from unreadable but the language distracted rather than added to it and the mystery itself is not super complex despite the many years of not being solved and no major new evidence outside of Chorus' letters.

Thanks to HarperCollins and Netgalley for the copy for review.

3.5 stars rounded to 4

Thank you Netgalley, HarperCollins Canada and Killer Crime Club for the ARC of this book.

ictionary Corner, Susie Dent

Word games can be murder

When an anonymous letter is delivered to the offices of the Clarendon English Dictionary, it is immediately clear that this is not the usual lexicographical enquiry. Instead, the letter hints at secrets and lies linked to a particular year. For new senior editor Martha Thornhill, the date means only one thing: the summer her brilliant older sister, Charlie, went missing.

After a decade abroad, Martha has returned home to the city whose ancient institutions have long defined her family. Have the ghosts she left behind been waiting for her return?

When more letters arrive, and Martha and her team pull apart the complex clues within them, the mystery becomes even more insistent and troubling. It seems that Charlie had been keeping a powerful secret. Now someone is trying to lead the lexicographers toward the truth. But other forces are no less desperate to keep it well and truly buried.

I have to say I was so disappointed in this book. The characters lacked substance. The storyline lacked substance. The lexicography is far too overwhelming. The author seemed to be trying to be clever, but fell far too short for me. 2 out of 5 ⭐️

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

3.5* rounded down. At first I wasn't sure I was going to be able to finish this book, as all the uses of obsolete archaic words and the discussions of the roots and first usages of modern words were inserted mostly quite heavy-handedly. However, I persevered and I am glad I did. I decided to skip over the linguistic clevernesses unless they interested me, and some of them started to, although I skipped plenty.

As for the actual story, I thought it was well-plotted and the solution made sense, although the idea that making up ridiculously complicated puzzles and sending anonymous letters as a means to achieve justice requires a lot of suspension of disbelief. I enjoyed the unpeeling of the mystery and character of the long-missing Charlie, and sister Martha and her team of sleuthing dictionary editors were a likeable bunch. I was saddened by the way Martha's father treated her and was more outraged by this than Martha seems to have been.