Guilty by Definition
- Judith D Collins
- 1 day ago
- 6 min read
The Clarendon Lexicographers #1
By: Susie Dent
Narrators: Susie Dent, Louise Brealey,
Jack Edwards
Tantor Audio
ISBN: 9781464236075
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Publication Date: 09/30/2025
Format: Hardcover
My Rating: 4 Stars (ALC & ARC)
She knew there'd be ghosts in Oxford, she just didn't think they'd make their way to the dictionary.
Oxford, England. After a decade abroad, Martha Thornhill has returned home to the city whose ancient institutions have long defined her family. But the ghosts she had thought to be at rest seem to have been waiting for her to return. When an anonymous letter is delivered to the Clarendon English Dictionary, where Martha is a newly hired senior editor, it's rapidly clear that this is not the usual lexicographical enquiry. Instead, the coded letter hints at secrets and lies linked to a particular year.
The date can mean only one thing: the summer Martha's brilliant older sister Charlie went missing.
When more letters arrive, Martha and her team pull apart the complex clues within them, and soon, the mystery becomes ever more insistent and troubling. Because it seems Charlie had been keeping a powerful secret, and someone may be trying to lead the lexicographers towards the truth that will unravel the mystery of her disappearance. But other forces are no less desperate to keep their secrets well and truly buried, and Martha and her team must crack the codes before it's too late.
From resident lexicographer Susie Dent comes a linguistic mystery that will both delight and shock readers.
My Review
Etymologist Susie Dent's novel, "Guilty by Definition," is truly remarkable. This impressive debut in fiction and the beginning of a new series, The Clarendon Lexicographers #1, presents a clever whodunit mystery that highlights her linguistic expertise, offering a complex puzzle enriched with captivating wordplay.
About...
In the enchanting city of Oxford, England, Martha Thornhill has returned home after spending a decade abroad. This city, with its ancient institutions that have long shaped her family's legacy, holds a special place in her heart. However, upon her return, she discovers that the ghosts of her past, which she believed were laid to rest, seem to have been waiting for her arrival.
As a newly appointed senior editor at the Clarendon English Dictionary, Martha receives an anonymous letter that quickly proves to be far from a routine inquiry about words. Instead, this coded message alludes to hidden secrets and deceptions tied to a specific year—a year that can only refer to the summer when her brilliant older sister, Charlie, mysteriously vanished.
With the arrival of more letters, Martha and her dedicated team delve into the intricate clues they contain, leading them deeper into a web of mystery that becomes increasingly urgent and unsettling. It becomes evident that Charlie was harboring a significant secret, and someone is guiding the lexicographers toward the truth that could finally unravel the enigma of her disappearance.
Yet, there are other powerful forces at play, determined to keep their own secrets buried. Martha and her team must decipher the codes before it's too late, as the truth may hold the key to both the past and their future.
My thoughts...
True to her reputation as the esteemed queen of Dictionary Corner, Susie Dent brings a remarkable joy to the wordplay found within the pages of this book. Her inspired selection of vocabulary, coupled with a thorough exploration of the history and deeper significance of our linguistic choices, captivates readers.
This book is a treasure trove of wordplay that captivates the mind. From her inspired vocabulary selections to an intricate exploration of the history and profound meanings behind linguistic choices, Dent elevates the art of language to new heights.
This mystery unfolds with exhilarating pacing and palpable tension, set against the majestic backdrop of Oxford, a city steeped in grandeur and rich history. The team behind the Clarendon English Dictionary is a captivating ensemble, each member infused with unique quirks and imperfections that leap off the page and into your heart. Yet, amidst this vibrant cast, a lingering sense of uncertainty permeates, prompting readers to question everything and everyone.
A clever title, and a page-turning and brilliantly written literary mystery. Dent skillfully maintains high stakes throughout, drawing you into the exhilarating thrill of deciphering each detail of the enigmatic letters, while tantalizing glimpses of the past keep you guessing. I am looking forward to the next in the series.
Audiobook...
I had the delightful experience of immersing myself in the hardcover edition of the book while also enjoying the audiobook, skillfully narrated by the remarkable talents of Louise Brealey and Jack Edwards. The bonus of a fascinating Q&A session with the author, Susie Dent, deepened my appreciation for her work and her profound passion for language. The performances brought an intriguing blend of literature, clues, mystery, and suspense, elevating the narrative to new heights. The enchanting British accents not only set the perfect mood but also breathed life into the characters, making the story truly unforgettable.
Recs...
GUILTY BY DEFINITION presents an enticing array of challenges that will captivate word enthusiasts, puzzle solvers, and lovers of crime fiction alike. It comes highly recommended for those who hold a deep appreciation for the works of Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers. Dive into this literary adventure and let your inner detective shine!
Many thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for a gifted hardcover (and creative fun swag box) and Tantor Audio for providing an advanced listening audio copy via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest opinion.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Sept 30, 2025
My Rating: 4 Stars
Praise
"There are pleasures here for anyone who revels in the joy of text." ― Kirkus Reviews
"Etymologist Dent makes an impressive fiction debut with a clever whodunit that pivots on her linguistic expertise...a tantalizing puzzle for Anglophiles and Golden Age mystery lovers alike." ―Publishers Weekly
"Linguist Dent proves she is a talented wordsmith in her own right, diverting readers with historical and lexicological tidbits throughout the story...Martha and her team are whip-smart and fun, providing a light juxtaposition to the suspense elements, while the lush and vibrant descriptions of Oxford create a lovely sense of place; readers will be both informed and entertained."
― Library Journal
"If you're like me and love both language and crime, then Guilty by Definition has it all. Susie Dent's impressive debut novel is virtuosic. So meticulously and fascinatingly steeped in the archaic glory of words, it will surely be the ultimate treat for every logophile out there. But this is so much more than a celebration of the dictionary - it's a tantalizing mystery of a missing sister, a cold case that will not lie down, and a family frozen in their unresolved grief... all while their circle of friends and colleagues nurse secrets and lies beyond explication. Guilty by Definition is positively aglitter with etymological and detecting treasures for word-sleuths and crime-fans alike."
― Janice Hallett, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Appeal
"I read it with a great deal of pleasure. It’s very good. It’s a classic detective story, in that it has a puzzle and a missing young woman and an engaging detective (or three of them) and a setting that Dorothy L. Sayers would love to have thought of. The main characters are people I’d like to meet in real life; the Oxford types are convincing; the puzzle is well worked-out. And it kept me reading eagerly. I enjoyed it very much."
― Philip Pullman, New York Times bestselling author of the His Dark Materials trilogy
"What a delicious, genuinely page-turning and brilliantly written literary mystery novel this is. More please!"
― Laline Paull, Women’s Prize-shortlisted author of The Bees
About the Author
Susan Dent MBE is an English lexicographer, etymologist and media personality. She has appeared in "Dictionary Corner" on the Channel 4 game show Countdown since 1992. She also appears on 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, a post-watershed comedy version of the show.
Susie Dent is a writer and broadcaster on language. She recently celebrated 30 years as a co-presenter and the resident word expert on C4's Countdown, and also appears on the show's comedy sister 8 out of 10 Cats does Countdown. Susie comments regularly on TV and radio on words in the news. She has contributed to discussions on Radio 4's Woman's Hour, Word of Mouth, Saturday Live, More or Less, Today, and on Radio 5 Live's Breakfast and Drive programmes. She has made guest appearances on many TV programmes including BBC Breakfast, Newsnight, This Morning, Test the Nation, Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, Not Going Out, and The One Show.
Susie answers notes and queries about words and phrases in weekly columns in the Radio Times, The Week Junior, the I newspaper, and Why Now. She has written for the Independent on Sunday, the Telegraph, and the Times, and is the author of several books, including her latest, An Emotional Dictionary: Real Words for How You Feel, from Angst to Zwodder, published in 2022.
She is a spokesperson for Oxford University Press, and has been a judge on the Costa Book Awards and on the Academy Excellence Awards. Susie regularly delivers key-note speeches to both small companies and major corporations on language and communication.
Susie lives in Oxford where she has developed a passion for cycling - Lycra or no, she is never without her little black book for jotting down any new words picked up in the wild.
@susie_dent
