THE MARGARET CODE

Narrator Maggie Ollerenshaw is perfectly matched to 89-year-old Margaret Winterbottom in this debut mystery. Listeners quickly learn that Margaret is an unreliable source of information--not out of malice, but due to frustrating memory gaps. She joins her teenage grandson, James, to uncover who murdered her neighbor and dear friend, Barbara. Ollerenshaw skillfully differentiates male and female characters, capturing teenaged James with authenticity. Listeners are introduced to Margaret's family and to the secrets she keeps in a Victorian wooden box. Throughout, it becomes clear that Margaret isn't telling her story to the listener, but rather to her beloved late husband. Ollerenshaw's steady pacing and emotional depth convey the quiet heartbreaks of aging. A touching mystery with humor, pathos, and grace--beautifully performed. E.Q. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2025]