Former Chad journalist becomes a paperback writer

Richard Hooton’s crime novel The Margaret Code was released in hardback, eBook and audio last April with the paperback hitting bookshelves on 29th January.

It’s received hundreds of rave reviews from around the world and currently has an average of 4.1 out of 5 on Amazon where nearly half of its ratings are five-star.

The cosy crime caper has been published in the UK by Sphere, an imprint of Little Brown; in America by Union Square and Co; and in Germany by DTV – and is also available in countries as far flung as Australia and South Africa.

Born and brought up in Mansfield, Richard attended Leas Park Junior School and Manor Comprehensive School, now The Manor Academy. Richard worked at the Chad from 2001 to 2004.

Now living in Greater Manchester and working as a senior communications officer for Tameside Council, he wrote the book in his spare time before securing an agent and a publishing deal.

The voice-led whodunnit follows eighty-nine-year-old Margaret whose failing memory holds the key to the murder investigation taking place on her street. It was inspired by the author's own relationship with his grandmother, who died with Alzheimer’s when he was a teenager.

Richard said: “I’ve been delighted with how well received The Margaret Code has been and the fantastic reviews and feedback it’s had.

"One of the best aspects of publishing has been readers taking the time to get in touch or write a review telling me how much they’ve enjoyed Margaret’s story and how it’s moved them. I’m now looking forward to my novel being published in paperback and reaching even more readers.”

Richard studied English Literature at the University of Wolverhampton before becoming a journalist, also working at the Lancashire Evening Telegraph and Oldham Evening Chronicle, and then going on to work in communications.

Taking to creative writing, Richard joined two writing groups and began entering short story competitions to hone his craft and validate his writing.

He went on to win competitions such as the Hammond House Publishing International Literary Prize and the Evesham Festival of Words Short Story Competition, as well as being shortlisted for the prestigious Bridport Prize.

Richard is represented by Sam Copeland of literary agency Rogers, Coleridge and White.The audiobook is narrated by BAFTA-nominated actress Maggie Ollerenshaw, who has starred in Open All Hours, Last of the Summer Wine and Coronation Street.

The Margaret Code is described as a compulsive and charming crime novel where “Elizabeth Is Missing” meets “The List Of Suspicious Things” and “The Marlow Murder Club”.

It follows 89-year-old Margaret as she attempts to solve the murder of her best friend and neighbour, Barbara.

She is convinced Barbara entrusted her with a secret before she died, a secret now buried in Margaret’s ailing memory. With the help of her grandson, James, Margaret sets out to recover her memory and investigate the crime.

But soon strange things begin happening in her home. Her family are convinced Margaret’s illness is getting worse, but Margaret is sure somebody wants her out of the way.

The Margaret Code is available to pre-order from Amazon or any bookshop. Richard is on Facebook, Instagram, X, and Bluesky as @RJHooton.