# Guilty by Definition by Susie Dent

Guilty by Definition by Susie Dent is a linguistic mystery about a coded letter, a missing woman and the search for answers. Martha Thornhill follows word-based clues connected to the disappearance of her sister Charlie, with the story set around the Clarendon English Dictionary office and Oxford.

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- Market: UK
- Language: en-GB
- Currency: GBP
- Category: Books, Music & Hobbies > Books, Music & Movies > Books & Comics
- Price: 5.55 GBP
- Previous price: 9.99 GBP
- Discount: 44%
- Price checked: 2026-11-12T14:52:16.687Z
- Rating: 4.2 / 5
- Reviews: 10417

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## At a glance

- The plot centres on Martha Thornhill, whose sister Charlie disappeared ten years earlier.
- Anonymous letters bring linguistic clues and a troubling secret into the investigation.
- The publisher describes the book as a mystery about language, family and the after-effects of a disappearance.

## Pros

- A missing-person mystery incorporates word clues and an English dictionary setting.
- The 400-page length gives room for a layered investigation and family story.

## Specifications

### Book details
- Publisher: Zaffre
- Publication date: 24 April 2025
- Language: English
- Print length: 400 pages
- ISBN-10: 1804183970
- ISBN-13: 978-1804183977
### Dimensions and installation
- Weight listed: 278 g
- Dimensions: 12.9 x 2.5 x 19.7 cm

## A good fit for

- Readers interested in mysteries built around language and coded clues.
- Readers looking for a missing-person story with family consequences and an Oxford setting.

## Customer feedback

Customer feedback describes the book as engaging and well written, with praise for its clever twists, strong female characters and chapter headings featuring lesser-known words and definitions. The story’s word-focused mystery gives those elements particular relevance to readers seeking language alongside suspense. Aggregate ratings are mostly four- and five-star, though a smaller share are lower, and ratings alone do not explain individual reactions.
- Positive themes: Customer feedback praises the engaging prose, clever plot twists and strong female characters.
- Positive themes: Readers are reported to appreciate lesser-known words and definitions used as chapter headings.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is Guilty by Definition about?
Martha Thornhill investigates anonymous letters containing linguistic clues that may reveal what happened to her sister Charlie, who disappeared ten years earlier.
### Who wrote Guilty by Definition?
The listing identifies Susie Dent as the author.
### How long is the book?
The listed print length is 400 pages.
### What language is this edition?
The product details list the language as English.

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## Images

![Guilty by Definition by Susie Dent — 1](https://bargainpostbox.co.uk/i/IQWhaQLjgovDBPor9vcg5pJ_v-HPlRLL34j6gI1kw2sXXqkjcs0SfFZdK4Hwcv962xFQvN-HeDiP2-n7hNWsGjytGJcf6_E7ffbIkV8_juqDYOH4oU4Z.jpg)

![Guilty by Definition by Susie Dent — 2](https://bargainpostbox.co.uk/i/jmxg_5RRZMC_7pPTsRwWaFczcdAj2GTKaoptB_Iq1x4xmD5YeH29Mao0fCkWqUripYYcEYftv7x4FL2ged9fnXPBIgntagsrv9ayWJ25TwcDYaH_gJEC.jpg)

![Guilty by Definition by Susie Dent — 3](https://bargainpostbox.co.uk/i/zGgpPPwXJv4Gm8gf927vd3nf3kZ84QUyvZSiGVcJPD1wYmGc09pqitgph4HSyywmPuQJYPZeJo_sAkVxeydoF2fiu3xPhzqIAiH4cLkrtjPRiSATYRXb.jpg)

![Guilty by Definition by Susie Dent — 4](https://bargainpostbox.co.uk/i/8tXBU3Z1FI_XDDbcgzshxWiIa5YUi_VAUbuwqP5qdtGWGdYi7Z0HrBXukP_uva_sE1U-GPwViJT5shYSRUIAa2QVZKT_l4zipaqck-TLcszt2nBRIAev.jpg)