Margaret is one year old!
#TheMargaretCode was published a year ago today - thank you to everyone who’s bought or borrowed a copy & supported my novel in any way.
And if you fancy reading ‘an absorbingly unusual murder mystery’ it’s available in all formats.

Happy Easter from Margaret & James - your favourite detective duo!

#TheMargaretCode is out on paperback: sweeter than chocolate, more wholesome than an egg, chirpier than a chick & more playful than a lamb in springtime 😃

Oldham journalist's book released in paperback Former Oldham Journalist Richard Hooton's crime novel was published in paperback.

Thank you to new publication Oldham Online for their fantastic article about #TheMargaretCode and my writing.

It was a pleasure to be interviewed by them & to be featured in one of the first articles on their website.

oldhamonline.uk/article/form...

The Bilkers are my new favourite band.
These guys are awesome live 🤯
#TheMargaretCode

🕺🎉🤩 When you get a hat-trick of 5-star reviews - & on Goodreads!
Thank you so much for posting these, it makes such a difference.
I was particularly touched by the comment that #TheMargaretCode would have been much more helpful to the reader than expert books when relating to someone with dementia ❤️

Thank you to everyone who came to my author talk at Oldham Library & showed such interest in #TheMargaretCode & my writing - great to see so many people 😀

And a big thank you to @oldhamlibraries.bsky.social & their wonderful staff for hosting me & putting on such a super spread & for these photos 😍

I’m looking forward to my Author Talk on #TheMargaretCode at Oldham Library next Wednesday, 6-8pm 📚

Hope to see you there! 😀

The Margaret Code by Richard Hooton Exclusive Extract Read the extract here:

You can read an exclusive extract of my novel #TheMargaretCode with the below link.

“An absorbingly unusual murder mystery” that’s “both humorous & heartbreaking”

Try before you buy! 😊

www.thecrimevault.com/extract/2026...

Thank you to About Tameside magazine for such a great article on the paperback publication of #TheMargaretCode

The support from local media has been amazing & is much appreciated ❤️

It was great fun taking part today in Ashton Library’s Readathon for National Read Aloud Day.

I read the opening to my novel #TheMargaretCode & got to hear some other great readings.

Here’s pix of me reading & on Facebook Live & author Mark P Henderson whose books I can thoroughly recommend.

I’m back in the Mossley Browser with news of the paperback publication of #TheMargaretCode

Thank you for featuring me & for all your support 🙏

You’re all invited to my author visit to Droylsden Library Club on Wednesday (4 Feb) 10-11.30am 📖

Refreshments provided & signed copies of #TheMargaretCode on sale ☕️

It’s free, no need to book, just pop along.

Can’t wait to see you! 😀

It’s paperback publication day for #TheMargaretCode 🥳

Thrilled to spot my novel in the wild on bookshelves at Waterstones Deansgate & Arnsdale and House of Books & Friends in Manchester.

Thanks to all at @littlebrownbooks.bsky.social for their work in making this happen.

Lovely write-up on the paperback publication of #TheMargaretCode in the latest print edition of the Tameside Reporter - much appreciated 🙏

And the 5-star reviews keep coming - thank you so much for these 🤩

The paperback’s out tomorrow from wherever you buy your books 😁

Here’s the trailer for the paperback publication of #TheMargaretCode

If you fancy a “heartwarming mix of cosy detective fiction with real family drama” then it’s out on Thursday & available from wherever you buy your books

#bookstagram #bookrecommendations #crimefiction

I’m looking forward to taking part in this Readathon at Ashton Library for National Read Aloud Day on 4 Feb 📖

Drop-in in person or catch the livestream on Facebook @TamesideLibraries between 10.30am-4.30pm

I’ll be reading the opening to my novel #TheMargaretCode at 2pm 😀

The inspiration behind my novel #TheMargaretCode 📖

Gone but not forgotten ❤️

How does Margaret’s story end? You’ll need to read the book to find out!

It’s more than 8 years since I worked at the Oldham Chronicle & I’m back in their news.

Thank you to my former employers for featuring the paperback publication of #TheMargaretCode

Some comparison books to #TheMargaretCode 🤩

If you like these why not give it a go - you may well love it 😀

The paperback is out on 29 Jan & available to pre-order from wherever you buy your books 🙏

I’m back in the Mansfield & Ashfield Chad - albeit without my forehead, which probably isn’t a bad thing! 🤣

Thank you to my former employers for featuring the paperback publication of #TheMargaretCode.

It’s out on 29 Jan & available to pre-order from wherever you buy your books.

Crime writer Harriet Tyce proved herself adept at identifying #traitors 🤩
Would you have worked out who they were? 🤯
Could you uncover the traitor in #TheMargaretCode? And is there more than one? 🤔
Only one way to find out! 😁
Luckily it’s available to buy or borrow from wherever you get your books 🙏

Mossley author’s acclaimed debut crime novel set for paperback release - Tameside Correspondent AN AWARD-WINNING Mossley author is set to see his debut novel reach an even wider audience this month as it is published in paperback.

Thank you to my local newspapers Tameside Reporter & Tameside Correspondent for covering the paperback publication of #TheMargaretCode

Out on 29 Jan & available to pre-order from wherever you buy your books

www.notreallyheremedia.com/news/all-new...

www.tamesidecorrespondent.co.uk/2026/01/15/m...

I’ll be giving an Author Talk on #TheMargaretCode at Oldham Library on Wednesday 18 Feb, 6-8pm 📚

It’s free & you can book via Eventbrite at www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/author-tal...

Hope you can make it! 😀

Margaret’s fresh faced for the new edition of #TheMargaretCode after undergoing a colour swap 🤩

If you fancy ‘an absorbingly unusual murder mystery’ that’s ‘both humorous & heartbreaking’ then the paperback is published on 29 Jan 🎉

Available for pre-order now from wherever you buy your books 🙏

I’ll be chatting about #TheMargaretCode at an author visit at Droylsden Library Club on Wednesday 4 Feb, 10-11.30am 📚

It’s free, refreshments provided & no need to book, just come along on the day.

See you there! 😀

A box full of Margarets! 😍

Thank you to @littlebrownbooks.bsky.social for the amazing work they’ve done on the paperback of #TheMargaretCode - complete with colour swap cover 👏

It’s published on 29 Jan & available for pre-order now from wherever you buy your books 🙏

Readers just can’t tear themselves away from #TheMargaretCode 🤣

Maybe find somewhere cosy before you settle in 📚

This is the last review of #TheMargaretCode I’ll post this year, I promise! (*unless an even better one comes along!)

It’s always a huge boost to connect with readers & to know they’ve taken the time to say how much they like your book ❤️

Please do support your local bookshop where possible, but for anyone who gets their books from Amazon, #TheMargaretCode is currently £8.71 in hardback (weird price!) in the UK, which is a bargain IMHO 😀

The price fluctuates more than a thermometer in a UK winter! 🥶

Alan Turing is a Manchester legend, commemorated with this statue.

A genius famed for developing the first modern computers & helping crack the Enigma code, & an LGBTQ+ icon.

But did he make it into #TheMargaretCode? 🧐

Only one way to find out! Available from bookshops & libraries 😁