The Margaret Code by Richard Hooton: turning inspiration into a compelling whodunnit
Inspiration can strike at any time from any source – that lightbulb moment, the click of an idea and the glimmer that it’s worth pursuing. The inspiration for my debut novel The Margaret Code came from my grandmother, 17 years after she passed away. I was thinking about her struggle with Alzheimer’s in the last years of her life, about writing, about detective novels; a jumble of thoughts that merged to create a protagonist with a problem that formed the hook. What if the person that held the key to solving a murder was struggling with a failing memory? What if they had the skills and knowledge to crack the case but the clues were slipping from their grasp? What if the more they uncovered, the less they were believed?
Margaret came into existence at that moment: an 89-year-old woman with a secret past and skillset who is central to the mystery surrounding the murder of her best friend, but the onset of dementia is robbing her of the vital memories. Quickly following, came the structure of merging the narrative of Margaret and her family tackling the effects of dementia with a crime thriller. The frustrations of trying to remember things, of important items going missing, of making mistakes; how much more would that increase if solving a murder and protecting yourself and those around you were at stake? I also wanted to explore, and was fascinated by, memory; the things we remember, the things that come back to us unexpectedly, and the things we forget.
Margaret’s ally is her teenage grandson James with the pair bonding as they support each other and secretly investigate. Their relationship is at the heart of the story, a coming together of different generations, united by their love for each other. James is the one that listens to Margaret, that looks up to her, that respects her autonomy – and even when James is at his worst, Margaret can’t help but sympathise with him.
The main challenge was the voice: how could I write convincingly from the perspective of an elderly woman and tell her tale? I think everyone is unique, whatever their age or gender. It was about inhabiting a character, portraying their feelings.
For a voice-led novel, the first draft wasn’t successful enough and needed work, so I honed my writing by experimenting with different voices, perspectives and genres through writing short stories, which I entered into competitions to gain feedback, validation and some prizes along the way. When I went back to Margaret, I had the tools and confidence to capture the voice. I built up Margaret’s background, adding to her interests, vocabulary and mannerisms. I’ve spent so much time with her that she seems a real person to me now!
Margaret is very different to my own grandmother. My memories are of a gentle, kind, softly-spoken woman who I can’t recall ever saying a cross word about anyone or being involved in any kind of conflict – though these are doubtlessly rose-tinted, childhood memories. I wanted my protagonist to be confrontational, determined, inquisitive. While kind-hearted, generous and vulnerable, Margaret can also be judgemental and sharp – and never far from trouble! Someone for the reader to root for and be exasperated by.
I wanted Margaret to have a sense of humour, her wit and asides bringing levity to what would otherwise be bleak topics in dementia and crime – and giving the novel a balance of comedy, seriousness and emotion.
It felt important to show the value of older generations, to appreciate their experience, their knowledge, their capabilities – that no one should be written off. Despite her vulnerabilities, Margaret isn’t feeble and wants to be useful to society as she rages against the dying of the light. Perhaps her inconspicuousness becomes her strength.
There were some aspects of my grandmother’s life and my childhood that have influenced The Margaret Code. My grandfather died several years before my grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and I wondered how much the impact of this loss affected her health. They had a traditional relationship and she was left having to handle financial and practical matters that she hadn’t managed before and certainly required a lot more support from my parents. Margaret’s story starts with the loss of her beloved husband, Albert, who she narrates her thoughts to; a way of signifying the loss, loneliness, and confusion this sudden shift in situation would cause. The mishaps Margaret and her family go through are mostly based on my grandmother’s experiences and will be familiar to those who have experienced dementia.
I wanted the warmth of my childhood memories of spending time with my grandmother to be central to Margaret and James’ relationship and emanate throughout the novel. The old-fashioned games of marbles and tiddlywinks, the trips to the parks and playgrounds, the freshly-battered, homemade fish and chips and a house always smelling of freshly-baked bread are from my recollections. I hasten to add though that I’m nothing like James either. I’d never do some of the things that he gets up to!
Balancing personal and family drama with a crime narrative became a challenge in itself. Further drafts of the novel focused on increasing the crime elements and getting the suspense and twists in the right places while not impacting Margaret’s journey. I wanted to deliver a compelling whodunnit without losing sight of the original inspiration.
I’m grateful inspiration’s lightbulb burned bright enough for me to pursue the idea. And that it gave me the opportunity to pay tribute to my grandmother and her own story.
(c) Richard Hooton
About The Margaret Code:
89-year-old Margaret has lived on Garnon Crescent all her life, except for those few years she never talks about. She knows all the neighbours; their hopes, their heartbreaks.
Only recently, Margaret’s memory isn’t what it used to be. She is sure Barbara, her best friend and neighbour, told her something important. Something she was supposed to remember.
When Barbara is found dead, Margaret determines to recover her missing memory. She and her grandson James begin to investigate, but soon strange incidents occur in her home. Margaret’s daughter thinks her memory is getting worse, but Margaret knows somebody wants her out of the way.
Because Margaret holds the key to solving this crime. If only she could remember where she put it.
This voice-led crime novel is perfect for readers of THE LIST OF SUSPICIOUS THINGS, THE MARLOW MURDER CLUB and ELIZABETH IS MISSING.
The Margaret Code by Richard Hooton is published by Sphere, hardback/eBook and audio. Order your copy of The Margaret Code online here.
And read more Meet the Author crime fiction writers on Writing.ie here.
