by S.J. Archer
Series: The Langford Mysteries #1
Community rating: 4/5 from 1 rating.
Some secrets are never spoken. Others are written in the margins.
When English professor Elliot Marsh examines a rare book donated to Langford College, he discovers coded annotations hidden in its margins — a cipher spanning two centuries, written by hands no one was meant to trace.The next morning, the donor is found dead. The official ruling is natural causes. Elliot isn’t convinced.
As he works to decode the cipher, Elliot uncovers a secret history buried beneath Langford’s ivy-covered reputation: stolen land, vanished families, and an institution built on silence. But the deeper he digs, the clearer it becomes that someone has worked very hard to keep the past unread.
And they’re still watching.
With the help of a sharp-tongued bookshop owner, a cryptography expert, and a detective who would prefer he stay out of it, Elliot follows the trail into Langford’s buried history — and discovers that some truths were kept hidden for a reason.
Death in the Margins is the first book in The Langford Mysteries, a cozy academic mystery series full of clever puzzles, atmospheric New England charm, and crimes where the people matter as much as the solution. Perfect for readers of Richard Osman, Anthony Horowitz, and Louise Penny.
Genres: Cozy, Mystery & Thrillers
298 pages
Published: 2026-03-24
Publisher: Signal House Press