Richard Hooton

After winning numerous prizes for his short fiction, Richard Hooton’s debut novel THE MARGARET CODE will be published on 10 April 2025. 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.

Inspired by Richard’s relationship with his grandmother, THE MARGARET CODE combines a twisty, compelling crime plot with an emotive study of illness and its effect on family relationships, alongside an intriguing historical connection.

Richard was born and brought up in Nottinghamshire and now lives in Greater Manchester. He studied English Literature at the University of Wolverhampton before becoming a journalist and then going on to work in communications.

His short stories and flash fiction have won awards in various competitions and been published in several anthologies.

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Journal & Events

  • Fellowship: August 2026 Revealed

    Fellowship: August 2026 Revealed

    Rebecca McDonnell

    For August 2026’s Fellowship selection, we wanted a story that showcases everything we love about the genre at its most ambitious: sweeping political intrigue, unforgettable characters, rich world-building, and the...

    Rebecca McDonnell

    Fellowship: August 2026 Revealed

    For August 2026’s Fellowship selection, we wanted a story that showcases everything we love about the genre at its most ambitious: sweeping political intrigue, unforgettable characters, rich world-building, and the...

  • The Psychology of the Subscription Reader

    The Psychology of the Subscription Reader

    David H Headley

    Regularly, it could be a customer visiting one of our shops, or during a publisher meeting, or even at one of our events, somebody discovers that Goldsboro Books has not...

    1 comment
    David H Headley

    The Psychology of the Subscription Reader

    Regularly, it could be a customer visiting one of our shops, or during a publisher meeting, or even at one of our events, somebody discovers that Goldsboro Books has not...

    1 comment
  • Why Independent Bookshop Week Matters

    Why Independent Bookshop Week Matters

    David H Headley

    Every year, Independent Bookshop Week gives us the chance to celebrate something remarkable. Not books. Bookshops. At first glance, that distinction might seem odd. Surely the books are the important part?...

    1 comment
    David H Headley

    Why Independent Bookshop Week Matters

    Every year, Independent Bookshop Week gives us the chance to celebrate something remarkable. Not books. Bookshops. At first glance, that distinction might seem odd. Surely the books are the important part?...

    1 comment
  • Why We Still Queue for Signatures

    Why We Still Queue for Signatures

    David H Headley

    The final panel finishes. The applause dies away. People stretch their legs, gather their bags, and begin making their way towards the exits. Or at least they could. Instead, they...

    David H Headley

    Why We Still Queue for Signatures

    The final panel finishes. The applause dies away. People stretch their legs, gather their bags, and begin making their way towards the exits. Or at least they could. Instead, they...

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