mountweazel, noun: a fake entry deliberately inserted into a dictionary or work of reference. Often used as a safeguard against copyright infringement.

In the late 19th century, lexicographer Peter Winceworth toils away creating Swansby’s New Encyclopaedic Dictionary, adding fictitious entries. In the present day intern, Mallory is tasked with uncovering these mountweazels as the text of the dictionary is digitised for modern consumers. 

“You wouldn’t expect a comic novel about a dictionary to be a thriller too, but this one is. In fact, [it] is also a mystery, love story (two of them) and cliffhanging melodrama.” The New York Times Book Review