Fiction Review: The Word Is Murder

I knew of author Anthony Horowitz mostly because of his very popular middle-grade spy thriller series, Alex Rider, which my son enjoyed when he was a kid. I've been hearing more recently about Horowitz's adult novels, and I've been meaning to try those out. Last month, I listened to The Word Is Murder on audio, the first of his Hawthorne and Horowitz mysteries. It's a classic detective story, with a twist.

The surprising thing about this detective novel is that the author has put himself--his real-life self--into the middle of this fictional story. The main character is Anthony Horowitz, with all the writing credits and life experiences of the real Anthony Horowitz. In addition to his well-known novels, Horowitz has written many screenplays for movies and TV, including a popular detective TV show in the UK. That's all true. In the fictional world of the novel, Horowitz is approached by ex-police detective Daniel Hawthorne to write a true crime book about him solving a case. Hawthorne worked on the set of Horowitz's TV show as a consultant, and now, he wants the author to write about his newest murder case. It's an unusual one. A woman walked into a funeral parlor off the street, without an appointment, and planned and prepaid for her funeral. Six hours later, that woman was murdered in her own home. How is that series of coincidental events possible? The woman is the mother of a famous Hollywood actor, and she seems to have been well-liked and involved in the community. Horowitz agrees to write the book and begins to go with Hawthorne, all over London, as he interviews witnesses and suspects and investigates the murder.

The pair of Hawthorne and Horowitz have a Sherlock Holmes-Dr. Watson vibe. Like Holmes, Hawthorne seems to be a brilliant investigator and keen observer, though lacking in typical social graces. He often notices things and begins a line of investigation that makes no sense to Horowitz and has to be explained. The mystery itself is a twisty and complex one, with plenty of red herrings and dead ends. I enjoyed listening to the audio, narrated by actor Rory Kinnear. Besides the immersive and intriguing mystery, the main characters are interesting, and there is even a bit of humor in the story. This was a fun, suspenseful mystery that kept me guessing right up to the end.

432 pages, Harper Perennial

HarperAudio

This book fits in the following 2022 Reading Challenges:

 

Travel the World in Books - UK

R.I.P. Challenge

 

Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher in return for an honest review. My review is my own opinion and is not influenced by my relationship with the publisher or author.

 

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