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Hawthorne & Horowitz #4
The Twist of a Knife
In New York Times bestselling author Anthony Horowitz’s ingenious fourth literary whodunit following The Word is Murder, The Sentence is Death, and A Line to Kill, Horowitz becomes the prime suspect in a murder investigation—and only one man can prove his innocence: his newly estranged partner in solving crime, Detective Hawthorne.
“I’m sorry but the answer’s no.” Reluctant author, Anthony Horowitz, has had enough. He tells ex-detective Daniel Hawthorne that after three books he’s splitting and their deal is over. The truth is that Anthony has other things on his mind.
His new play, a thriller called Mindgame, is about to open at the Vaudeville Theater in London’s West End. Not surprisingly, Hawthorne declines a ticket to the opening night. The play is panned by the critics. In particular, Sunday Times critic Margaret Throsby gives it a savage review, focusing particularly on the writing. The next day, Throsby is stabbed in the heart with an ornamental dagger which turns out to belong to Anthony, and has his fingerprints all over it.
Anthony is arrested by an old enemy... Detective Inspector Cara Grunshaw. She still carries a grudge from her failure to solve the case described in the second Hawthorne adventure, The Sentence is Death , and blames Anthony. Now she’s out for revenge. Thrown into prison and fearing for both his personal future and his writing career, Anthony is the prime suspect in Throsby’s murder and when a second theatre critic is found to have died in mysterious circumstances, the net closes in. Ever more desperate, he realizes that only one man can help him. But will Hawthorne take the call?
“I’m sorry but the answer’s no.” Reluctant author, Anthony Horowitz, has had enough. He tells ex-detective Daniel Hawthorne that after three books he’s splitting and their deal is over. The truth is that Anthony has other things on his mind.
His new play, a thriller called Mindgame, is about to open at the Vaudeville Theater in London’s West End. Not surprisingly, Hawthorne declines a ticket to the opening night. The play is panned by the critics. In particular, Sunday Times critic Margaret Throsby gives it a savage review, focusing particularly on the writing. The next day, Throsby is stabbed in the heart with an ornamental dagger which turns out to belong to Anthony, and has his fingerprints all over it.
Anthony is arrested by an old enemy... Detective Inspector Cara Grunshaw. She still carries a grudge from her failure to solve the case described in the second Hawthorne adventure, The Sentence is Death , and blames Anthony. Now she’s out for revenge. Thrown into prison and fearing for both his personal future and his writing career, Anthony is the prime suspect in Throsby’s murder and when a second theatre critic is found to have died in mysterious circumstances, the net closes in. Ever more desperate, he realizes that only one man can help him. But will Hawthorne take the call?
373 pages, Hardcover
First published August 18, 2022
About the author
Anthony Horowitz
425 books18.5k followersAnthony Horowitz, OBE is ranked alongside Enid Blyton and Mark A. Cooper as "The most original and best spy-kids authors of the century." (New York Times). Anthony has been writing since the age of eight, and professionally since the age of twenty. In addition to the highly successful Alex Rider books, he is also the writer and creator of award winning detective series Foyle’s War, and more recently event drama Collision, among his other television works he has written episodes for Poirot, Murder in Mind, Midsomer Murders and Murder Most Horrid. Anthony became patron to East Anglia Children’s Hospices in 2009.
On 19 January 2011, the estate of Arthur Conan Doyle announced that Horowitz was to be the writer of a new Sherlock Holmes novel, the first such effort to receive an official endorsement from them and to be entitled the House of Silk.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/anthon...
On 19 January 2011, the estate of Arthur Conan Doyle announced that Horowitz was to be the writer of a new Sherlock Holmes novel, the first such effort to receive an official endorsement from them and to be entitled the House of Silk.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/anthon...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,961 reviews
November 25, 2022
4.5 STARS
Hawthorne and Horowitz Mystery #4
Another fun metafiction mystery that I adored!
I've read the whole series and this one was even more fun because the mystery actually involves Horowitz as a suspect! We also learn a bit more about the secretive and cryptic Hawthorne. Whenever he is asked something personal, his go-to is always "I'm a detective. What else do you need to know?"
These two are in a bit of a dispute over another book deal. "I’m sorry, Hawthorne. But the answer’s no. Our deal is over."
It is opening night for Horowitz' new play, Mindgame. A popular critic named Harriet Throsby writes a scathing review full of vitriole.
"It's critics who kill writers, never the other way round." Poor Horowitz seems to be digging his own grave! Will Hawthorne rescue him or hang him out to dry?
The sarcasm and humor we expect from these two is on point, the mystery is clever and suspenseful. It kept my mind spinning throughout, a bit hard to follow at times (just stay the course and pay attention), but never boring. Throw in an old dagger, fingerprints, dna, CCTV images, a Japanese blossom and a bumbling detective and have fun solving the Christie-esque murder!
I read/listened and loved it! Narrated by: Rory Kinnear, who is a favorite of mine. 8 hrs/ 31 min , released 11-15-2022
This series is best read in order to fully enjoy the relationships and timeline for Horowitz and Hawthorne.
Thanks to Netgalley for my kindle copy!
Hawthorne and Horowitz Mystery #4
Another fun metafiction mystery that I adored!
I've read the whole series and this one was even more fun because the mystery actually involves Horowitz as a suspect! We also learn a bit more about the secretive and cryptic Hawthorne. Whenever he is asked something personal, his go-to is always "I'm a detective. What else do you need to know?"
These two are in a bit of a dispute over another book deal. "I’m sorry, Hawthorne. But the answer’s no. Our deal is over."
It is opening night for Horowitz' new play, Mindgame. A popular critic named Harriet Throsby writes a scathing review full of vitriole.
"It's critics who kill writers, never the other way round." Poor Horowitz seems to be digging his own grave! Will Hawthorne rescue him or hang him out to dry?
The sarcasm and humor we expect from these two is on point, the mystery is clever and suspenseful. It kept my mind spinning throughout, a bit hard to follow at times (just stay the course and pay attention), but never boring. Throw in an old dagger, fingerprints, dna, CCTV images, a Japanese blossom and a bumbling detective and have fun solving the Christie-esque murder!
I read/listened and loved it! Narrated by: Rory Kinnear, who is a favorite of mine. 8 hrs/ 31 min , released 11-15-2022
This series is best read in order to fully enjoy the relationships and timeline for Horowitz and Hawthorne.
Thanks to Netgalley for my kindle copy!
December 14, 2022
"When the knife is in my back, why are my fingerprints on it?" (Jerry Harvey)
Just about what Anthony Horowitz is thinking about now.
There's been a crime committed on two fronts. One is a play that hasn't quite cut the mustard since opening night in London's Vaudeville Theater. The second is the murder of a theater critic, Harriet Throsby, who slaughtered Tony's play, Mindgame, on that very opening night. All eyes were riveted on Tony whose gift of an ornamental dagger found itself embedded in ol' Harriet. Fingerprints and a stray hair from Tony made its entrance that evening as well.
The cops were called and Tony left his home in cuffs. Shocked and speechless, Tony's first call was to Daniel Hawthorne, his sidekick detective partner in the previous three books. Hawthorne, peculiar with a capital P, does some back scene checking while Tony lays on a questionable mattress in his jail cell. He's soon sprung, but the investigation now begins on a more serious note. Motive and evidence leans hard on Tony. But why?
Anthony Horowitz has created a brilliant series in which he writes himself into his own novels. And the kicker is the elusive Daniel Hawthorne who insists on keeping his private life extremely private. But this time, Tony has to trust him completely. His life depends on it.
The Twist of A Knife reads as a standalone, but you should really grab The Word Is Murder and move on from there. There's snarky dialogue and laugh-out-loud moments that Horowitz slides in at all the right moments. The storylines in all his books are sharp and smart. Just the way we like 'em. Perhaps now's the time to dig into Horowitz. He's a gift that just keeps giving.
Just about what Anthony Horowitz is thinking about now.
There's been a crime committed on two fronts. One is a play that hasn't quite cut the mustard since opening night in London's Vaudeville Theater. The second is the murder of a theater critic, Harriet Throsby, who slaughtered Tony's play, Mindgame, on that very opening night. All eyes were riveted on Tony whose gift of an ornamental dagger found itself embedded in ol' Harriet. Fingerprints and a stray hair from Tony made its entrance that evening as well.
The cops were called and Tony left his home in cuffs. Shocked and speechless, Tony's first call was to Daniel Hawthorne, his sidekick detective partner in the previous three books. Hawthorne, peculiar with a capital P, does some back scene checking while Tony lays on a questionable mattress in his jail cell. He's soon sprung, but the investigation now begins on a more serious note. Motive and evidence leans hard on Tony. But why?
Anthony Horowitz has created a brilliant series in which he writes himself into his own novels. And the kicker is the elusive Daniel Hawthorne who insists on keeping his private life extremely private. But this time, Tony has to trust him completely. His life depends on it.
The Twist of A Knife reads as a standalone, but you should really grab The Word Is Murder and move on from there. There's snarky dialogue and laugh-out-loud moments that Horowitz slides in at all the right moments. The storylines in all his books are sharp and smart. Just the way we like 'em. Perhaps now's the time to dig into Horowitz. He's a gift that just keeps giving.
March 29, 2023
The Twist of a Knife is the fourth book and a worthy addition to the Hawthorne and Horowitz Investigate series featuring former DI Daniel Hawthorne and his biographer/sidekick Anthony Horowitz (the author of the series who writes himself as one of the characters in this series).
As the novel begins, Horowitz is glad to discontinue his professional association with Hawthorne upon completing the three-book deal previously agreed upon. Though Hawthorne would like to continue their collaboration, Horowitz has had enough of the tight-lipped, unfriendly Hawthorne. Besides, it is the opening night of his play, “Mindgame”, in London's Vaudeville Theatre, so he has other concerns keeping him occupied. Opening night is well attended, but when renowned theatre critic Harriet Throsby writes a savage review of the play and the performances, with particularly acidic criticism targeting Horowitz’s writing, he and the cast members are disheartened. In a shocking turn of events, the next morning, she is found stabbed in the heart with a dagger and all evidence points to Anthony as the culprit. DI Cara Grunshaw (remember her?) is more than happy to arrest Anthony and throw him in jail pending interrogation. Anthony needs help and who better to help him get to the truth of the matter than Daniel Hawthorne? Thankfully, Hawthorne does not turn Anthony’s plea for help down and when Anthony is released pending further investigation, the duo race against time to prove Anthony’s innocence and find the true killer before he is formally charged with murder.
The Twist of a Knife by Anthony Horowitz is a cleverly crafted mystery with plenty of red herrings, several suspects with motives and interesting backstories linking them to the victim and a good dose of humor injected into the narrative for comic relief. As usual, I loved the dynamic between the two main characters and really like that with every book we get to know more about Daniel Hawthorne. I loved that I was unable to predict who the killer was and though a few aspects of this story were a tad farfetched, it did not detract from my overall reading experience. Those who enjoy classic detective stories would enjoy this series. I do recommend that the books be read in series order to fully enjoy the character dynamics.
Overall, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read. I paired my reading with the terrific narration by Rory Kinnear. I can’t wait for the next installment in this series!
As the novel begins, Horowitz is glad to discontinue his professional association with Hawthorne upon completing the three-book deal previously agreed upon. Though Hawthorne would like to continue their collaboration, Horowitz has had enough of the tight-lipped, unfriendly Hawthorne. Besides, it is the opening night of his play, “Mindgame”, in London's Vaudeville Theatre, so he has other concerns keeping him occupied. Opening night is well attended, but when renowned theatre critic Harriet Throsby writes a savage review of the play and the performances, with particularly acidic criticism targeting Horowitz’s writing, he and the cast members are disheartened. In a shocking turn of events, the next morning, she is found stabbed in the heart with a dagger and all evidence points to Anthony as the culprit. DI Cara Grunshaw (remember her?) is more than happy to arrest Anthony and throw him in jail pending interrogation. Anthony needs help and who better to help him get to the truth of the matter than Daniel Hawthorne? Thankfully, Hawthorne does not turn Anthony’s plea for help down and when Anthony is released pending further investigation, the duo race against time to prove Anthony’s innocence and find the true killer before he is formally charged with murder.
The Twist of a Knife by Anthony Horowitz is a cleverly crafted mystery with plenty of red herrings, several suspects with motives and interesting backstories linking them to the victim and a good dose of humor injected into the narrative for comic relief. As usual, I loved the dynamic between the two main characters and really like that with every book we get to know more about Daniel Hawthorne. I loved that I was unable to predict who the killer was and though a few aspects of this story were a tad farfetched, it did not detract from my overall reading experience. Those who enjoy classic detective stories would enjoy this series. I do recommend that the books be read in series order to fully enjoy the character dynamics.
Overall, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read. I paired my reading with the terrific narration by Rory Kinnear. I can’t wait for the next installment in this series!
April 9, 2023
The book every author secretly wants to write.
I actually feel weird now writing a review because the whole book is about a nasty reviewer that gets shanked after writing a scathing review of Horowitz's real-life play, Mindgame.
Is real-life Anthony Horowitz living out a fantasy in his newest book?
Honestly, that's not a bad way to work out anger issues, and I heartily approve of this version to the alternative, sir.
But this fictitious reviewer, unlike yours truly, is a terrible person.
TERRIBLE.
No one is going to mourn this bitch. Not her henpecked husband, not her angry-sad daughter, not her nonexistent friends, and certainly not the theater community who lived in terror of her. And not only of her critical pen but of the sly way she ferreted out their personal secrets - then wafted those secrets back in their faces.
Oddly, all the evidence points to Anthony being her killer.
And that was maybe the worst part of the plot for me, as it seemed as though both of the galoofing cops were 100% convinced it was Anthony because he'd made them look bad in a previous book. It bothered me that they were both such poorly constructed, one-dimension characters.
It also seemed unlikely that Anthony would get arrested, spend the night in jail after being interrogated, and then try to hide it all from his wife.
Nobody does that.
If you are under suspicion of murder, you're going to go out and get the best damn attorney you can afford and lawyer up. There's no way you'll convince me that anyone who has ever seen OR read a crime drama wouldn't know to do that.
Who the hell in their right mind says, I didn't do it, therefore I don't need a lawyer?
If you didn't do it, you need a lawyer more than anybody!
That was so frustratingly stupid that it completely took me out of the story.
A bit later the forensic systems go down, and they can't get the test results for the fibers (or whatever) back for a few days.
This is when the Hawthorne & Horowitz team-up starts and they head out to investigate the murder and find out whodunnit.
Now, prior to Anthony getting arrested he's already told Daniel that nothing on heaven or earth will get him to write another book about him. So I'm like...OHMYGOD!
The actual mystery was really quite good. I did NOT guess who the killer was, and it wasn't until Hawthorne was basically explaining to everyone that I even thought about that person as a potential suspect.
So, maybe it sounds like I'm not giving this a perfectly glowing review but the truth is that I had a ball listening to this one regardless of any minor complaints I had.
But then I'd have to say that, wouldn't I? Because now we know what Anthony Horowitz fantasizes about in his spare time, don't we?! That's fucking terrifying, isn't it?!
Shhhh! Here he comes. Be cool. Be cool!!!
Ok, if you love Anthony & Daniel, run out and get this.
Because while I didn't think this was quite as good as the last book, Hawthorne and Horowitz are firmly comfort-read characters for me at this point, and I can't see myself giving up this series.
Recommended.
I actually feel weird now writing a review because the whole book is about a nasty reviewer that gets shanked after writing a scathing review of Horowitz's real-life play, Mindgame.
Is real-life Anthony Horowitz living out a fantasy in his newest book?
Honestly, that's not a bad way to work out anger issues, and I heartily approve of this version to the alternative, sir.
But this fictitious reviewer, unlike yours truly, is a terrible person.
TERRIBLE.
No one is going to mourn this bitch. Not her henpecked husband, not her angry-sad daughter, not her nonexistent friends, and certainly not the theater community who lived in terror of her. And not only of her critical pen but of the sly way she ferreted out their personal secrets - then wafted those secrets back in their faces.
Oddly, all the evidence points to Anthony being her killer.
And that was maybe the worst part of the plot for me, as it seemed as though both of the galoofing cops were 100% convinced it was Anthony because he'd made them look bad in a previous book. It bothered me that they were both such poorly constructed, one-dimension characters.
It also seemed unlikely that Anthony would get arrested, spend the night in jail after being interrogated, and then try to hide it all from his wife.
Nobody does that.
If you are under suspicion of murder, you're going to go out and get the best damn attorney you can afford and lawyer up. There's no way you'll convince me that anyone who has ever seen OR read a crime drama wouldn't know to do that.
Who the hell in their right mind says, I didn't do it, therefore I don't need a lawyer?
If you didn't do it, you need a lawyer more than anybody!
That was so frustratingly stupid that it completely took me out of the story.
A bit later the forensic systems go down, and they can't get the test results for the fibers (or whatever) back for a few days.
This is when the Hawthorne & Horowitz team-up starts and they head out to investigate the murder and find out whodunnit.
Now, prior to Anthony getting arrested he's already told Daniel that nothing on heaven or earth will get him to write another book about him. So I'm like...OHMYGOD!
The actual mystery was really quite good. I did NOT guess who the killer was, and it wasn't until Hawthorne was basically explaining to everyone that I even thought about that person as a potential suspect.
So, maybe it sounds like I'm not giving this a perfectly glowing review but the truth is that I had a ball listening to this one regardless of any minor complaints I had.
But then I'd have to say that, wouldn't I? Because now we know what Anthony Horowitz fantasizes about in his spare time, don't we?! That's fucking terrifying, isn't it?!
Shhhh! Here he comes. Be cool. Be cool!!!
Ok, if you love Anthony & Daniel, run out and get this.
Because while I didn't think this was quite as good as the last book, Hawthorne and Horowitz are firmly comfort-read characters for me at this point, and I can't see myself giving up this series.
Recommended.
September 2, 2022
Horowitz and Hawthorne’s bromance is officially over – kaput, terminated, canceled, executed at dawn. Or, is it?
Tired of ex- detective Daniel Hawthorne’s dismissive treatment of him, and his secretiveness, author Anthony Horowitz informs Hawthorne, in no uncertain terms, that he has no intention of shadowing him, and writing any more books about him. He’s fulfilled their three book deal – The Word is Murder is published and doing well, The Sentence is Death is with his agent, and he’ll start writing A Line to Kill later in the year. Horowitz has already moved on to writing Moonflower Murders, and is anticipating the London opening of his play, Mindgame. Note: all the above mentioned books are already published by the way, which makes me think that either this novel is set a few years ago, or more likely it’s a fictional timeline, just like all the characters except Anthony Horowitz, although he is a mostly made up version of himself (with me so far?). Also, Mindgame is a real play by Horowitz, performed way back in 1999, further evidence that this is a fictional timeline.
The opening night of Mindgame is a success, the one blight on the horizon, a critic’s nasty review, largely focusing on Horowitz’s failure as a writer. But, when said critic, is stabbed to death the next morning, and with several pieces of evidence against him, Horowitz is the main suspect. He needs a genius Sherlock-type mind to get him out of this fix. But, will Hawthorne be there for him, when he’s never been in the past.
Horowitz and Hawthorne #4 is now my favourite in the series. In fact it was so fast-paced, perplexing, tense, and engaging that upon finishing I was convinced that it was a lot shorter than previous instalments, but nope, it was 400 pages. I loved how the mystery was connected to Horowitz, both personally and professionally – it really increased the stakes and urgency. The resolution to the mystery was surprisingly emotional as well, and I was so invested that I actually shed a few tears. But, there were lots of amusing lines and moments to balance things out. I found it hilarious that (tiny spoiler ahead) Anthony Horowitz wrote his wife believing that he was guilty of murder.
I adored all the Agatha Christie-ness, the suspect interviews, the unusual clues that didn’t seem to fit with anything, and the players gathered together for the final reveal, and Hawthorne’s reason for it. Just like in the previous book, A Line to Kill, a little more was revealed regarding Hawthorne’s past.
Loved, loved, loved The Twist of a Knife, and cannot wait for the next. This series never disappoints.
Tired of ex- detective Daniel Hawthorne’s dismissive treatment of him, and his secretiveness, author Anthony Horowitz informs Hawthorne, in no uncertain terms, that he has no intention of shadowing him, and writing any more books about him. He’s fulfilled their three book deal – The Word is Murder is published and doing well, The Sentence is Death is with his agent, and he’ll start writing A Line to Kill later in the year. Horowitz has already moved on to writing Moonflower Murders, and is anticipating the London opening of his play, Mindgame. Note: all the above mentioned books are already published by the way, which makes me think that either this novel is set a few years ago, or more likely it’s a fictional timeline, just like all the characters except Anthony Horowitz, although he is a mostly made up version of himself (with me so far?). Also, Mindgame is a real play by Horowitz, performed way back in 1999, further evidence that this is a fictional timeline.
The opening night of Mindgame is a success, the one blight on the horizon, a critic’s nasty review, largely focusing on Horowitz’s failure as a writer. But, when said critic, is stabbed to death the next morning, and with several pieces of evidence against him, Horowitz is the main suspect. He needs a genius Sherlock-type mind to get him out of this fix. But, will Hawthorne be there for him, when he’s never been in the past.
Horowitz and Hawthorne #4 is now my favourite in the series. In fact it was so fast-paced, perplexing, tense, and engaging that upon finishing I was convinced that it was a lot shorter than previous instalments, but nope, it was 400 pages. I loved how the mystery was connected to Horowitz, both personally and professionally – it really increased the stakes and urgency. The resolution to the mystery was surprisingly emotional as well, and I was so invested that I actually shed a few tears. But, there were lots of amusing lines and moments to balance things out. I found it hilarious that (tiny spoiler ahead) Anthony Horowitz wrote his wife believing that he was guilty of murder.
I adored all the Agatha Christie-ness, the suspect interviews, the unusual clues that didn’t seem to fit with anything, and the players gathered together for the final reveal, and Hawthorne’s reason for it. Just like in the previous book, A Line to Kill, a little more was revealed regarding Hawthorne’s past.
Loved, loved, loved The Twist of a Knife, and cannot wait for the next. This series never disappoints.
December 22, 2022
Anthony Horowitz’s new play, Mindgame, opens to great excitement, but receives a scathing review from the powerful critic, Harriet Throsby. The entire cast and crew are devastated.
The next morning Harriet is found dead, stabbed through the heart with a dagger. All signs point to Anthony as the culprit, and he makes an appeal to Hawthorne to investigate and clear his name.
As with the previous books, the author cleverly inserts himself into the narrative, and what makes this series so enjoyable is the relationship between Hawthorne and Horowitz, with their witty dialogue and snark. Every book reveals a bit more about the secretive and elusive Hawthorne, and leaves me wanting more.
In a nod to Agatha Christie, there is no shortage of suspects and motives for the murder, and I was kept guessing to the very end. The final resolution is clever when Hawthorne gathers all the major players together and reveals all.
If you love Agatha Christie and the Golden Age of classic mysteries, you will enjoy this one. The theater world isn’t my favorite setting, but the author managed to make it interesting. The ending will leave fans of the series with hope for more to come.
This was an enjoyable buddy read with my friend Marialyce, one that left us looking forward to the next book in the series. Although not strictly necessary, I highly recommend reading the series in order, as there is further character growth and development with each book and it helps to know the background.
The audiobook was narrated by Rory Kinnear, who does an amazing job.
July 8, 2023
The fourth book in this excellent series in which the author stars as himself alongside fictional character ex Detective Daniel Hawthorne. It seems the partnership is coming to an end as Horowitz tells Hawthorne that, their three book deal having finished, there will be no more.
Events however prove otherwise when a prominent theatre critic is murdered and Horowitz is arrested as the prime suspect. Now he has to rely on Hawthorne to investigate and clear his name. The rest follows the usual pattern of Hawthorne being secretive and Horowitz (and this reader) despairing of ever knowing what is going on. Of course there is a masterful and dramatic conclusion.
These books are a glorious mixture of the real and the fictional, and the author must have so much fun writing them. I enjoy all his references to real people, TV shows, books, movies (Tenet was really good by the way) and plays. I am already looking forward to the next book.
Events however prove otherwise when a prominent theatre critic is murdered and Horowitz is arrested as the prime suspect. Now he has to rely on Hawthorne to investigate and clear his name. The rest follows the usual pattern of Hawthorne being secretive and Horowitz (and this reader) despairing of ever knowing what is going on. Of course there is a masterful and dramatic conclusion.
These books are a glorious mixture of the real and the fictional, and the author must have so much fun writing them. I enjoy all his references to real people, TV shows, books, movies (Tenet was really good by the way) and plays. I am already looking forward to the next book.
November 20, 2022
Theater critic Harriet Throsby is stabbed to death after posting an uncomplimentary review of the new play by Anthony Horowitz. It turns out that pretty much everyone who knew Harriet had a motive to kill her, but all of the evidence points to Anthony. He enlists the help of ex-cop, and former writing partner, Daniel Hawthorne to clear his name. This is the fourth book in the series, but it can be read as a standalone. However, I recommend starting with “The Word Is Murder” which was the first and best book in the series.
Aside from the meta aspects of having the author of the book also be a character in the book, this is a conventional mystery. The cops are dumb and the private detective saves the day. Anthony does manage to learn more about the secretive Daniel in this book. That suggests that the series will continue.
Aside from the meta aspects of having the author of the book also be a character in the book, this is a conventional mystery. The cops are dumb and the private detective saves the day. Anthony does manage to learn more about the secretive Daniel in this book. That suggests that the series will continue.
November 26, 2022
Great fun!
The Twist of the Knife is the latest addition to Anthony Horowitz's tongue-in-cheek detective series featuring Hawthorne, a quasi "hard-boiled" Sherlock Holmes, and Horowitz as his Watson. In addition to writing himself as a character in the fourth novel in the series, Horowitz becomes the chief murder suspect.
When Horowitz's play Mindgames premiers at the West End, it receives a scathing review from Harriet Throsby, a theater critic well-known for her viciousness. Circumstantial evidence points to Horowitz as the killer. To find out "whodunnit," Hawthorne and Horowitz must figure out who would want to frame Horowitz.
The subsequent investigation follows and spoofs on the conventional detective story format a la Agatha Christie. My husband and I listened to the novel on a road trip, and neither of us could figure it out. The Twist of the Knife is great fun and highly entertaining. I highly recommend it if you feel the need to escape!
The Twist of the Knife is the latest addition to Anthony Horowitz's tongue-in-cheek detective series featuring Hawthorne, a quasi "hard-boiled" Sherlock Holmes, and Horowitz as his Watson. In addition to writing himself as a character in the fourth novel in the series, Horowitz becomes the chief murder suspect.
When Horowitz's play Mindgames premiers at the West End, it receives a scathing review from Harriet Throsby, a theater critic well-known for her viciousness. Circumstantial evidence points to Horowitz as the killer. To find out "whodunnit," Hawthorne and Horowitz must figure out who would want to frame Horowitz.
The subsequent investigation follows and spoofs on the conventional detective story format a la Agatha Christie. My husband and I listened to the novel on a road trip, and neither of us could figure it out. The Twist of the Knife is great fun and highly entertaining. I highly recommend it if you feel the need to escape!
July 24, 2024
After concluding the third book with ex-detective Daniel Hawthorne, novelist Anthony Horowitz decides he’s had his fill of his partner-in-crime and ends their collaboration. To be honest, Anthony’s focus is now on his play, Mindgame, which is about to debut to London’s West End at the Vaudeville Theatre.
Following opening night, the reviews start to roll in…and they’re not pretty. But the most ruthless of all was written by Sunday Times theater critic, Harriet Throsby. The next morning, she’s found stabbed in the heart with a dagger that can not only be traced back to Anthony, but is covered in his and only his fingerprints. Suddenly, he finds himself on the other side of the law pitted against an old enemy, Detective Inspector Cara Grunshaw.
Within hours, Grunshaw has arrested Anthony and thrown him into jail to await interrogation. Still bearing a major grudge for a past humiliation at Anthony’s hands, she refuses to listen to anything he says. When a second theater critic is found to have died under suspicious circumstances and even more evidence paints him as the perpetrator, Anthony finally registers just what a tight spot he’s in. With the noose edging ever closer, there’s only one person he can call. The very person he’d just closed the door on…Daniel Hawthorne. But will he put his grudge aside and answer the call? Or will Anthony find himself behind bars for crimes he didn’t commit?
The fourth in the Hawthorne and Horowitz Investigate series, The Twist of a Knife left me disappointed. From the start, I found myself bored, which had never happened to me with a Horowitz book before. From the first third of the book where extraneous details that are unnecessary to the plot filled page after page (I ended up skimming a good deal until the murder occurred) to the slow pace and lack of suspense, it was hard to get wrapped up in the story. Again, very unlike the author.
Perhaps a big reason I found myself so let down was, in the fact, that I had such high expectations because of who wrote it. If I had gone in blind without this book being up on a pedestal in my head, I most likely would have enjoyed it more. Because the entire plot line follows the well-trod ground of many classic murder mysteries: a round-robin of interviews with potential suspects concluding with a dramatic dénouement with all of said suspects gathered together for the reveal. A particularly well-loved style by the renowned Agatha Christie.
Unlike the earlier works in the series, however, this book is actually more of a cut-and-dry police (or private investigator) procedural with the added benefit of the framed suspect being the metafiction author himself. Just don’t expect it to be fast-paced or suspense-filled. Sprinkled with clues, red herrings, and a boatload of potential murderers because, well, the victim was thoroughly hated even by her own family, the scene is adeptly set. We also finally, four books in, learn something about Hawthorne and his private life, creating a more likable character. Along with the continued dim-witted sidekick of Horowitz’s own likeness, which provided the perfect foil for Hawthorne‘s intellect, this book certainly reads like a classic. And there is, after all, a good reason why they’ve worked so well for so long.
In the end, I still found myself unimpressed by this latest book. Maybe the author wrote himself into a corner by attempting this classic layout or is just tiring of these characters. Either way, it was certainly a let-down for me. Will it keep me from reading his next book (hopefully a follow-up for Moonstone Murders)? Absolutely not. But my expectations have been lowered just a hair. If you love a good classic murder mystery, then I recommend this book, just don’t expect it to contain Horowitz’s normal special sauce. It pains me to do this, but… Rating of 3 stars.
Following opening night, the reviews start to roll in…and they’re not pretty. But the most ruthless of all was written by Sunday Times theater critic, Harriet Throsby. The next morning, she’s found stabbed in the heart with a dagger that can not only be traced back to Anthony, but is covered in his and only his fingerprints. Suddenly, he finds himself on the other side of the law pitted against an old enemy, Detective Inspector Cara Grunshaw.
Within hours, Grunshaw has arrested Anthony and thrown him into jail to await interrogation. Still bearing a major grudge for a past humiliation at Anthony’s hands, she refuses to listen to anything he says. When a second theater critic is found to have died under suspicious circumstances and even more evidence paints him as the perpetrator, Anthony finally registers just what a tight spot he’s in. With the noose edging ever closer, there’s only one person he can call. The very person he’d just closed the door on…Daniel Hawthorne. But will he put his grudge aside and answer the call? Or will Anthony find himself behind bars for crimes he didn’t commit?
The fourth in the Hawthorne and Horowitz Investigate series, The Twist of a Knife left me disappointed. From the start, I found myself bored, which had never happened to me with a Horowitz book before. From the first third of the book where extraneous details that are unnecessary to the plot filled page after page (I ended up skimming a good deal until the murder occurred) to the slow pace and lack of suspense, it was hard to get wrapped up in the story. Again, very unlike the author.
Perhaps a big reason I found myself so let down was, in the fact, that I had such high expectations because of who wrote it. If I had gone in blind without this book being up on a pedestal in my head, I most likely would have enjoyed it more. Because the entire plot line follows the well-trod ground of many classic murder mysteries: a round-robin of interviews with potential suspects concluding with a dramatic dénouement with all of said suspects gathered together for the reveal. A particularly well-loved style by the renowned Agatha Christie.
Unlike the earlier works in the series, however, this book is actually more of a cut-and-dry police (or private investigator) procedural with the added benefit of the framed suspect being the metafiction author himself. Just don’t expect it to be fast-paced or suspense-filled. Sprinkled with clues, red herrings, and a boatload of potential murderers because, well, the victim was thoroughly hated even by her own family, the scene is adeptly set. We also finally, four books in, learn something about Hawthorne and his private life, creating a more likable character. Along with the continued dim-witted sidekick of Horowitz’s own likeness, which provided the perfect foil for Hawthorne‘s intellect, this book certainly reads like a classic. And there is, after all, a good reason why they’ve worked so well for so long.
In the end, I still found myself unimpressed by this latest book. Maybe the author wrote himself into a corner by attempting this classic layout or is just tiring of these characters. Either way, it was certainly a let-down for me. Will it keep me from reading his next book (hopefully a follow-up for Moonstone Murders)? Absolutely not. But my expectations have been lowered just a hair. If you love a good classic murder mystery, then I recommend this book, just don’t expect it to contain Horowitz’s normal special sauce. It pains me to do this, but… Rating of 3 stars.
December 22, 2022
Anthony Horowitz has done it again.... and I am so happy to say I loved it. His new book is a wonderfully done mystery that had me believing that every one of the characters had murdered the odious critic, Harriet Throsby. ( I will admit I thought that Horowitz might have been the culprit) However, as it seems that Anthony was knee deep in this murder, the other actors and stage manager all had multiple reasons for doing away with Harriet.
Anthony had written a play, The Mindgame, that is opening in London's Vaudeville Theater, and Harriet, since it's the opening night, is in attendance. The play seems to go well, but as things go, Harriet cuts the play to its core in a scathing review. After, at the first night party, her review is read online by one of the actresses and it's really Anthony who is trashed (motive). The next morning, Harriet is found stabbed and once again all the police fingers point to Anthony. As Anthony is arrested, he knows who he needs and will ask to step in to this nightmare and of course it is Hawthorne. After much cajoling and the usual barbs and verbal jabs between Anthony and Hawthorne, Hawthorne agrees to lend a hand for price of course. So the two men link forces once again trying to solve this mystery.
I do so love these books. They are always super fun as the two main protagonists romp through murder and mystery while developing a semi friendship with Anthony learning a tad more about the illusive Hawthorne. I do so love the insertion of the author into these tales and he's so good at this, that at times I found myself wondering if parts were true. Hmm, can't say more than I so enjoyed this escapade into the lives of two who always offer intrigue with a very definite wink to the writers of yesteryear.
Jan and I read this one and both came away with our fingers crossed that H and H will once again team up to solve more mysterious blood and death stories.
Anthony had written a play, The Mindgame, that is opening in London's Vaudeville Theater, and Harriet, since it's the opening night, is in attendance. The play seems to go well, but as things go, Harriet cuts the play to its core in a scathing review. After, at the first night party, her review is read online by one of the actresses and it's really Anthony who is trashed (motive). The next morning, Harriet is found stabbed and once again all the police fingers point to Anthony. As Anthony is arrested, he knows who he needs and will ask to step in to this nightmare and of course it is Hawthorne. After much cajoling and the usual barbs and verbal jabs between Anthony and Hawthorne, Hawthorne agrees to lend a hand for price of course. So the two men link forces once again trying to solve this mystery.
I do so love these books. They are always super fun as the two main protagonists romp through murder and mystery while developing a semi friendship with Anthony learning a tad more about the illusive Hawthorne. I do so love the insertion of the author into these tales and he's so good at this, that at times I found myself wondering if parts were true. Hmm, can't say more than I so enjoyed this escapade into the lives of two who always offer intrigue with a very definite wink to the writers of yesteryear.
Jan and I read this one and both came away with our fingers crossed that H and H will once again team up to solve more mysterious blood and death stories.
July 18, 2023
3.5 stars
Like all the books in the 'Hawthorne and Horowitz' series, this novel is structured like a 'Sherlock Holmes' story in which Dr. Watson accompanies Sherlock Holmes on an investigation, then chronicles the case. In this 4th novel in the series, a theatre critic is murdered. The book can be read as a standalone though familiarity with the characters is a plus.
*****
Private investigator Daniel Hawthorne was a Scotland Yard Detective Inspector until he was fired for pushing a child molester down the stairs. Still, the Yard sometimes asks Hawthorne - who's essentially a modern day Sherlock Holmes - to consult on tough cases.
Hawthorne's Watson-like sidekick and chronicler is Anthony Horowitz, a real-life author who writes the television series Foyle's War, and pens the Alex Rider young adult books, among other things.
As the story opens, Horowitz is telling Hawthorne, "The answer's no. Our deal is over." Horowitz had followed Hawthorne on three investigations and written three books, and he wanted to move on. Moreover, Horowitz points out, "I can't write another book about you. You're not working on any new cases." But that's about to change.
One of Anthony's current projects is his play, 'Mindgame', a comedy thriller that's opening next week at London's Vaudeville Theatre. 'Mindgame' is about a journalist who visits a lunatic asylum to interview a notorious serial killer. The journalist senses something is off at the institute, whose director has a skeleton in his office. When the journalist finds himself restrained and strapped in a straitjacket, he realizes the inmates have taken over the asylum.
The people involved with the play are producer Ahmet Yurdakul and his assistant Maureen Bates;
director Ewan Lloyd;
deputy stage-door manager Keith;
financial backer Martin Longhurst;
and three performers. The actors/actresses are Jordan Williams - a Lakota Indian;
Tirian Kirke - a heartthrob headed for Hollywood;
and Sky Palmer - a newbie with flair.
Horowitz is very nervous on 'Mindgame's' opening night. However the production seems to go well, and Anthony makes his way to the after-party at a Turkish restaurant.
There, Anthony is surprised to see the Sunday Times critic, Harriet Throsby, come in with her daughter Olivia. Critics never attend first-night parties, but - as Horowitz learns - Harriet always expects to be invited. The Times critic is reputed to be a nasty woman, and she soon proves this by sniffing at the wine disapprovingly, criticizing the restaurant, looking bored, eyeing people malevolently, and slinking around listening to people's conversations. Later that night, Harriet writes her review of 'MIndgame.'
Actress Sky Palmer - who's constantly checking her phone - immediately shares the review with everyone involved with the production. Unfortunately, the review is ABSOLUTELY SCATHING. Harriet writes that Anthony Horowitz lacks talent as a playwright; the actors do a bad job; the director is on autopilot; etc. Harriet wraps up with this advice to the audience: "I'd say you should run to get tickets for this one - if you really want to see it. I suspect it won't be around for long."
The next morning, Harriet is found dead in her house, stabbed with one of the decorative daggers distributed as opening night gifts. Unfortunately for Horowitz, HIS dagger is the murder weapon. Anthony is soon arrested by Detective Inspector Cara Grunshaw and Detective Constable Derek Mills, who have a grudge against Anthony for making them look bad in a previous investigation.
The authorities can only hold Horowitz for 24 hours before charging him with murder, and they're waiting for the results of hair and DNA analysis to do just that. Then, almost miraculously, there's a computer glitch at the forensic science laboratory, and the cops have to let Anthony go until it's fixed.
As it turns out the computer glitch was caused by Daniel Hawthorne's downstairs neighbor, a teenage computer hacker named Kevin.
In addition, Hawthorne is waiting outside the jail for Anthony, so they can immediately start searching for the real killer.
Hawthorne and Horowitz's investigation involves interviewing everyone involved with 'Mindgame', as well as the victim's husband and daughter. Along the way, Horowitz discovers a bit about Hawthorne's background, which has been a goal of Horowitz's for years. To his great satisfaction, Anthony learns where Hawthorne was born, who some of his relatives are, an organization he's involved with, and more.
At the climax of the book, all the persons of interest are gathered on the the Vaudeville Theatre stage, and Hawthorne explains how he solved the murder (a la Hercule Poirot and Nero Wolfe). The story contains plenty of clues for the armchair detective, but I didn't guess the killer. 😏
I enjoyed this innovative mystery and recommend it to fans of the genre.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com
June 7, 2022
This is the fourth book in the Hawthorne and Horowitz series by author Anthony Horowitz. This is a very entertaining series and is slightly different from a lot of crime novels in that the author is one of the characters. In the series author Anthony Horowitz writes crime investigations that involve ex detective Daniel Hawthorne. Hawthorne is a very private person and a difficult person to get to know along with, which makes life difficult for Horowitz.
In this story author Horowitz is planning to finish the series with Hawthorne having completed the three books he was contracted to write. Anthony Hawthorne is planning to move on to other projects, one being his new play, a thriller called ‘Mindgame’, which is about to open at the famous Vaudeville theatre in Shoreditch.
Following the opening night the play is given mixed reviews with Sunday Times critic Harriet Throsby being particularly ruthless and making savage criticisms of the the writing. The next day, Throsby is stabbed in the heart with an ornamental dagger which was suspiciously owned by author Anthony Horowitz. With the dagger covered with his fingerprints and the scathing reviews it is not long before the police are on his trail. Horowitz is very quickly arrested by an old adversary Detective Inspector Cara Grunshaw.
When a second theatre critic is discovered dead in mysterious circumstances, Anthony is very much the focal point of the investigations and in desperation turns to the only person he feels can help him, Daniel Hawthorne.
I really enjoy this series but this one took me a little longer to get into than usual. Eventually I was hooked and once again singing the author’s praises.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Random House UK for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
In this story author Horowitz is planning to finish the series with Hawthorne having completed the three books he was contracted to write. Anthony Hawthorne is planning to move on to other projects, one being his new play, a thriller called ‘Mindgame’, which is about to open at the famous Vaudeville theatre in Shoreditch.
Following the opening night the play is given mixed reviews with Sunday Times critic Harriet Throsby being particularly ruthless and making savage criticisms of the the writing. The next day, Throsby is stabbed in the heart with an ornamental dagger which was suspiciously owned by author Anthony Horowitz. With the dagger covered with his fingerprints and the scathing reviews it is not long before the police are on his trail. Horowitz is very quickly arrested by an old adversary Detective Inspector Cara Grunshaw.
When a second theatre critic is discovered dead in mysterious circumstances, Anthony is very much the focal point of the investigations and in desperation turns to the only person he feels can help him, Daniel Hawthorne.
I really enjoy this series but this one took me a little longer to get into than usual. Eventually I was hooked and once again singing the author’s praises.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Random House UK for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
May 24, 2024
EXCERPT: 'Anthony Horowitz,' he said, 'I am now arresting you on suspicion of the murder of Harriet Throsby at 27 Palgrove Gardens, W9. You do not have to say anything. But it may harm your defence if . . .'
You must know the words. I've written them enough times in enough books and police dramas. But I zoned out as he pronounced the formal police caution. I saw his lips moving but I didn't hear anything. I was being arrested! No! That was insane.
And what was it, echoing in my brain, ricocheting around my skull, the one thing that could save me, the one person I needed to see right now?
Hawthorne.
ABOUT 'THE TWIST OF A KNIFE': 'Our deal is over.'
That's what reluctant author Anthony Horowitz tells ex-detective Daniel Hawthorne in an awkward meeting. The truth is that Anthony has other things on his mind.
His new play, Mindgame, is about to open in London's Vaudeville Theatre. Not surprisingly, Hawthorne declines a ticket.
On opening night, Sunday Times critic Harriet Throsby gives the play a savage review, focusing particularly on the writing. The next morning she is found dead, stabbed in the heart with an ornamental dagger which, it turns out, belongs to Anthony and which has his fingerprints all over it.
Anthony is arrested, charged with Throsby's murder, thrown into prison and interrogated.
Alone and increasingly desperate, he realises only one man can help him.
But will Hawthorne take his call?
MY THOUGHTS: It took rather a long time to get to the actual murder, the first third of the book being taken up mostly with Horowitz's play, Mindgame - the casting, the provincial tours culminating in London season. I knew the omens weren't good when the actors kept mentioning that Scottish play by name.
Horowitz has followed the script of a good classic, Christiesque murder-mystery. There are clues scattered throughout, a smattering of red herrings, and the grand denouement where everyone is gathered in the library or, in this case, the theatre, for the big reveal - the unmasking of the true killer. There is no lack of suspects, but all the evidence - and there is no lack of it - points only in one direction: Horowitz!
Could he have laid a false trail for us, not told us the truth in the narrative about his movements and have actually killed the obnoxious woman? I for one would not have blamed him. She was a thoroughly nasty creature. But did he do it?
My lips are sealed. You'll have to read it for yourself to find out.
⭐⭐⭐.7
#TheTwistofaKnife @AnthonyHorowitzAuthor @WaitomotDistrictLibrary
THE AUTHOR: THE AUTHOR: Anthony Horowitz's life might have been copied from the pages of Charles Dickens or the Brothers Grimm. Born in 1956 in Stanmore, Middlesex, to a family of wealth and status, Anthony was raised by nannies, surrounded by servants and chauffeurs. His father, a wealthy businessman, was, says Mr. Horowitz, "a fixer for Harold Wilson." What that means exactly is unclear — "My father was a very secretive man," he says— so an aura of suspicion and mystery surrounds both the word and the man. As unlikely as it might seem, Anthony's father, threatened with bankruptcy, withdrew all of his money from Swiss bank accounts in Zurich and deposited it in another account under a false name and then promptly died. His mother searched unsuccessfully for years in attempt to find the money, but it was never found. That too shaped Anthony's view of things. Today he says, "I think the only thing to do with money is spend it." His mother, whom he adored, eccentrically gave him a human skull for his 13th birthday. His grandmother, another Dickensian character, was mean-spirited and malevolent, a destructive force in his life. She was, he says, "a truly evil person", his first and worst arch villain. "My sister and I danced on her grave when she died," he now recalls.
A miserably unhappy and overweight child, Anthony had nowhere to turn for solace. "Family meals," he recalls, "had calories running into the thousands. I was an astoundingly large, round child." At the age of eight he was sent off to boarding school, a standard practice of the times and class in which he was raised. While being away from home came as an enormous relief, the school itself, Orley Farm, was a grand guignol horror with a headmaster who flogged the boys till they bled. "Once the headmaster told me to stand up in assembly and in front of the whole school said, 'This boy is so stupid he will not be coming to Christmas games tomorrow.' I have never totally recovered." To relieve his misery and that of the other boys, he not unsurprisingly made-up tales of astounding revenge and retribution.
Anthony Horowitz is perhaps the busiest writer in England. He has been writing since the age of eight, and professionally since the age of twenty. He writes in a comfortable shed in his garden for up to ten hours per day. In addition to the highly successful Alex Rider books, he has also written episodes of several popular TV crime series, including Poirot, Murder in Mind, Midsomer Murders and Murder Most Horrid. He has written a television series Foyle's War, which recently aired in the United States, and he has written the libretto of a Broadway musical adapted from Dr. Seuss's book, The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T. His film script The Gathering has just finished production. And, oh yes, there are more Alex Rider novels in the works. Anthony has also written the Diamond Brothers series.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
You must know the words. I've written them enough times in enough books and police dramas. But I zoned out as he pronounced the formal police caution. I saw his lips moving but I didn't hear anything. I was being arrested! No! That was insane.
And what was it, echoing in my brain, ricocheting around my skull, the one thing that could save me, the one person I needed to see right now?
Hawthorne.
ABOUT 'THE TWIST OF A KNIFE': 'Our deal is over.'
That's what reluctant author Anthony Horowitz tells ex-detective Daniel Hawthorne in an awkward meeting. The truth is that Anthony has other things on his mind.
His new play, Mindgame, is about to open in London's Vaudeville Theatre. Not surprisingly, Hawthorne declines a ticket.
On opening night, Sunday Times critic Harriet Throsby gives the play a savage review, focusing particularly on the writing. The next morning she is found dead, stabbed in the heart with an ornamental dagger which, it turns out, belongs to Anthony and which has his fingerprints all over it.
Anthony is arrested, charged with Throsby's murder, thrown into prison and interrogated.
Alone and increasingly desperate, he realises only one man can help him.
But will Hawthorne take his call?
MY THOUGHTS: It took rather a long time to get to the actual murder, the first third of the book being taken up mostly with Horowitz's play, Mindgame - the casting, the provincial tours culminating in London season. I knew the omens weren't good when the actors kept mentioning that Scottish play by name.
Horowitz has followed the script of a good classic, Christiesque murder-mystery. There are clues scattered throughout, a smattering of red herrings, and the grand denouement where everyone is gathered in the library or, in this case, the theatre, for the big reveal - the unmasking of the true killer. There is no lack of suspects, but all the evidence - and there is no lack of it - points only in one direction: Horowitz!
Could he have laid a false trail for us, not told us the truth in the narrative about his movements and have actually killed the obnoxious woman? I for one would not have blamed him. She was a thoroughly nasty creature. But did he do it?
My lips are sealed. You'll have to read it for yourself to find out.
⭐⭐⭐.7
#TheTwistofaKnife @AnthonyHorowitzAuthor @WaitomotDistrictLibrary
THE AUTHOR: THE AUTHOR: Anthony Horowitz's life might have been copied from the pages of Charles Dickens or the Brothers Grimm. Born in 1956 in Stanmore, Middlesex, to a family of wealth and status, Anthony was raised by nannies, surrounded by servants and chauffeurs. His father, a wealthy businessman, was, says Mr. Horowitz, "a fixer for Harold Wilson." What that means exactly is unclear — "My father was a very secretive man," he says— so an aura of suspicion and mystery surrounds both the word and the man. As unlikely as it might seem, Anthony's father, threatened with bankruptcy, withdrew all of his money from Swiss bank accounts in Zurich and deposited it in another account under a false name and then promptly died. His mother searched unsuccessfully for years in attempt to find the money, but it was never found. That too shaped Anthony's view of things. Today he says, "I think the only thing to do with money is spend it." His mother, whom he adored, eccentrically gave him a human skull for his 13th birthday. His grandmother, another Dickensian character, was mean-spirited and malevolent, a destructive force in his life. She was, he says, "a truly evil person", his first and worst arch villain. "My sister and I danced on her grave when she died," he now recalls.
A miserably unhappy and overweight child, Anthony had nowhere to turn for solace. "Family meals," he recalls, "had calories running into the thousands. I was an astoundingly large, round child." At the age of eight he was sent off to boarding school, a standard practice of the times and class in which he was raised. While being away from home came as an enormous relief, the school itself, Orley Farm, was a grand guignol horror with a headmaster who flogged the boys till they bled. "Once the headmaster told me to stand up in assembly and in front of the whole school said, 'This boy is so stupid he will not be coming to Christmas games tomorrow.' I have never totally recovered." To relieve his misery and that of the other boys, he not unsurprisingly made-up tales of astounding revenge and retribution.
Anthony Horowitz is perhaps the busiest writer in England. He has been writing since the age of eight, and professionally since the age of twenty. He writes in a comfortable shed in his garden for up to ten hours per day. In addition to the highly successful Alex Rider books, he has also written episodes of several popular TV crime series, including Poirot, Murder in Mind, Midsomer Murders and Murder Most Horrid. He has written a television series Foyle's War, which recently aired in the United States, and he has written the libretto of a Broadway musical adapted from Dr. Seuss's book, The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T. His film script The Gathering has just finished production. And, oh yes, there are more Alex Rider novels in the works. Anthony has also written the Diamond Brothers series.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
January 1, 2023
Whenever I am stuck in a reading rut an Anthony Horowitz book will always break me out of it. I love his meta-murder mysteries, and his character of Detective Hawthorne is a particular delight. I really enjoyed this latest in the Hawthorne series, which revolves around the murder of a theater critic. Highly recommended.
August 28, 2022
Hawthorne & Horowitz are back! The fourth novel featuring detective Hawthorne & writer Anthony Horowitz is just as much fun as you come to expect from this enetrtaining series.
This time Hawthorne investigates the murder of a theatre critic & Horowitz is the main suspect. The dialogue is delightful & the author puts himself at the mercy of others as they criticise his ability to write a decent play. We discover a few new things about the secretive Hawthorne & the mystery is a light & easy read.
I look forward to the next book in the series & while the plot may be a mystery for now we can safely say that one thing is certain...it will not be called Hawthorne Investigates!
This time Hawthorne investigates the murder of a theatre critic & Horowitz is the main suspect. The dialogue is delightful & the author puts himself at the mercy of others as they criticise his ability to write a decent play. We discover a few new things about the secretive Hawthorne & the mystery is a light & easy read.
I look forward to the next book in the series & while the plot may be a mystery for now we can safely say that one thing is certain...it will not be called Hawthorne Investigates!
December 14, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Brilliant! I adore this series!
If you like Sherlock Holmes/Agatha Christie novels then I HIGHLY recommend this series. Great writing, characters & twists these stories deliver it all! I highly recommend listening to this on audio… Rory Kinnear does an amazing job with the narration!
Horowitz at his best! 5 stars.
If you like Sherlock Holmes/Agatha Christie novels then I HIGHLY recommend this series. Great writing, characters & twists these stories deliver it all! I highly recommend listening to this on audio… Rory Kinnear does an amazing job with the narration!
Horowitz at his best! 5 stars.
August 19, 2022
Not as good as the others. It's getting a little... smug.
September 6, 2022
Anthony Horowitz’s play, Mindgame, opens to a crushing opening night review from famously viperous theatre critic Harriet Throsby. So when she is found stabbed to death the morning after, with a knife belonging to Horowitz, he is the prime suspect. Only one man can help him clear his name: Hawthorne!
Hawthorne and Horowitz are back with their fourth outing, The Twist of a Knife, and it’s not a bad whodunit, though it doesn’t reach the heights of their previous adventure, A Line to Kill.
The chemistry between the two remains fun, as does the fourth wall-breaking, and we learn a bit more about Hawthorne’s mysterious past. Two characters from The Sentence is Death make a return: Cara Grunshaw, the gruff copper, and Kevin Chakraborty, the tech-genius teenager with MS, though Grunshaw is as one-dimensionally evil as ever and Kevin is more of a plot device than a character.
There’s never any doubt that Tony didn’t really do it (which is a shame - I would’ve loved if this had turned into a modern day Roger Ackroyd, though it would mean an end to the series) and there’s nothing here Horowitz hasn’t done before, or better, in previous books. It does keep you guessing more or less until the end (the killer’s reveal surprisingly happens before the penultimate chapter) though the plot gets a little convoluted for all that.
The Twist of a Knife turns out to be a fairly standard whodunit in the end though it’s never dull and, while I wasn’t wow-ed by anything in the novel, I also wasn’t too bored either. It’s not as great as the previous novel but it’s about the same level of quality as most books in this series, so I expect most fans won’t be disappointed with this latest entry. And, speaking of fans, good news for us as it looks like there’s going to be quite a few more books in this series to follow!
Hawthorne and Horowitz are back with their fourth outing, The Twist of a Knife, and it’s not a bad whodunit, though it doesn’t reach the heights of their previous adventure, A Line to Kill.
The chemistry between the two remains fun, as does the fourth wall-breaking, and we learn a bit more about Hawthorne’s mysterious past. Two characters from The Sentence is Death make a return: Cara Grunshaw, the gruff copper, and Kevin Chakraborty, the tech-genius teenager with MS, though Grunshaw is as one-dimensionally evil as ever and Kevin is more of a plot device than a character.
There’s never any doubt that Tony didn’t really do it (which is a shame - I would’ve loved if this had turned into a modern day Roger Ackroyd, though it would mean an end to the series) and there’s nothing here Horowitz hasn’t done before, or better, in previous books. It does keep you guessing more or less until the end (the killer’s reveal surprisingly happens before the penultimate chapter) though the plot gets a little convoluted for all that.
The Twist of a Knife turns out to be a fairly standard whodunit in the end though it’s never dull and, while I wasn’t wow-ed by anything in the novel, I also wasn’t too bored either. It’s not as great as the previous novel but it’s about the same level of quality as most books in this series, so I expect most fans won’t be disappointed with this latest entry. And, speaking of fans, good news for us as it looks like there’s going to be quite a few more books in this series to follow!
February 2, 2023
Another clever murder mystery, this one connected with the theatre.
Library Loan
Library Loan
November 13, 2022
Overall Rating : B+
"That was something Harriet learned from him, the pleasure that comes with the twist of a knife."
I received a giveaway ARC of this book for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Anthony Horowitz and Daniel Hawthorne are back for another case. Only this time, Anthony has more to lose than most, as he's suddenly the main suspect of the murder of a well know, hateful critic the night after Anthony's debut play. Can Hawthorne solve the case before he's convicted? Will he want too? And who in fact did the crime? Only once the full story is out will the answer be clear.
I'll admit I was a little hesitant to read this after the dull events of A Line To Kill, but I will never say no to an ARC of one of my favorite authors. And boy did he redeem himself with this one.
In most murder mystery books, you have the detective, the somewhat helpful sidekick, and the clueless suspect who makes things even more worse for them and their supposed innocence. But what happens when the sidekick and suspect are the same? Well, you get a first-person POV of exactly how damaging they are to the investigation.
I laughed, was dumbfounded, and completely shocked by the end of the story, wondering how in the world Detective Hawthorne was able to figure it out and how I didn't realize it sooner. And Mr. Horowitz played the part of idiotic suspect perfectly. He was forgetful, backtracked on his words, had damning evidence against him without an explanation as to why it was there, and even ran from the police! It was an amusing and refreshing change of pace compared to other who-dun-its. And it leaves more tantalizing clues as to the mystery that is Daniel Hawthorne. And, if the book is to be believed, there will be at least 3 MORE BOOKS that'll either explain - or confuse - us in the future. And I cannot wait.
Okay, I admit it, this was a fun who-dun-it. And definitely a step up from the last book.
October 2022
Update : Guys my ARC is here I'm so freaking excited to get started! 😍
August 2022
I WON A FREAKING GIVEAWAY!!!
"That was something Harriet learned from him, the pleasure that comes with the twist of a knife."
I received a giveaway ARC of this book for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Anthony Horowitz and Daniel Hawthorne are back for another case. Only this time, Anthony has more to lose than most, as he's suddenly the main suspect of the murder of a well know, hateful critic the night after Anthony's debut play. Can Hawthorne solve the case before he's convicted? Will he want too? And who in fact did the crime? Only once the full story is out will the answer be clear.
I'll admit I was a little hesitant to read this after the dull events of A Line To Kill, but I will never say no to an ARC of one of my favorite authors. And boy did he redeem himself with this one.
In most murder mystery books, you have the detective, the somewhat helpful sidekick, and the clueless suspect who makes things even more worse for them and their supposed innocence. But what happens when the sidekick and suspect are the same? Well, you get a first-person POV of exactly how damaging they are to the investigation.
I laughed, was dumbfounded, and completely shocked by the end of the story, wondering how in the world Detective Hawthorne was able to figure it out and how I didn't realize it sooner. And Mr. Horowitz played the part of idiotic suspect perfectly. He was forgetful, backtracked on his words, had damning evidence against him without an explanation as to why it was there, and even ran from the police! It was an amusing and refreshing change of pace compared to other who-dun-its. And it leaves more tantalizing clues as to the mystery that is Daniel Hawthorne. And, if the book is to be believed, there will be at least 3 MORE BOOKS that'll either explain - or confuse - us in the future. And I cannot wait.
October 2022
Update : Guys my ARC is here I'm so freaking excited to get started! 😍
August 2022
I WON A FREAKING GIVEAWAY!!!
August 25, 2023
How many authors willingly insert themselves into their stories? And not only do that, but get themselves accused of murder?
This becomes quite an interesting dilemma, when this becomes the actual case.
Of course, thankfully, and I say this with a little bit of sarcasm, because now, Horowitz becomes dependent upon Hawthorne to help him out of this mess. This is the author’s thorn in his side, his sidekick, former detective Hawthorne who he has been saddled with to write 3 books.
Can Hawthorne now help prove Horowitz’s innocence of murder? Now, why would this be an annoyance or something to appreciate? (Come on, how many authors accuse themselves of murder in a story? Let alone depend upon a character to get them out of a jam!)
There is something about Hawthorne’s character that is secretive to Anthony, and (well as the author – he determines what he wants to write, right?) – so, if he is going to work with him, there is more to find out about him the longer he works with him…so…maybe this won’t be such a bad deal?
Anyway, the biggest issue is to not be convicted of murder – that isn’t a good look for the author. Are you still following me in this review?
Anyway, if you like this series of Horowitz and Hawthorne (remember, Magpie Murders (now a PBS series, too – which is excellent by the way)(Review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) and The Word is Murder)(My review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) you might enjoy this one, too – or not.
It can be a bit tedious with its Agatha Christie type ending (you know where they gather all the suspects together before the big whodunit reveal).
Either way, I have always been an Anthony Horowitz fan, so, who knows, I might just be around for the next one, too.
This becomes quite an interesting dilemma, when this becomes the actual case.
Of course, thankfully, and I say this with a little bit of sarcasm, because now, Horowitz becomes dependent upon Hawthorne to help him out of this mess. This is the author’s thorn in his side, his sidekick, former detective Hawthorne who he has been saddled with to write 3 books.
Can Hawthorne now help prove Horowitz’s innocence of murder? Now, why would this be an annoyance or something to appreciate? (Come on, how many authors accuse themselves of murder in a story? Let alone depend upon a character to get them out of a jam!)
There is something about Hawthorne’s character that is secretive to Anthony, and (well as the author – he determines what he wants to write, right?) – so, if he is going to work with him, there is more to find out about him the longer he works with him…so…maybe this won’t be such a bad deal?
Anyway, the biggest issue is to not be convicted of murder – that isn’t a good look for the author. Are you still following me in this review?
Anyway, if you like this series of Horowitz and Hawthorne (remember, Magpie Murders (now a PBS series, too – which is excellent by the way)(Review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) and The Word is Murder)(My review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) you might enjoy this one, too – or not.
It can be a bit tedious with its Agatha Christie type ending (you know where they gather all the suspects together before the big whodunit reveal).
Either way, I have always been an Anthony Horowitz fan, so, who knows, I might just be around for the next one, too.
June 14, 2022
This is the fourth installment in the brilliant Hawthorne and Horowitz series. This begins with Hawthorne asking Horowitz to write another book, but Horowitz has other plans. His play, 'Mindgame,' opens the following week and he has thrown himself into hopes for success on the stage and his name in lights. Of course, it is all going to go wrong. On the opening night in London, theatre critic Harriet Throsby gives the play a terrible review and the next day she is found stabbed to death with an ornamental dagger that producer, Ahmet Yurdakal, gave Horowitz as a gift.
Having told Horowitz their partnership is over, Hawthorne now finds himself having to call him after being arrested, and ask for his help. Of course, Hawthorne rises to the occasion and, before long, the two are searching for the real murderer. This book is full of humour and fantastic characters, from the cast of the play, through those involved in Harriet Throsby's career and Hawthorne's neighbour, who tries to buy Horowitz some time. This is a brilliant series and Anthony Horowitz, known to his partner as 'Tony,' or 'mate,' is fantastically self-deprecating in a series of books which simply showcases his brilliance as a writer. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
Having told Horowitz their partnership is over, Hawthorne now finds himself having to call him after being arrested, and ask for his help. Of course, Hawthorne rises to the occasion and, before long, the two are searching for the real murderer. This book is full of humour and fantastic characters, from the cast of the play, through those involved in Harriet Throsby's career and Hawthorne's neighbour, who tries to buy Horowitz some time. This is a brilliant series and Anthony Horowitz, known to his partner as 'Tony,' or 'mate,' is fantastically self-deprecating in a series of books which simply showcases his brilliance as a writer. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
December 19, 2022
My little library finally got this latest in the Hawthorne/Horowitz series which I have been impatiently awaiting for months. It was worth the wait! I have read all of this particular series and loved them all.
In this, the fourth books, Horowitz decides that he just can't put up with Hawthorne any longer and wants to sever their literary partnership and concentrate more on stage plays. He presents his play. Mindgame, in London and it is viciously attacked by a famous critic known for her vitriolic reviews which will probably cause the play to close. The next day, she is murdered and Horowitz is the prime suspect and is jailed for several hours. He is at wit's end since the police have some pretty damning evidence against him. He doesn't know where to turn. so of course, he turns to Hawthorne. And off they go!
I had no idea who the murderer was and I bet future readers won't know either. Another reviewer said that the end of the story reminded them of an Agatha Christie book. They were right on target as Hawthorne gathers all the suspects together and reveals the murderer much as Poirot does. I am quite a fan of Horowitz and this book does not disappoint. Recommended.
In this, the fourth books, Horowitz decides that he just can't put up with Hawthorne any longer and wants to sever their literary partnership and concentrate more on stage plays. He presents his play. Mindgame, in London and it is viciously attacked by a famous critic known for her vitriolic reviews which will probably cause the play to close. The next day, she is murdered and Horowitz is the prime suspect and is jailed for several hours. He is at wit's end since the police have some pretty damning evidence against him. He doesn't know where to turn. so of course, he turns to Hawthorne. And off they go!
I had no idea who the murderer was and I bet future readers won't know either. Another reviewer said that the end of the story reminded them of an Agatha Christie book. They were right on target as Hawthorne gathers all the suspects together and reveals the murderer much as Poirot does. I am quite a fan of Horowitz and this book does not disappoint. Recommended.
January 26, 2023
This series has overstayed its welcome with me. I have no problem with Hawthorne or with the construction of the mysteries, but the interesting device of having the author be a co-protagonist of the novels is annoying me to no end, given the fact that I cannot stand Anthony Horowitz and his self-important, name-dropping, compulsive listing ass.
January 7, 2023
Rating 4.5
Fun read. An extra .5 due to the great audio. Looking forward to the next.
Fun read. An extra .5 due to the great audio. Looking forward to the next.
June 19, 2022
Anthony Horowitz is in trouble. His West End debut has been panned and the scathing reviewer stabbed to death in their own hallway. That would be bad enough, but he's the one who's been arrested; two 'old friends' on the force are holding quite the grudge against him and have no intention of listening to his pleas of innocence. Good job he knows a very good detective... Except the last conversation they had consisted of Horowitz refusing to write any more books together. Now he needs Hawthorne's help - desperately - and he might not get it. All in all, this well known author is having a really bad day...
I came into this book knowing absolutely nothing about the previous instalments in the series, which made it all the more surprising when I clocked what was happening. It was only when I started to realise the whole thing sounded more like a non-fiction account than a novel that I realised the author was playing himself. This is the real Anthony Horowitz writing about the 'author' Anthony Horowitz writing about his 'true' criminal investigations with an 'ex-policeman' Hawthorne who is actually a reimagined fictional character. Seems like a stretch, but it's actually a conceit that works extremely well, especially when set, as this book is, in the theatre. The layers of reality and performance build on each other to create a new type of veracity. As a result, it was hard to differentiate between truth and lie, making the search for clues and verbal slip ups all the more entertaining. Their search for answers takes them to challenge each of the play's cast members in turn as well as delving deep into the dead woman's past, the path winding and full of set backs. Yet we all know that this trusty duo will come right in the end. And do they ever. The whole book was full of humour and I absolutely loved the references to classic crime fiction, but the way the finale was set up made me laugh out loud. It was so fun.
As I can vouch, this is a book that can easily and enjoyably be read as a standalone, though knowing the characters better might have added a little more depth. For those who have read the previous books, there's what I imagine to be a fascinating addition to the little information known about the Sherlock character, his previous life teasingly revealed in the smallest of increments. Horowitz, so effectively framed that I'm surprised he didn't start to doubt himself, switches between fear and exasperation - working with Hawthorne would do that to anyone, I think. For all the clever plotting, it's their relationship that makes this so effective, as we've seen in so many Sherlock and Holmes iterations. Yet, this is no simple copy-cat, Horowitz has made it his own.
There's no doubt that I'll be catching up on what I missed in books 1-3. Horowitz has an incredibly engaging style and this shows he's quite happy not to take himself too seriously. A winning combination.
ARC via Netgalley
I came into this book knowing absolutely nothing about the previous instalments in the series, which made it all the more surprising when I clocked what was happening. It was only when I started to realise the whole thing sounded more like a non-fiction account than a novel that I realised the author was playing himself. This is the real Anthony Horowitz writing about the 'author' Anthony Horowitz writing about his 'true' criminal investigations with an 'ex-policeman' Hawthorne who is actually a reimagined fictional character. Seems like a stretch, but it's actually a conceit that works extremely well, especially when set, as this book is, in the theatre. The layers of reality and performance build on each other to create a new type of veracity. As a result, it was hard to differentiate between truth and lie, making the search for clues and verbal slip ups all the more entertaining. Their search for answers takes them to challenge each of the play's cast members in turn as well as delving deep into the dead woman's past, the path winding and full of set backs. Yet we all know that this trusty duo will come right in the end. And do they ever. The whole book was full of humour and I absolutely loved the references to classic crime fiction, but the way the finale was set up made me laugh out loud. It was so fun.
As I can vouch, this is a book that can easily and enjoyably be read as a standalone, though knowing the characters better might have added a little more depth. For those who have read the previous books, there's what I imagine to be a fascinating addition to the little information known about the Sherlock character, his previous life teasingly revealed in the smallest of increments. Horowitz, so effectively framed that I'm surprised he didn't start to doubt himself, switches between fear and exasperation - working with Hawthorne would do that to anyone, I think. For all the clever plotting, it's their relationship that makes this so effective, as we've seen in so many Sherlock and Holmes iterations. Yet, this is no simple copy-cat, Horowitz has made it his own.
There's no doubt that I'll be catching up on what I missed in books 1-3. Horowitz has an incredibly engaging style and this shows he's quite happy not to take himself too seriously. A winning combination.
ARC via Netgalley
December 7, 2022
What fun, end to end! Another book in which Tony Horowitz himself is our main character, In this episode he is framed for murder (or did he actually commit the crime?) Filled with endless fun that welds Tony to his favorite ex-police officer, Hawthorne for a few more books. Somehow it also appears to have secured Hawthorne's top billing in this crime fighting duos book contract.
Horowitz is such a smart and witty writer. His mysteries are always a joy when I am looking for pure entertainment. (FWiW, I guessed several different solutions as I read, and all were wrong.) Additional note -- I always love when a book gives me a sense of place, and reading Horowitz's books always makes me feel like I somehow woke up to find that I live in London.
Horowitz is such a smart and witty writer. His mysteries are always a joy when I am looking for pure entertainment. (FWiW, I guessed several different solutions as I read, and all were wrong.) Additional note -- I always love when a book gives me a sense of place, and reading Horowitz's books always makes me feel like I somehow woke up to find that I live in London.
December 21, 2022
I just got notice my eBook copy is available to me from my local library. Loved the other books and expect to love this one, too.
A word about library lending: People think authors don't get paid for a library borrow, and I've had readers apologize to me for getting my books from their local. But we DO get paid - and depending on the publisher, it can be a very nice side revenue stream for us.
So don't hesitate. Your favorite authors will get compensated! You may have to wait on the super popular books but you can generally find whatever you want at your library - or ask them to order it.
A word about library lending: People think authors don't get paid for a library borrow, and I've had readers apologize to me for getting my books from their local. But we DO get paid - and depending on the publisher, it can be a very nice side revenue stream for us.
So don't hesitate. Your favorite authors will get compensated! You may have to wait on the super popular books but you can generally find whatever you want at your library - or ask them to order it.
February 5, 2023
Another 5 star winner from Anthony Horowitz in the Hawthorne and Horowitz Mystery series. Here Anthony is (again) ready to call the book series quits; but then he himself becomes the main suspect in the murder of the biggest critic of his new play production, and he has no choice but to turn to Hawthorne for help. So naturally, he'll have to turn it into another book, and this reader is very glad for that!
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