The Word Is Murder: A Novel (A Hawthorne and Horowitz Mystery)
SHE PLANNED HER OWN FUNERAL. BUT DID SHE ARRANGE HER OWN MURDER?
New York Times bestselling author of Magpie Murders and Moriarty, Anthony Horowitz has yet again brilliantly reinvented the classic crime novel, this time writing a fictional version of himself as the Watson to a modern-day Holmes.
One bright spring morning in London, Diana Cowper – the wealthy mother of a famous actor - enters a funeral parlor. She is there to plan her own service.
Six hours later she is found dead, strangled with a curtain cord in her own home.
Enter disgraced police detective Daniel Hawthorne, a brilliant, eccentric investigator who’s as quick with an insult as he is to crack a case. Hawthorne needs a ghost writer to document his life; a Watson to his Holmes. He chooses Anthony Horowitz.
Drawn in against his will, Horowitz soon finds himself a the center of a story he cannot control. Hawthorne is brusque, temperamental and annoying but even so his latest case with its many twists and turns proves irresistible. The writer and the detective form an unusual partnership. At the same time, it soon becomes clear that Hawthorne is hiding some dark secrets of his own.
A masterful and tricky mystery that springs many surprises, The Word is Murder is Anthony Horowitz at his very best.
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Community Reviews
Horowitz's writing style is unique, as he not only narrates the story but also inserts himself into it as a character, interacting with the enigmatic Hawthorne. The angry-now-friendly-now banter between the author and the Inspector adds a layer of humor and personality to the book that sets it apart from other murder mysteries.
The plot of the novel is cleverly crafted, and the killer's identity is not apparent, making the twists and turns all the more satisfying. Horowitz's skillful writing style brings the characters to life, and the interactions between them are realistic and believable.
The author's references to real-life characters and events add depth and intrigue to the story, creating an engaging reading experience. Overall, "The Word is Murder" is a captivating and entertaining read that will keep you guessing until the very end. Fans of murder mystery novels will enjoy this book, and it is definitely worth adding to your reading list.
The police appoint Detective Daniel Hawthorne to the case. He's a detective nobody likes from the police force. Daniel decides that the case is so bizarre that he wants to write a book about it. He approaches Anthony, asking him to ghostwrite the book for him. In exchange, Daniel will give Anthony 50 percent of the profits. Anthony, however, doesn’t want the job. He finds Daniel aloof, arrogant, and difficult to work with. He originally turns down Detective Hawthorne but when his books aren't selling as well and he needs another "hit" on his hands, he reconsiders.
The dynamic is supposed to remind us of Sherlock Holmes and the befuddling Watson. The duo just doesn't do it for me. The plot's twists and turns are interesting and sometimes, comes out of no where. The character development for several of the key suspect players are lacking, to say the least. Very sad about that.
Anthony Horowitz is a really good teen author. His Alex Rider series is very well developed and we care about the people. Here in this book, not so much. I didn't care too much for either of the main characters, Anthony Horowitz nor Detective Hawthorne. I know he's doing a caricature of himself but he makes him seem a bit, banal. As for Detective Hawthorne, he's not likable. Plain and simple. Disappointed.
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