The Twist of a Knife by Anthony Horowitz

 (Hawthorne and Horowitz Investigate #4)

400 pages / 8 hrs, 30 mins

'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 finger prints 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?"  --from the publisher

I love this series--solid mysteries and great characters with wry, British humor. What's not to love? I give it four out of five stars.

A Line to Kill by Anthony Horowitz

 (Hawthorne and Horowitz Mystery #3)

384 pages

"When Ex-Detective Inspector Daniel Hawthorne and his sidekick, author Anthony Horowitz, are invited to an exclusive literary festival on Alderney, an idyllic island off the south coast of England, they don’t expect to find themselves in the middle of murder investigation—or to be trapped with a cold-blooded killer in a remote place with a murky, haunted past.

"Arriving on Alderney, Hawthorne and Horowitz soon meet the festival’s other guests—an eccentric gathering that includes a bestselling children’s author, a French poet, a TV chef turned cookbook author, a blind psychic, and a war historian—along with a group of ornery locals embroiled in an escalating feud over a disruptive power line.

"When a local grandee is found dead under mysterious circumstances, Hawthorne and Horowitz become embroiled in the case. The island is locked down, no one is allowed on or off, and it soon becomes horribly clear that a murderer lurks in their midst. But who?"

Another good one! These books are unique since the author tells the story as if he is experiencing the events while he is writing the book about Hawthorne. I give it four out of five stars.

The Sentence is Death by Anthony Horowitz

The Sentence is Death by Anthony Horowitz
(Hawthorne #2)
384 pages

"'You shouldn't be here. It's too late...'

"These, heard over the phone, were the last recorded words of successful celebrity-divorce lawyer Richard Pryce, found bludgeoned to death in his bachelor pad with a bottle of wine--a 1982 Chateau Lafite worth £3,000, to be precise.

"Odd, considering he didn't drink. Why this bottle? And why those words? And why was a three-digit number painted on the wall by the killer? And, most importantly, which of the man's many, many enemies did the deed?

"Baffled, the police are forced to bring in Private Investigator Daniel Hawthorne and his sidekick, the author Anthony, who's really getting rather good at this murder investigation business.

"But as Hawthorne takes on the case with characteristic relish, it becomes clear that he, too, has secrets to hide. As our reluctant narrator becomes ever more embroiled in the case, he realizes that these secrets must be exposed--even at the risk of death..."    --from the publisher

This is another interesting murder mystery by Horowitz.  I did have some trouble keeping up with the vast cast of characters, but that was probably my own fault.  I read the first third of the book, was interrupted for a few weeks, and then was able to finish it.  Maybe I'll revisit the first half sometime to fill in the gaps.

Alex Rider: Never Say Die by Anthony Horowitz

Alex Rider: Never Say Die by Anthony Horowitz - 353 pages

It's been a month since Alex Rider was broken by the death of his caretaker Jack.  Then he receives an email that indicates she's still alive.  Now Alex is traveling to Egypt, France and England following the clues.  While trying to find her, he stumbles upon a plot against England and he's drawn into saving the world yet again.

This is the 11th book in the teen spy Alex Rider book series and a great entry in the series.  A definite must read for those who have enjoyed the earlier books.

The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz

The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz
400 pages / 9 hrs, 2 mins

"A wealthy woman strangled six hours after she's arranged her own funeral.  A very private detective uncovering secrets but hiding his own.  A reluctant author drawn into a story he can't control.

"What do they have in common?  Unexpected death, an unsolved mystery and a trail of bloody clues lie at the heart of Anthony Horowitz's page-turning new thriller."  --from the publisher

This is a classic crime/mystery novel with subtle clues that reveal the truth, but only if you're sharp enough to put them all together.  The book received starred reviews from Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, and Booklist.  It's a winner!  On a personal note, the characters weren't particularly likable and that always lessens my enjoyment of a story.