The Writing is On the Wall - GREAT NEW SERIES!

I bought "The Word Is Murder" because "Magpie Murders" is one of my favourite books ever and my favourite Audible purchase to date and I had almost forgotten about it when I spied "The Sentence is Death" and then it all came back to me about the curious detective Hawthorn and how Anthony Horowitz had written himself into the books so you can enjoy a slice of his fascinating writer's life working on TV series as well as books.
It took me a little while to get up to speed again with the Horowitz/Hawthorn dynamic but soon I was in sleuthing heaven with many the well crafted twist and turn and red herrings galore - I especially loved the writing on the wall.
Having the same narrator really helped continuity and I had to go back and add this mention of Rory Kinnear to my review as initially omitted - and in this case that is compliment rather than a slight, as simply he is Mr Horowitz's voice for me and it is a great credit to him that he manages to present himself as an intrinsic part of the story rather than an actor putting his artistic stamp on a book reading. This book which requires the narrator to "be" not only the protagonist but also a real, living person requires special talent and sensitivity and Mr Kinnear pulls this off with aplomb by making it all seem so natural, believable and seamless letting the story tell itself. I am sure I will now find Mr Horowitz totally unconvincing as "himself" should I ever hear his real voice!
Overall,I got the feeling that this one perhaps was not quite as addictive as the first one (though I did really look forward to switching on every night and rattled through it at great speed, even bringing it with my for dishwasher loading and tea drinking which for me an unusual extension of my late night/early morning listening always in the bedroom!)
....but just as I was sighing and thinking "Hmmm, not really as good as the first" the plot took off again like a frisky horse on a frosty morning. I think I remember that writing tip being somewhere in this or the other book, always come in for a strong finish and save a twist for last and this was done in breathtaking style, leaving the listener/reader panting for the next adventure.
I adore Murder Mysteries and this one, having such a prestigious pedigree, was just so well crafted like a polished gem - such a shame that Mr Horowitz excellent writing advice could not be given to the plethora of disappointing murder mysteries which somehow seem to be published these days with a wonderful premise who just fail to deliver or fall apart half way through and fizzle out at the end leaving the reader with a "why did I bother - what a waste of a credit" feeling.
So whether this book is to your taste or not - it is stonkingly well written with so many fabulous twists and turns, super sneaky sleuthing, crafty clues and takes you along revealing, misleading, mystifying and illuminating with so much great panache, you feel that you too are part of the Detective Team.
There is talk in the book of this series being a three book deal but I can only hope that this part is fiction in this unique and ingenious fact/fiction format and there will be many many more than three. I know Mr Horowitz is a busy, busy man with his finger in many creative pies but PLEASE hurry up and give us another murder mystery soon - a second "Magpie Murder" stand alone would be a dream come true - otherwise please don't make is wait too long for the promised third in this excellent, groundbreaking and most entertaining series,
Happy, Happy, Happy Audible Customer - 6 stars!

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37 people found this helpful

Love the Daniel Hawthorne series and Rory Kinnear

This postmodern take on detective fiction is right up my street. I love the concept of Anthony (never Tony) Horowitz as the narrator of his own Real Person Fiction novel. The writing and the language, including the dialogue, all rings pretty true for me and yet, despite the often horrific crimes, there is a kind of escapist atmosphere, so that I don't find it all too distressing. So a blend of roman noir-lite and cosy crime, maybe?

The plots are clever and sufficiently convoluted to allow the reader a chance (albeit minimal) of figuring out whodunnit without feeling like a daftie when the killer is revealed. If I leave it long enough between listens, I can even forget who did it altogether - although that is probably just me. But if you do remember the plot, you might find that the writing, especially the characterisations and the relationship between the two leads is so enjoyable that it is always worth a re-visit. So much crime fiction is a puzzle and, like a puzzle, once solved or revealed, it has outlived its usefulness. Not so with this series - for me the books are modern classics; I'll be reading and listening to them for years to come.

What elevates the Daniel Hawthorne series to absolute superstar status for me is the wonderful Rory Kinnear. I'm a huge fan and yes, I would pretty much listen to him reading the telephone directory but his characterisation of the strange, complex, surely-on-the-spectrum Hawthorne is just brilliant.

Hurry up with that writing, Mr Horowitz, I can't wait for the next one!

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3 people found this helpful

Enjoyable but far from his best

I very much enjoy the Hawthorne series, from the quirky details of Anthony’s life, and self-deprecating writing, to the bluntness of Hawthorne and real world approach to solving a murder.

Whilst I did enjoy this book, there were elements that made it a harder listen than I hoped.

The narration was good overall but the voice used for Cara Grunshaw was a bit much really. Almost slapstick.

The murder mystery this time around wasn’t particularly compelling and the resolution (no spoilers) felt a bit flat despite the twists and turns.

Nevertheless, very much looking forward to the next one and the setting sounds amazing, so worth a listen!

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2 people found this helpful

absorbing

I really enjoyed this book.Rory Kinnear is a wonderful reader and I love his voice for Hawthorne..Tantalizing twists and turns , sad in places funny in others , I was totally absorbed. I want to know more about Hawthorne, and who is Michael Carlisle? Hurry up with number three Tony - sorry - Anthony.

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2 people found this helpful

Hawthorn eliminates the impossible

Great fun this series and here in the second adventure we find the unlikely detective duo working grudgingly toward the resolution of a nicely twisting tale. Enjoyable and satisfying.

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2 people found this helpful

"To unlock doors."

A prominent divorce lawyer has been murdered, battered to death with a very expensive bottle of wine. Hawthorne, former detective called in to assist the police with their enquiries, again engaged Anthony Horowitz, author, to follow him as he unscrambles the mystery, then write the book, the Watson to Hawthorne's Holmes.
This is a well written, fun series with snippets of Horowitz's life, the filming of an episode of TV's Foyle's War, for example, briefly included. Interesting characters, convoluted story - A true Christie/Holmes style who-dun-it. And the narration by Rory Kinnear is also excellent, though the voice adopted by him for the abrasive Chief Inspector Grumshaw is somewhat annoying.

A most enjoyable and recommended light hearted read

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1 person found this helpful

Brilliant

I enjoyed this even more than the first book. Excellent, excellent, excellent! Brilliant story, great mystery, twists and turns to keep you guessing and an incredibly moving end to the book.

What a brilliant writer, love the way he brings in aspects of great mystery and deceive writers to his work such as Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle. Also love the way it’s told from his perspective.

Simply unputdownable!

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1 person found this helpful

Great light entertainment!

Really enjoyed 2nd instalment of this 'partnership' story. Only complaint is that it could have been longer as I was really enjoying it as light entertainment. Rory Kinnear would make great Hawthorn if it ever gets to TV.

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1 person found this helpful

another horowitz hit

I really enjoyed the storyline and narration and love Hawthorn. Hurry up with book 3!

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1 person found this helpful

Fantastic story, great performance

Excellent book from Anthony Horowitz again. Lots of twists and turns. Rory Kinnear’s narration is brilliant.

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