Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for the complimentary copy of The Twist of a Knife by Anthony Horowitz.

This was the first book I've read by Anthony Horowitz, and I didn't really enjoy the book. I felt that the book was a bit loose on the story line. I didn't quite feel that I could engage with the characters or the plot. I'm a huge fan of this genre but the book fell flat for me.

I'm sorry!

If you’ve read my other reviews, you’ll know I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the unique concept Horowitz has brought to this series by inserting himself as a character. I kept finding myself Googling what was fact and fiction.

The Twist of a Knife didn’t work as well.

The plot was just as engaging. A sudden death with plenty of suspects with their own motivations makes a compelling mystery. Like before, I was kept guessing. The secondary characters all had aspects of their character that made them likeable; and other parts not so much. You don’t connect with them and that distance works well to believe all could be the killer.

What I liked so much about the previous books is that it could’ve happened. Horowitz’ role as an observer gives you moments pause about whether this is fact or fiction. The difference this time is Horowitz himself is placed in the spotlight as the prime suspect, with the evidence to back this up.

But you know it’s not him. While it makes the rest of the cast equally suspicious, it creates a distance I hadn’t found previously. Suddenly, you’re reading another mystery with misdirection – obvious misdirection. I wasn’t as immersed in the world as previously; ironic, given it has a more personal atmosphere.

What does work, though, is the opportunity to gain insight into Hawthorne’s character. Entering his personal space by staying at his home naturally gives Horowitz – and the reader – a glimpse into the type of man Hawthorne is. A convenient surprise appearance at the flat also gives the chance to ask questions.

A recurring theme throughout The Twist of a Knife is that Horowitz thinks the series is over. We know it’s not by the fact we’re reading this! But that sense of reluctance seems to translate into more than words on the page. The whole book felt reluctant, like a pause before he continues the series.

It's been an interesting experience reading self-insertion in this way. But while it makes sense for a character to stop given the circumstances, that sets the tone for the entire novel when the author is that character. It’s hard to put my finger on it, but something didn’t flow as well.

Horowitz is now contractually obliged to keep writing and I’m hoping that sees a return of the more approachable atmosphere of the previous books. The character no longer has a way out, and the author can embrace that with his writing.

Another way the self-insertion didn’t work as well this time is the earlier books in this series being recognised as published. What a way to self-promote? It jarred: there was too much of this book making a big deal out of the other books Horowitz has written.

Overall, The Twist of a Knife is an enjoyable read but not as strong as the previous in the series. I have the next lined up, and have my hopes up that it will return me to the world I was fully immersed in.

The case against this book also refers to its improbability: Grunshaw and Mills are ridiculous detectives and their methods are not particularly believable. This is as far from the gritty, socially-real noir as you can get. The epilogue is awful, jumping the shark somewhat. And Horowitz’s little set piece on cancel culture starts in a stilted way (though it recovers). So let’s be clearer about what I mean by ‘best’. I think that Horowitz has set out to entertain us. And for a few hours he continues to tease with the format, to bring us a genuinely enjoyable cosy crime. This is just about as smooth as it gets.

The rather pompous version of Tony Horowitz in the Hawthorne Investigates novels wants to break up the partnership. He's got a play on in the West End of London. Little does he know how much he will need Hawthorne's help!
When the vicious Sunday Times theatre critic is stabbed to death after a bad review of Tony's play, he wakes up to find himself the chief suspect in her murder. What's worse: the Met Police has enough evidence to put him in prison. Hawthorne to be rescue, as the duo have only 48 hours to prove that Tony isn't the killer.
Eagle-eyed readers will spot a detail early on that shows who the killer is. Five stars.

I really enjoyed the 4th book in this series. I find the way Horowitz writes 'himself' in these novels to be fun even when the case isn't.

This story was cleverly written with an excellent cast of characters and a series of motives that kept me guessing until the end.

I loved that we got a little more of Hawthorne's backstory too and can't wait for the next in the series.

Thought I would try another of these Hawthorne mysteries, especially as this one was billed as a locked room mystery. Sadly it failed to grip me despite the excellent plotting, the characters seemed to lack any depth.

Really enjoyed this - will definitely be recommending and looking forward to the next one by this author!

The fourth installment in a witty, clever and hugely enjoyable series featuring a relucant Horowitz as he accompanies private detective Hawthorne in order to write a series of "true crime" books.

Horowitz is now busy with other projects, including the writing of Moonflower Murders and a production of his play Mindgame. Following the ordeal of the previous three investigations, which left him feeling inept and put his life in danger, Horowitz is now putting his foot down once and for all and refuses to write any more books working with Hawthorne.

Unfortunately, Horowitz soon finds himself being arrested for the murder of the theatre critic who wrote a savage opening night review of his play. It is the same police detectives he crossed paths with in book three. The only person who can help him is Hawthorne, but will he even talk to him after Horowitz has said he simply does not want to work with him?

Brilliant storytelling, cleverly plotted, witty and self-deprecating.


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A fun romp of a murder investigation, with the great rapport, wit and sarcasm supplied largely by Hawthorne in his quest to absolve ‘Tony’ Horowitz.

This has so many echoes of an Agatha Christie mystery, with clues aplenty but with the solution always just out of grasp.

A thoroughly enjoyable, sharp, witty read.

"The Twist of the Knife" by Anthony Horowitz, the fourth installment in the Horowitz and Hawthorne series, continues to deliver the delightful storytelling that has become synonymous with this series. Horowitz's continues to artfully weave himself into the narrative, a meta-literary approach that blurs the lines between fiction and reality and offers a fresh perspective on the murder mystery genre.

In this installment, Horowitz's becomes a more central figure to the story as a prime suspect in the murder of a critic who vehemently disparaged the opening night of his latest play. This twist injects a heightened level of tension into the storyline as Horowitz’s anxiety increases.

The book is well paced, every page feels crucial with each scene contributing to the larger puzzle. Horowitz ensures all the essential clues are presented in plain sight while managing to maintain an aura of mystery and suspense that keeps you guessing until the final reveal.

"The Twist of the Knife" further explores the enigmatic character of Hawthorne. As a flawed individual, Hawthorne has always been intriguing. This book delves deeper into his backstory, shedding more light on his complexities and motivations. There’s still much more to uncover about the detective that I look forward to exploring future books.

Thank you to the Netgalley and the publishers for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

A gripping book that I read in two sittings. Great characters and a really engrossing story line. Highly recommended by me!

This is the fourth book in the series with Hawthorne the detective. Back in the first one we discover Horowitz has been backed in a corner by his publisher that he has to write a book about the detective and ends up with a three book deal. That has finished and not wanting to do anymore he tells him that's it.
You just know once that is done it will comeback to haunt and does it. His new play is opening and after opening night a top critic slates him and the play and is found dead. That would be bad but she is killed by an ornimental dagger given to cast and crew and it turns out Anthony is now the main culprit. He is so much in it that the police arrest him and he is plonked in jail. He turns to the one person he knows can help, Hawthorne but will he help.
The story follows Hawthorne & Horowitz as he tries to solve the murder and clear his own name.

The book is as ever well written which is no less than to be expected from this author. It is written is a great style that has humour as well as following the story as they try to solve this.
You can read this as a stand alone but if you haven't read the Hawthorne series then your missing a treat and start with the first and read them as you won't be disappointed.

A gripping book that I struggled to put down. Brilliant plot with a host of interesting characters, I will definitely read more by this author.

Yet another absolutely brilliant book in the Hawthorne and Horowitz series!

This is book 4 and technically each plot stands alone, but there is an overarching mystery related to Hawthorne’s past which you can only really follow if you read the books in order. Plus, the characters develop so well that their relationship alone makes it worth reading the lot.

Hawthorne and Horowitz make a lovely ‘odd couple’ of investigators. Hawthorne is as wonderfully obtuse and deliberately annoying as ever, and Horowitz is witty, self-deprecating and riddled with anxiety. And with even more cause than usual, as this time he is on the hook for murder.

I was pleased that I managed to pick up most of the clues as the murder mystery plot unfolded, but remained entertainingly baffled as to where they pointed right up to the last minute of the dramatic Agatha Christie-style big reveal.

The whole book is so clever and humorous, and the meta hook of author and character combined is such a good one, that I find myself loving this series more and more with each book released. I therefore sincerely hope that the arm-twisting suffered by poor Mr Horowitz means that we can expect at least three more instalments of Hawthorne and Horowitz investigating!

This is the next in the series with the author and Daniel Hawthorn and the plot follows an unusual trajectory for a murder mystery. Instead of just solving a crime, their starting point in this page turner is having to prove that the author didn't do it! A twist in more senses than one indeed!

This excellent adventure is the fourth Sherlock-and-Watson-type partnership between Anthony Horowitz (the author playing himself) and the fiendishly clever detective Daniel Hawthorne.
And this time it’s the author himself who finds himself in a pickle when he’s banged up for murdering Harriet Throsby, a theatre critic with a poison pen who demolishes Anthony’s debut West End production of his new play Mindgame. It seems like an open-and-shut case because Anthony’s fingerprints are all over a dagger believed to be the murder weapon.
The trouble is the playwright has cheesed off the detective by telling him he doesn’t want to work with him anymore. Now he needs him badly. Lucky for him (and us) Hawthorne takes the case, contrives to get his sidekick out of jail and embarks on a delicious whodunnit with many suspects, many motives and many twists and turns.
The reader is plunged into the catty world of London theatre and beyond as the plot thickens and is finally resolved in a locked-room Poirot-style climax when Hawthorne gathers the major players together to unmask the dastardly killer.
This is crime fiction and meta-fiction of the highest order, page-turning, witty and seriously smart. A perfect holiday read.
REVIEW PUBLISHED IN YOU MAGAZINE, SOUTH AFRICA'S LARGEST WEEKLY MAGAZINE

Fantastic book.

Plot summary (SPOILERS) - "Tony" tells Hawthorne he worn't write another book for him. Tony gets accused of murder, asks Hawthorne toi help him. Hawthorne works out who the murderer is. To repay his "debt", Tony has to write more books for Hawthorne.

There's something almost charming and old fashioned about this book, with an Agatha Christie type gathering at the end to unmask the murderer. It's a great plot and what I liked most are the almost comical moments where Tony is (hopelessly) trying to work out who the murderer is and the effortlessness of Hawthorne's detective abilities.

Some peole have criticised the books saying they're recycling Holmes and Watson - you know what? I don't care - they're a great read, with strong plots and great characters.

I'm hoping that this means that tehre are at least another three to come - and that we'll finmd out what really happened in Reeth!

My first Anthony Horowitz read, and it certainly lived up to the hype! It was intensely gripping, with plenty of twists and turns. I loved it! Going to have to read the rest of their work now!

The Twist of a Knife by Anthony Horowitz

Everything is looking up for our author Anthony Horowitz. His play Mindgame is about to open on the London stage, which means he can finally finish his uneasy literary partnership with former detective Daniel Hawthorne. All is well on opening night and Anthony has reason to be optimistic as he waits at the afterparty for the first reviews to come in. Shockingly, The Sunday Times’ famous critic Harriet Throsby savages the play and its author. It’s the end of the line for the play. It’s also the end of the line for the critic. The next day Harriet is found stabbed, killed by an ornamental knife. Anthony Horowitz owns one very much like it…. The detective in charge has a grudge against Anthony. Daniel Hawthorne might be worth knowing after all.

The Daniel Hawthorne books, of which this is the fourth, are among the most witty, clever and dastardly books that I have ever read. They take apart crime fiction and crime writing and throw it all back together again in a way that leaves the reader, particularly this one, astounded. The fact that the author is one of the two main protagonists, giving astonishing proceedings an air of authenticity and truth, adds an extra edge of fabulous audacity! Anthony tells us everything. He’s at pains to be open with us, to justify himself, and to get things off his chest, especially about Daniel Hawthorne. Daniel is an enigma to Anthony and to us, even though, of course, Anthony Horowitz has created him.

Quite apart from the cleverness of the concept, and the truly brilliant way in which it is delivered, giving the reader all sorts of insight into what life may or may not be like for a successful novelist, The Twist of a Knife is a fantastic crime novel. It has a great plot which, as the title suggests, is as twisty as you could wish, and the characters are so enjoyable, not least the greatly feared Harriet Throsby. The idea that literary critics are being targeted is developed with relish.

As with the other novels, The Twist of a Knife is hugely entertaining and very witty, largely due to its narrator who, in this novel above all others, has much to prove, especially to the police.

I listened to the audiobook, which was read so well by Rory Kinnear. I recommend it!

Firstly, I would like to thank Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book.

Although I have read books by this author in the past and really enjoyed them, this is the first one with Hawthorne. I also enjoyed this one, I read it in one sitting - I couldn’t put it down! A bit like the Agatha Christie stories I enjoyed in the past. It wasn’t a thriller but it was an excellent murder mystery.