This series, of which The Twist of a Knife is the fourth book, takes as its premise the idea that the author Anthony Horowitz himself is one of the main characters, enlisted by the fictional detective Daniel Hawthorne to write books about the cases he investigates. If you’re yet to read any of these books, you could start with this one if you want to as it does stand alone, but I would recommend beginning with the first, The Word is Murder, if you can. Either way, try one and see what you think!

The Twist of a Knife begins with Hawthorne trying to persuade Horowitz to write another book about him, but Anthony has other plans. He had only agreed to a three-book deal and that is now complete; now he’s working on a different novel – Moonflower Murders – and preparing for the London opening of his play, Mindgame. However, as Anthony himself then admits, the fact that we, the reader, are holding a fourth Hawthorne novel in our hands proves that somehow Hawthorne must get what he wants!

The story then moves on to the first night of Mindgame at London’s Vaudeville Theatre. The play has been very well received on tour and Horowitz is hoping that London audiences will like it just as much. Everything goes smoothly on that first night, but as Anthony and the cast get together in the green room after the play, the first review comes in – and it’s a bad one. In fact, it couldn’t be much worse. Written by the critic Harriet Throsby for the Sunday Times, the review is rude, scathing and insulting, placing most of the blame on Horowitz’s writing. When Harriet is found stabbed to death the next morning, suspicion immediately falls on Horowitz and he is arrested for murder. His only hope is that Hawthorne can find the real culprit and clear his name – but what will Hawthorne expect in return?

I think this could be my favourite of the four books in this series. I loved the theatrical setting and I found the mystery a particularly interesting one. Just about everyone involved with the play Mindgame has both the motive and the opportunity to have killed Harriet and I enjoyed learning more about each of the suspects – I did pick up on some of the clues, but certainly not all of them and I didn’t guess who the murderer was until the truth was revealed in an Agatha Christie-style denouement at the end of the book. Mindgame is a real play written by Horowitz which was first performed in 1999, although in this book it’s presented as a new work and the actors, director and events of the opening night are fictional. It sounds like a fascinating play and I’m tempted to read it, although it sounds like one that would have to be seen on stage to fully appreciate.

Daniel Hawthorne remains a private, secretive person, as he has from the beginning of the series, but with each book a few more facts about him are uncovered. In this book, Horowitz has the chance to spend some time in Hawthorne’s home and makes one or two intriguing discoveries which I’m sure will be explored further in the next book. I’m assuming there will be a next book – in fact, there were hints at the end of this one that we could have several more to look forward to.

I really enjoyed this whodunnit from Anthony Horowitz and particularly the device of putting himself at the centre of the action. I enjoyed the interaction between the narrator and Hawthorne, his private detective partner. It had the feel of a crime novel from a much earlier time and was none the worse for that. Highly recommend. Thanks you to the publishers and author and NetGalley for the opportunity to review an arc.

The Twist of a Knife by Anthony Horowitz is a story of murder involving Anthony Horowitz and his private detective Hawthorne. The critic who has given Anthony a bad review for his play is found dead and Anthony is arrested for her murder.
All of the other cast and people associated with the play have secrets. Will Hawthorne be able to find the murderer before Anthony is arrested for the murder?
Recommended

The start of this book felt odd but once you get used to it, it adds a whole other level to the novel and the layers of story are so well weaved together.

Set alongside a play makes for a very rich cast of characters and a full story with the relationship between Horowitz and Hawthorne tested to the limit.

Old fashioned crime thriller at it’s best.

I am really enjoying these stories of fact/fiction written by Anthony Horowitz. They are very clever and are three dimensional. I have unfortunately not read the first one yet, but I fully intend to catch up on it.
Brilliantly written in such a fast entertaining style, I read it in a matter of hours as I could not leave it alone, I had to find out - surely the best crime novels should do that, but some spend so long meandering through a multitude of characters that the reader ceases to care.
This was a great book and I loved it. More Hawthorne please.

The Twist of a Knife, by Anthony Horowitz - book review

The Twist of a Knife is the fourth in the Hawthorne series by Anthony Horowitz, and it’s the best so far. Horowitz once again plays himself: the narrator and Watson to private investigator Hawthorne’s Holmes. This time, Horowitz is the main suspect when obnoxious theatre critic Harriet Throsby is murdered, hours after writing a stinging review of Horowitz’s play. What follows is a witty romp through theatre land (with nods to Midsomer Murders), with a genuine and solvable puzzle underpinning it all.
I need to justify ‘best’. After all, The Word is Murder included plenty of fourth wall - and very meta - asides, The Sentence is Death included a superb mystery, and A Line to Kill took us to the Channel Islands which is always a fun trip. I think this time Horowitz has really focused on entertaining us, and there are three things that make The Twist of a Knife stand out.
First, a murder victim, Harriet Throsby, who is one of the most appalling characters I’ve come across for a long while. Throsby will stop at nothing to be genuinely nasty. She ruins lives and is deliberate about doing so. We readers may believe we are nice people, and frown on the death penalty, but we all love a villain to get their comeuppance. When Throsby’s name appears on the page we cackle and we pretend to be shocked and then we lap it all up, genuinely and openly appalled and probably secretly delighted at the same time. We aren’t upset about what’s happened to her, whereas earlier books in this series seemed more ambiguous.
Second, Horowitz is increasingly comfortable playing with what is real and what is not. A large part of the action takes place in and around the theatre: the venue of illusion. Horowitz sets the scene early on, when he points out that
It’s obvious there’s going to be another murder because if there hadn’t been, why would I have written anything at all? The very fact that you’re holding this book, complete with compulsory bloodstain on the cover, rather spoils the surprise.
You will probably spend too long on Horowitz’s wikipedia page to work out how fiction interplays with reality. The book becomes more enjoyable when you take certain aspects at face value - but you’ll have to decide which. Yes, he did write a play called Mindgame, no it doesn’t fit with the timeline of this novel. Horowitz describes a part of London I used to know well, he does so authentically, but does he really only have 500 books in his flat, and does he really answer all his fan mail? Does he really believe it when he says, ‘You’d think someone is being murdered almost every day of the week but fortunately real life isn’t like that.’ Obviously not.
Third, Horowitz has always known how to deliver comedy and in these books it is often through self-deprecation. But I can’t remember the last time I genuinely laughed out loud during the denouement of a crime novel. There is a lightness to this novel - reinforced by some plot points that are improbable - and it’s all the better for it.
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.

As plot devices go I think putting yourself as a main character in a novel is a pretty clever one and clearly it works as we are here with the fourth Hawthorne and Horowitz mystery.

Putting yourself in as a main character and also mentioning other works you have written as well, is pretty genius too. Here in this fourth outing Horwitz finds himself distracted by his new play Mindgame which is about to open in London. It done well on tour, surely that can translate to the stage at the Vaudeville theatre.

It does and the opening night is a success. Apart from one scathing review from a well known critic who as well as remarking on the actors performance is particularly ruthless over the writing.

The critic is found dead the next day. Stabbed by an ornamental dagger a gift, from the producer to all the cast and the writer.

The dagger has fingerprints all over it. They are Anthony’s. An arrest is made and it seems that only one person can help – Hawthorne. Why should he help? Hawthorne is an enigma Hortwitz has yet to fathom but will he ever know the truth?

Full of twist, turns, clues, red herrings this classic crime novel in the vein of Christie is one of the best I have read in a long time. I had some doubts at one point that it was actually true, and I was reading a fictionalised version of real events, that absorbed I was in the plot. Of course I came to my senses but it did add to the desperation I had in finishing the novel just to make sure it all ended up as it should. I can’t say if it did or not, but the classic dénouement scene in the theatre was pure theatrics at its best.

I hope there is more to come.

This is a well written story which is very character driven. It’s the forth in a series and I feel that I would have enjoyed it more I do I had read the previous books. The plot is well placed and there are twist and turns along the way. I enjoyed the ride!!

‘I’m sorry, Hawthorne. But the answer’s no. Our deal is over.’ - opening line.

My thanks to Random House U.K./Cornerstone for an eARC, via NetGalley, of ‘The Twist of a Knife’ by Anthony Horowitz. I complemented my reading with its unabridged audiobook edition, read by Rory Kinnear.

This is the fourth in Horowitz’s series of mysteries featuring former police detective turned private investigator, Daniel Hawthorne. However, what is different here from most crime novels is that its author, Anthony Horowitz, is also a character, something of a Watson to Hawthorne’s Holmes.

So, just a few plot details in order to avoid spoiler territory. Following the conclusion of their last case (‘A Line to Kill’), Horowitz feels that his collaboration with Hawthorne has come to a natural end despite Hawthorne being keen for them to continue. Horowitz leaves their meeting expecting that he is unlikely to see Hawthorne again.

He then writes: “Here’s the annoying thing … Despite everything I’ve just written, it’s obvious that there’s going to be another murder because if there hadn’t been, why would I have written anything at all? The very fact that you’re holding this book, complete with compulsory bloodstain on the cover, rather spoils the surprise.”

Such breaking of the fourth wall is a feature of this series.

So, Horowitz goes off to oversee the West End debut of his play, ‘Mindgame’. Following opening night there is a murder that shakes the entire company. Almost immediately the police show up and arrest Horowitz! They have evidence implicating him as the murderer. In order to clear his name and discover whodunnit Horowitz has no option but to reach out to Hawthorne.

As Anthony Horowitz incorporates people, places and events from his own life, it can be a little hard to determine fact from fiction. However, this blurring of lines is intentional. Many authors talk about their characters taking on a life of their own and here Hawthorne has even acquired a literary agent!

This novel (and series) is so deliciously clever. It’s an excellent mystery brimming with humour and witty dialogue, as well as plenty of references to crime fiction and theatre.

The good news is that thanks to Hawthorne’s skilful negotiations there will be more cases to come… I can hardly wait!

Highly recommended.

Our narrator, the author Anthony Horowitz, is preparing for the first night in the West End of his play Mindgame. He has decided to end his association with Hawthorne after three escapades. After the first night the play receives a vicious review from Harriet Throsby and the next day she is found stabbed to death. Anthony finds himself arrested, it was his dagger (with prints) and his hair is found on the victim. In order to prove his innocence Anthony must once mare enlist the help of the enigmatic Hawthorne.
This is such an entertaining series of books. The self-indulgent metafiction aspect works incredibly well, particularly as Horowitz gives so much of his own background to fictional scenes. Once again this is a twisty little plot which it tight in terms of characters and suspects but with a huge span in terms of ideas.

The story:
The author Anthony Horowitz is done with writing stories about detective Daniel Hawthorne. They had a three-book deal, and when that’s done, he wants to move on to other things. In fact, he has an exciting new project underway — a play he has written, “Mindgame”, is being staged around the country before opening in London’s Vaudeville theatre.

But opening night is where it all starts to go wrong for Anthony… A critic who writes a scathing review of his play turns up murdered the next morning — and he is the prime suspect! With motive, opportunity and his fingerprints all over the murder weapon, will Hawthorne be able to help him in time?

My thoughts:
I mentioned in my recent review of “A Line to Kill” that Anthony Horowitz is one of my go-to authors; one whose books I always add to my shelves when they come out. The Hawthorne and Horowitz series is proving to be extremely enjoyable — with Anthony fulfilling the role of an enthusiastic, if some-what easily misled, Watson to Hawthorne’s Sherlock — and I think this might be my favourite instalment so far.

Of course, in this most recent adventure, Anthony has every incentive to put his all into the case, when he finds himself as the main suspect. But the alternative, that someone is deliberately framing him for murder, seems equally as unlikely, and the duo have their work cut out for them to keep ahead of Detective Grunshaw (who they unfortunately showed up on a previous investigation, making her disinclined to help Anthony now!).

I think murder mysteries set around the theatre are always enjoyable (see “Enter a Murderer”, and several others by Ngaio Marsh, and “Quick Curtain” by Alan Melville, part of the British Library Crime Classics series), and I was very pleased when Hawthorne gathered all the suspects on stage for his final deductions — something he very kindly does just to please Anthony when he comes to write the book!

Once again we get a few faint glimmers of insight into Hawthorne’s past, and I hope we will be treated to more entries in this funny, gripping and thoroughly entertaining series soon to learn more!

I was sent an uncorrected advance proof of The Twist of a Knife by Anthony Horowitz to read and review by NetGalley. This is the third novel I have read by this author and the second I have read in the series of Hawthorne and Horowitz, this being the fourth instalment – I started on the third! I have to say that I think this is the best I have read so far. It is very readable, believable, funny and witty, with a light touch even in the more tense moments. I enjoyed it so much I read it in a day and a half. If you only ever read one Anthony Horowitz novel, I would recommend that it is this one!

An intriguing style where the author appears as a character in the book and reference is made to his literary achievements. Mind games opens in London and receives a slating from a critic who is found dead the following morning. All clues point to Anthony, the author, and he has to persuade is sleuthing friend Hawthorne to get him out of his difficulties.

Anthony Horowitz has completed his deal with the brilliant but awkward detective Daniel Hawthorne. The three book deal is over, and he can now concentrate on his upcoming play, Mindgame.
After the curtain falls on the first night, Horowitz and the cast celebrate, but an unwanted guest, Harriet Throsby, arrives. The controversial critic for the Sunday Times leaves everyone on edge. After a few hours her review is in and it couldn’t be worse.
So when the following day she turns up dead, fingers start to point, and it’s not long before Horowitz is arrested for her murder.
Knowing he’s up against it there is only one person he can call for help - Hawthorne. But will the detective answer the call?
Book four in the series and they keep getting better and better.
I loved the book. It has everything a crime reader craves. From a highly addictive crime duo, mystery and suspense, a witty comic edge throughout, to the classic whodunnit finish.
Anthony Horowitz is truly brilliant writer and I can’t wait for more.
Simply outstanding.

My first book by this author, not my last!
A novel situation - the author plays himself in this novel and is arrested suspected of murdering a critic who gives his play a bad review! This is the fourth in this series about Anthony Horowitz and a private investigator - Daniel Hawthorne. I learnt quite a bit about the author and the books and plays he has written. I found myself googling to confirm the titles and his involvement in the theatre - all true.
Cleverly plotted mixing fact and fiction. Three and a half stars for me.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Anthony Horowitz/Random House UK for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

A clever story featuring Anthony Horowitz himself. His new play, Mindgame opens and at the opening night various problems are brought to the fore. He is understandably nervous how the public and of course the all important critics perceive it. It seems to go rather well but at the after party, the critic Harriet Throsby turns up uninvited and proceeds to antagonise the cast, producer and indeed Anthony himself. Later one of the actresses receives Harriet’s review of the play on her phone and reads it out for all to hear and confirm their worst fears as she finds fault with all concerned. There is a subdued air and anger and disappointment is there for all to see with some voicing veiled threats. When Harriet is found murdered the following morning, there is a long list of suspects but Anthony finds himself at the top of the list. A race against time to find the true culprit leads to Anthony teaming up once again with Hawthorne to prove his innocence. An original concept where the writer is the main suspect and this is an enjoyable read with plenty of red herrings that lead the reader to be suspicious of all the main characters.

Not really my kind of book. But I found it very well written, and can see it appealing to those who enjoy crime mysteries.

4.5*
A unique twist in this entertaining series is that Anthony Horowitz has cast himself as one of the characters. The fictitious Horowitz teamed up with ex detective Daniel Hawthorne to shadow Hawthorne as he works cases, and turn the investigations into novels. As the three book deal that was agreed upon is completed, Horowitz has decided to move on. His new project, a play, is about to open at the Vaudeville, a Victorian theatre in Shoreditch.

Horowitz, along with the cast, were nervous about the opening night reviews and the appearance of a notoriously ruthless critic at the after show party made everyone jittery. Their fears were well founded when Harriet Thorsby’s scathing review made the papers. But everything was about to get much worse.

Thorsby is found dead the next day, stabbed with an ornamental knife, one of several gifted to those involved with the play. The murder weapon however had Horowitz’s prints on it and he’s arrested and charged. Horowitz is forced ask for Hawthorne’s help to find out the truth as his nemesis, DI Cara Grunshaw, is determined to prove him guilty…and the evidence against him is mounting.

The plot is credible and the characters’ reactions believable, particularly those of someone accused of a crime they didn’t commit…fearing for his future, both personal and career wise. Grunshaw revels in the fact that the damning evidence in the murder case was pointing exclusively to Horowitz, and the tension builds as more is uncovered. Then another critic is found dead in what appear to be suspicious circumstances.

Initially I found the beginning a little slower than previous books but this approach does allows the reader to get a sense of the cast of characters. Before too long Hawthorne and Horowitz are chasing down clues, and with help from Hawthorne’s neighbour, buying themselves some extra time….but Grunshaw is hot on their heels.

We’re teased with a little more information about Hawthorne but he’s still keeping his private life pretty close. I enjoyed the humour, the nods to classic crime, the way Horowitz’s character is portrayed and the reality of his work. Again, very clever plotting meant it was impossible, for me anyway, to guess the perpetrator.

Love the Anthony and Hawthorne books. With every instalment we learn more about the fascinating but very private Hawthorne. The novels are interesting and solid with a modern Agatha Christie feel. Can't wait for the next one. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.

'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?

This is a wonderful addition to this thrilling series!
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building that adds so much to the story.
Such a thrilling read that I couldn't put it down.
Can't wait to read more of these.
Recommend reading.

I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own honest voluntary