A new Anthony Horowitz crime novel is always good...but knowing that this new book follows on from the incredibly fascinating and brilliant Magpie Murders and Moonflower Murders ( No" The " please) means it was a must-read !

Susan Ryeland returns and with that a final case for Atticus Pünd. Interweaving a crisis for Susan with a Pünd story set in the south of France then this is a fast paced adventure. Anthony Horowitz has this talent to pull you into a book then there is no stopping- you are gripped.

In this case, Susan Ryeland is asked to edit a new Pünd story written by a different author- Eliot Grace. Grace's grandmother Miriam Grace became globally renowned as the writer of The Little People books - a series of tales for children.

But Eliot believes his grandmother was murdered- poisoned twenty years earlier; it soon becomes clear to Susan that Eliot's new Pünd novel is giving clues to her murderer and echoing events in the family home of The Crace's - Marble Hall.- where the matriarch kept her family under a rod of iron through bullying and coercion.

As ever, the plotting is intricate and many a red herring is put into the mix leading the reader in different directions whether it be determining the murderer of Miriam Crace or the killer in the Anticus Pünd story- puzzles and anagrams pervade. As in the previous stories, Susan Ryeland finds herself in some tricky situations but her perseverance and determination never fail.

With echoes of vintage period Christie and Horowitz's genre- bending brilliance of mixing a story within a story in a contemporary setting , this third and most likely final novel in the series is excellent - do read the two previous books before this final one for full impact.

Superb - a highly recommended read- certainly going to be one of the top crime books of 2025 - no doubt at all

Marble Hall Murders by Anthony Horowitz is an impeccably crafted and delightfully twisty mystery that showcases Horowitz’s unmatched skill as a master of the genre. Set in the opulent but shadowy Marble Hall estate, the story combines a classic whodunit vibe with clever modern touches, delivering a thoroughly engaging read from start to finish.

The plot is intricately layered, filled with red herrings, sharp twists, and moments of genuine surprise. Horowitz’s ability to build suspense is second to none, and the way the threads of the mystery come together is nothing short of brilliant. The atmosphere is rich and immersive, with Marble Hall itself dripping with secrets that feel as alive as the characters navigating its dark corners.

The protagonist—a sharp and resourceful investigator—carries the narrative with wit and intelligence, while the supporting cast adds depth and complexity to the story. Each suspect feels fully realized, keeping the reader guessing about motives and alibis until the very end.

My only slight quibble is that a few sections linger on detailed exposition, which slows the pacing at times. But this is a minor issue in an otherwise exceptional book.

Marble Hall Murders is an elegant and thrilling read that pays homage to classic mysteries while feeling fresh and inventive. A solid 4.5 stars—Horowitz continues to prove why he’s one of the best in the business!

<I><blockquote>It's what makes a murder mystery unique in the world of popular fiction. It may seem brilliant, but an awful lot depends on the last chapter. Only when you get there do you find out if the book was worth reading to begin with.</I></blockquote>

It's this kind of insight into the murder mystery genre that makes this series so much fun. Horowitz is, as ever, slightly tongue in cheek here as he gives us not one ending but two, hedging his bets mischievously.

Once again, Susan Ryeland is brought back into the world of Atticus Pund, this time through a new author's continuation of Alan Conway's series. And, of course, Eliot Crace continues the Conway tradition of hiding a real murder in his fiction - leading Susan to play both editor and detective again.

I would strongly suggest that readers of this finish [book:Magpie Murders|32075854] first as there are spoilers for that first book here and an unexpected return to that storyline.

But otherwise this feels like a darker entry than the earlier two - though there is no shortage of light heartedness as well. The whole book-with-a-book thing is managed with its usual aplomb and Horowitz finds a way to add a twist to keep the plot buoyant.

What really makes these books for me, though, is the voice and character of Susan herself: sharp, smart, biting and more than a bit spiky - and one of the best acts of ventriloquism by a male author that I can think of. From the afterword, I'm not sure if another book is planned - but I really hope it happens.

Ah this was so brilliant! Marble Hall Murders is the 3rd book in a series, following book editor Susan Ryeland as she works on a series of books about a famous detective named Atticus Pund.

Now, this is the 1st book in the series that I have read - and it does warn at the beginning that it gives away some key spoilers about the previous books - and given how good this was, I would recommend starting from the 1st book! But it didn’t spoil my enjoyment in any way.

They’ve also been made into a tv series on iplayer - so that is my viewing sorted for the next couple of weeks as I’m definitely going to get watching them!

In this 3rd instalment (which sounds like it may be the last), Susan has been persuaded to work on a new Atticus Pund novel - written not by his original author Alan Conway, but by Eliot Crace - the grandson of infamous and beloved children’s author, Miriam Crace.

As Susan begins her work, Eliot reveals that he believes his grandmother was murdered - and he plans to use the book to share what really happened and who killed her. But in getting involved in the Crace family, Susan finds a whole new mystery and places herself in danger at the same time.

We even have a whole second book within the book - Eliot’s Atticus Pund novel - which is every bit as good as the actual book! Although, with all the characters in the main and secondary books, I occasionally had to stop and think “hang on, who is this again?” 🤣

This was such a brilliantly written, amazingly clever and intricately constructed whodunnit. I love Anthony’s writing style and how clever his stories are - his style is classic like an Arthur Conan Doyle or Agatha Christie. I can’t wait to read more of his books.

Susan Ryeland is back in London. Never quite settled in Crete, she has now returned to her happy place. She just needs a permanent job to keep her afloat. Working as a freelance editor, she has been on the books of publishing house Causton Books for a while, and is asked to call into the office to see the boss, Michael Flynn, with the hopes of being in on an exciting project. It is disclosed that the new book is a “continuation“ of the Atticus Pund stories, two of which Susan had edited working alongside author Alan Conway, a difficult man to say the least. As Alan died some time ago, author Eliot Crace has been commissioned to take up the reins. Known only vaguely to Susan, she is not convinced that it will work, but she has a mortgage to pay so offers to read what has been written so far.

The third book in the series, but perfectly written as a standalone. There are some spoilers, so perhaps the previous books should be read first (you won’t be disappointed!).

These books always seem a BOGOF for me, two whodunnits for the price of one!

As always the writing is spot on, and the story very clever with the characters brought to life on the page. Susan is the typical warrior woman, never gives up despite being told to keep away. Atticus is calm, determined and sharp. Lovely Jamie, loyal and steadfast.

A gem of a book (my favourite of the series), a perfect follow up to the others, with an ideal ending, so a definite recommendation.

Is this the final outing for Susan? Maybe, but hopefully not, 🤞🏻.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House UK.

Think this one may just be my favourite of the three Susan/Pund books. Brilliant as always from Mr Horowitz,

Set in the world of authors and publishing this murder mystery is as you'd expect from this author really good.

The story has drama, a suspected poisoning and a host of twisty red herrings to keep the reader guessing.

I loved it. I always enjoy a Horowitz novel and this did not disappoint.

Fans of Atticus Pünd will revel in this latest escapade.

"Marble Hall Murders" opens to find that life for Susan Ryeland has moved on - she's back in London, has her own flat, and is working freelance for a publisher. When a meeting with said publisher reveals that they are planning an Atticus Pünd continuation novel and want her to work with the author, she isn't immediately taken with the idea. Her experiences with Alan Conway didn't end well. But her curiosity is piqued when she learns the author is Eliot Crace, grandson of Miriam Crace who was the biggest selling children’s author in the world until her death twenty years ago.

And with that the reader is launched into another complex and twisting story-within-a-story as Susan discovers similarities between the novel and real life. As the story unfolds we learn that the Enid Blyton-like author wasn't the paragon of virtue the world believed she was. Eliot believes that Miriam was deliberately poisoned, and when he tells Susan that he has hidden the identity of Miriam’s killer inside his book, she knows she’s in trouble once again. Things only get worse when she becomes a murder suspect herself.

This book is everything fans of the series have come to love - a story within a story, the past influencing the present, with red herrings, clues and puzzles everywhere. It features a famous author and her dysfunctional family, suspicious allies, and perhaps the best police inspector yet. Pünd dazzles as usual, but a shadow hangs over him, and even a south of France setting can't help him as he uncovers lies and deceit. The author, as usual, litters the story with publishing inside jokes, name-dropping everywhere. Great stuff!

We also get to meet again characters from the previous books, and some loose ends are nicely tied up. If this is the last we'll hear of Pünd and Susan, it's a fine goodbye. Heartily recommended.