Author:Anthony Horowitz
This is now the fifth novel featuring enigmatic private investigator Daniel Hawthorne, who is assisted by the author himself who appears as a character in his own story. On this occasion, the plot revolves around a case from Hawthorne’s somewhat mysterious past, a dispute among neighbours that gets out of control. A neighbour from hell disrupts life in a quiet gated community, where all the residents seemingly hold a grudge against him. One of them – or perhaps more – eventually takes matters into their own hands with a tragic outcome. There’s an interconnected series of issues and relationships going on beneath the surface, which gradually emerge as the investigation progresses, with all the residents apparently having both motives and alibis. As Horowitz reexamines Hawthorne’s original investigation, it places unexpected strains on their own friendship as hidden secrets are revealed, leading to a dramatic and unexpected climax. Along the way, there’s plenty of deception and red herrings before the seemingly impossible puzzle is finally solved. An excellent entertaining thriller that certainly lives up to the high standards of the previous novels in this series.
Length of Read:Medium
Might appeal to people who enjoyed…
Whodunnit thrillers in the old school Agatha Christie ‘golden age of crime’ style – but it works far better if you’ve already read the preceding four novels so you know the background to the main two characters.
One thing you’ve learned
A really enjoyable read that holds your attention to the very last page – guess the culprit if you can.
I’ve really enjoyed this series of books so the new one coming out is great news. I have always ‘read’ them as audiobooks and Rory Kinnear narrates. He does an excellent job. The Audible version drops tomorrow (do audiobooks drop?).
Thank you for the heads up.
More importantly, if they drop and no one buys them do they make a sound?
Horiwitz is great. I think i said this on one of his last reviews but he did two Sherlock Homes novels and *they* were great as well, and all the Hawthornes are great. The Atticus Pund ones are maybe a teeny tiny bit too pleased with themselves; oh-look-i’m-pastiching-Poirot-and-writing-a-book-within-a-book but not the worst thing i’ve read either.
Like Leedsboy, I’ll listen to this and if it’s only half as good as the others, it’ll still be a good use of this month’s credit.
A couple of decent Bond novels too.
The m,an who wrote Foyle’s War, and his greatest accomplishment, some of Robin of Sherwood.
Always get the benefit of the doubt chez TheRef