Moonflower Murders

Magpie Murders, Book 2

By: Anthony Horowitz

Narrated by: Lesley Manville, Allan Corduner

Length: 18 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

Featuring his famous literary Detective Atticus Pund and Susan Ryeland, hero of the worldwide best seller Magpie Murders, a brilliantly brain-teasing literary thriller by Anthony Horowitz. The follow-up to Magpie Murders.

Retired publisher Susan Ryeland is living the good life. She is running a small hotel on a Greek island with her long-term boyfriend, Andreas. It should be everything she's always wanted - but is it? She's exhausted with the responsibilities of making everything work on an island where nothing ever does, and truth be told she's beginning to miss her old life in London.

And then a couple - the Trehearnes - come to stay, and the story they tell about an unfortunate murder that took place on the same day and in the same hotel in which their daughter was married is such a strange and mysterious one that Susan finds herself increasingly fascinated by it. And when the Trehearnes tell her that their daughter is now missing, Susan knows that she must return to London and find out what really happened....

©2020 Anthony Horowitz (P)2020 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"So clever, a story within a story within a story. A triumph, and a lovely way to spend a weekend...." (Kate Mosse)

Second best

Good story line with a true who done it feel. I particularly enjoy the story within the story but perhaps a bit difficult to live up the the novelty of the first book in the series.

Great story, love the narrators

This was so enjoyable! Loved the narration by Lesley Manville and Allun Corduner. I loved Magpie Murders and I enjoyed this one just as much. The mystery within a mystery is great fun.

Excellent mystery and 2 for 1 stories

Another 5 star book from Horowitz. He skilfully blends the classic Agatha Christie style of detective fiction with a more modern tale. While the story/ reality connection isn't as strong as it was in Magpie Murders, it still takes a bunch of interesting characters and tells a compelling tale. I loved every little twist. The best thing about Horowitz is that just as you think you have picked up an interesting clue, the characters get them as well and the author does something surprising and satisfying with it. He is a masterful storyteller who doesn't cheat the readers. And just when you see something slightly problematic he comes in as his own critic. Susan Ryeland is a great addition to the genre of people who don't seem like detectives but are pretty good at it. She's a very human protagonist and quite competent. Most of all, she doesn't do unnecessarily risky or stupid things. I've been waiting for this book for nearly 7 months and I wasn't disappointed. Hope Horowitz revisits this world in another book soon.
Special mention of the narrators who brought the characters to life. They did an excellent job.

A real humdinger

As great fan of murder mysteries (I have read everything Agatha Christie has written - I think) I didn't think there were any more twists and turns left to make.
But Anthony Horowitz has found another. All the clues are there - you just have to join the dots.
Loved every minute minute of it.

Must read for who dunnit fans

Love the concept of this series of having a story within a story and loved the narration! Consider my who dunnit cravings considerably met!

Too long

This book is not up to the usual Horowitz standard and is just rambling along so much with a book within a book within a book that I lost interest in the plot and just wanted Susan to get on with it and come to a conclusion.