The Word Is Murder

A Novel

By: Anthony Horowitz

Narrated by: Rory Kinnear

Length: 9 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

The New York Times best-selling author of Magpie Murders and Moriarty brilliantly reinvents the classic crime novel once again with this clever and inventive mystery starring a fictional version of the author himself as the Watson to a modern-day Holmes, investigating a case involving buried secrets, murder, and a trail of bloody clues.

A woman crosses a London street.

It is just after 11 a.m. on a bright spring morning, and she is going into a funeral parlor to plan her own service.

Six hours later the woman is dead, strangled with a crimson curtain cord in her own home.

Enter disgraced police detective Daniel Hawthorne, a brilliant, eccentric man as quick with an insult as he is to crack a case. And Hawthorne has a partner, the celebrated novelist Anthony Horowitz, curious about the case and looking for new material.

As brusque, impatient, and annoying as Hawthorne can be, Horowitz - a seasoned hand when it comes to crime stories - suspects the detective may be on to something, and is irresistibly drawn into the mystery. But as the case unfolds, Horowitz realizes he’s at the center of a story he can’t control...and that his brilliant partner may be hiding dark and mysterious secrets of his own.

A masterful and tricky mystery which plays games at many levels, The Word Is Murder is Anthony Horowitz at his very best.

©2018 Anthony Horowitz (P)2018 HarperCollins Publishers

Something New

Anthony Horowitz's new mystery is brilliantly different, compelling, beautifully written, and something new. If you read the genre regularly you will be riveted by the perfection of the story, but more so by the creativity of the form. I believe I read it described as a meta-mystery, and it was indeed a story over a story, and under another story. I couldn't put it down, I'm waiting for a sequel, and the characters will stay with me for a long time. Hawthorne, (clearly a current Sherlock) is one of the best characters I've read for a while, in all of his strange quirky, and at times offensive behavior. It is classic, yet post-modern, but mostly just great reading.

Very Clever

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was anxious to read it because I had loved Magpie Murders. I do hope we will be reading more about Anthony and Hawthorne.

Not the best one

I am a fan of Horowitz's fiction and looked forward to The Word is Murder. The problem with this book, for me, was Anthony, not Tony, has placed himself as the central character. After a few chapters this approach to the story wears thin. The detective in the story is without truly any saving grace and one loses interest in knowing him further. I think this book was between books and after a while, as with all selfies, not compelling.

Great Follow-up After Excellent "Magpie Murders"

I was a huge fan of Mr. Horowitz after reading "The Magpie Murders". The concept was so unique and the story and mystery had me mesmerized. I didn't let myself get excited about his new book because I didn't see how he could top it. Both books are so different, but excellent in their own way. I may have to listen to them again.

Good book, bad book

If they allowed the simultaneous rating of one star and five stars for a book, that’s what I would have rated this book. As it is, I compromised and gave it three. The murder plot is great. Every time I thought it might turn formulaic, the development took a different and dramatic yet plausible turn. But there is too much autobiography for my taste. I read detective stories for the detecting not the struggles of a writer looking to make a bold move in his career. And writing as the real person Horowitz partnering up with a fictional detective modelled after Sherlock Holmes is jarring. Bringing real people into the story (eg Steven Spielberg) further takes away the atmosphere of fiction where you can suspend disbelief. This is autobiography meets fictional crime. And so, good book, bad book.

Not My Cup of Tea

Create an intriguing premise, combine a brilliant writer like Anthony Horowitz, and you should have a great read. Not this time. Horowitz takes center stage in the opening chapters, creating a narrative that sounds more like a documentary on his career than a mystery. Then we are introduced to one of the most detestable characters ever written, and he's supposed to be the hero? Made it to chapter 7 and the homophobic rant and quit reading. Deeply disappointing.

Loved it!

I really enjoyed this book.
Had to do a bit of research to see if it was fact or fiction. That is what made it so interesting.
I loved House of Silk and Magpie Murders. This is just as good.
My only criticism is the narrator read too quickly at times. Faster than a person would speak. Made me think I had bumped up the speed.

Felt like an intellectual exercise

I have loved the author’s previous adult novels. This one, not so much. It was hard to warm to any of the characters and without that, it was interesting but not satisfying.

Not what I was expecting and not in a good way

The main character is an author who writes Sherlock Holmes stories yet he may be the single most unintelligent crime writer. His character is not very smart and it becomes annoying, plus all he talks about is his books and the famous people he knows. I have read and listen to many many Sherlock Holmes stories and I also like Midsomer Murders (both of which are mentioned in this story) and I absolutely disliked this book. I was looking forward to the ending just so I could get the book done with. The story was way too long and the ending was disappointing. The only good part of this book was the reader, he did a very good job with the different character voices.

Hilarious! Great Story, Great Characters!

Great whodunnit read by the incomparable Rory Kinnear. An “old school” detective mystery well set in current day London. Chockablock with droll cultural references. Homage to Agatha Christie with a whiff of Terry Pratchett. Skillful storytelling that absolutely delivers without taking itself too seriously. Looking forward to more!

superb

Brilliantly written,. Brilliantly narrated. if you a fan of police procerurals , puzzling mysteries and engaging observations then read this novel .

Brilliant sequel

The chemistry of the two main characters is renewed and is as good as ever.

Page turning stuff.