Scan barcode
kanstandler's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
chrissie_whitley's review against another edition
5.0
This series, Hawthorne and Horowitz Investigate, continues to be increasingly delightful with every installment. The author Horowitz injects himself, surrounded by an overwhelming amount of facts, into a mystery where a former police detective, the Hawthorne of the pair, works cases as they come to him, and Horowitz lends his . . . assistance when he can. Later, he compiles all the inner workings of the case into each book in the series.
Usually. However, the novel opens with Horowitz's outright refusal to do another book with Hawthorne. Horowitz is busy, at any rate, with his play [b:Mindgame|234948|Mindgame|Anthony Horowitz|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1354902687l/234948._SY75_.jpg|227556], which is set to open in London's Vaudeville theatre. Theatre critic, Harriet Throsby, who has written a viciously cutting review of Mindgame, is found dead the next morning. The murder weapon is a Macbeth dagger, something given as a gift to each member of the play's cast and crew. And suddenly Anthony Horowitz finds all clues point to him.
Now Horowitz, arrested and looking at the serious possibility of going to prison for a crime he didn't commit, must turn to Hawthorne for his expertise, and most grudgingly, his help.
The playfulness and curmudgeonly camaraderie of this pair never fails to make me smile. In addition, the mysteries are often really expertly executed. As with any mystery and detective story that leans more into cozy than grisly, and while the crux of this set of characters feels more Sherlock and Watson, the layout of the novels often pulls from the essence of Agatha Christie. Maybe never more so than in the fourth of the series, The Twist of a Knife. Hawthorne even makes a direct reference to such at one point, a comment that made me chuckle. This is the stuff that makes the very best of metafiction work like a charm.
Audiobook, as narrated by [a:Rory Kinnear|4503082|Rory Kinnear|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]: Kinnear remains the ultimate voice for me for this series . . . he is an excellent audiobook performer, consistently nailing both the accents and voices. He is especially adept with the two characters Hawthorn and Horowitz. I often remark how I forget that they are voiced by the same person . . . and I didn't even realize it this time. So distinct does he keep them and so complete is his performance, that I can perfectly imagine these two men as separate beings with their own voices — rather than a man alone in a recording booth. In fact, I don't think I ever want to know what the real Horowitz sounds like — for fear that he'll sound nothing whatsoever like Kinnear and break the spell.
Usually. However, the novel opens with Horowitz's outright refusal to do another book with Hawthorne. Horowitz is busy, at any rate, with his play [b:Mindgame|234948|Mindgame|Anthony Horowitz|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1354902687l/234948._SY75_.jpg|227556], which is set to open in London's Vaudeville theatre. Theatre critic, Harriet Throsby, who has written a viciously cutting review of Mindgame, is found dead the next morning. The murder weapon is a Macbeth dagger, something given as a gift to each member of the play's cast and crew. And suddenly Anthony Horowitz finds all clues point to him.
Now Horowitz, arrested and looking at the serious possibility of going to prison for a crime he didn't commit, must turn to Hawthorne for his expertise, and most grudgingly, his help.
The playfulness and curmudgeonly camaraderie of this pair never fails to make me smile. In addition, the mysteries are often really expertly executed. As with any mystery and detective story that leans more into cozy than grisly, and while the crux of this set of characters feels more Sherlock and Watson, the layout of the novels often pulls from the essence of Agatha Christie. Maybe never more so than in the fourth of the series, The Twist of a Knife. Hawthorne even makes a direct reference to such at one point, a comment that made me chuckle. This is the stuff that makes the very best of metafiction work like a charm.
Audiobook, as narrated by [a:Rory Kinnear|4503082|Rory Kinnear|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]: Kinnear remains the ultimate voice for me for this series . . . he is an excellent audiobook performer, consistently nailing both the accents and voices. He is especially adept with the two characters Hawthorn and Horowitz. I often remark how I forget that they are voiced by the same person . . . and I didn't even realize it this time. So distinct does he keep them and so complete is his performance, that I can perfectly imagine these two men as separate beings with their own voices — rather than a man alone in a recording booth. In fact, I don't think I ever want to know what the real Horowitz sounds like — for fear that he'll sound nothing whatsoever like Kinnear and break the spell.
ashel_m's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
jamballdonut's review against another edition
4.5
This is my first Anthonoy Horowitz book (My main authors are typically Jeffrey Deaver or Harlan Coben, so more on the serious side of thrillers/mysteries) and I thoroughly enjoyed this. I'm really bad for flipping to the end to see who the villain is (Spoiler warnings are my favourite, give me ALL THE SPOILERS, it only makes me enjoy the book more!!), but I really had no desire to do it with this book. I was happy to go along for the ride, and I didn't even really have my main suspect that I felt passionate about suspecting was the villain. I toiled with a few ideas, but my main 2 were incorrect (& I'd given up about halfway through on it being them anyway), dang!
I'm not sure how accurate Anthony's character is, or how true the events are, but it was genuinely such an enjoyable read. The characters felt fleshed out, but not too caricature-like. Because it dipped more into the humour side of thrillers, rather than the serious & foreboding, it was easier to suspend my disbelief at how easily everything all came together in the end. It can be difficult to do that when the story is intended to be serious, but a comedy-adjacent thriller? Sure, I'll believe that these things are possible, even if they're not.
This was a fun little break from the heavier thrillers I typically go for, which I've been feeling really burnt out on lately, and I've already picked up another book by Horowitz from my library which I'm quite excited for!
I'm not sure how accurate Anthony's character is, or how true the events are, but it was genuinely such an enjoyable read. The characters felt fleshed out, but not too caricature-like. Because it dipped more into the humour side of thrillers, rather than the serious & foreboding, it was easier to suspend my disbelief at how easily everything all came together in the end. It can be difficult to do that when the story is intended to be serious, but a comedy-adjacent thriller? Sure, I'll believe that these things are possible, even if they're not.
This was a fun little break from the heavier thrillers I typically go for, which I've been feeling really burnt out on lately, and I've already picked up another book by Horowitz from my library which I'm quite excited for!
stephaniemasta's review against another edition
4.0
British mysteries are my absolute favorite and this series is sharp, funny, and engaging.
jessicadeviller's review against another edition
I can’t get enough of this series.
The series is about Anthony Horowitz who writes as himself about his experiences with a private investigator solving murders.
The books are so clever and so much fun. I find myself chuckling out loud and reading passages to my partner. I can’t wait for the next one!
The series is about Anthony Horowitz who writes as himself about his experiences with a private investigator solving murders.
The books are so clever and so much fun. I find myself chuckling out loud and reading passages to my partner. I can’t wait for the next one!