Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: June 5, 2018

Publisher: Harper

Genre: Mystery

Blurb:

She planned her own funeral–but did she arrange her murder?

A wealthy woman strangled six hours after she’s arranged her own funeral.

A very private detective uncovering secrets but hiding his own.

A reluctant author drawn into a story he can’t control.

What do they have in common?

Unexpected death, an unsolved mystery and a trail of bloody clues lie at the heart of Anthony Horowitz’s page-turning new thriller.

Review:

This was such a highly original and clever read, I honestly can’t recall a book that I’ve read that even comes close to it, it blurs the lines between fact and fiction in the coolest way. Horowitz is actually a character himself in the story and solely narrates things, it was a straightforward, good old fashioned murder mystery and it was executed flawlessly while also implementing a fresh, unusual tactic that I enjoyed immensely.

Horowitz teams up with an ex police officer named Hawthorne after he recruits him, you see he works now as a consultant to the police and is investigating the murder of a lady who was killed six hours after she planned her own funeral. Hawthorne thinks he would make a fabulous character in a book, he just wants Horowitz to do the writing, tag along as he investigates and keep his mouth shut. Their partnership is not one of those with amazing chemistry and two people who immediately work well together, they type who can finish each other sentences. These two are the unlikeliest of duos and have the sort of relationship where one tiptoes around the other, you’re never sure if they like each other or merely tolerate each other, one minute they seem to be having fun and the next you’re wondering if they’ll kill each other. This was highly refreshing and just so different, the entire investigation unraveled in a strange way, but one that was satisfying as hell. It was twisty without being over the top, it was subtle but really sharp too.

If you want a different kind of crime novel, a throwback to Agatha Christie, add this to your TBR. It’s smart and well written, I felt like I had a 400 page intimate chat with Horowitz and absolutely zoomed through it. I enjoyed it so much in fact that I’m hoping one of my new favorites duos teams up again in a future installment!

The Word is Murder in three words: Ingenious, Crafty and Creative.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.