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The Word Is Murder

Hawthorne, Book 1

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The Word Is Murder

By: Anthony Horowitz
Narrated by: Rory Kinnear
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Now available to preorder: Moonflower Murders, the latest fiendish murder mystery from Anthony Horowitz
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SHE PLANNED HER OWN FUNERAL. BUT DID SHE ARRANGE HER OWN MURDER?

A woman is strangled six hours after organising her own funeral.

Did she know she was going to die? Did she recognise her killer?

Daniel Hawthorne, a recalcitrant detective with secrets of his own, is on the case, and he's found himself a sidekick – popular crime novelist Anthony Horowitz, who's struck a deal with Hawthorne to turn his latest case into a true crime bestseller.

But the case is twistier and bloodier than Hawthorne had bargained for, and the unlikely duo of detective and writer find themselves neck deep in danger. When the written word is your only defence, you know you're in trouble when the word is murder...
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Buried secrets, murder and a trail of bloody clues lie at the heart of Anthony Horowitz’s page-turning new detective series. If you enjoyed BBC’s Sherlock, you’ll LOVE The Word is Murder.

Chosen as one of Crime Time's books of the year

'Raises the game-playing to Olympic level' – Guardian Books of the Year

'A real page-turner. I loved it!' – ALED JONES (ITV, Weekend)

'The beguiling whodunit plot is dispatched with characteristic elan as Horowitz blurs the line between fact and fiction' – Financial Times

'Splendidly entertaining, absorbing and difficult to put down. Hawthorne is an intriguing character' – Daily Express

'Sharp-witted readers who think they've solved the puzzle early on can rest assured that they've opened only one of many dazzling Christmas packages Horowitz has left beautifully wrapped under the tree' – Kirkus Reviews

'Deduction and wit are well-balanced, and fans of Peter Lovesey and other modern channelers of the spirit of the golden age of detection will clamor for more' – Publishers Weekly

Amateur Sleuths Crime Thrillers Detective Fiction Mystery Private Investigators Psychological Suspense Thriller Thriller & Suspense Crime Murder
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Critic reviews

Ingenious twist on the classic whodunnit
Splendidly entertaining, absorbing and difficult to put down. Hawthorne is an intriguing character
Horowitz is strong on plot … and infectiously zestful
A real page-turner. I loved it! (ALED JONES (ITV, Weekend))
Raises the game-playing to Olympic level.
Actually the word is not murder, it's ingenious ... A masterful meta-mystery.
The beguiling whodunit plot is dispatched with characteristic elan as Horowitz blurs the line between fact and fiction
There is plenty of metafictional fun to be had
Fast-paced and full of unpredictable twists and turns.
Horowitz has put together a cleverly twisting mystery featuring plenty of suspicious characters and more than a few red herrings
All stars
Most relevant
really enjoyed this book great story great characters really hope there will be alot more

great book

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I enjoyed this even more than The Magpie Murders, which I loved. Initially I was unsure about the author himself appearing in the book, but I think that this was, in the end, part of the appeal. It is a wonderful story, very convincing, and a plot of which Agatha Christie herself would have been proud.
Hawthorne and Horowitz make a very appealing detective duo.
The narration by Rory Kinnear is outstanding, one of the best I have heard.

Fabulous!

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Would you listen to The Word Is Murder again? Why?

In a few years, once the nuances of the plot have left me, thenI will definitely listen to it again.

What did you like best about this story?

It was a bit unexpected: the breaking of the 'third wall', the singular narratorial voice etc. I'd really, really loved The Magpie Murders and had expected something similar: this was very different, but I was quickly gripped.

What about Rory Kinnear’s performance did you like?

He distinguished very clearly between the two key characters - the narrator and the detective, but was relatively unobtrusive. He was great.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

A Sherlock and Holmes for the modern age

Can't recommend highly enough

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It kept me entertained and guessing. I felt fully involved in Anthony's adventure and gripped by the murder and investigation.
Total A. Horowitz's fan from now onwards.

Couldn't stay away from this book.

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I was in two minds about this book. The second non Foyle’s War listen and I was somewhat disappointed with the lack of Oomph and intrigue in the story line. However it certainly revs up the more you get into it and on yet another too hot day I have spent most of the afternoon enraptured right to the end. It is an odd premise for a story and I am not sure the narrator gave enough personality to Hawthorn, or perhaps that was the point. Multiple twists and intensely detailed side trips into characters’ lives and memories. A big read but wholly worth it.

Bit of a Slow Burn

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