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  • The Word Is Murder

  • Hawthorne, Book 1
  • By: Anthony Horowitz
  • Narrated by: Rory Kinnear
  • Length: 9 hrs and 2 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (4,048 ratings)
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The Word Is Murder cover art

The Word Is Murder

By: Anthony Horowitz
Narrated by: Rory Kinnear
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Summary

She planned her own funeral. But did she arrange her murder?

Buried secrets, murder and a trail of bloody clues lie at the heart of Anthony Horowitz's new detective series. If you enjoyed BBC's Sherlock, you'll love The Word is 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?

©2017 Anthony Horowitz (P)2017 Random House Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"The beguiling whodunit plot is dispatched with characteristic elan as Horowitz blurs the line between fact and fiction." ( Financial Times)
"A very clever and inventive mystery." ( Bookbag)
"With its unorthodox protagonist, clever plotting, brilliantly imperfect characters, and escalating sense of urgency and intrigue, The Word Is Murder is an instant crime classic that will keep you reading as fast as you can...one of the best and most compulsively readable mysteries of the year. Hugely satisfying on every level." ( Written by Sime)
"Will undoubtedly exhilarate not only crime and Horowitz fans but anyone who enjoys the sense of metafiction and fourth wall breaking found in books by authors like Lemony Snicket, Bret Easton Ellis and Martin Amis." ( Fiendfully Reading)

What listeners say about The Word Is Murder

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

The Unemployed Detective

What did you like most about The Word Is Murder?

Great story line, and an unusual approach, so it's part autobiography and part fiction. I liked Horowitz's musings on the world of literature, film and TV. I'm guessing that a lot of of his anecdotes involving famous names are true. And there are probably some in-jokes that went below my radar. Weaved into this is a great story involving an unemployed detective investigating murder with the help, or hindrance, of Horowitz. Some red herrings, plenty of clues to whodunnit and some laugh out loud moments as well I have enjoyed Horowitz's other novels, including his Magpie Murders and takes on Sherlock Holmes and James Bond, and his TV series,such as Foyle's War. I'm even tempted to try his Alex Rider novels for teenagers!I could also see this working as a TV programme, which I'd definitely watch.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Word Is Murder?

Knowing that I'd got the right person, though not the reason

Have you listened to any of Rory Kinnear’s other performances? How does this one compare?

Rory was one of the reasons why I chose this book, as he's an excellent actor, whom I can picture while he's telling the story. He can drop into different accents so it's easy to telll characters apart.

Also, he does a good line in slightly baffled characters and that perfectly fits the author's role in this novel.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, it got me hooked in, and I found myself thinking about the characters and the storyline between listening.

Any additional comments?

Definitely think The Unemployed Detective is a better title.... hope there are more novels from Horowitz about this partnership

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31 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

The Intriguing Mr Horowitz

I have to say I am really enjoying following this author recently. His latest books have been varied and each has had a distinct character and quirkiness that I have enjoyed. I'm sure that if he keeps up this approach that there will be one that won't quite resonate with me as much as the others eventually, but it hasn't happened yet. In this case he has tried something which I am sure a lot of authors have toyed with but likely been warned off by sensible publishers and editors! including yourself in a work of fiction is certainly a bold step with many pitfalls. Luckily for us I think Horowitz has avoided at least the large majority of them and this emerges as an interesting whodunit in its own right.

After reading the Magpie Murders I commented then that it felt to me like there might be a hint of the autobiographical about it but this takes it to another level. I couldn't help musing about how much of this was based on the author's real-life experiences. For example did he ever get passed over for a big part in a play? What does add to the interest level though is that the author appears to reveal some of his thinking and while I didn't agree with all the opinions expressed it does add something. Mr Horowitz is clearly on an exciting journey with his writing, I'm really looking forwards to following in his footsteps.

Kinnear, is simply perfect providing the voices for this. He is very accomplished making the whole thing a very pleasurable listen. Finally I have to agree with Sarah's review that this does indeed feel "made for TV", I wonder if that's also part of the intent.

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25 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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Perfect piece of story telling.

This little masterpiece is a gem. The perfect marriage of a talented author and a gifted narrator. I could listen to Rory Kinnear read Anthony Horowitz all day long. In fact I think I will.

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20 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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horowitz and kinnear-a great combination

Had this been a print book i might have skim read a paragraph here and there and missed an important connection. Kinnears marvelous narration kept me focussed on the intricacies of the plot. This is a very well unusually crafted as well as beautifully written detective story. Horowitz's stories will stand the test of time at least as well as Agatha Christie or Conan Doyle from whom he draws inspiration.

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14 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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Wanted to love it but couldn't

I adored Magpie Murders and his Holmes stories but this just grated. I wonder perhaps whether Anthony Horowitz simply opted to write his autobiography in a new and fresh way. If so, then he's sort of succeeded. The only problem is the plotting in the detective part of the book is deathly dull whilst the author's stories about his life read like self-aggrandisement, even when Horowitz is aiming for self-deprecation. I'll certainly buy his next book as I'm a dedicated fan - I just hope it doesn't disappoint like this.

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11 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

great book

really enjoyed this book great story great characters really hope there will be alot more

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Unusual approach for the genre

I enjoyed this book. It was so different from the usual murder mystery format.

I found the narration frustrating as the main character's voice seemed to change throughout as if the narrator couldn't quite remember what voice he'd used when he hadn't used it for a few pages. He always remembered eventually but the first sentence was like a musician trying to find the right note, it was off putting. He also seemed bored of the story and this effected my overall view of the writing. I think I'll need to read this book to understand its true worth.

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7 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Fabulous!

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.

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6 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Can't recommend highly enough

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

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6 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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Not good enough

If this were truly autobiographical it would just be self- satisfied. If it is fictional it's even worse- knowingly self- satisfied. I really didn't like it at al

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4 people found this helpful