The fourth in the Hawthorne/Horowitz series sees the author accused of murdering a theatre critic. More whodunit than thriller, Horowitz is a lively and engaging storyteller and it the novel is a pleasing read.

Anthony Horowitz is in trouble. His new play, Mindgame, opens to rather less than critical acclaim. The chorus of disapproval is led by critic Harriet Throsby and, when she is found stabbed to death, the spotlight of guilt falls on Horowitz.

Things don’t look good for him – his fingerprints are on the murder weapon and you don’t get much more damning than that – so he is forced to turn to the only man who can get him out of this fix, his old mucker former detective Daniel Hawthorne. Unfortunately, though, he has recently been somewhat rude to Hawthorne and made it clear that their relationship is over…

This is the fourth instalment in the Hawthorne and Horowitz series. Skilfully written and plotted, it’s all very meta and all very enjoyable.

This was the first book in the 'Hawthorne and Horowitz' series that I've read. Jumping in with #4 could have been confusing but I think it can thoroughly be enjoyed as a standalone. The whodunnit was pretty good, and I enjoyed the chemistry between the main characters (though I will need to check out books #1-3 for some added depth!).

On the strength of 'The twist of a knife' I will be purchasing the first 3 books.

Anthony Horowitz is one of my favourite authors and I would literally read anything he writes. This is another wonderful book and the Daniel Hawthorne books are fast becoming my favourite detective books.

I really couldn't put this book down and Anthony being chased by detectives was funny and the author's relationship with Hawthorne is brilliantly written and the book was a joy to read.

As with all Horowitz books, there were a lot of twists and turns and surprises, and his crime writing really does put me in mind of Agatha Christie.

I love, love, love this series and have already bought the hardback to go with my every expanding Horowitz collection.

This series is just fantastic they just get better with each book. Daniel Hawthorne's dry humour is just amazing it makes me laugh out loud alot.
Anthony is in trouble he has just become the main suspect he is in trouble and he knows this but he might have just ruined a partnership that could possibly be his only help........

I love theatre life and really wanted to read this book. I got a bit bored during it though and felt it went on a bit too long to get the point across. It was a whodunnit mystery though. I haven’t read any of the other Hawthorne books though so that may be my mistake and I need to!

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for the opportunity to read an advance copy in return for my honest review.

On the opening night of Anthony’s new play, Mindgame, a critic for the Sunday Times gives the play a brutal review. The next morning, she is found dead at her home, stabbed in the heart with an ornamental dagger belonging to Anthony. Arrested for the murder with undeniable evidence mounting against him, Anthony turns to the only person he knows who might be able to help: Daniel Hawthorne.

The Twist of a Knife is book #4 in the Hawthorne and Horowitz Mystery series. I accidentally missed the third book, A Line to Kill, but it didn’t seem to impact my enjoyment of this book or my ability to follow along with the plot. Having said that, I wouldn’t recommend jumping straight in at book 4 – you’d miss a lot of background information if you skip the previous novels. Plus, they’re good books, so why miss them?

The book follows a similar set-up as the previous instalments, with Anthony tagging along with Hawthorne as he conducts interviews, follows up on clues and solves the crime. The biggest difference this time is that Anthony has a particularly invested interest in the outcome.

As always, Anthony’s style of writing himself into the novel works really well and is remarkably well done. Because so many real-life facts are used within the story, it’s almost impossible to guess which parts are based in reality and which are completely fictional. It’s a really unique narrative method, and one that I’ve really enjoyed in this series.

The Twist of the knife is the 4th Hawthorne and Horowitz novel and is a wonderful read. It is the night of the opening of Anthony’s play Mindgame at the Vaudville theatre a comedy psychological thriller. The play has been running across the country in small theatres but is now being put on in the West End. A dream come true for the author. The first night goes well and the after party was lovely until the acerbic Harriet Throsby a theatre critic arrives, something totally unheard of, in fact Harriet is known for showing up to the after parties, whether invited or not. Feeling a little disheartened the cast, director, producer and Anthony all head back to the theatre for a little more booze and to continue the festivities. Only Throsby’s scathing review appears on Sky’s phone and the actress then reads it to the assembled cast. With leaden hearts they all leave to go home. The next morning Anthony has a visit from DI Grunshaw a police officer he had inadvertently led to arrest the wrong murderer in a previous case. Only this time she was here to arrest him for the murder of Harriet Throsby.
Another great read by this wonderful author with the added value that he is writing about himself. Amusing, alarming and thoroughly engaging and if the final pages are to be believed, not the last we’ve heard of Hawthorne’s detective work.

Anthony Horowitz never disappoints. This is another in the series in which the author himself appears alongside ex-polceman Hawthorn in a murder mystery. This story brings the murder allegation very close to home. The premise and the style are outrageously good. The relationship between the two men and the humour in the telling are superbly represented. This book is totally enjoyable.

I’m not even sure if Horowitz is able to tell a bad tale. His books are always so well crafted that they become impossible to put down . I would suggest reading the other books in this series first but apart from that minor criticism I would highly recommend

Found this rather disappointing after all the hype surrounding this particular series. I haven't read the others so have given this an extra star as it might be improved if series read in correct order. All a bit too meta and smug for me. Thanks to Netgalley.

This is a book very much in the old fashioned sleuth Agatha Christie genre and I think that is the writer’s intention - not to copy or parody but to pay respect to the original detective novel where clues are scattered throughout and the eagle eyed reader has to pick them up and play detective. I have read all the Agatha Christie novels and I think it’s a gentle genre that Anthony Horowitz has captured perfectly. Well done

I am embarrassed to say I’ve never read a Horowitz book so thank you to NetGalley for my ARC.
It’s a one of a kind book. One where the author is arrested for a murder that everyone thinks he’s committed.
So the tone of the book is very strange to contend with. (Even the acknowledgments carry the idea on!) However, this isn’t a negative. It actually brings a new style to the murder mystery genre.
Hawthorne I assume appears in the previous books but having not read them, it didn’t stop me from enjoying it. He definitely has a Holmes feel about him. Aloof but wonderful!
The book follows Anthony’s recalling of the nights leading up to the arrest, trying to work out what Hawthorne has discovered and generally worrying about going to jail.
It’s a very good book.

Remember that time when Anthony Horowitz was arrested for murder? No? Then you haven't read The Twist of a Knife (catch-up and buy it now)!

As a huge fan of Anthony's work, I was excited to see the new Hawthorne book! The concept of putting himself in the book, and writing about the investigation, landing in a hospital a couple of times, and now being a suspect in a murder case - brilliant! I admire the creativity and that Anthony can write any genre and it just works.

I have to admit I didn't figure out who is the killer and the plot took several interesting twists and turns! Everything seemed possible.

It's so hard to review it without spoilers but I can tell you one thing - this is the best book in the series yet, and all of them were strong 10 stars!

If you want to read something unique, extremely engaging and fascinating, it's the right book for you!

Full disclosure, I'm already a huge fan of this series and the next instalment, The Twist in the Knife, doesn't disappoint.

#NoSpoilers this is a great story and the relationship between Horowitz and Hawthorne is just a joy and the insights into the business make this more than just a detective novel.

Absolutely loved it.

Highly recommend.

My introduction to Horowitz was 'The Moonflower Murders', and that was all it took for me to be determined to read more…many more…books by this author.

Fourth in the Hawthorne and Horowitz mysteries, this is my second Horowitz read, and I'm just as impressed and determined.

In this, the author is many things: narrator, a character, sleuth and a suspect implicated in the murder of a vicious and toxic critic, who was less than complimentary about his new play. Too many pieces of evidence point in his direction. Did he really murder Harriet Throsby because she didn't like his play?

Brilliantly articulate, strategised and utterly compelling. One of those books you just can't wait to pick up and lose yourself in.

My TBR pile is going to be peppered with many more of this author's books.

This series, of which The Twist of a Knife is the fourth book, takes as its premise the idea that the author Anthony Horowitz himself is one of the main characters, enlisted by the fictional detective Daniel Hawthorne to write books about the cases he investigates. If you’re yet to read any of these books, you could start with this one if you want to as it does stand alone, but I would recommend beginning with the first, The Word is Murder, if you can. Either way, try one and see what you think!

The Twist of a Knife begins with Hawthorne trying to persuade Horowitz to write another book about him, but Anthony has other plans. He had only agreed to a three-book deal and that is now complete; now he’s working on a different novel – Moonflower Murders – and preparing for the London opening of his play, Mindgame. However, as Anthony himself then admits, the fact that we, the reader, are holding a fourth Hawthorne novel in our hands proves that somehow Hawthorne must get what he wants!

The story then moves on to the first night of Mindgame at London’s Vaudeville Theatre. The play has been very well received on tour and Horowitz is hoping that London audiences will like it just as much. Everything goes smoothly on that first night, but as Anthony and the cast get together in the green room after the play, the first review comes in – and it’s a bad one. In fact, it couldn’t be much worse. Written by the critic Harriet Throsby for the Sunday Times, the review is rude, scathing and insulting, placing most of the blame on Horowitz’s writing. When Harriet is found stabbed to death the next morning, suspicion immediately falls on Horowitz and he is arrested for murder. His only hope is that Hawthorne can find the real culprit and clear his name – but what will Hawthorne expect in return?

I think this could be my favourite of the four books in this series. I loved the theatrical setting and I found the mystery a particularly interesting one. Just about everyone involved with the play Mindgame has both the motive and the opportunity to have killed Harriet and I enjoyed learning more about each of the suspects – I did pick up on some of the clues, but certainly not all of them and I didn’t guess who the murderer was until the truth was revealed in an Agatha Christie-style denouement at the end of the book. Mindgame is a real play written by Horowitz which was first performed in 1999, although in this book it’s presented as a new work and the actors, director and events of the opening night are fictional. It sounds like a fascinating play and I’m tempted to read it, although it sounds like one that would have to be seen on stage to fully appreciate.

Daniel Hawthorne remains a private, secretive person, as he has from the beginning of the series, but with each book a few more facts about him are uncovered. In this book, Horowitz has the chance to spend some time in Hawthorne’s home and makes one or two intriguing discoveries which I’m sure will be explored further in the next book. I’m assuming there will be a next book – in fact, there were hints at the end of this one that we could have several more to look forward to.

I really enjoyed this whodunnit from Anthony Horowitz and particularly the device of putting himself at the centre of the action. I enjoyed the interaction between the narrator and Hawthorne, his private detective partner. It had the feel of a crime novel from a much earlier time and was none the worse for that. Highly recommend. Thanks you to the publishers and author and NetGalley for the opportunity to review an arc.

The Twist of a Knife by Anthony Horowitz is a story of murder involving Anthony Horowitz and his private detective Hawthorne. The critic who has given Anthony a bad review for his play is found dead and Anthony is arrested for her murder.
All of the other cast and people associated with the play have secrets. Will Hawthorne be able to find the murderer before Anthony is arrested for the murder?
Recommended

The start of this book felt odd but once you get used to it, it adds a whole other level to the novel and the layers of story are so well weaved together.

Set alongside a play makes for a very rich cast of characters and a full story with the relationship between Horowitz and Hawthorne tested to the limit.

Old fashioned crime thriller at it’s best.