I really enjoyed this book. I haven't read any of the others from the series so found it very interesting. The plot was well written and kept me guessing right until the end. A brilliant read, I know need to go back and read the others!

I am already a huge fan of Hawthorne and Horowitz and this title just cements my love for these books. Here poor Tony (sorry Mr Horowitz) is wanted for murder and only Hawthorne can discover the truth and save him from life imprisonment.

This wonderful story is set in the world of theatre, as Horowitz finds backers willing to put on his new play, Mindgames. Unfortunately one much disliked critic writes a terrible review and is murdered shortly thereafter. All clues point to Horowitz being the murderer, but do we really believe our mild mannered writer could possibly have killed someone? Well, obviously the police do, but we, his loyal public, know better.

As with the three previous Hawthorne and Horowitz books, this story is so much fun you don't want to put it down. It moves at breakneck speed, introducing an array of intriguing and amusing characters, so well drawn you are unsure who to trust and what to believe. The series just gets better and better and we are slowly unravelling the secret that lies at the heart of Daniel Hawthorne, the secret that keeps Horowitz from walking away, not to mention the contract he's just signed with his agent.

The Twist of the Knife by Anthony Horowitz
This is the fourth in the excellent series where Anthony Horowitz writes about the cases solved by ex-policeman Hawthorne. As the story opens Horowitz had decided he does not want to work on another novel with the detective. He feels it has reached the end of the road. He has a play opening in the Shoreditch and wants to concentrate on this.
The play duly opens and at the first night party one of the critics, Harriet Thorsby comes along with her daughter in tow. Anthony Horowitz makes the mistake of asking her what she thought of the play. She doesn’t answer and later leaves the party. As the party draws to a close one of actors reads out a review which is scathing of the play and, in particular, Anthony Horowitz. The next morning the police, in the form of an old adversary Cara Grunshaw, arrive and the main suspect in the murder case appears to Horowitz himself.
The rest of the novel focuses on the way in which Hawthorne sets about solving the case before the police. It is an entertaining book and one which keeps the reader engaged to the end. I will definitely recommend this to others in my book groups and would like to thank the author, the publishers and Net Galley for the opportunity to read it in return for an honest review.

I was given an ARC of this book and I thought it entertaining and eventually engaging.

I do admit that it took me a while to get into this story because the first few chapters were a little boring and, what is this? Then it became intriguing and began to make sense. The characters were defined well and the writing style was fast-paced, if somewhat old-fashioned. I do enjoy the first-person narrative and as the author is the main character, it was certainly amusing.

Who is the killer? And what will private detective, Hawthorne, make of it? Is 'Tony' in the frame or being framed? Why? All great questions that make this crime story worth reading.

The style reminded me of an Agatha Christie novel, as did the characters and plot.

Overall, I did enjoy the tale and I did like Hawthorne's unique character - I'd not read any of this series before this.

A good read.

Another masterpiece from the renowned Anthony Horowitz! Following the style of his recent adult books ,Horowitz again places himself at the heart of the crime ( this time a theatre critic is murdered having written a bad review about his stage play "Mindgame") but this time he finds himself as the main suspect. Despite trying to avoid working with ex-detective Daniel Hawthorne again, "Tony" finds that it is only Hawthorne who can help him. The pace is fast, the plot is straightforward, but the twists keep the reader guessing until the end. My only slight concern was that at times the comments about his views on cultural appropriation, his loathing of the theatre critic and the remark in the Afterword about his Literary agent felt rather awkward, especially having read articles about this in the national press recently. To be highly recommended however!

Thank you for allowing me to read this.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book.

I love the Hawthorne books. The clever blending of fact and fiction and the mystery of Hawthorne himself. Another good one with all the clues there to be seen but I’m never clever enough to figure it out!

Anthony Horowitz is a genius writer, he always delivers and I always feel glad that I bought his books. (although this one was a arc ,thanks). This was the first I had read in this series but will immediately go back and read the previous episodes. Witty and engaging storyline with echoes of golden age mysteries. I loved it.

A very enjoyable novel - a lot of fun and a murder mystery to solve as well. What a great idea to have the author as one of the characters and not only as a sleuth but as a suspect as well.

Now I'll have to go back and read the other books in the series.

I couldn't wait to get my hands on this copy thanks to Netgalley.

This is a superb return to form after A Line to Kill, which I found a bit of a let down.

As with the first three Horowitz and Hawthorne books Anthony Horowitz is right in the middle of the action. However this time he gets much closer than he bargained for as he is arrested on suspicion of the murder of a particularly vicious theatre critic, Harriet Throsby.

Of course he's just vowed to Hawthorne there will be no more new titles featuring him. However, all too soon he is having to beg the great man for his help.

What ensues is a brilliant piece of writing with a wonderfully twisty plot, some true comedic moments and the blundering Horowitz lurching from one wrong conclusion to another.

Both characters stay true to form with Hawthorne remaining an inscrutable unknowable entity while Horowitz's Watsonesque sidekick tries time and again to get the answer right without getting into yet more hot water.

I love this series. It's funny, witty, clever and the characters are beautifully drawn. There's a few nods to Christie and Conan Doyle en route with the usual cast of characters with hacker Kevin, wife Jill and agent Hilda all playing their part.

Very highly recommended for anyone who enjoys a well told detective story.

More please, much more! (less)

I have read all of the Horowitz/Hawthorne books and they just keep improving.

Anthony Horowitz has written three books featuring ex-Detective Hawthorne (stay with me as it links fact/fiction) but has decided not to write anymore and has a new play opening.

After the opening night which has received mixed reviews, one of the critics Harriet Thoresby, who had been particularly savage, is found murdered in the hallway of her home, stabbed with a dagger that was gifted to Horowitz, before too long he has been arrested and has to ask Hawthorne for his help.

A couple of things puzzled me/irked me, why would you not tell your wife you had been arrested!! Also, it gets a little wearing that Horowitz always seems to put upon by Hawthorne, get a backbone occasionally!!

Still a great read and look forward to the next where I hope more is revealed about the personal life of Daniel Hawthorne.

This series is so much fun, each new book leaps straight to the top of my TBR pile. In this installment, Horowitz takes the ultimate leap and puts himself at the centre of the investigation. The book is witty and full of Easter Eggs but also has enough suspense and genuine Golden Age style twists to keep crime fans fully engaged.

This is another outing for Antony, and the enigmatic detective Daniel Hawthorne.
They part on bad terms, as Anthony wants to concentrate on his play which is about to open in the West End, and doesn’t want to do another book with Daniel.
However, a critic who has given the play a vitriolic review is found dead, and the police decide that Anthony is the prime suspect, and in fact all the evidence points to him, so there is only one person he can turn to for help.
Their investigation has to be completed in a short time, and speeds across London, interviewing witnesses and suspects, and then off to a pretty Cotswold village where more questions are raised, and then back to theatre-land for an Agatha Christie type dénouement.

I love the way the author plays with the genre while taking swipes at the theatrical and literary establishment, both real and imagined, but always with good humour and intelligence.

It has me guessing until the end, and I look forward to their next outing, and maybe learn some more about Hawthorne ( I forget, who’s real and who’s imaginary?)

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for the opportunity to read this book.

This book is brilliantly written, I love the whole concept of the author writing about himself, without any attempt to cover up his flaws. Hawthorn is a great character, who, even after three books, is still an enigma. Fabulous plot, I did guess the culprit, but had decided on the wrong motive. I was honestly up until gone two this morning, because I had to finish it. I was then sad that it was over, that’s the sign of a truly great book.

This is a great book. Once again, I enjoyed Anthony Horowitz writing himself into the story and the self-deprecating way he does this. He has written a play called Mindgames and one particular critic is very scathing about it. The next morning Anthony wakes up to find that she has been murdered and that he is the prime suspect. Hawthorne is called upon to unmask the real murderer before it’ s too late. It’s not an original storyline but told with great humour and an Agatha Christie’s Poirot style denouement. I highly recommend this. Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC.

I enjoyed this murder mystery - although at times I struggled to separate fact and fiction. It kept me guessing until the end.
On the opening night of his play, a vicious review by a critic, is followed by her murder, Anthony Horowitz is arrested for it Although he vehemently denies it but the evidence is pretty damning.
He is released from custody whilst some forensic evidence is completed and asks the taciturn ex detective Hawthorne to assist him find the real culprit.

Anthony Horowitz played by Anthony Horowitz;; this is a master at work... The play did not go down well but the book was brilliant.... this is written in the first person by himself about himself....
Suspect in a murder case Mr Horowitz is pretty much condemed to taking the fall for the murder but why?
A good old fashioned who dunnit and the process of elimination by the capable Hawthorne. i could not put it down. The odds were stacked against Mr Horowitz., i couldnt see a way out for him ...
Refreshing take and a brilliant book ... i was taken in from the beginning and couldnt work out who had done it until the end....

This is a five star review from me and I highly recommend the book

This is the fourth installment in the brilliant Hawthorne and Horowitz series. This begins with Hawthorne asking Horowitz to write another book, but Horowitz has other plans. His play, 'Mindgame,' opens the following week and he has thrown himself into hopes for success on the stage and his name in lights. Of course, it is all going to go wrong. On the opening night in London, theatre critic Harriet Throsby gives the play a terrible review and the next day she is found stabbed to death with an ornamental dagger that producer, Ahmet Yurdakal, gave Horowitz as a gift.

Having told Horowitz their partnership is over, Hawthorne now finds himself having to call him after being arrested, and ask for his help. Of course, Hawthorne rises to the occasion and, before long, the two are searching for the real murderer. This book is full of humour and fantastic characters, from the cast of the play, through those involved in Harriet Throsby's career and Hawthorne's neighbour, who tries to buy Horowitz some time. This is a brilliant series and Anthony Horowitz, known to his partner as 'Tony,' or 'mate,' is fantastically self-deprecating in a series of books which simply showcases his brilliance as a writer. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.

Another entertaining read featuring the author Anthony Horowitz as one of the two main characters along with ex- detective Daniel Hawthorne. In this one, the fourth in the series, Anthony is forced to call upon Hawthorne
for help after being accused of the murder of an unpleasant film critic who has just trashed his new play.
It doesn’t improve matters that Anthony has made it clear he has no intention of writing any further books that involve Hawthorne. So some grovelling is in order before Hawthorne agrees to help. With the assistance of his tech savvy neighbour Kevin they are able to stall the police investigation just long enough to give Hawthorn the chance to investigate and work out the truth of the matter before the dreadful Detective Inspector Cara Grunshaw who bears a grudge from a previous case can re-arrest Anthony.
The tension builds up nicely before, in a nod to Hercule Poirot, Hawthorne gathers the suspects together to explain how and why the crime was committed and who was responsible. (On this occasion I didn’t find it too difficult to work out who the murderer was).
The book can be read as a ‘stand alone’ although it helps to have read the previous books as the reader gets to know a little more of Hawthorne’s back story each time.
All in all it’s a fun read, a little far fetched at times but that’s part of its charm. It was interesting to find out what goes on behind the scenes in a theatre and amusing the way Anthony is outsmarted by Hawthorne at every turn.
I can’t wait for the next book that features them to come out.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for an ARC

I read this book in no time, very pleased to have a new Daniel Hawthorne book to devour.

The story is pretty hilarious. Anthony Horowitz finds himself arrested for the murder of a nasty theatre critic, Harriet Throsby, and despite the fact that this appears to be extremely improbable, the cops seem determined to win the case against him.

Having rejected private detective Hawthorne's attempts to get him to write yet more books featuring Hawthorne, Horowitz now finds himself at Hawthorne's mercy as there is no one else who he can turn to for help.

The plot moves along very quickly, getting across just how shocking it would actually be to suddenly be arrested for murder. Horowitz's whole life is turned upside down within hours and somehow his various associates seem willing to believe he was capable of the crime. Even his wife appears to believe this at one point, which to be honest I did find a little far-fetched.

It's great to read Horowitz' descriptions of his situation and the panic it creates. But the real star is Hawthorne. Horowitz has created a truly believable and likeable character, and over the course of a few books we are gradually learning more and more about him.

The supporting cast - in this case mainly the actors in Horowitz' latest production, and the cops - provide lots of interesting characters. Harriet's family appear only briefly but still manage to convey the impact of living with a bullying wife and mother.

And Hawthorne's investigation into who actually killed Harriet push him to looking into two other deaths from the past, with complicated links to the present.

There's lots of humour along the way - such as Horowitz proceeding to describe Hawthorne's home and life in the book, immediately after Hawthorne asks him not to.

Horowitz has little jibes at himself, as his agent tells him how much more popular his Hawthorne books are than his other novels, trying to persuade him to sign a new contract.

The plot is really great and moves along easily. But clearly the bigger, ongoing plot is the mystery of Hawthorne himself, which I'm looking forward to finding out more of in future novels.

After a slightly confusing start (for me as I had not read any of the previous books in the series!) this soon settled into a very cleverly written murder mystery- based around the theatre and the cast of a play (along with the playwright) where suspicions are cast often and catch little and the mystery deepens with each interrogation.
I am in two minds about whether I like the author as the protagonist or not....I may need to read another to settle my internal debate!