Anthony Horowitz is an English novelist and screenwriter specialising in mystery and suspense.

Super popular, I’ve only read one other of his books.

He’s well respected. The estate of Arthur Conan Doyle chose him to write two NEW Sherlock Holmes books: The House of Silk (2011) and Moriarty (2014).

He’s written for the Ian Fleming estate, as well.

The Word Is Murder is the first novel in a series. An intriguing plot.

Anthony, the narrator (a barely fictionalized version of the author), is approached by ex-Detective Inspector Hawthorne, with whom he worked on a television series.

Hawthorne, who is in need of money, proposes that Anthony write a book about him and one of the cases he is working on in exchange for a 50/50 split of the advance and royalties.

The case involves a woman who, six hours after planning her own funeral, is found murdered. Initially reluctant, Anthony agrees and proceeds to document Hawthorne’s solution of the case.

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