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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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About this listen

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 Crime Thrillers Detective Fiction Mystery Private Investigators Psychological Suspense Thriller Thriller & Suspense Murder Witty

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
I loved the mystery, guessing the murderer correctly but not all the ins and outs. The most confusing part was the narrator (Rory Kinnear) changing the voice he used for Hawthorne part-way through. He goes from a part-Northern, part-Cockney accent (consistent with Horowitz's description) to a tougher and deeper accent. Why??? Other than that, I enjoyed Kinnear's performance.

Great mystery! Narration confusing!

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Initially, I found the narration a little grating, but I adapted to the voice & grew to appreciate him.
I enjoyed the twists & turns, didn't quite figure out who dunnit, which was quite refreshing.
I like the idea of Horowitz fictionalised himself. I will read/listen to more

Twisty & quirky

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This book blurs the line between the writer and the story he tells. It is both an intriguing mystery and a reflection on the writing process.

I have read and watched a lot of Horowitz's previous work but I don't think that is necessary to enjoy this book. The fictional detective Daniel Hawthorne is a fascinating character and his relationship with the author is an interesting take on the Holmes/Watson dynamic. Unlike most other literary chroniclers in this genre, Horowitz's fictional self struggles to get inside Hawthorne's head rather than just reporting his words and actions, and I found myself eager to find out more about him as well.

The mystery is well-crafted, with all the details coming together in an ending in which Horowitz pokes fun at a few murder mystery clichés. The narrator Rory Kinnear does a wonderful job of bringing the varied cast of characters to life. It is written and narrated in such a way that listening to this audiobook was like watching a movie unfold in front of me; I was tremendously entertained and I would welcome more Hawthorne and Horowitz investigations.

Very clever and entertaining.

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What made the experience of listening to The Word Is Murder the most enjoyable?

The perfect matching of a storyline by Antony Horowitz and narration by Rory Kinnear made this an absolutely pleasurable experience. Anthony Horowitz brings his vast experience from film, TV and his children's books to create a really novel (pun intended) story which keeps its secrets right to the end. One of his best.

What other book might you compare The Word Is Murder to, and why?

Very comparable to Magpie Murders (another Horowitz hit) in the way it brings the reader/listener into the plot.

What about Rory Kinnear’s performance did you like?

Superb narration. The character voices were totally believable and added atmosphere to the storyline.

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

No better plot undertaken.

Any additional comments?

With a great range of credits to his name, I now make a point of looking out for books/audiobooks from Anthony Horowitz.

A Killer Plot...and a Great Ending

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Loved this. Interesting and a great listen while driving. Loved the English scenery descriptions and all the references to movies and actors well known!

Great easy listening whodunnit

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