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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

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 Amateur Sleuths Crime Crime Thrillers Detective Fiction Mystery Psychological Suspense Thriller Thriller & Suspense Murder Witty

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)
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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Threw me to begin with but utterly entertaining. Superbly narrated by Rory Kinnear. If you’re a fan of who dunnits with a new spin on the sleuth duo you’ll enjoy this.

Couldn’t stop listening

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Well done Tony. Good to see you can handle the real world! Great book!! Great piece of creative drama too. Very clever. JW

Loved it

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My second listen and just as good as the first time. Hawthorne is my favourite literary character

Stupendous

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So very different from my normal reads, light, funny, will definitely read the other book in the series

Brilliant

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I’ve always loved Anthony Horowitz’s books and this did not disappoint! I loved how he had cleverly written himself in as a character and revealed the
mystery carefully throughout his interactions with the other characters.

Rory Kinnear’s narration was fantastic, giving each character a voice of their own. Definitely enhanced the great story.

Would highly recommend!

Intriguing storyline and excellent narration!

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