BarringtonLibrary Reads discussion

Our group met on Wed, Sept 16 via Zoom for a lively discussion of Anthony Horowitz's The Word Is Murder. This book is the first in a series (2 so far). We discussed the unique inclusion of the author as a character. Many found this to be entertaining - as it offered a strange insight into how an author works, both on the page and off. Although, can it all be really true? How deeply are fact and fiction blended?

What did you think of the characters in this mystery? Daniel Hawthorne, who returns in the sequel (The Sentence is Death), was discussed at length, including his quirks and characterization. How did you like (or not like) Daniel in this story? Was he a good detective, even though he's not technically one anymore?

Does the book remind you of any other writers? Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie were brought up and you can definitely see elements woven into the mystery.

Let us know if there are any other impressions or thoughts you'd like to express or questions you might have about this mystery story.