Reading the 20th Century discussion

I thought we had an Anthony Horowitz thread, but I can't find it. Forgive me if we now have two!

I went to a talk given by Anthony Horowitz today at Waterstones Piccadilly. The interviewer was Rory Kinnear, who, of course does the audiobooks.

Anthony Horowitz in conversation at Waterstones Piccadilly
We are delighted to welcome Anthony Horowitz to Waterstones Piccadilly to discuss Close to Death, the fifth compelling instalment in his Detective Daniel Hawthorne series in which Anthony himself appears as the Watson to Hawthorne’s Holmes. This brilliantly entertaining new mystery sees the patriarch of an unpopular family brutally murdered on the porch of his exclusive gated property…

The author of the bestselling teen spy series, Alex Rider, Anthony Horowitz is also responsible for creating and writing some of the UK’s most loved and successful TV series including Midsomer Murders and Foyle’s War. Anthony has also written two highly acclaimed Sherlock Holmes novels, three James Bond novels, and and the acclaimed bestselling mystery novels Magpie Murders and Moonflower Murders, adapted for TV starring Lesley Manville. In January 2022 he was awarded a CBE for his services to literature.

So, what did I learn which would interest my fellow book lovers? Mr Horowitz was delightful, very funny and self-deprecating. He plans to write 12 Hawthorne and Horowitz books and is currently writing the next Magpie Murders book, which I know that RC enjoys. So, we have 7 more Hawthorne books to read, which is wonderful news!

Great news


Thanks Susan

Apparently they are casting it for television as well, with someone else playing Horowitz.

Talking of bookish events, Nigeyb, did you see my post in the general chat thread about Backlisted being recorded at Foyles? I know you are a big fan.

Backlisted LIVE: The Good Soldier with Alex Michaelides
Wednesday 15th May 2024, 6:30pm. Foyles Charing Cross Road

I do like Magpie Murders but now I'm also a Hawthorne and Horowitz fan (more Hawthorne really) after reading Close to Death.

Me too. I think I'd need to re-read the two Magpie Murders books as I don't recall them as much as the Hawthorne books.

Yes I did. Thanks Susan


They mentioned it in the last episode of Backlisted too

Alas it takes more than Backlisted to get me hopping on a train to London these days 🤠

I would have hopped gladly, but sadly can't do the date. Ah well, never mind.

Thank you Susan. Even though I was a huge Foyles war fan and reader back in the day I was remiss in reading his other excellent creations. Hawthorne series is a favorite and I read everything now except the Alex Ryder books.
I knew about the new edition coming out but 12 Hawthorn books, wow and yay!!
I hope he writes more Magpie too. They are very entertaining.

He said he was currently writing a new Magpie, Susan :)

Good news! His writing is so inventive.

A new Magpie…can’t wait!

Susan wrote:



"£1.99



Close to Death

(book 5 in the brilliant Hawthorne and Horowitz series)"



Snapped it up for £1.99....

https://shorturl.at/aKPQS

Thanks Susan

Ooh, new pre-order out 13 Mar. 2025

Marble Hall Murders

Book 3 in the Magpie Murder Series

Editor Susan Ryeland has left her Greek Island, her hotel and her Greek boyfriend Andreas in search of a new life in England.

She is freelancing for Causton Books, where she is asked to work on a ‘continuation’ novel , Pund’s Last Case, by a young author, Eliot Crace. Susan is surprised: Eliot Crace is the grandson of one of the most well known children’s authors ever, Marian Crace. Think Enid Blyton, then double her sales. Marian Crace died some 15 years previously and Eliot is sure she was poisoned.

Rather doubtfully, Susan starts to read the opening chapters, finding to her relief that Pund’s Last Case is actually pretty good. Set in the South of France, it revolves around the mysterious death of Lady Margaret Chalfont who, though mortally ill, is poisoned – perhaps by a member of her own family. But why? And who did it?

It soon becomes clear to Susan that the clues to who was responsible for the death of Eliot’s grandmother, Marian Crace, are hidden from view in this Atticus Pund mystery.

Eliot’s behaviour becomes increasingly erratic as his alcohol and gambling addictions increase. But when he is killed in a hit and run accident, Susan realises that she is suspected of his murder.

Three mysterious deaths and a group of people with multiple motives for murder: Susan realises that if she doesn’t solve the mystery in Pund’s Last Case, her death may well be next …

Yay! I love the Magpie Murders even more than Hawthorne & Horowitz which took some time to grown on me.

I think I need to re-read the first two before this comes out though, as I can't remember that much about them.

That won't be much of a hardship! They do get complicated but they've stuck in my head maybe because I also loved the TV adaptation.

I hope Susan hasn't broken up with Andreas as I love him. She really doesn't belong on a Greek island though, urbanite that she is.

Not read any Magpie Murders - should probably put that right

Buddy reads of the first two in the run-up to the new one?

I'm in for sure. I seem to recall these contain a book within a book so were obviously harder to write.

I'm certainly up for the first one

The new book is not out until March, so there is plenty of time.

Exactly, and we've got a lot on. How about December and January or February?

I can do anytime

Works for me, RC. We will be nice and up to date for the new book.

ive really enjoyed Magpie Murders and Moonflower Murders. Right now, I'm enjoying re-watching his brilliant Foyle's War. What a talented man he is!

I think we forgot to add these to the buddy read lists. Hmmm, the new book is out in March. Do we want to add them for January and February?

Either December, January or February work for me, happy to follow what works for everyone else. I think I set up threads when we first discussed, will check.

Yes, threads are there for December and January but I can change the dates if we want to push them back, I'm happy whatever we decide.

Oh, OK. They were not in the list of books and that's where I normally go.

I am happy to stay Dec/Jan if everyone knows and I just missed it!

I think we've talked before about the different ways we navigate the site: I tend to go by the group bookshelf which appears on the home page rather than the list.

In any case, very much looking forward to Magpie - just the escapist read we need at the moment, I'd say.

Yay, details of the next book in the Magpie series: Marble Hall Murders - date is showing as 10 April 2025: it looks so much fun.

I dipped into Marble Hall Murders at lunchtime (couldn't resist even though I already have three books on the go) and, OH!

I just returned the two Anthony Horowitz Bond books to my library because I have learned that 3 books going at a time is all I can handle. I am anxiously waiting for the release of Marble Hall Murders in US in summer.

I have just started Moonflower Murders to find that the hotel Branlow Hall is situated right on the doorstep of Charsfield, the village Blythe based Akenfield on - the book I have only just finished. What a coincidence.

Strange serendipities of life, SueLucie!

I thought Akenfield was much more remote when I read it at school - but maybe it was when it was written and in the memories it recalls.

I’d be surprised If Akenfield was a success on a school curriculum. I think my many years of life experience means I enjoyed it more than I would have done as a teenager.

Ha, you're right, I loathed it to such an extent that I could not bring myself to even think of rereading it now. Very strange choice for London school kids. It was for GCSE too not even A level, so we were 14 when we were given this.

Oddly, though, I had Lark Rise to Candleford for A level and we all loved it. It treads similar ground of the past history of a rural hamlet but maybe the personal voice of Flora Thompson hooked me in?

Yes, and I think Flora’s experiences were happier than the ones we read about in Akenfield - some grim reading at times.

Grim but often fascinating. Not a book for kids though

Nigeyb wrote: "Grim but often fascinating. Not a book for kids though"

No, some of my GCSE books appear to have scarred me for life: Akenfield and Graham Greene - won't go near them!

Back to Horowitz and I finished an ARC of the new Magpie Murder at the weekend: Marble Hall Murders. No spoilers but I will say AH is ingenious.

The afterword implies he didn't intend to continue the series after Moonflower but the actress who plays Susan inspired him. I don't know if there will be another one.

Oh really, I didn't like her in the role, lol! Love the books though and I'm glad you enjoyed this.

I liked her.

Going to see Anthony Horowitz this evening: An Evening with Anthony Horowitz and Stig Abell
Looking forward to it, as I like both authors.

Have fun, Susan. And if you have the chance to ask questions, ask AH if he's going to continue the Magpie series after the new Marble Hall Murders.

Will do. I think someone asked him before and he said that he was thinking of stopping at 2 but did another. I suspect (hope!) he's working on a new Hawthorne book as he said that was also being picked up for TV.

How wonderful


I know you'll have a fab time