My book review of 'Moonflower Murders' by Anthony Horowitz

by Anthony Horowitz
Moonflower Murders
by Anthony Horowitz

I'm always interested in finding out more about the latest work by Anthony Horowitz, whether a novel, children's book or TV drama, but this title leapt up my reading pile because it's set in locations known to me in Suffolk! The murder mystery had an added frisson of tension as the author didn't hold back in naming familiar places and businesses - who would appear next?

Following on from 'Magpie Murders', retired publisher Susan Ryeland is now running a small hotel on a Greek island. Things aren't going as smoothly as she'd like so when the opportunity arises to return to her former literary life in London, she can't resist. But it means getting involved in tracking down a missing person, and pursuing a murder inquiry.

Suffolk hotel owners, Lawrence and Pauline Trehearne are desperate to find their daughter, Cecily. She went missing after reading 'Atticus Pund Takes The Case', a crime novel Susan edited some years previously. Cecily indicated that the book held the answer to a murder which took place in the hotel the same day she was married there.

Susan returns to Britain to investigate, but realises that all the clues to the murder and to Cecily's disappearance lie within the pages of the novel. As she rereads it, so we too are invited to see if we can find the answer.

I don't usually like books within books but, of course, Horowitz is a master storyteller and soon I was as gripped by this tale as I had been by the main narrative.

Not much got done while I was reading this book (or books). It's a tome of 600+ pages and I didn't want to put it down. I was consumed and cocooned in this other world of imaginary lives, supposedly taking place just down the street from me! Just loved it. Sorry that it came to an end, though obviously pleased that the mystery is solved. Very enjoyable.

Date of this review: September 2020
Book publication date: 20th August 2020