Book Review - Moonflower Murders - Anthony Horowitz
I read and reviewed murder mystery 'Magpie murders' by Anthony Horowitz just before Christmas, so I was caught by surprise when ‘Moonflower murders’ was chosen for this months bookclub which I belong to. It was another doorstopper at nearly 600 pages and if I’m being honest, I would have been much happier with another author and shorter book. But I downloaded it and got stuck in.
Magpie Murders
The good thing thing about ‘Magpie murders’ being fresh in my mind was that I was aware of where we had left editor turned sleuth, Susan Ryeland. She was still with Andreas but has left the publishing industry, running a hotel on the Greek island of Crete. However, two guest arrive and a missing person case presents itself that is too good to turn down. Her sleuthing skills are in demand.
Laurence and Pauline Treherne own a hotel where a grisly murder was committed eight years previously. Although someone was apprehended, doubts have emerged. Susan’s previous client, the best selling author, Alan Conway, knew the victim and stayed at the hotel after the murder. His is the book that the Treherne’s daughter Cecily was reading when she suggested the clues to the identity of the real murderer lay within, just before she goes missing.
Susan Ryeland & Atticus Pünd
Although ‘Moonflower murders’ works fine as a standalone, I was familiar with the previous minor characters who pop up again and I got all the references to previous murders/cases. I felt that this added depth to my enjoyment of the novel.
This is another tightly plotted, well crafted mystery thriller, again containing a book within a book staring famous literary detective Atticus Pünd. Whereas in ‘Magpie murders’ this had taken me by surprise, less so this time. I think I would have been disappointed if it hadn’t happened.
It may be a lengthy book but one thing you get in Horowitz’s books is plenty of bang for your buck. Just as in magpie murders, moonflower murders contains two classic detective stories for the price of one. And in writing this review for ‘moonflower murders’ I have to be extremely careful in what I reveal, but I think I’m doing ok on that score - I always try to avoid spoilers.
Murder Mystery
I had a feeling I knew who it was, but I didn’t know who it was. You’d need to read it for that sentence to make sense, but I had always had an inkling. It didn’t spoil the fun, but kept me looking for clues.
At one stage Susan Ryeland, talking about Alan Conway, says: “There’s something very satisfying about a complicated whodunnit that actually makes sense…Alan never cheated the reader.” Ditto for Horowtiz, who ties events up perfectly.
Clues
There’s something almost Derren Brown like in the way that Horowitz relishes showing us the clues have been staring us in the face all along. Of course, it’s down to his skill as a murder mystery writer that the hints are so deftly embedded amidst a plethora of red herrings and characters with plausible motives.
In truth, if someone in the bookclub picks another Anthony Horowitz book, I’ll happily read it. He creates hugely enjoyable mystery novels that feel like both a ‘tribute to,’ and a modern updating of the genre.
Book review - Moonflower murders - Anthony Horowitz
Ebook 592 pages
Published November 9th 2021 by Harper Perennial
April 23 Update - There’s a Moonflower Murders murder mystery TV series currently airing on BBC1 in the UK and editor turned sleuth Susan Ryeland is played by Lesley Manville, famous literary detective Atticus Pund played by Tim McMullan and Conleth Hill plays Alan Conway. The period drama has already aired on PBS Masterpiece.