The Word Is Murder

She planned her own funeral. But did she arrange her murder?

In The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz, readers are invited to unravel a thrilling and intricately woven mystery. The plot kicks off with an astonishing premise: a woman meticulously organises her own funeral, only to be found strangled just six hours later. The shocking and puzzling circumstances lead to a myriad of questions. Did she foresee her own death? Was her killer someone she knew?

Enter Daniel Hawthorne, an enigmatic private investigator with a razor-sharp mind and a penchant for holding onto secrets. Alongside him is his somewhat reluctant writing partner, Anthony Horowitz, who plays a significant role within his own fictional story. Together, this duo embarks on solving what appears to be one of the most perplexing cases of their careers.

The investigation takes them through a labyrinth of buried secrets and bloody clues, revealing a multitude of suspects and motives. As they dig deeper, both men find themselves on a dark and dangerous journey, fraught with twists and turns that are as unpredictable as they are deadly.

Crafted with Anthony Horowitz's signature wit and deftness, The Word is Murder is a spellbinding read that will keep you guessing until its final pages. The narrative blurs the lines between reality and fiction, delivering an immersive experience that captivatingly draws the reader into a world of mystery and intrigue.

The book has captivated critics and readers alike:

'Easily the greatest of our crime writers' – Sunday Times

'Raises the game-playing to Olympic level' – Guardian Books of the Year

'A real page-turner. I loved it!' – Aled Jones

'Horowitz blurs the line between fact and fiction' – Financial Times

'Splendidly entertaining, absorbing and difficult to put down. Hawthorne is an intriguing character' – Daily Express

'Sharp-witted readers who think they've solved the puzzle early on can rest assured that they've opened only one of many dazzling Christmas packages Horowitz has left beautifully wrapped under the tree' – Kirkus Reviews

'Deduction and wit are well-balanced, and fans of Peter Lovesey and other modern channelers of the spirit of the golden age of detection will clamor for more' – Publishers Weekly