I have thoroughly enjoyed all of this author’s books and this one was no exception. It was a great story which kept me hooked throughout! I love this authors unique style of writing. Can’t wait for the next one!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC
I loved having another book featuring Susan Ryland.
This is a complicated somewhat spoof ( if you have read Anthony Horowitz you will know what I mean ) of the British murder mystery.
It was a good, detailed, complicated plot, and would recommend for fans of his previous books or Rian Johnson films

I ended up listening to this book on audio post-publication, which was excellent. Anthony Horowitz is one of those authors who just has such a complete understanding of the genre he’s writing in that he’s able to successfully full off a mystery within a mystery, or insert himself into a narrative, or likely whatever else he wants to do. This series is my favourite of his, and I think half the reason is just to see how he managed to pull everything together. There’s a very Sherlockian feeling to watching how Horowitz, as an author, shows his brilliance and walks you through the story, and then does the big “ta-da” moment at the end. I don’t read a ton of mysteries, but I’m always in a rush to get the next release from him.

Susan Ryeland is hired by distraught parents to find their daughter, Cecily. She had phoned her parents about a murder that had occurred in their hotel several years before. The only clue they provide Susan - Cecily claimed that, having read Alan Conway’s book Atticus Pund Takes the Case which was based on the murder, she knows who was guilty. However, she vanished before she got a chance to reveal the guilty party. The police seem unable to find her and they hope Susan can do better based on her success in solving the magpie murders (from the first book in the series) and because they hoped that having been Conway’s editor, she can spot the same clue that Cecily did hoping it might lead to Her whereabouts.

Anthony Horowitz has an uncanny ability to recreate the voice of writers from the Golden Age of mysteries, most specifically Agatha Christie, while maintaining his own unique voice. In Moonflower Murders, the second (and hopefully not the last) book in the Susan Ryeland series, he gives us a book within a book and makes them both unputdownable. As in most Golden Age mysteries, there is little action and the crimes, in this case from both books, are solved through careful investigation, talking with a myriad of suspects, and, of course, the ‘little grey cells’ of the investigator with lots of red herrings and twists and turns thrown in to keep the reader guessing. Loved it!

<i>Thanks to Netgalley & HarperCollins Canada for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review</i>

MOONFLOWER MURDERS is the second novel featuring the former book editor Susan Ryeland. Now living in Greece with her significant other Andreas the couple are running a small hotel on the island of Crete. Managing a hotel had proven to be a challenge and not a truly profitable enterprise.
The Treahearnes come to stay at the Greek hotel with a purpose in mind. They too own a hotel on the Suffolk coast. Unfortunately it was the site to a murder which happen to coincide with their daughter Cecily’s wedding day some time ago. Now Cecily has gone missing. Before her disappearance Cecily had read the mystery novel the late Alan Conway had written loosely based on the murder that took place in Farlingaye Hall. After reading the ATTICUS PUND TAKES THE CASE Cecily is sure the wrong man has been jailed for the crime. She shared this with her parents but disappeared before she could explain what she had discovered.
Since Susan was Alan Conway’s editor and had prior involvement in a previous case the Treahearnes ask for her help. She will be paid for her time while she investigates. Cash strapped and a bit homesick Susan agrees to help find Cecily and try to find the connection between the murder at Farlingham Hall and the Atticus Pund novel.
At the onset I thought a 600+ page novel was a bit daunting for a mystery novel. It turned out the entire Atticus Pund novel was actually included as part of THE MOONFLOWER MURDERS. When Susan comes to a roadblock she decides it is time to reread Alan Conway’s book. Even though she edited it years have passed and she needs to revisit it. At that point the reader also takes a break from the current investigation to read ATTICUS PUND TAKES THE CASE.
I am a big fan of Anthony Horowitz’s adult novels. I thoroughly enjoyed MOONFLOWER MURDERS. Bonus I thoroughly enjoyed the Atticus Pund story as well. It was like getting two delicious reads for the price one.
Clever and entertaining I would recommend MOONFLOWER MURDERS to fans of whodunnits or anyone who wants to escape into a intriguing tale.
Thank you to Harper Collins Canada for providing access to an advanced digital edition.

Classic Anthony Horowitz! A cheeky who-dun-it that is a joy to read. I love that all the clues are there and make total sense at the end when the murder is solved, but that you don't see until that moment.

The second in the Susan Ryeland mysteries from Anthony Horowitz (the first being magpie murders) our main character Susan finds herself in another complex situation. I love this authors writing style, my one note would be that this doesn't read extremely well as a standalone, I'd definitely recommend checking out magpie murders before diving in.

A sequel to Magpie Murders, Moonflower Murders is a novel all its own but does reference many characters and plot points from the first novel.

When I was offered the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book, I was excited to dive in to a fun new detective series. I rushed to pick up Magpie Murders and finish it because I'm one of those who MUST read things in order and commit to the series.

I will say that I enjoyed Moonflower significantly more than Magpie. The story was richer, the mystery deeper, and I didn't figure out all of the twists in advance as I did with Magpie. I do find the premise (a detective novel editor solving murders) a bit silly, but the structure of these novels is very clever. The book within a book, containing clues to 2 separate mysteries is novel (sorry, not punny), at least for me. HOWEVER, this should come with a warning that this unique structure makes these books long- in terms of actual length but also, at times, tedious.

I wasn't blown away by Moonflower, but it was an enjoyable read that had me guessing until the end. Reader be warned- if you enjoy solvable mysteries, you will be disappointed. The chain of evidence, logic and reasoning in this one isn't anything that you will be able to put together. For someone with a law degree and a love of puzzles, like me, it is incredibly frustrating!

I'd say 3.5 stars is a fair rating for this one.

Thank you to HarperCollins Canada and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review and ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I did not read the first installment of this series prior to receiving this eARC, and I was not lost at all! I very much enjoyed getting lost in this mystery and the book, within a book!

Although this is quite a daunting read, I was drawn into the storyline, the characters, and the mystery right from the start! The author did an INCREDIBLE job of telling each character's story, and really make them all so detailed and well thought out. I enjoyed discovering the motive behind everyone's actions.

I simply cannot wait to go out and pick up the Magpie Murders.

Thank you to @netgalley for providing us with a review copy of #moonflowermurders by #anthonyhorowitzbooks

We loved this follow-up to #magpiemurders

This “book within a book” is a classic crime novel. This was a treat to read and a fun homage to classic detective fiction. What a bonus having two whodunnits to figure out in one novel!

4.5 ⭐️

I loved The Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz. And the second book didn’t disappoint!
I couldn’t stop reading it.
If you love a good mystery, this is it.
I can’t wait for the next book.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for my honest review.

"I like stories set in little communities where no one tells the truth. And it has some great twists - the ending has a real sucker punch..."

After reading Magpie Murders in October, I was hoping that Anthony Horowitz would consider writing a sequel - I loved the book within a book concept, and desperately wanted to read another homage to Agatha Christie with Atticus Pund. I was pleasantly surprised to discover I would not have to wait very long, for Moonflower Murders was being published shortly. This second outing did not disappoint. The modern tale is framed around former editor Susan Ryeland being asked to investigate a disappearance of Cicely Trehearne, who was convinced that she solved the murder of a guest at her family’s hotel, through Alan Conway’s book Atticus Pund Takes The Case. As the reader, we get to solve this one alongside Susan, reading the book and looking for the clues that Cicely saw. I loved the Agatha Christie references sprinkled throughout the book - “They’ve got Sir Kenneth Braughn playing Atticus Pund” (clearly a play on KB playing Poirot in 2018’s Orient Express and 2020’s Death on the Nile). Both mysteries were very intriguing and Horowitz clearly lays out the clues for both stories - never cheating the reader. I once again loved this homage to the Golden Age of Crime (although had a harder time getting into the first 35% of the book with all the set-up). I hope that Horowitz lets us have more adventures with Susan Ryeland, and more importantly, Atticus Pund. A big thank you to Harper Collins and NetGalley for the Advanced Readers Copy.

Eight years previously at their daughter Cecily Treharnes wedding, Frank Parris, 53, was murdered. Maintenance man Stefan Codrescu, 22, was arrested and imprisoned for the murder. Having recently read Alan Conway's book entitled 'Atticus Pund Takes the Case' which is set in the 1950s and based on the case, Cecily states she knows who the murderer is, but she promptly disappears. Parents Lawrence and Pauline Trehearne of Branlow Hall ask amateur detective Susan Ryeland to investigate, as she was the previous editor of Conway's books and might understand the clues.
An interesting and entertaining well-written mystery with a cast of varied characters.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to read and review.

This book is basically a two for one! I am amazed when an author writes a book to be included in the novel. This is the second book in the Susan Ryeland series and the second novel in which we enjoy an Atticus Pund mystery. Personally I think Anthony Horowitz is a genius to be able to write mystery novels that are based on completely fictitious novels that he also wrote!

Horowitz writes real and relatable characters and has so many subplot that keep developing through each new novel in what I hope will be a lengthly series. Seeing the recurring characters and their development makes me really understand Susan's motivation. The mysteries are also fun to read and since the one taking place in Susan's timeline involves clues or hints from Atticus Pund it is pretty fun to try to solve both crimes.

I hope there will be more Susan Ryeland books - I'm already looking forward to them!

MOONFLOWER MURDERS by Anthony Horowitz is a fantastic mystery! I actually didn’t know this was the second book in the Susan Ryeland series before I started reading it but it totally works as a stand alone. I bet the first book, Magpie Murders, is great too! I really loved how extremely meta this novel was - the main character, Susan, is an editor who worked with a mystery author and their book is in this book! It was a fun journey to follow Susan as she tries to solve the murder mystery. If you’re a fan of Agatha Christie then you’ll really enjoy this book too!

As always, I wonder when Horowitz finds the time to sleep. Talk about a polymath! Happy to include his engrossing new instalment in Novel Encounters, my monthly top ten roundup column of notable upcoming fiction titles for Zoomer magazine’s Books hub. To read the feature, click on the link.

Horowitz is an award winning British screenwriter and author of many books, including the "Alex Rider" series for the 9-12-year old reader, the "Horowitz Holmes" series and the "Hawthorne" series (so far comprising only "The Word is Murder" and 'The Sentence Is Death"). This new release is a sequel to "The Magpie Murders" and thus number two in the "Susan Ryland" series. As in the previous novel this book is a mystery in a mystery, by which I mean the events that happen relate to a fictional book and that 'book' is then included about midway into the story for the reader. This makes for a longer book than the average mystery (608 pages), but you do get two stories. In the main story Susan is asked to return to England from Greece where she is now living with her boyfriend, in order to investigate the disappearance of a woman. Her parents believe her disappearance relates to what she found when reading a mystery book that was inspired by a murder that took place eight years earlier in the hotel they own. Susan had been the editor for the book, whose author was the late Alan Conway. He had been featured in the Horowitz's previous book as he was also the author of the fictional book "The Magpie Murders" that was part of the real book by the same name. This is a fun read and a great recommendation to fans of the mystery genre. While it is not necessary to read the first in the series prior to this one, it would make this one even more enjoyable. It releases in trade paperback and has a Goodreads rating of 4.19/5 from 1532 readers.

3.5 stars

Horowitz returns with another double-M mystery that employs his clever book-within-a-book format. Once again, we follow Susan Ryeland as she attempts to solve a murder. And once again she will have to search for clues hidden in a book by Alan Conway, a client from her previous life as an editor.

For me this really was a book of two (or 3?) parts. The initial 35% sets up the story & details how Susan ends up trading in her hotel in Crete for windy Suffolk. I thought the premise was a bit thin….2 strangers from another country show up & want you to return to England & read a book in hopes it will help find their missing daughter. But I completely understood why Susan accepted the deal. The hotel needs the money & she needs a break.

I have to admit I struggled through this part. After her return, Susan’s days are filled with brief interviews & much scribbling of lists. There’s a huge amount of information revealed here in dialogue, interviews, transcripts & emails. This combined with the slow pace left me feeling as if I was wading through quicksand & I began to think about setting it aside for another time.

Thankfully, at that point we switch over to “Atticus Pünd Takes the Case”. The murder in question occurred 8 years ago at a family run hotel in Suffolk. By coincidence, Conway was staying there at the time & based some of the characters in his next book on actual people involved. Rumour has it he also hid clues as to the identity of the real killer. Since Susan was his editor, surely she must know how to decipher his writing? She finds a comfy seat & starts reading.

As do we. The next 45% is a book from Conway’s series set in 1950’s England & featuring investigator Atticus Pünd. It’s a true homage to golden age mysteries & you can’t help but think of Pünd as a German Poirot. He’s an intelligent, fastidious man who ends up staying at The Moonflower Hotel while investigating the murder of a famous actress.

Hands down, this was my favourite part of the whole book. The location, time period, colourful characters, intricate mystery & wit…..all of these combined to keep me glued to the pages. After his last case, Pünd acquired a secretary & the formidable Miss Cain is there to support his investigation along with local DCI Hare. Like his alter ego, Conway never cheats the reader. Everything you need to identify the killer is there. The question is whether or not you’re paying close enough attention to spot the clues.

That takes us to the last 20% where we rejoin Susan & the current investigation. This segment has a better flow & focus as the pieces begin to fit together. There are many questions to be answered, not the least of which is Susan’s own future. Parallels between her investigation & the “fictional” one are a nice touch & bring the story full circle.

So there you have it. When it comes to rating this, I have to give the edge to Pünd. His story gets 4 stars while Susan’s gets 3. I may not have enjoyed this overall as much as the Magpie Murders but I look forward to their combined adventures in the next one.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Canada for the copy of Moonflower Murders. This is a voluntary review.

Moonflower Murders returns to the life of former editor Susan Ryeland, who we first met in Magpie Murders. Following the book-within-a-book theme, Moonflower Murders has Susan wrapped up again in Alan Conway's Atticus Pund detective series looking for answers to a grisly murder at a beautiful English hotel.

Reading this, I felt the joy and comfort of a cozy crime through the Atticus Pund novel, but the dark reality of human nature through Susan's eyes. The characters are easy to understand, to picture, and to drag motive from. The ending was not cheated too early, and I was suspicious of everyone!

Throughout the book there are references to classic plays or novels which I knew could be clues, but I am not familiar with them whatsoever. In some ways, I think this may have robbed me of some of the 'clue elation' I usually strive to experience, but luckily at the end, Susan explains them. I thought this was a great touch.

Susan is an interesting MC. If you are tired of the gritty, no-holding-back cop as the detective, she leaves you with a breath of fresh air. While she is persistent, she is also very normal. She is relatable, and digs through information with intelligence, but without arrogance. However, Susan was occasionally a difficult character for me to understand. Her relationship with Andreas (her boyfriend) was a bit confusing for me and I couldn't really grasp where she stood with him until the end.

Overall, I really enjoy Horowitz's novels. They are fun, and reminiscent of classic detective fiction while still being modern. Get a warm drink, and curl up in your favourite chair. This will keep you engaged until the end.

CW: murder (described), homophobia, racism, blackmail (for money and sex), sexual themes, pedophilia, bullying

I am in total of awe of the mastery of Anthony Horowitz and the Moonflower Murders.

The sequel to the Magpie Murders is just as good if not better .

It is book within a book and it works so well.

Susan Ryeland is back and having heard of a murder that she was told is similar to a Atticus Pund novel that she previously edited, she is heads out to for a fee, to try and solve the case.

Anthony Horowitz does a remarkable tribute to the Agatha Christie style stories, old movies and so much more.

I was not smart enough to solve Moonflower Murders, the clues were cleverly there but I am no Atticus Pund.

I hated to the book to end and the pages literally turned themselves.

This book will stay with me for a very long time and can't wait to buy my hard copy to join The Magpie Murders on my shelf.

It was my privilege to read and review Moonflower Murders and I thank NetGalley and Harper Collins Canada, Harper Collins Publisher for the opportunity