I had to read the opening chapters a few times to understand how Horowitz had woven himself into one of his characters in this novel - I'm still not convinced I enjoyed this or indeed either of the characters.
I was interested with the location being in Alderney which gave a suitable setting being a small island, but was also coincidentally full of eccentric and mysterious characters.
With the narrative often referring to the writing of Horowitz's book about his fictional character, and the idea of real life stories being woven into the murder mystery, I just found this book annoyingly confusing taking away any possible intrigue .

A third outing for detective Hawthorne and a fictionalized version of the author Anthony Horowitz. This time they are attending.a literary festival on the bleak channel island of Alderney when a murder occurs. An easy read.

There is always a lot to enjoy in a Horowitz story and this one was no different. There are the usual whodunnit red herrings, surprises and discoveries, along with the tension between the fictional Horowitz and 'sidekick' Hawthorne. Their relationship develops a little more with each story, of which this is the third. Another good plot to keep the reader guessing to the end.

This is the third in the really quite meta Hawthorn series and sees the fictional version of Antony Horowitz on the island of Alderney for a literary festival with Nathanial Hawthorn, the detective he’s writing a series of books about. While they’re there a murder takes place and they find themselves involved in the investigation. The island setting means it has a clear set of suspects and on top of that, there are plenty of them because the victim is not a particularly likeable character. The solution is quite satisfying and I continue to enjoy the weirdness of the conceit of this series. Horowitz has two meta series on the go at the moment – and I don’t think I like them as much as I like the book-within-a-book Atticus Pünd series, this is still a really readable murder mystery with a strong sense of place

This is the first book in the Hawthorne/Horowitz series - however you can just dive right in and don't need to read the first two but can get straight into this.
There can be a comparison to Holmes/Watson - but this was not as sharp and more along a cozy mystery line.
Having said that, it was enjoyable, particularly Horowitz's self deprecating asides.
The plot had several twists and turns and although I got a feeling as to who the killer was, I couldn't quite work out a motive.
I will certainly give the other books in this series a read.

I am extremely grateful to have received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A Line to Kill
Four stars
This is the third whodunnit in the entertaining Hawthorne & Horowitz series. This time the capable but arrogant former detective and his woefully unappreciated sidekick author travel to a literary festival on the island of Alderney off the coast of Britain.
It’s the perfect setting for murder, with a ragtag assortment of characters.
Festival guests include a children’s author, a celebrity chef a French poet, a historian and a blind psychic. Meanwhile island residents are at each other’s throats over a proposed infrastructure project that is tearing the community apart.
When a prominent local is found dead after a swanky party, Hawthorne and Horowitz find themselves at the helm of a murder investigation as they wait for reinforcements from the mainland.
With no one allowed on or off the island this becomes a giant locked-room mystery and the author has great fun sending you on wild goose chases as you try to work out the identity of the dastardly killer.
It’s fair to say that it’s hard to put down an Anthony Horowitz novel – whether you’re a teen fan of his Alex Rider series or an adult relishing his crime capers – and this novel is no exception. A fun and satisfying read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House publishing for providing me with a copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.

This is the third book in the Hawthorne/Horowitz series - however you don't need to read the first two before reading this one. You can read this as a stand alone book.
Clearly meant to be a Holmes/Watson vibe but hard to reach that great high.
Fairly enjoyable read and amusing to read Horowitz write about this fictional version of himself.

3.5 ⭐️
Anthony Horowitz is clearly a huge Conan Doyle fan, which is presumably the reason he was chosen to create new Sherlock Holmes stories, eg House of Silk & Moriarty.

This debt can be seen at work again in his Horowitz and Hawthorne stories in which, in a terribly postmodern twist, the character of author, Anthony Horowitz, is persuaded to write up true case files of (fictional) detective, Hawthorne. The fictional version of Horowitz is very much a Watson figure but more the bumbling but affable Nigel Bruce version of the old black and white films than the Dr John Watson of the books.

It’s a clever idea and the real Anthony Horowitz is a thoroughly likeable writer. Unfortunately, as the series is progressing (this is the 3rd instalment) I’m really starting to miss the Holmes/Hawthorne counterbalance. I really feel that it needs that sharpness of tone to offset the cosiness and keep the reader on the trail. As it is currently, although it’s an enjoyable cosy crime novel, you know that the Horowitz character is always going to be wrong at every turn but we aren’t given quite enough to work out what Hawthorne knows. Or it could be that I’m just a bit slow 🤣🤔🤦🏻‍♀️

Definitely enjoyable, I just preferred the first 2. Please keep them coming!

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Random House, UK, Cornerstone for an arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I am a huge fan of Anthony Horowitz, and have been for a very long time. I’ve read most of his work, but always shied away from this series, because I wasn’t sure about him inserting himself into the books as a character. I felt that it would be a really difficult thing to pull off, and I was definitely hesitant and unsure when I picked up the third book in the series. However, it really works. Horowitz injects enough of himself into his character without coming across as somewhat narcissistic, which I love. I actually loved reading his inner monologues and watching his relationship develop with Hawthorne. I also thought the story was brilliant. I was so sure that I knew who had committed the murder, and then it was revealed to me and I was genuinely surprised. I really loved this book, and I will definitely be going back to read the other two. There was a lovely Midsomar Murders feel to it too, which I will never grow bored of. Overall, another smashing book by the master of classic crime fiction.

When Tony and Hawthorne get invited to a literary festival on Alderney to talk about their new book The Word is Murder they find themselves caught in the middle of a murder. When Tony finds out that Hawthorne goes as he has a link to the island he feels he’s one step behind and Hawthorne is keeping secrets. Hawthorne is charming everyone and Tony is disgruntled that he’s pleasing everyone and annoying him but between them can they solve another murder and is there another book for Tony to write.

This is the 3rd book in the series and I only read the first. It didn't matter too much that I hadn't read the previous one as it was alluded to and the storyline In this book was seperate to previous events.

This was a quick and easy read, slightly obvious but there were some red herrings. I struggle with this series as I don't get on with the characters. I've read the other murder series and much prefer them.

Thank you for the arc.

Interesting and unusual story with fascinating characters and a murder to solve. A small island ,not many inhabitants but they are split on two over power plans,strangers arrive and a murder happens. Who is responsible?

A solid crime story with a totally unexpected twist. A clever relationship between the two main characters and good use of the island as an unique crime scene makes for an interesting read.

This book made me think, wondering 'who done it all the way along, with there being a few twists I didn't see coming.' The way it was written there's plenty of description of the characters and locations without it being too much.

I haven't read anything by Anthony Horowitz, so didn't know what to expect, although I do enjoy his TV shows.

This is the third instalment of murder mystery novels that feature the ex-detective Daniel Hawthorne and in an interesting twist, (if this is the first time of discovering these novels), it also features Anthony Horowtiz. Yes the author has written himself into this piece of fiction. Stick with it, it works better than you think!

Invited to a literature festival on Alderney, Hawthorne and Horowitz as they are more better known, the former seemingly more of a draw than the latter, finds themselves stuck there. Right in the middle of their own murder mystery.

The victim is Charles Le Mesurier, a man with a lot of money and so it seems a lot of power. There are many suspects, many questions to be asked about everyone who was at the festival, especially as the victim was the sponsor.

How can a celebrity chef, a blind psychic, a children’s author, a performance poet, a war historian plus a number of locals opposed to a potential power line disrupting their island have anything to do with the deceased?

This is a classic locked room mystery, but extended to an whole island. An island that has never had any murder on it but suddenly is embroiled in something quite nasty. Hawthorne is called upon to at least go some way to solve the crime, Horowitz the side kick, think Hastings to Poirot is there to capture the tale.

What follows as everyone is seemingly trapped is the true twist, turns and red herrings of a good murder mystery. The digs about authors, literature festivals and the world of crime gives the book a different undertone than perhaps some novels of the same genre. For me it is this humour which gives these books the edge over others I have read. The author has some skill to write himself in and write himself in as the underdog; the bumbling assistant almost.

Both this series of books and the Magpie Murder ones are examples of skilful writing which gives and edge to the murder mystery genre. If you want something different and you don’t mind having your mind tested then pick up these novels – you won’t be disappointed.

Got to love a whodunnit that reads like a tv programme! I loved how visual I found this book, I really did feel like I was watching rather than reading it. It reminded me of an old Bergerac episode!
When you read that a crime writer has been invited to visit a literary festival on an island that has minimal crime and never a murder, instantly you go 'uh oh'. Some lovely twists, turns and red herrings.
Thoroughly enjoyable.

I hadn’t read the other two books in this series before reading this one however I have since bought them! This is a classic whodunnit style book but superb writing, everything I have come to expect from Anthony Horowitz.
I loved that the author was a character, making the book feel more like a true story. I really hope more books are released in the Hawthorne series!

I was sent a copy of A Line to Kill by Anthony Horowitz to read and review by NetGalley. This is and engaging easy read from popular author Anthony Horowitz. I have only read one of his novels previously and it wasn’t one from this series of books. Even though this is the third in his Hawthorne and Horowitz series there was enough back story woven into this novel as to read as a stand-alone. This is quite a unique series as it stars the author himself as Detective Hawthorne’s sidekick, quite a tricky way of writing I should think! The story itself is intriguing and entertaining and even when you think you know whodunnit you’ll probably turn out (like me) to be wrong!!! I really enjoyed reading this book and will most likely go back and read the previous editions, and then go on to read any future publications in the series.

As soon as I had finished the last page I went and bought his other work.

This is FANTASTIC. I love the author being actually in the book as a second fiddle to Hawthorne, a dry and droll Sherlock type. The pairing of Horowitz and Hawthorne is enough to keep anyone engaged and then a stellar story with good plotting and even some clues make this possibly my book of the year

I haven't read anything by Mr Horowitz before and was a little apprehensive about reading this, with it being the third in the series, but I needn't have worried - this is a unique and enjoyable mystery.

I have never read a book where the author puts himself as one of the main characters in a book but here he is joining up with an ex-Detective Inspector Hawthorne and, I must say, it really worked for me. Mr Horowitz doesn't take himself too seriously and he comes across as a Dr Watson-type character to Hawthorne's Sherlock Holmes - which, let's face it, isn't a bad thing at all. How much the fictional Horowitz is like the real Horowitz, I don't know but I like him!

Anyway, Horowitz and Hawthorne have been invited to take part in a literary festival on the island of Alderney. A murder ensues and Hawthorne is asked to assist the local constabulary to investigate with Horowitz in tow. The relationship between the two is a complex one ... do they really like each other or do they just tolerate each other for the purposes of writing books? I am still working that one out but I am liking it.

This is a proper old-style mystery with a cast of excellent characters many of whom have their own secrets which creates multiple suspects and I for one must have said "I knew it was them all along" numerous times and was wrong! There is a lot of humour and tongue-in-cheek moments which make this a fun and enjoyable read with a very satisfying ending.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it was quite nice to read a murder/mystery without a plethora of violence for once and I am very much looking forward to more "adventures" from Hawthorne and Horowitz.

A thank you must go to Penguin Random House UK / Cornerstone via NetGalley for my copy in return for an unbiased and unedited review.