Really enjoyed this murder mystery set in Alderney where a murder has never occurred before . I really enjoyed the author Anthony Horowitz being the main character! It threw me at first but I ended up loving it. Very unique spin and felt it gave the story a realistic tone.
The mystery itself was good. I didn’t figure it all out so that’s always a plus in my book!
I think if you love Sherlock, Agatha Christie or Midsommer murders you will love this

As others have said, I spent the first 1/4 of this book thoroughly confused about what was going on as the author is a main character in the book, which - without any context - just was really weird. I also didn’t realise that this was the 2nd or 3rd book in a series, which didn’t help.

Once I got into it and figured out what was going on I actually quite enjoyed it. Like others, I had guessed some of what was going on before the end but not the ins and outs fully.

So, a bit of a mixed bag all in all. It was a bit of a shame because I really like Anthony Horrowitz’s work and I love crime fiction so I should have enjoyed this more than I did!

This is my favourite genre of books so I fully expected to love it but I didn’t.

Although I obviously read the blurb about this book before I requested it from NetGalley, I had requested it sometime ago and didn’t re-read it before starting, so I was confused at the start of the book as I thought it was some sort of preface to how he came to write the book - I even googled Marc Bellamy to see if he is a famous chef that I just hadn’t come across. I then realised that the author features himself in his books as an author writing about a private detective Daniel Hawthorne and accompanying him on his cases in order to collect material for the book.
I also didn’t realise that this was the second book in this series - or I probably wouldn’t have chosen it without reading the first one.
The book is set mostly on the island of Alderney who are holding a book festival and Anthony Horowitz has been invited with Daniel Hawthorne to give a talk.
The dynamic between these two main characters is weird, I couldn’t decide if they even liked one another or not. Hawthorne is a strange man, not a particularly likeable character, in my opinion and the character of Anthony Horowitz although a totally different character, not much more likeable. The characters in the book are all a little stereotypically over-done - eccentric and mostly hiding secrets.
However, I have read other reviews and they have raved about this book and feel it deserves a television series. So I may be in the minority here!
The actual story of the first ever murder on Alderney happening while the book festival was taking place and the police from Guernsey actually encouraging and give carte blanche access to the murder scene and the investigation based on his reputation as a an ex police detective seemed somewhat far-fetched to me.
However, that aside, that part of the story I enjoyed. I just felt like it was like reading instead of watching a Miss Marple, Murder She Wrote, Poirot type TV programme where the one superb detective sees through what seem to be clues to the rest of us but are plain as day red herrings to Hawthorne, while he brilliantly spots the not so obvious truth!. Did I guess the ending? Partly although I didn’t guess the why’s and wherefores. Would I read the first book in the series or the next one? Probably not.

There has never been a murder on Alderney. Our author and narrator is due to attend a book festival with his subject, Private Investigator Daniel Hawthorne, in Alderney. You can see where this is going.

I will refer to the author as Horowitz, and the narrator as Anthony. As usual, Anthony bumbles behind Hawthorne, seeing everything the PI sees, without understanding the meaning behind what's going on. Anthony is us. We are experiencing the situation with our narrator (to the extent that I, like Anthony, had suspicions regarding a certain character).

As with the previous novels in this series, A Line to Kill is very fun, highly intriguing, and leaves me wanting more.

I've read a lot of Horowitz. From Horowitz Horror, to the Alex Rider series, Magpie Murders and the Hawthorne crime novels. I knew I would absolutely love A Line to Kill, and I did. Horowitz is one of the most readable authors on the planet. I could keep reading about Anthony and Hawthorne's investigations for years to come.

Many thanks to Anthony Horowitz, NetGalley, and Random House UK for this copy.

ANTHONY HOROWITZ – A LINE TO KILL

I read this novel in advance of publication through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This is a page turner of a Who Dun It, written in the author’s very readable style. He bustles you along with hooks at the end of each chapter, just enough sense of location to wish that you were there, and just enough intrigue of murder to wish you weren’t.

The clever pretence of this novel is that the main character is Anthony Horowitz himself, travelling to the smallest of the Channel Islands, Alderney, just three miles square, with a detective whose cases he has been writing about, to talk at a literary festival. The story beings slowly as though it’s a preface, Anthony visiting his publishers, and it is some moments before it clicks that this is the story, not his personal journal. It’s a clever deceit that works well, a sort of Watson to the detective’s Holmes with an Agatha Christie type ending, revealing the killer and their motives.

This is a deceptively skilfully written book, with twists and turns galore, and a reveal that I didn’t see coming, though the clues were all there. Thoroughly enjoyable.

Although I enjoyed The Word is Murder, I wasn't really into The Sentence is Death. I doubted that I'd read the 3rd book in this series but I was intrigued by the setting of Alderney, so I decided to give it a go anyway. It doesn't work as a standalone book, so you need to have read the previous ones.

The premise is that the author (a fictionalised Anthony Horowitz) and mysterious rogue detective Hawthorne are invited to a literature festival on Alderney in the Channel Islands. They find themselves caught up in a murder case and there are quite a lot of suspects. It's cleverly plotted, with some rather implausible details. The best elements are the setting, the pace, the twists and the blending of real life with fiction. The ending leaves the possibility for another sequel, which I may possibly read, just to find out the truth about Hawthorne. I'm not usually a fan of detective fiction but I make an exception for Horowitz. It's not one of his best, in my opinion, but there's nothing I really disliked about it. Just not my genre and perhaps the concept of him being a character in his own story is getting a little stale for me.

[Review will be on my blog on August 16th]

Well I am hoping this story will soon be on our screens as an Agatha Christine type ‘who dunnit!’ Tony and his detective friend Hawthorne travel to the island of Alderney to attend a Book Festival! The descriptions of the island certainly made me want to take a trip there to follow the trail left by Tony and Hawthorne.! There is a murder or two of course and we are left guessing right to the last minute as to who of the attendees did the deadly deeds! It was light, fun and full of entertainment! We were also left with a cliff hanger so of course I will now have to read the next story!

There has never been a murder on Alderney… Well, there has now!

In the third of his Hawthorne series, Anthony Horowitz once again places himself as a character in this novel. This time, the pair are attending a literary conference on the island of Alderney, along with an eclectic selection of other writers - a celebrity chef, a French performance poet, a medium and a children’s author.

Although this is a murder mystery, I’d place this book very much in the genre of ‘cozy Murder’ - no gore, swearing or vivid descriptions of violence. However, what ‘A Line to Kill’ lacks in grit, it makes up for in Horowitz’s cast of fully-formed characters, a plot full of twists and turns, and his tongue-in-cheek humour. Although this book is the third in a series, it is easily read as a stand-alone novel, and this is the page-turner that will get readers talking this summer.

His novels about Detective Hawthorne are pretty unique in featuring the author as a character. Personally, I really enjoyed reading descriptions of Horowitz’s meetings with his publicity team and agent, which offered a rare insight within the bounds of fiction. Thoroughly recommended, and I look forward to the next instalment!

This is the third Hawthorne and Horowitz mystery and will be published on 19th August. I read it thanks to NetGalley. The previous titles were The Word is Murder and The Sentence is Death. I read these in the wrong order, unfortunately. The unusual twist to these books is that Horowitz writes as himself, including real people, places and events, while Hawthorne, the mysterious private investigator who keeps turning up, is a fictional character. Some people see this as egocentric writing by Horowitz but I find it original and have now enjoyed all three books.

In A Line to Kill Horowitz is invited to a little-known literary festival on Alderney, sponsored by an online gambling company called Spinthewheel. He is miffed to find that both his publishers and the festival organisers seem more interested in Hawthorne. The festival is much like others, only smaller. While it’s going on, the island’s richest and most detested man is murdered rather horribly; the first murder ever on Alderney. As the local police are not used to serious crime, they ask Hawthorne to investigate before reinforcements arrive. Where to start? The island is full of people glad to see the victim dead. And then there’s a second murder …Just to complicate matters, Hawthorne’s nemesis, Derek Abbott, is on the island. Years before, he had been seriously injured while in custody, and accused Hawthorne of pushing him downstairs. Hawthorne always said it was an accident but he was forced out of his job. He’s such an enigmatic character that we may never know the truth of the matter.

The case seems nicely wrapped up and everyone has been allowed to leave the island when Hawthorne comes up with a bombshell, different solution. I think that’s the reason I found this book slightly less good than the other two in the series: too much of an Agatha Christie-style surprise.

When I first started this book, I was utterly confused by the perspective. I soon realised that it was in the authors’ perspective? This really threw me off. I also had no clue that this was the third book in the series until about half way through so my opinion might be slightly swayed. The cozy crime aspect drew me in but the clues and hints didn’t throw me off and I did manage to guess most of what was going on. I liked the island of Alderney and I think the setting was very well built and it was easy to picture.
Overall, I would have probably enjoyed this book more if I’d read the previous books in the series but I still think the ending was unsatisfying.
Thank you to Random House Cornerstone and NetGalley for letting me read this ARC in exchange for this review.

A very enjoyable read. Anthony Horowitz as himself with Daniel Hawthorne, ex detective and PI, about whom he is supposed to be writing a biography. They are off to a small literary festival on Alderney. I love the way Anthony writes about himself tongue in cheek, trying to out think the detective with whom he has a difficult relationship. And yet he is unable to see how he works out the answers; and there are plenty of answer to find as Hawthorne is asked to be a Consultant to the ineffective local police after the first murder. The book is peopled with wonderful characters, the second rate literary guests, the insular Islanders and the Island itself. It is all done with humour and a deft touch. It is also peppered with anecdotes within the main story and the writing is excellent as always. Hawthorne is as enigmatic as ever. Loved it! Good title too….
Thanks to Random House Cornerstone and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.

When Ex-Detective Inspector Daniel Hawthorne and his sidekick, author Anthony Horowitz, are invited to an exclusive literary festival on Alderney, an idyllic island off the south coast of England, they don’t expect to find themselves in the middle of murder investigation—or to be trapped with a cold-blooded killer in a remote place with a murky, haunted past.

What an absolutely brilliant book! I was so absorbed in the story and characters that I found myself wondering if Horowitz as actually as self deprecating as he appears only to pull myself up short and remind myself that he's actually writing the book! A fabulous whodunnit with loads of clues and leads (all of which I got completely wrong). I fell for every red herring, found myself following the author's misdirection and had absolutely no idea who the murderer would turn out to be - and the book was all the better for it!

This is my first Hawthorne and Horowitz mystery which I received from Netgalley in return for an honest review. However I'm now about to read the first two in the series. What a treat is in store for me!

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book

I’ve read all of this author’s books and loved them but I guessed too much of what was going on in this one. Still an enjoyable read and still looking forward to meeting Hawthorne again in the next one!

Enjoyed this cosy murder mystery.

I'm. struggling between a 3 and 4 star rating...

There were a few things I'm the plot that seemed a little unrealistic for me - the behaviour of the police overall, the deductions made from the text messages, the use of the internet to look some things up but not others. The murderer's motive felt a little flat and also part of the murder was speculated but never completely explained which I found slightly unsatisfying but was necessary for the ending.

However, I liked the writing in this book, the descriptions gave me a real sense of Alderney, the different characters and their relationships.

Overall I enjoyed this and am interested in reading more from this author and this series.

If you like cozy crime, you'll enjoy this one, set at a literary festival in Alderney. Lots of suspicious goings on to be investigated! Not my favourite by this author, but enjoyable.

I’m looking at the peaceful island of Alderney in a whole new light! Following on from the first two books this story quickly gathers place at a literary festival with murders placed throughout. To y and Hawthorne are the quirky couple as before, with Hawthorne knowing everything, giving nothing away and just letting Tony scrabble along behind him. Anthony Horowitz writes his own character as frustrated, annoyed, a little bit envious, but always slightly in awe of his counterpoint. As a teaser, the stepping stones to the next book are there. Completely enjoyable read.

A Line to Kill
I did not realise this was a part of a series, and I'd come late to the party at No.3..
However I did enjoy this one but did feel like I'd missed out a little by not reading the previous ones.
It is set in Alderney a tiny island in the channel isles. Anthony Horowitz ( ! ) is attending a literary festival with his sidekick PI Hawthorne to promote their new book . The sponsor of the festival has been found murdered and they set about to help solve the murder.
I enjoyed it enough to seek out the other two and look forward to reading his next one.

Never read a novel before where the author is also one of the main characters in the book. A novel that keeps you guessing who knows what and who killed who.
Interesting characters and very enjoyable read but you must be patient if you want to know who did it.

Hawthorne the private investigator, and Horowitz the author of Hawthorne's previous murder solves, are invited to a literary festival on the small island of Alderney amongst a small group of authors. During the end of a party, the wealthy sponsor of the literary festival is found murdered, tied to a chair, with a paperknife jutted into his neck. This is the first ever murder on Alderney - yet everyone is a suspect. Are the residents as civilised as they seem? And will Hawthorne deduce every secret lurking beneath the amenable surfaces of the suspects?

Firstly, I'd like to kickstart this by saying I'm an avid Sherlock Holmes fan. The first classic book I ever purchased was Sherlock Holmes, I read the entire Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's original collection of Sherlock stories and watched many-many-many Holmes dedicated programmes/films (Enola Holmes is my favourite spin-off, whilst the classic Cumberbatch is my favourite screen adaptation). I really really love the narrative of insanely intelligent individual deduces murder mysteries with less intelligent though likeable sidekick bumbling behind. A Line To Kill should be right up my street... right?

I hate to say that I was bitterly disappointed by such a decorated storyteller as Horowitz but I'm afraid that is the truth. However, I do not wish to put others off this book, merely share my experience so others can accurately determine whether or not this book is for them.

My foremost complaint is that I hated the dynamic between Horowitz and Hawthorne. It made me quite frustrated that the dialogue between the two was extremely closed off, I could not glimpse at the sort of characters either of them were, I could not describe their personalities to you right now, all I could gather was that they did not particularly like each other. It struck me that Horowitz as a character had a fragile ego, wrote much about his own musings about the killer, and spent much of his time trying to work out why Hawthorne did this, and why Hawthorne did that. Hawthorne himself was simply confusing, he spoke about authors with disdain, yet had sought out publication of his own adventures? His deductions were clumsy and unclear. At one point he decides a text is male as the texter did not use as many abbreviations as the female recipient. For me personally, it wasn't a satisfying dynamic.

My second complaint is that the prose seems to be dated, yet this is a new book. There were a few misogynistic implications, especially concerning the open marriage between the murdered victim, and his wife. I also noted a fat-phobic observation.

Admittedly, I did think it was masterful the way Horowitz wrote himself into fiction. Not only that, but he wrote in a way that made me feel every single person on that island (residents and non-residents) were keeping a secret. I especially enjoyed the scene of the seance with Lovell, and it was impossible to count the number of red herrings strewn across the pages.

Perhaps my scrutiny is harsh. There are plenty of other reviews that are much nicer than mine. And I hope others enjoy the book more than I did. If I said it wasn't my cup of tea, then I would be lying, as aforementioned it is exactly my cup of tea, just... not a very tasty one.

This book is the third in a series where the author features himself as a protagonist, alongside a somewhat disagreeable, yet likeable private investigator Hawthorne.

The story is set in Alderney, where there has never been a murder, so naturally there is two. Hawthorne aims to find the murderer before the incompetent police who have been tasked with doing so, whilst AH is following Hawthorne around trying not to give too much away to suspects.

It is a good premise where the author doesn't take himself too seriously and turns himself into a three dimensional character complete with flaws just like every other character.