REVIEWS

Eddie Booth

As this was the first time I had ever read anything by this author, I had no expectations going into it. I must say, this was a very good read, enjoyable and intriguing. Unusual in a male author writing a female lead, this was the first of many surprises. In classical ‘whodunnit’ style, there was a new potential suspect dropped into the frame regularly. I was somewhat irritated that a major clue to the actual culprit was kept from readers and not revealed until the ‘unmasking’, which I felt left me at a disadvantage. However, this is a well written book with several twists and sub-plots, and I would gladly recommend it to anyone looking for an entertaining read.

Richard Todman

I highly recommend this book. I would suggest it is particularly good for a holiday read. The chapters are short and you are given a resume at different stages throughout the book so you do not lose the thread. The description of each character is brilliant, and I have to admit I did not pick the murderer. Perhaps I would have done if I had read the Atticus Pund chapters of the book, but I cannot see the reason for including them. Please do not let my last comment put you off, this is an excellent book, a must read.

Margaret Price

I had not read any Anthony Horowitz before and was surprised to find myself engrossed from the very first page. The story begins in Crete where a retired English editor, Susan, and her Greek partner run a small hotel in a very quiet part of the island. A visiting English couple tell Susan about a murder that took place at their hotel on the very day that their daughter, Cecily, was married there. Now Cecily has disappeared after reading a crime novel that Susan had edited. What had she read and could it be the clue to both the murder and her disappearance? This novel forms part of the main novel – a novel within a novel – which in itself is a great read, and the way the author weaves the two together is so clever. I found myself going back to sections to see if I could work out how they were linked and why – I was totally involved. There is a list of characters for the ‘novel within’ and I found myself drawing up one for the main novel too. Horowitz delights in seeing if the reader can ‘match’ characters in the two books and solve anagrams as well! It’s gripping work to try and solve this extraordinarily intricate plot with murders galore in both novels, but it’s such a clever book: I’m off to read it again!

Derek Mepham

Moonflowers Murders by Anthony Horowitz was certainly a different book, in that it is 2 books in one. Starting with Moonflower Murders, then Atticus Pund Takes The Case and then back to Moonflower Murders. It is read as a whole book but I actually found Atticus Pund Takes The Case more compelling, with a Hercule Poirot/Agatha Christie conclusion. Whereas with Moonflower Murders after the first part, I tended to lose the rhythm of the book. The author was using both stories to compare what had happened and looking for the clue to solve Moonflower Murders, within Atticus Pund Takes The Case book. I found it a little confusing to switch back to Moonflower Murders storyline and getting to differentiate between the characters of both books. I did enjoy the book as a whole and would recommend it as a read and I didn’t guess the murderer nor the ending, so all in all quite an ingenious and cleverly written book.

Rosemary Pile

This is an exciting and complicated murder mystery and the author keeps us guessing right up to the end as to who the murderer is. By writing a story within a story Anthony Horowitz gives us an insight into the history and personality of each of the characters which makes for a fascinating and compelling read. After reading the book I learned that it is the sequel to “Magpie Murders” but there is no need to have read that book first in order to understand the main characters and the many twists and turns in the plot. I enjoyed this book enormously and shall now read earlier works from this author!

Keith Scrivener

If you love a good 'Whodunit' you will be captivated by Moonflower Murders. Anthony Horowitz has crafted a double delight - two books in one! A murder and a missing woman at a five-star countryside hotel in Suffolk is somehow linked to a fictional double murder set in a Devon hotel investigated by the enigmatic German criminologist Atticus Pund. The late author of the Atticus Pund detective novel seems to know something of the murderous goings on at Branlow Hall in Suffolk and is convinced the police have put the wrong man in jail. Retired book publisher Susan Ryeland is persuaded to investigate the murder in the book, to discover the link to the real-life murder at the hotel. This is an excellent puzzle, intricately composed, with a gripping story line that will command your attention page after page. All the clues are there - read on and solve the mystery if you can.

Diane Peter

When Susan is asked to look into a disappearance and a murder relating to a crime novel she previously edited she cannot say no. The reader is then taken on a journey of a book within a book and to try and solve the puzzle which connects the two books. I have to say I failed miserably in trying to solve the puzzles but I thoroughly enjoyed the read. This is the first time I’ve read an Anthony Horowitz novel and it certainly won’t be the last.

Gretta Borthwick-Ure

My 10 year old grandson is an avid reader of the Alex Rider books by Anthony Horowitz and I was looking forward to my introduction to this popular writer. It soon became apparent that although Moonflower Murders was a standalone mystery it would have been helpful to have read previous books in the series. A clever idea for a book, within a book, but sadly I found it very long, repetitive with a very convoluted narrative. Agatha Christie does denouement so much better.

James McFarlane

This is a book of three parts. The first sets the scene and introduces you to the characters, the second is written as a separate book which gives some background to the story, and the third solves the mystery. A retired editor, the main character, Susan, lives with her partner in a small hotel in Greece. She has some doubts about their relationship and they need money. So when a couple ask her to look into the disappearance of their daughter and they will pay, she takes the job and flies to the UK. Their daughter disappeared shortly after reading a book that Susan had edited some years ago. The characters in that book appear to have been based on some of those living in a very grand hotel belonging to the parents, which is where Susan begins her investigation. She is met with disapproval and hostility as she asks her questions. Because she feels that the book holds the answers to her queries, she reads it again. But what she doesn’t realise is that she may be putting her own life in danger and that there may be a murderer close by.

Roman Synczysz

A must read for those who love whodunnits, this absolutely delivers on all fronts, get your seat on board and read away. A terrific twisty murder and skulduggery beside the English sea, that will leave you guessing to the end.