Anthony Horowitz is a multi-talented, prolific and clever writer, with numerous television series to his credit, many seen on public television; even more book series, (Alex Rider and The Diamond Brothers, to name two); and has become part of the James Bond franchise, writing new 007 novels. However, he has done something rather smashing, by embedding himself, as Anthony Horowitz the writer, into this recent murder mystery.

A woman plans her own funeral, but is murdered shortly afterwards. The consulting ex-detective on the case, Detective Nathaniel Hawthorne, had previously worked with Anthony on a television show and pitches him the idea of a book dealing with the current, complex murder case. Of course, it will be a best selling book because Hawthorne is strapped for cash being no longer employed by the Metropolitan Police. He needs the money and he needs his honor restored. With this uneasy alliance, readers are thrust into a world of fiction with so much information thrown in, that many will start Googling facts about the author's life and achievements! Horowitz interweaves so much of his actual life that I had to keep reminding myself that this was a novel, not true crime. In the novel, Anthony Horowitz is dreadfully busy writing his own books and televsion scripts. and does not have time to be bothered with a real-life crime, but all of it is too tempting. Imagine--he could be a Watson to a modern-day Holmes. 

Have you ever read a book because you liked the author’s last one, and did not read the book jacket before embarking on the new novel? For those who love mysteries, look no further. Horowitz previously shined with Magpie Murders (2017), but for those who want a contemporary Holmes and Watson, this is the novel for you. This new mystery is an absolutely excellent intrigue, and readers get to meet the author as protagonist, Anthony Horowitz. This treat of a novel is a serious mystery, but with such hilarious asides from the author as a character that it made me laugh out loud. I could picture all the characters, settings and the author so clearly in my mind, that by the end, I felt that I learned so much about Horowitz's life, even if only portions of the tale were true.