"An effortless blend of humor and fair play...the often prickly relationship between the Watson-like Horowitz and the Holmes-like Hawthorne complements the intricate detective work worthy of a classic golden age whodunit." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Horowitz is a master of misdirection, and his brilliant self-portrayal, wittily self-deprecating, carries the reader through a jolly satire on the publishing world." — Booklist
"The most conventional of Horowitz’s mysteries to date still reads like a golden-age whodunit on steroids." — Kirkus Reviews
“Fiendishly entertaining . . . . As a mystery, this book is immensely satisfying. But as a meta-story — an extravagant, knowing satire of authors, agents, publishers and literary hangers-on; a knowing sendup of the author himself; and a homage to the Golden Age of mystery — it is pure delight.” — New York Times Book Review
“Horowitz pokes fun at the literary community in this witty whodunit, set at a literary festival whose attendees include one Anthony Horowitz. When a festivalgoer is fatally stabbed in the neck with a letter opener, the sleuthing — and delightful banter — begin.” — Maureen Corrigan, The Washington Post
“Anthony Horowitz’s “A Line to Kill” is prime Horowitz — that is, a mystery wrapped in a riddle.” — Boston Globe
". . . Worthy of Agatha Christie. . .There’s enough intrigue left regarding the mysterious Hawthorne to keep readers tantalized until the inevitable next entry in this addictive series." — Wall Street Journal
"Horowitz is a master of misdirection, and his brilliant self-portrayal, wittily self-deprecating, carries the reader through a jolly satire on the publishing world."
"Horowitz is a master of misdirection, and his brilliant self-portrayal, wittily self-deprecating, carries the reader through a jolly satire on the publishing world."
Deep-voiced narrator Rory Kinnear hits the performance sweet spot for this mystery, which doesn’t take itself all that seriously. Former Scotland Yard Detective Inspector Daniel Hawthorne and his sidekick scribe, Anthony Horowitz, are invited to a literary festival on the quiet English Channel island of Alderney, where murder ensues. Kinnear perfectly captures Horowitz’s envy-tinged annoyance at Hawthorne’s celebrity, ability, and reluctance to expound on his methods. There are plenty of well-played suspects (a chef, a children’s author, and a blind “seer” among them), well-placed red herrings, and well-played bits of humor. There is also a controversial power line. This is the third audiobook in the Hawthorne/Horowitz series, but this one works as a stand-alone as well. An entertaining listen. G.S. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
NOVEMBER 2021 - AudioFile
