[Review] Anthony Horowitz: 'Moonflower Murders'

Like 'Magpie Murders', the story of 'Moonflower Murders' is a book-within-a-book. Thus, we read the story from two different perspectives. It seemed like an interesting idea in principle, but I wasn't convinced it really worked in 'Magpie Murders'.

Others, however, disagreed and wondered if Anthony Horowitz would be able to bottle lightning twice. As I wasn't struck by his lightning the first time around, I started with some trepidation in 'Moonflower Murders'.

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On page 14 we are told of the Trehernes, a family that owns a hotel in rural Surrey. One of their daughters, Cecily, briefly travels to London where she meets a handsome man. They fall in love, return to Surrey, and decide to marry. Obviously, the hotel is a perfect location for the ceremony. The night before the ceremony a stranger appears and books a room in the hotel. You guessed it correctly if you thought that the stranger was then brutally murdered in his room.

Please no, I thought. Don't let this be the most idiotic plot in the history of the writing of mysteries. Don't let me wade through two books, only to learn that [Redacted: spoiler] killed the guest. But then the newlywed wife disappears. Are both cases connected?

Other things bothered me too. The victim, Frank Parris, is a clear doublet of Alan Conway, the supposed author of 'Atticus Pünd Takes The Case' in 'Magpie Murders'. Both are unkind and selfish. Both were gay and even shared the same partner. And both managed to get themselves killed. It almost seems as if Anthony Horowitz has an unconscious urge to kill gay men in his books.

Again, Susan Ryeland, Alan Conway's former editor, gets involved. She is tasked to investigate the murder of Frank Parris and the disappearance of Cecily Treherne. Cecily told her parents that she read Alan Conway's 'Atticus Pünd Takes The Case' and found a new clue as to who the killer was. Reason enough for Anthony Horowitz to haul Susan Ryeland from Crete to investigate.

A conclusion? I wonder why almost all other reviews of 'Moonflower Murders' are ranging from the very positive to positively raving. It's a dull book, badly in need of an editor with a sharp pen (for it's much too long), and a truly disappointing plot.

'Moonflower Murders' is the last book written by Anthony Horowitz I will ever read. He let me down badly.

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