The Word Is Murder

With its unorthodox protagonist, clever plotting, brilliantly imperfect characters, and escalating sense of urgency and intrigue, The Word is Murder is an instant crime classic that will keep you reading as fast as you can… one of the best and most compulsively readable mysteries of the year. Hugely satisfying on every level.

Written by Sime

A very clever and inventive mystery

Bookbag

A perfect detective novel in a unique style complete with an excellent twist!

Life Has a Funny Way of Sneaking Up On You

Will undoubtedly exhilarate not only crime and Horowitz fans but anyone who enjoys the sense of metafiction and fourth wall breaking found in books by authors like Lemony Snicket, Bret Easton Ellis and Martin Amis.

Fiendfully Reading

Horowitz is a highly accomplished author and his writing is immediately engaging …The whole book is exceptionally well executed. The Word is Murder follows the conventions of the thriller genre but it also feels new and original. I found this book refreshing, incredibly readable and, actually, the word I want to use is delightful!

Bibliomaniac blog

Horowitz is a highly accomplished author and his writing is immediately engaging …The whole book is exceptionally well executed. The Word is Murder follows the conventions of the thriller genre but it also feels new and original. I found this book refreshing, incredibly readable and, actually, the word I want to use is delightful!

Bibliomaniac blog

An extremely entertaining read … I immensely enjoyed this book

Lavender Books Blog

An extremely entertaining read … I immensely enjoyed this book

Lavender Books Blog

The dramatic finale to the case has you on the edge of your seat and the ending has a delightfully entertaining twist

Cross Examining Crime blog

The dramatic finale to the case has you on the edge of your seat and the ending has a delightfully entertaining twist

Cross Examining Crime blog

Horowitz has put together a cleverly twisting mystery featuring plenty of suspicious characters and more than a few red herrings

Nudge

Horowitz has put together a cleverly twisting mystery featuring plenty of suspicious characters and more than a few red herrings

Nudge

The Word Is Murderis an intriguing labyrinth of whodunnits and a true page-turner throughout

Real Crime Magazine

The Word Is Murderis an intriguing labyrinth of whodunnits and a true page-turner throughout

Real Crime Magazine

A quirky, highly original first person narrative … The whole story is a real page turner, with a splendid mix of murder mystery, suspense and thriller with a large dose of more factual information concerning the author’s work as an author and scriptwriter

Splashes Into Books blog

A quirky, highly original first person narrative … The whole story is a real page turner, with a splendid mix of murder mystery, suspense and thriller with a large dose of more factual information concerning the author’s work as an author and scriptwriter

Splashes Into Books blog

This has to be one of the most unique books I’ve read, complete with plenty of angst, twists and turns to keep readers guessing to the very end. The story is an enthralling skilful blend of fact and fiction, mixed together by a highly talented wordsmith to create a superb murder mystery that I have no hesitation whatsoever in highly recommending

Splashes Into Books blog

This has to be one of the most unique books I’ve read, complete with plenty of angst, twists and turns to keep readers guessing to the very end. The story is an enthralling skilful blend of fact and fiction, mixed together by a highly talented wordsmith to create a superb murder mystery that I have no hesitation whatsoever in highly recommending

Splashes Into Books blog

The Word Is Murder is a captivating tale with an interesting mix of blood, murder and humour only Horowitz could pull off… As the book neared the end, I found myself literally gaping in shock as the killer was revealed. It was not only a great and suspenseful read but also a great mystery-murder novel which keeps you wanting to learn more and comes full circle

Twelve Pale Roses blog

The Word Is Murder is a captivating tale with an interesting mix of blood, murder and humour only Horowitz could pull off… As the book neared the end, I found myself literally gaping in shock as the killer was revealed. It was not only a great and suspenseful read but also a great mystery-murder novel which keeps you wanting to learn more and comes full circle

Twelve Pale Roses blog

Anthony Horowitz is a wonderfully tricksy, playful and mischievous writer. A very clever one, too … As should be obvious, highly, highly recommended

Lady Fancifull blog

Anthony Horowitz is a wonderfully tricksy, playful and mischievous writer. A very clever one, too … As should be obvious, highly, highly recommended

Lady Fancifull blog

A real page-turner. I loved it!

ALED JONES (ITV, Weekend)

A real page-turner. I loved it!

ALED JONES (ITV, Weekend)

The beguiling whodunit plot is dispatched with characteristic elan as Horowitz blurs the line between fact and fiction

Financial Times

The beguiling whodunit plot is dispatched with characteristic elan as Horowitz blurs the line between fact and fiction

Financial Times

Splendidly entertaining, absorbing and difficult to put down. Hawthorne is an intriguing character

Daily Express

Splendidly entertaining, absorbing and difficult to put down. Hawthorne is an intriguing character

Daily Express

Horowitz is undeniably brilliant at plot construction

Metro

Horowitz is undeniably brilliant at plot construction

Metro

What an interesting and curious story … A modern day Holmes and Watson, an intriguing story and a tale of observation

Lynn’s Books blog

What an interesting and curious story … A modern day Holmes and Watson, an intriguing story and a tale of observation

Lynn’s Books blog

This book is simply magnificent … Horowitz fans are going to love this book, as are all fans of classic detective novels.

The Most Sublime blog

This book is simply magnificent … Horowitz fans are going to love this book, as are all fans of classic detective novels.

The Most Sublime blog

I found this novel a sheer delight from start to finish

Harriet Devine blog

I found this novel a sheer delight from start to finish

Harriet Devine blog

The Word is Murderis a fresh, funny twist on the classic murder mystery

Roaring Bookworm blog

The Word is Murderis a fresh, funny twist on the classic murder mystery

Roaring Bookworm blog

Horowitz is strong on plot … and infectiously zestful

Daily Telegraph

Horowitz is strong on plot … and infectiously zestful

Daily Telegraph

Ingenious twist on the classic whodunnit

The Guardian

Ingenious twist on the classic whodunnit

The Guardian

Confident writing by an author with an established voice, at the top of his game. I was hooked, I stayed to the end, and it was a delight.

Crime Fiction Lover

Confident writing by an author with an established voice, at the top of his game. I was hooked, I stayed to the end, and it was a delight.

Crime Fiction Lover

Crazy, cool, and totally enthralling. It's like nothing you've read before- prepare to be amazed and read all night.

Booklovers 3

Crazy, cool, and totally enthralling. It's like nothing you've read before- prepare to be amazed and read all night.

Booklovers 3

There is plenty of metafictional fun to be had

The Guardian

There is plenty of metafictional fun to be had

The Guardian

The Word is Murder is an excellent detective story, with a very satisfying set of twists and turns which keep you guessing as to the true identity of the killer.

NZ Booklovers

The Word is Murder is an excellent detective story, with a very satisfying set of twists and turns which keep you guessing as to the true identity of the killer.

NZ Booklovers

An ‘old-fashioned-but-still-modern’ detective novel. Loved it!’

Nudge

An ‘old-fashioned-but-still-modern’ detective novel. Loved it!’

Nudge

Raises the game-playing to Olympic level.

Guardian Books of the Year

Raises the game-playing to Olympic level.

Guardian Books of the Year

Fast-paced and full of unpredictable twists and turns.

The Times Audiobook of the week

Fast-paced and full of unpredictable twists and turns.

The Times Audiobook of the week

keeps you guessing until the excellent solution

Country Life

keeps you guessing until the excellent solution

Country Life

Sharp-witted readers who think they've solved the puzzle early on can rest assured that they've opened only one of many dazzling Christmas packages Horowitz has left beautifully wrapped under the tree.

Kirkus Reviews

Sharp-witted readers who think they've solved the puzzle early on can rest assured that they've opened only one of many dazzling Christmas packages Horowitz has left beautifully wrapped under the tree.

Kirkus Reviews

Deduction and wit are well-balanced, and fans of Peter Lovesey and other modern channelers of the spirit of the golden age of detection will clamor for more.

Publishers Weekly

Deduction and wit are well-balanced, and fans of Peter Lovesey and other modern channelers of the spirit of the golden age of detection will clamor for more.

Publishers Weekly

Actually the word is not murder, it's ingenious ... A masterful meta-mystery.

Booklist

Actually the word is not murder, it's ingenious ... A masterful meta-mystery.

Booklist

Prepare for plenty of twists and turns

i paper

Prepare for plenty of twists and turns

i paper

A chilling tale

Woman's Own

A chilling tale

Woman's Own

fact and fiction mingle enjoyably

Sunday Express

fact and fiction mingle enjoyably

Sunday Express

A delicious whodunit, which promises pure diversion

TLS, Summer Books feature

A delicious whodunit, which promises pure diversion

TLS, Summer Books feature

A delicious whodunit, which promises pure diversion

TLS, Summer Books feature

A delicious whodunit, which promises pure diversion

TLS, Summer Books feature

This is a funny, crafty, well-worked out crime mystery, all rolled into one clever package. I loved it.

The People's Friend

This is a funny, crafty, well-worked out crime mystery, all rolled into one clever package. I loved it.

The People's Friend

Anthony Horowitz's The Word is Murder is terrifically funny. He inserts himself as a character into his own novel, dragged into solving crimes by a disgraced police detective. They're an unlikely duo and it's a hilarious read.

Shari Lapena

Anthony Horowitz's The Word is Murder is terrifically funny. He inserts himself as a character into his own novel, dragged into solving crimes by a disgraced police detective. They're an unlikely duo and it's a hilarious read.

Shari Lapena