The Twist of a Knife

Anthony Horowitz is the well-known author of Foyle's War, the Alex Rider teen spy series, books featuring Sherlock Holmes and James Bond plus numerous mystery novels but in this series he puts himself firmly in the spotlight. It's a curious mixture of fact and fiction where the real Anthony Horowitz and his enigmatic, fictional, ex-detective colleague Daniel Hawthorne join forces to solve complicated murders and write books about them.

Horowitz even carries this conceit to its logical conclusion by writing his acknowledgements in the voice of the (not quite so successful) Anthony Horowitz of the book. This device might not appeal to every reader – I don't mind it, although I find it strange that the wholly fictional character of Hawthorne is more real to me than the book version of the author. Daniel Hawthorne is a great detective invention and I have a very clear picture of who I would like to see playing him in any TV adaptation! But you must make your own mind up as to whether this works for you or not.

In this story, Anthony Horowitz has decided to terminate his partnership with Daniel Hawthorne. He is too busy attending the final rehearsals for his new play Mindgame, which is due to open at London's Vaudeville theatre. The theatrical setting, both front of house and backstage, is well researched and vividly evoked. This is an appealing and traditional whodunit scenario with a juicy cast of actors and suspects: the ageing but vain leading actor; the young upstart; the beautiful but troubled female interest. Throw in a seedy impresario with his loyal, cardigan-wearing assistant; a shifty stage manager and a flamboyant but bitter director and the stage is set for a cracking drama.

Mindgame has had a decent run in the provinces and the opening night goes smoothly. But at the after-show party the notorious and poisonous Sunday Times critic, Harriet Throsby, turns up. After delivering some well-placed barbs she goes home to write the most savage review imaginable.  Next morning, she is found with a dagger through her heart.

Lots of fingers point towards Anthony himself as the writer of the play, and he is duly arrested and spends a very grim night behind bars. The only person who can help him is Daniel Hawthorne. Despite Anthony’s original wish to go it alone it seems that he and Hawthorne are now all set for another adventure. The evidence piles up against Anthony, so he and Hawthorne have a small amount of time to find the real culprit from a limited number of suspects. But the ex-cop is clever and resourceful and not afraid of a little light law-breaking himself. And it's quite endearing the way in which Anthony Horowitz portrays himself as the clueless and bungling amateur.

Along the way to the final unmasking Anthony manages to find out a little more about the enigmatic Hawthorne, a man with apparently no past and with few of the trappings of modern life. After a little horse-trading right at the end of the book it seems that we can look forward to more instalments from this most interesting and intriguing partnership.