Friday, May 20, 2022

Finally Friday - Finish the Week with Murder (book review)


 A literary festival on the island of Alderney, UK proves fatal for a few. Ex-detective inspector Daniel Hawthorne, along with author Anthony Horowitz attend to promote a book on a murder solved by the brilliant inspector. 

A Line to Kill indicates that quite a few people on the island had motive to kill a local grandee and more connected to him. I cannot give away any more. This book was entertaining - a riddle  of a story full of brilliant misdirection, beautifully set-out clues, and  diabolically clever denouements. (cover blurb)

It was a good read, but I was able to put it down. I could tell that it was almost too enamored of its own cleverness, and I found it  a  bit annoying that the actual author had put himself in the book. As for the ex-detective, I wasn't  drawn into his character. I got the book from our local library, based on a previous read The Magpie Murders, that was quite entertaining. A Line  to Kill did not live up to my expectations. 

6 comments:

  1. Hi Joanne - he's an interesting author ... so sad to read this - perhaps it was too British ... still you finished it - happy weekend now - cheers Hilary

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    1. It was good writing. I just think I had higher expectations after Magpie Murders.

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  2. Hey Joanne! You won the I Love Books bracelet giveaway at Alex's. Would you shoot me a note in my contact form at my blog and I'll get your info and get it in the mail. Congrats!

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    1. Thanks much. I just sent you a note. Very cool!

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  3. "I could tell that it was almost too enamored of its own cleverness" - mmm, I've read a couple of books like that myself! I think you have to be very sure of yourself and your loyal readers to put yourself in the book like that.

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    1. Yes, I've encountered it before with an author I liked. It just seems too smug.

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