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  • The Word Is Murder

  • Hawthorne, Book 1
  • By: Anthony Horowitz
  • Narrated by: Rory Kinnear
  • Length: 9 hrs and 2 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (578 ratings)

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The Word Is Murder

By: Anthony Horowitz
Narrated by: Rory Kinnear
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Publisher's Summary

She planned her own funeral. But did she arrange her murder?

Buried secrets, murder and a trail of bloody clues lie at the heart of Anthony Horowitz's new detective series. If you enjoyed BBC's Sherlock, you'll love The Word is Murder!

A wealthy woman strangled six hours after she's arranged her own funeral.

A very private detective uncovering secrets but hiding his own.

A reluctant author drawn into a story he can't control.

What do they have in common?

©2017 Anthony Horowitz (P)2017 Random House Audiobooks

Critic Reviews

"The beguiling whodunit plot is dispatched with characteristic elan as Horowitz blurs the line between fact and fiction." ( Financial Times)
"A very clever and inventive mystery." ( Bookbag)
"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)
"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)

What listeners say about The Word Is Murder

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Self Indulgent

The murder mystery part of this book was great but I wish Mr Horowitz would have inserted a fictional writer, not himself. He came across as pompous, snobbish and rude obviously he has quite a big ego. I was glad that I wasn’t the only member of my book club to feel the same way.
On a better not Rory Kinnear could read the phone book and I’d listen.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Intriguing storyline and excellent narration!

I’ve always loved Anthony Horowitz’s books and this did not disappoint! I loved how he had cleverly written himself in as a character and revealed the
mystery carefully throughout his interactions with the other characters.

Rory Kinnear’s narration was fantastic, giving each character a voice of their own. Definitely enhanced the great story.

Would highly recommend!

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

So clever. So, so clever. Well done Mr Horowitz.

This is a memorable book deconstructing and then reconstructing the art of writing a murder mystery. It is so cleverly done, that the red herrings and blatant clues become substituted for each other until you try to second guess yourself. I take my hat off to you Mr Horowitz. Your servant Sir.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Amy
  • 24-11-2018

Not what I expected

I tried this book because I really enjoyed magpie murders and house of silk but this one is quite different and not as enjoyable.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Clever and some great cameos

Unusual detective story .. well crafted .. good plot & characters .. although the grumpy detective was tiresome .. goal
Achieved I guess

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Liz
  • 24-10-2019

Great mystery! Narration confusing!

I loved the mystery, guessing the murderer correctly but not all the ins and outs. The most confusing part was the narrator (Rory Kinnear) changing the voice he used for Hawthorne part-way through. He goes from a part-Northern, part-Cockney accent (consistent with Horowitz's description) to a tougher and deeper accent. Why??? Other than that, I enjoyed Kinnear's performance.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Lee
  • 16-05-2021

Enjoyable and gripping

A good yarn! As a big Sherlock fan, this had a familiar feel about the characters and story development but with its own individual style.

Will read the second in the series. Worth a look in for sure.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Just bloody brilliantly

Such a great story and from a wonderfully unique point of view.
Totally had me
Hooked.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Good Story

Not as good as Magpie Murders but good story well written. It left me with an unfinished filling like the book was waiting for its sequel to follow.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Always a different slant on things ...

Loved this. This is 3rd book by Horowitz i've read. Clever, ingenious plot & characters

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