Once again Anthony Horowitz is a character in his own novel. In this instance, he is once again reunited with former police officer Hawthorne as he attempts to work out who the killer is by following the clues Hawthorne reveals. Hawthorne now seems to work as a private detective, called in occasionally by the police to assist on cases due to his powers of detection,. In this case, Anthony is being prodded by his agent to produce another "true crime" book featuring Hawthorne. She suggests they delve into a historic case instead of one happening in real time. That is how Anthony comes to be sorting through the clues and suspects as he tries to work out who was responsible for several crimes in the upper-class neighborhood in Richmond, outside London. The events happened 5 years before Anthony started putting them together for a book, so the case has been solved by the police, even though Hawthorne might have other ideas. The residents of Riverview Close have lived together harmoniously until the new neighbors the Kenworthys moved in. Within a short time, the new neighbors had managed to make enemies of everyone else who lived there. When a death occurs, there are no shortage of suspects. It's up to Hawthorne to sort through the lies and misdirections in order to figure out what really happened.

I liked the unusual premise of a well-known author being a character in his own novel. There were plenty of real mystery authors, novels, and "fair play" descriptions sprinkled throughout the story, which helped to make it seem as if the events really happened. But the final explanation was very convoluted and hard to swallow -- something that fair play authors wouldn't really agree with! Everyone has an agenda and is keeping secrets, even after everything is wrapped up, and various shady dealings from the past are alluded to but not really cleared up. I did enjoy the story, but there were a few too many twists and turns for me to be totally on board!

I've really enjoyed the previous Hawthorne and Horowitz books, but I listened to all of them on audio. This was my first in the series to actually read, and it happens to be the first one that shakes up the formula of the previous entries. In the past, writer Anthony Horowitz has shadowed former police officer and current...private detective?..Daniel Hawthorne on his cases, becoming involved to a sometimes dangerous degree. In the latest installment, their publishing company is demanding a new book by Christmas, but there haven't been any murders lately. To meet the deadline, Hawthorne gives Anthony the notes and recordings from a case he investigated five years ago. This changes some of the book to third person from first, and Anthony takes a less active role since the case has already been solved. However, he can't resist trying to dig into Hawthorne's past and to find out more about his former assistant, which isn't always a good idea. I wasn't sure I would jive with this different take, but I enjoyed it just as much and I did not guess whodunnit. I made the same mistake Anthony did! Looking forward to the next book in the series. Many thanks to Harper and NeGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

From the publisher: In New York Times bestselling author Anthony Horowitz’s ingenious fifth literary whodunnit in the Hawthorne and Horowitz series, Detective Hawthorne is once again called upon to solve an unsolvable case—a gruesome murder in an idyllic gated community in which suspects abound.

I love Anthony Horowitz. His writing and his mysteries just work for me, and every adult book he writes is a must read. (I confess, I don’t love his series for kids, Alex Rider.) I adored Magpie Murders, both the book and the miniseries, and I love the Hawthorne and Horowitz books. It’s fun seeing an author write himself into a series as somewhat of a clueless dolt. (When Horowitz asks Hawthorne to tell him the solution to an old murder case, Hawthorne replies, “You never know the solution, mate. That’s what makes your writing so special. You don’t have a clue.” Ha! (p. 65 of the ARC))

This book is pretty different from the previous Hawthorne and Horowitz books. In the previous books, the author has watched Hawthorne solve a mystery and then written a book about it. In this book, he writes about a murder that happened years before. So unfortunately the pair don’t spend much time together this time around. Still, I get it – the author needs to keep things fresh for himself and his audience.

I often don’t even try to solve murder mysteries, but Horowitz throws in so many details, and so much misdirection, and then makes the clues pay off, so I do try to pay attention. (No, I did not figure out what was going on in Close to Death, any more than the fictional Horowitz did.) I also enjoy how English these books are.

“I have never been a huge fan of so-called ‘locked-room’ mysteries,” complains the fictional Horowitz as the real-life Horowitz proceeds to write one. Ha! (p. 184 of the ARC) I had a bit of a hard time with this one in one respect, trying to figure out how he could actually turn this into a published book given what would need to be revealed, but that’s beside the point. I know they aren’t true crime, but clever fiction. And I know these books aren’t done because we still need to find out what happened in Reeth!

I read an advance reader copy of Close to Death from Netgalley. It is scheduled to be released on April 16 and will be available in multiple formats at the Galesburg Public Library. The library owns the whole series in multiple formats. If you want to read the first four books, start with The Word is Murder.

Another great installment in the Hawthorne & Horowitz series. Could kick myself for not figuring out the culprit earlier ... it was all there. This time round, we are treated to a past case solved by Hawthorne, a quasi "locked room" mystery. As Anthony was not involved in the case, I missed the ongoing interaction between to two Hs, although we do learn a small bit more about who Daniel's work circumstances. Close to Death is noted as the final in the five book contract for H&H. Does that mean it will truly be the last? Hope not.

The fifth book in the Hawthorne and Horowitz is the best so far. Less dwelling on the prickly relationship between author and detective, and more of an actual mystery (albeit one Hawthorne has already solved). Horowitz can't resist a little name-dropping, but it's clearly more restrained than in prior novels. The characters are well-drawn and motives abound. It's a fun read and one I recommend.

Anthony Horowitz is a master of complex plotting, and in Close to Death he is playing 3D chess with plot structure, which is ironic because one of the main characters in this fifth title in the Hawthorne & Horowitz series is a chess grandmaster.

Close to death departs on previous titles and takes up a murder that Hawthorne and former partner John Dudley solved years before. However, author Horowitz does not know the resolution of the case because Hawthorne only allows him access to selected parts of the investigation, and, as usual, criticizes the in-progress writing.

The case involves the murder of an inconsiderate and entitled financial wizard who ticks off his neighbors with his selfish and boorish behavior. This gives everyone in the small close more than ample motive for wanting to do away with the victim. Lots of twists and turns in this one, including a diverting riff on Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express.

As always, Horowitz is an absolute pleasure to read. The clues are there for the observant reader, but it is the ultimate piecing together of the clues from the kaleidoscope of possibilities that is Horowitz's trademark.

Full Disclosure--NetGalley and the publisher provided m

I just finished the newest installment of the Hawthorne and Horowitz mystery series by Anthony Horowitz. The author needs to fulfill his publishing contract for another book yet no dead bodies have popped up. So what to do? Write about a murder from a case Hawthorne worked before they meet. Horowitz is such an interesting writer, always trying new things which I find so refreshing and interesting. His telling the story in the first person makes me feel like I know him and I really like him! I highly recommend this book and the previous ones in the series.

The fifth in The Hawthorne and Horowitz series (for newbies, the two main characters are the fictional Detective Hawthorne and the author himself. It can get kind of twisted in a brain that holds too firmly to reality). In this episode, Horowitz — under pressure from his agent to produce a fifth book when there are no fresh murders for the duo to solve — decides to write up an old Hawthorne case. He is warned by many — including Hawthorne — not to do it but naturally he does it anyway!

The case: The peace of an idyllic upscale gated community (a close — cul-de-sac to Americans) is shattered when a loud, obnoxious, and inconsiderate family moves into the largest lot. It doesn’t take long for the neighbors to get irate and only a little bit longer for the main irritant to show up with a crossbow bolt through his neck on his doorstep. Enter the curmudgeonly Hawthorne at the grudging request of the local police.

As always, Horowitz draws you in from the first paragraph, introducing each character in a way to arouse your curiosity, and then continually shedding layers until you *think* you see the truth behind the character. At least in my case, I never quite do figure it out even though Horowitz does not cheat, and all the clues are actually there. And who are these characters? A chess grandmaster, a compassionate dentist with a chronically ill wife, an NHS doctor who wishes he were still in London, two older women who share a house and a business (a cozy mystery shop), and a black barrister whose wife has passed away. The plot twists deliciously and the book itself alternates between the mystery and Anthony’s trouble getting enough information out of a reluctant Hawthorne to build on. And then there is Dudley — Hawthorne’s old “Watson” of whom he speaks positively (certainly in comparison to his thoughts on Horowitz as a replacement!) and yet whom he no longer sees…

Excellent fun.

Loved this! Engaging and fun! A homage to past iconic detective tropes and stories, without seeming unoriginal and monotonous. And we finally get another sliver of insight into Horowitz!

Eagerly awaiting the next one, even though this one isn’t published yet!

Hawthorne and Horowitz are barely on speaking terms in this story, making for a reading experience unlike any that have come before it in the series. I liked the concept of Anthony having to reconstruct an old case of Hawthorne’s through case files, clippings, and transcripts. The tension between the two is as high as it’s ever been and it’s unclear how, or if, they will make it back to a working frenemyship. The nods to all of the golden age mysteries scattered throughout the story were fun little treats. Horowitz is teeing up some big reveals that will hopefully come to fruition in the next installment. I already can’t wait.

Prolific writer Anthony Horowitz has created a marvelous series of novels featuring himself as part of the story solving mysteries with private investigator Hawthorne. Book Five, Close to Death, is a little different from the first four because Horowitz is writing about a five year old case that Hawthorne solved with his old partner Dudley which still has residual effects on both men. In a small secluded group of homes all neighbors get along until a new family move in and disrupts everyone’s life with terrible effects.
Close to Death is a brilliant tour de force with its many nuanced and interesting characters, including of course Hawthorne and Horowitz, as well as a satisfying mystery that kept me guessing right to the end.

Great book; lots of red herrings and really a locked room murder that was very very hard to figure out. I didn’t like the first in the series as I had trouble figuring out who was narrating. The PBS series helped me a great dinner.

Horowitz is meta-writing again! In this story, the narrator Horowitz is charged with creating a novel based on a case that has already been solved - changing the style of the novel and providing quite a bit of narration without the famed pair. In Close to Death we enter the Riverside Close - a wealthy enclave of 6 homes. The community is tight and tranquil until the Kentworthy family moves in to the largest home. The Kentworthys are loud, expanding their house, refuse to move their cars and don't care to socialize with the rest. Clearly something needs to be done. When Mr. Kentworthy is murdered, Hawthorne is assigned to help the police with the case.

I prefer the duo narrating the whole time for the comic relief! This was a bit more serious for me, but still a great work of mystery and twistyness and enjoyable all the way #closetodeath #anthonyhorowitz #harper