October 2019 Group Read - The Word Is Murder by Anthony Horowitz

[Erunyauve]

This was almost a selection for my real-life book club. I downloaded a sample and wasn't immediately taken with it, but I know Horowitz is a skilled writer, so I'm going to give it another try.

[Erunyauve]

Started last night. I was a bit thrown by the juxtaposition of real life in the novel, and I think that's why I didn't read it before. (Horowitz mentions his authorship of a Sherlock Holmes mystery, which I've got somewhere in my 'want to reads'.) It's obvious that he's found his real-life (but actually fictional) Holmes in Hawthorne.

[Chris]

Just started this one.
First thought.
An interesting variant on the first person narrative, the author as Watson complete with biographical detail to make it seem more real. Plus a Sherlockian detective deducing the existance of a puppy from a faint paw print and a chewed shoelace.
This looks like it will be fun!
I guess my reaction to the opening chapters makes me different from others, having (accidentally) seen some comments on the book's review page.

[Pat]

About halfway through, I'm a bit distracted by a real person as author and character, too, Erunyauve. I'm trying to pretend that Horowitz is any first-person narrative character.

Hawthorne is a colorful character, even if not full-color. Can't say I find him likeable so far; I wonder if we're meant to dislike him.

[Erunyauve]

Hawthorne is certainly unlikeable, but I'm enjoying the book, even if it's a bit odd to have the author's real life interspersed with the fiction.

I'm suspecting that the son was actually driving in that accident. And I'm worried about poor Mr Tibbs.

[Pat]

I suspect the son was driving during the accident as well, and even Horowitz has shared that thought.

[Pat]

David, you're probably right about Horowitz limiting information revealed about Hawthorne so revelations could be sprinkled through future books. The second Hawthorne book has already been released; the title starts out "The Sentence...."

I thought as you did that it made more sense for Hawthorne to be more open about himself, if he expected Horowitz to write a book about him. No one is career-only; if he appears to be, a story explains that.

What do any of you think about authors leaving red herrings ambiguous, like whether or not the son was driving? Should authors tie up all loose ends before a mystery's conclusion?

I'm more satisfied when they do so.

[Beth]

I agree with Pat. I prefer all loose ends to be neatly tied up

[Erunyauve]

I'm not even sure that the notion that the son might have been driving was even a red herring - I think it's just a bit a natural speculation. And that she stopped driving probably does put that one to rest.

Loose ends do bother me. I'm less concerned when the characters are aware of them - say, the detective will realise that they're never going to know something about a case - the only person who could explain is dead, or unwilling to give up that secret. (The body of the missing actress is a good example - they will never be able to ascertain that she's dead or find her remains because the killer is the only one who knows that.)

Many loose ends are due to poor editing or plot holes, however, and shouldn't happen in a well-written book.