A variation on a locked room mystery which I found funny and satisfying. ( )

Another series that I love! This is book five and there isn't a current murder case to work on so Horowitz starts looking into an old case that no one wants him to wants him to write about. ( )

Anthony Horowitz must be one of our most prolific current authors, seemingly able to write novels, plays and television scripts in huge numbers, without ever compromising quality. This latest book is another in the highly entertaining series featuring jaded former policeman Daniel Hawthorne and the author himself, as the former’s (frequently reluctant) sidekick.

This time around, Horowitz tweaks the format slightly, and revisits an old case that Hawthorne had investigated several years ago, on that occasion assisted by a different sidekick. The plot centres on a gated community of properties in Richmond, in southwest London. One of the residents, with whom all the other residents had had occasion to row shortly beforehand, is murdered, shot through the neck by a crossbow bolt. While all the neighbours are initially considered to be suspects, one come to the fore as the owner of the crossbow that had been used. This suspicion seems to have been vindicated when he apparently commits suicide. The case is closed.

Several years later, Horowitz is persuaded to look at the case more closely, and explores it further, although this time it is Hawthorne who is reluctant to delve more deeply.

This is another well crafted and enjoyable novel, full of twists, and I didn’t spot the killer. ( )

The format seems to be coming under strain, and perhaps Horowitz is trying to move away from the Holmes and reluctant, resentful, Watson set-up of the earlier books. The introduction of an organisation behind Hawthorne alters the dynamic as well, diminishing his status and the power of his character. There are still mysteries to be solved about his background, but I no longer care. I did like the way the fiction of Hawthorne carries over into the Acknowledgements section.

For me the biggest mystery is the map. Richmond is east of Petersham, not west. The Fox & Duck is a real pub on Petersham Road, so perhaps the arrow pointing west to Richmond is just to emphasise Riverview Close is not a real place and stop people from going out trying to find it. Or maybe it's some sort of in joke.

Horowitz continues to play with with genre in fun and interesting ways. A well-plotted mystery with loads of characters (and a map!) but intrepid whodunit readers still have a shot at figuring it out. The rest of us are just happy to read along and enjoy the show. ( )