Close to Death

I have no idea why I started with the 5th book in the series, but I thoroughly enjoyed the atypical format and was heartily entertained. Solid plotting, an interesting twist, and it still retained all that “Midsomer Murders-esque” charm.

I think this is the best of the Hawthorne and Horowitz series. I like the third person on this one along with the interspersed Anthony letting us into his head.
I don't give very many 5 star reviews and usually if I really like a book it would be a four. This one surprised me so I gave the extra star.
Highly recommend if you have read the first four in the series as he writes about some of the past mysteries of Hawthorne himself but still has not answered.
I am sure this will not be the last of the series, at least I hope not.
Anthony Horowitz is turning out to be my favorite writer. Love the Magpie Murders, the Sherlock books and even the James Bond.
Can't wait to see where he takes us next

I think this is the best of the Hawthorne and Horowitz series. I like the third person on this one along with the interspersed Anthony letting us into his head.
I don't give very many 5 star reviews and usually if I really like a book it would be a four. This one surprised me so I gave the extra star.
Highly recommend if you have read the first four in the series as he writes about some of the past mysteries of Hawthorne himself but still has not answered.
I am sure this will not be the last of the series, at least I hope not.
Anthony Horowitz is turning out to be my favorite writer. Love the Magpie Murders, the Sherlock books and even the James Bond.
Can't wait to see where he takes us next

uhm ... so what do I do with my life now?!
Anthony said that he has 7 more books planned in this series. And I am grateful for that.

3.5 stars

While I did quite enjoy and appreciate the difference in format to keep the series from getting stale, I found myself missing more of the interplay between Hawthorne & Horowitz, especially after the last book, and thought the plot was just a bit too complicated to rate it any higher. Still quite enjoyable and I'm bummed I'll have to wait for further books.

Great start, then too drawn out.

Close to Death is book 5 in the Hawthorne and Horowitz series.
The format of the book is different from its predecessors, in that it's mostly written in the third person.
Tasked with having to write a new Hawthorne and Horowitz book, but with no case to write about, Anthony decides to write up a case from five years previously, one to which Hawthorne and his then sidekick, John Dudley, had been called in to assist on. How hard can it be, right? Well, nothing is ever straightforward for Anthony.
I liked the new format, and I really enjoyed Close to Death. It is a typical cosy mystery that thoroughly engaged me, and kept me guessing right to the end.
Excepting Hawthorne and Horowitz, and John Dudley, none of the characters were particularly likeable. I certainly wouldn't want to live next door to any of them.
Close to Death will be published in April 2024.
Thanks to Random House, Cornerstone and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this even more than some of the earlier mysteries in the series. While the extra layer of the secretive security company feels a bit of a stretch, the mystery itself hangs together nicely and I like the distance of the third person chapters.