The Twist of a Knife

Anthony Horowitz, a New York Times bestselling author of The Word is Murder, The Sentence is Death, and A Line to Kill, is the main suspect in a murder investigation in this clever fourth literary whodunit. Detective Hawthorne, his recently estranged partner in crime solving, is the only person who can prove Horowitz's innocence.

"I apologize, but the response is no." Anthony Horowitz, a reluctant writer, has had enough. After three novels, he informs ex-detective Daniel Hawthorne that they are breaking up and their contract is no longer valid. Actually, Anthony is thinking about other things.

His next production, a thriller named Mindgame, will soon be shown in London's West End's Vaudeville Theater. Unsurprisingly, Hawthorne turns down a ticket for the premiere. The reviewers are not fond of the play. Margaret Throsby, a reviewer for the Sunday Times, offers it an especially harsh critique, emphasizing the writing. The next day, Throsby is stabbed in the chest with an adornment dagger that turns out to be Anthony's, with all of his fingerprints.

Anthony is taken into custody by Detective Inspector Cara Grunshaw, an old foe. She still harbors resentment at Anthony for her inability to solve the case detailed in the second Hawthorne adventure, The Sentence is Death. She's now out to get even. Anthony is the main suspect in Throsby's murder after being thrown into jail and worried for his writing career as well as his own future. When another theater critic is discovered to have passed away under suspicious circumstances, the investigation intensifies. His desperation grows as he learns that there is only one guy who can save him. Will Hawthorne answer the phone, though?