The Twist Of A Knife by Anthony Horowitz

 

Tony Horowitz finally has the upper hand over the irritating private detective Daniel Hawthorne.  He has written the last book in their contract of three and tells Hawthorne he doesn't want to do any more.  Hawthorne is dismayed and tries to convince Horowitz they make a good partnership but Horowitz isn't convinced.  He never knows what Hawthorne will do next and the detective is maddeningly secretive.  Horowitz has other fish to fry, books in other series to write and a play that is about to open in London.

The play has done well in other towns but Horowitz is nervous about the big stage in London.  It is a departure from the kind of things he usually writes and he's not sure how it will go over.  It has a small cast and he likes them all.  Opening night comes and he goes with his wife, then to the cast party afterwards.  The most vitriolic theatre critic crashes the party and is rude to everyone.  Then she writes a scathing review that pans the play and puts the blame for the play squarely on Tony's shoulders.

That's unfortunate but the worst that can happen is the play closes and life will go on.  But it isn't the worst that can happen.  The critic, Harriet Throsby is found dead the next morning, stabbed in her home with a knife given to all the cast and staff of the play but this one is Tony's.  With a police sergeant in charge who intensely dislikes him, and other clues mounting up, Tony is arrested for the murder.  He now has to convince Daniel Hawthorne to help him after breaking their partnership.  Hawthorne seems ready to believe Tony might have done the murder which doesn't inspire confidence but he has nowhere else to turn.  Can the pair find the real killer?

This is the fourth book in the series and just as charming as the others.  The partnership between the two men is frustrating to Tony but effective to solve murders.  Hawthorne is determined to give no clues about his life, but bit by bit, Tony is discovering what makes this detective tick.  The mystery is satisfying with twists and turns galore and all is written in a breezy style.  This book is recommended for mystery readers.