A review by what_heather_loves
Close to Death by Anthony Horowitz

mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

"It would be another six weeks before death came to Riverview Close and everyone who attended the party would find their lives turned upside down. And throughout the police investigation, with its mutual suspicion and alternative truths, there was one thing on which they would all agree.
Giles Kenworthy really should have been there."

Book five of the Hawthorne & Horowitz (yes the author is a character in his own novel, of this series is new to you) detective series. It sees Horowitz investigating a cold case Hawthorne solved, of a murder in a wealthy close in Richmond, Surrey.

Starting with a controversial planning application felt a little too close to home for me (I am a Town Planner by profession), but this was only one of the issues with an inconsiderate neighbour in an exclusive closed community. Yorkshireman Hawthorne is his usual opaque self, giving little away, whilst Horowitz uses his newly discovered predecessor's notes to plot the novel, all without knowing the culprit. Numerous timelines, switching between the written plot and the author researching it, but the relatively small cast of characters and locked room / closed community element made this manageable to keep track of. I love a map at the beginning of crime fiction and it helped set the scene for the site's layout and neighbours' proximity. Unexpectedly, I found this less complex and with less misdirection (or perhaps I predicted them?) than other books in the series, although I didn't guess the culprit despite once knowing it feel obvious (like it often does with Christie's novels)! Thoroughly enjoyable, character-driven British crime fiction that gently pokes fun at itself, from this reliable and experienced author.
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