The Sentence is Death audiobook

Our favorite author who writes himself into murder mysteries is back!In this installment, famous celebrity-divorce lawyer Richard Pryce is found murdered in his home, beaten and stabbed with a bottle of expensive wine. The killer leaves a clue: a three-digit number painted on the wall next to his dead body. The police is baffled, so they bring in private investigator Daniel Hawthorne, who then brings in his scribe, writer Anthony Horowitz.This whodunit is so much fun. There is a small number of interesting suspects, plenty of clues everywhere (but which ones are the important ones?), and lots of red herrings. It was delightful to go on the journey with the detective and the writer as they uncover secrets and sort through clues, trying to fit each piece into the puzzle.I've read a few mysteries by Horowitz now, and he hasn't disappointed yet. His style hearkens back to the Golden Age of mystery, where the murders can be solved by paying attention to the clues instead of cheap thrills or crazy characters.As is standard for this series, Horowitz writes himself into the book by being the scribe for the detective. I found it to be a little odd in the first book, and I'm still getting used to it in this one. Horowitz definitely isn't afraid to poke fun at himself, so his character verges on the annoying. He keeps jumping in with comments that give away crucial information. He becomes obsessed with solving the case before the detective does. He bungles around a lot. Honestly, I wouldn't mind if the character was toned down just a bit.Aside from that little nitpick, I'm really enjoying the series. This whodunit turned out to be super entertaining and engrossing, and I can't wait to read more.~~~~~~~~~~~~See also, my thoughts on:#1. The Word Is Murder#3. A Line To KillMagpie MurdersMoonflower Murders~~~~~~~~~~~~

Horowitz and Hawthorne are perfection together! I can't get enough of this series. I love how the author has put himself into the story as the narrator - the Watson to Hawthorne's Holmes or as I like to think of them, the Felix Unger to his Oscar Madison. Horowitz comes off as honest, sympathetic, earnest and willing to poke fun at himself. Hawthorne is decidedly uncharming, brash, politically incorrect and I kinda have a soft spot for him. There is definitely a back story there and I am here for it! I'm looking forward to peeling back all those grumpy, secretive layers. I see you Hawthorne and there is definitely more than meets the eye!In The Sentence is Death Hawthorne has once again been called in by the police to help investigate the murder of a high profile divorce attorney. He quickly recognizes this will be a perfect opportunity for Tony/Horowitz to write book #2. Although I did figure out the whodunnit early on I enjoyed the story immensely and how it tied so many people, places and things together. It definitely made me doubt myself a few times but in the end, I proved better at solving the crime than poor Tony - he never does seem to get it right. Thank goodness the police have Hawthorne! He may not be an active police officer but he sure keeps them from completely bumbling up all their high profile cases. Bring on case #3 Tony! Thank you to Anthony Horowitz, Harper Collins Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an arc of this book. I can't wait for book #3!

This is the second in what is (at this point) a trilogy where Anthony Horowitz writes about a private detective named Daniel Hawthorne solving cases. The difference is that Anthony Horowitz is also in the books, and I still haven’t figured out if the stories are real with himself written in, or if they are invented with him imagining himself as a hard-nosed detective’s sidekick.At one point in the book, Hawthorne lectures Anthony about the importance of visualizing the ‘shape’ of a crime – similar to imagining the ‘shape’ of a novel. All that is then required is to fit the pieces into their rightful spots in the shape, and that’s how you find your killer. Or write your book.The visual I got very strongly in this novel is pyramids: there are several triad groupings of people in this story, and all the pyramids connect together with the victim – a high-profile divorce lawyer who is known for being absolutely ruthless when it comes to discerning the truth and using it to win his cases.Behind the many floating pyramids, waiting for Hawthorne and Anthony to explore them for their little factoid treasures, there looms a larger, ghostly pyramid. Three young college friends who love caving so much that they pursue the hobby into their adult lives, too – until about 8 or 10 years ago.Read it – you will love it!

The Sentence is Death is the second book in the Private Detective Hawthorne series. If you have not read the first book of the series and have no idea what to expect (like me), this book will totally blow you away. The Sentence is Death is not a police procedural nor is it a thriller. It’s a good old murder mystery, much in the mold of Sherlock & Hercule Poirot, and that’s what makes it so special. The Sentence is Death deals with the murder of celebrity-divorce lawyer Richard Pryce who is bludgeoned to death with an expensive bottle of wine. Even more bizarre is the three-digit number painted on the wall beside the corpse. Now it’s up to Pvt Investigator Daniel Hawthorne and his compatriot (and the tale’s narrator) Anthony Horowitz to solve the mystery. The author has taken the unusual step of placing himself in the book- playing both the narrator and the Hawthorne’s companion – much like Watson or Hastings. The mystery is much like a Poirot mystery, set in modern times. With a lineup of suspects and each having the means and motivation to commit the crime, guessing the murderer is not easy. Like a kaleidoscope, the picture in front of you keeps changing, the moment you change your point of view. Like a skilled narrator, Horowitz (both the writer and the narrator in the book) keep guiding the readers through the maze of clues while Hawthorne keeps his theories mostly to himself. There are countless twists and turns, which keep the needle of suspicion moving from suspect to another. Just when you think you have figured out the killer, the entire story changes right before your eyes. So even as you want to to find out what happens next, a part of you never wants the story to end. There is plenty of amusing dialogue and humor to keep things light. The final reveal is logical but not too convincing to say the least. Coming to the characters, Horowitz comes off as a genuine and endearing character. He acts as a guide to the readers, reminding the readers of long-forgotten clues and even coming up with his own solution (read the book to know more about it). Hawthorne is, on the other hand, is reserved, rude, politically incorrect and not much of nice guy at all. But much like Sherlock, you start to admire his intelligence as the story goes on. As an investigation duo, Hawthorne and Horowitz really complement each other. Overall, The Sentence is Death is an engaging and entertaining murder mystery. With an excellent plot, some brilliant characters and many surprises, this book is a perfectly crafted mystery. 4.5/5 Many thanks to the publishers HarperCollins, the author Anthony Horowitz and Edelweiss for the ARC. v

Audio Edition/ Library loan Narrated by: Rory Kinnear Series:  A Hawthorne and Horowitz Mystery, Book 2 Length: 8 hrs and 36 mins This is #2 in the series. This one uses the same meta-fiction technique as his novel The Magpie Murders and the first in this series The Word is Murder. It is a unique narrative technique and it works with these novels.We have Hawthorne and Horowitz teaming again to solve the murder of Richard Pryce, an esteemed divorce attorney. Someone has whacked him in the head with a $2,000.00 bottle of wine. I'm not sure if he had a chance to sample it, but he lays dead.Hawthorne is sharp, but oh so annoying, he isn't a humble one! These two like to rib each other a bit.A good mystery-- much to unravel, a crying widow, red-herrings, scattered bread crumbs and lingering clues. The narrator was fantastic with his British accent, although he gets rather squeaky and high toned with DI Cara Granshaw's voice (She was a hoot).Recommend if you enjoy British mysteries, detectives, whodunnits with many suspects, Sherlock Holmes style and a tiny bit wacky!Looking forward to the third installment.

A successful divorce lawyer gets his head bashed in with a bottle of expensive wine, and Hawthorne & Horowitz are on the job to catch the killer.This was another good layered mystery with this duo. I kind of guessed the killer earlier than the reveal, but it was still very well done. The genius of the story is more in the details he weaves into the plot than in the mystery anyway. Like the disruption of the production of Horowitz's real-life creation Foyle's War, and the inclusion of Hawthorne's book club reading A Study in Scarlet and having Horwitz as the special guest speaker because he'd written The House of Silk. And we all know how weird book lovers can be when we get together...I absolutely loved the story arc for the snotty author who snubbed Anthony at every turn. I don't want to spoil it for those who haven't read the book, but those sort of people exist in real life no matter who you are, and I giggled at his version of poetic justice in this story. This is just such an overall filling series that I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves mysteries.

3.5 stars.Another clever and unforgettable murder mystery solved by this brilliant duo!Hawthorne, a former detective and Horowitz, an author working on a three book series about Hawthorne are together on another case. I absolutely loved the first book in this series and this was a great addition to the trilogy! I love the snark, sarcasm and comradery between the two main characters working to solve the mystery before the police do. The author brilliantly executes the concept of having himself star as a main character. I did find this book wasn’t consistently strong, like the first one in the series was. My attention wavered slightly between 50-75% where I wasn’t feeling as invested as usual with this authors writing. I did find myself confused between secondary characters and suspects a few times. Regardless of this, it was a solid, unique and entertaining read that I recommend!Thank you to the publisher for my review copy!

What a terrific whodunit! This series is a homage to the Golden Age of mystery writers, although with a modern bent, and I loved every minute of it. It’s very clever how the author inserts himself into the story as the narrator, adds in tidbits from his real life, and pokes a little fun at himself, which makes this a fun, unique read. Tony is an author hired to write a series of books about Daniel Hawthorne, a disgraced former police detective turned PI, and accompanies him as he works his cases. Hawthorne is short on charm, but is a brilliant observer of things most people miss, a Columbo-type character. He’s an enigma with an air of mystery surrounding him and is as determined to keep his private life a secret as much as Tony is determined to unearth those secrets.The mystery in this story follows the formula of a victim with a full cast of suspects, all of whom have secrets and powerful motives for murder. Tony plays Watson to Hawthorne’s Sherlock and bumbles along determined to outwit Hawthorne and solve the case himself. There’s plenty of amusing dialogue and wry observations to keep things light. This is pure fun and I can’t wait for book #3! This one can stand on its own but I highly recommend the first book, The Word Is Murder• Many thanks to Edelweiss for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review• This was a buddy read with Marialyce and a series we both wholeheartedly recommend. For our reviews on this book, and others, please visit https://yayareadslotsofbooks.wordpres...

This is the 2nd novel in the Daniel Hawthorne, Private Investigator series by Anthony Horowitz.I have not read the 1st book 'The Word is Murder' nor in fact any other books by this author but quickly realised once I started this novel that times were going to change. I was so impressed and enjoyed reading this book that I had already purchased a couple of the authors other books before finishing it.For me the book had a feel of an older style of detective novel, maybe an Agatha Christie or more likely Arthur Conan Doyle. Witty, well plotted and some excellent characters. I found the book a light read but intriguing and very enjoyable.The setting of the novel is a little bit unusual with the author being one of the main characters. In the novel Anthony Horowitz is invited to write about the retired detective Daniel Hawthorne who still helps the Police solve difficult cases. Anthony tags along Hawthorne in much the same way that Hastings followed Poirot or Watson, Holmes, aiding and abetting along the way. The plot in this novel surrounds a divorce lawyer who has been murdered using an expensive bottle of wine and Hawthorne is invited in to assist.This is an intriguing read that is a refreshing change from some of the darker novels I also enjoy.I would like to thank Net Galley and Random House for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

** spoiler alert ** The rehearsal was stressful. While attempting to shoot a scene of London Street circa 1947 for an episode of Foyle's War, there were weather issues and the police would not allow filming before 10 AM. Adding to film writer Anthony Horowitz's woes, Detective Inspector Daniel Hawthorne drove on set, music blasting. Hawthorne told Anthony that high profile divorce lawyer Richard Pryce had been murdered. "I though you would want to write about it." Having made a three-book-deal to write about Hawthorne's cases, Horowitz had no choice but to work with this ex-copper who "swore all the time...smoked and called me [him] Tony."Ex-detective Hawthorne was hired by the Metropolitan Police to assist with this difficult case much to the dismay of Detective Cara Grunshaw, a scowling, hostile, and unpleasant woman. She wanted all the accolades despite the input of others. Anthony Horowitz, the author, inserts himself into the investigation acting as a veritable Doc Watson to Hawthorne's Sherlock Holmes.The crime: Richard Pryce was found bludgeoned to death in his dwelling. He had been hit on the head with an expensive bottle of wine then stabbed repeatedly with the jagged edged neck of the bottle. Why did Pryce, a teetotaler, possess this wine? He had recently completed divorce proceedings favoring Adrian Lockwood, an expensively dressed, pony-tailed, property developer. Lockwood's ex-wife Akira Anno, a writer of literary fiction and poetry, was the prime suspect having verbally threatened Pryce in a restaurant and then poured a glass of wine over his head. Shortly thereafter, he was murdered. The murder weapon: a bottle of wine.The team of Hawthorne-Horowitz actively investigates the crime. Hawthorne is a strange duck. He expects Horowitz to be "seen and not heard" for why should a film writer "ask questions"? Hawthorne and Horowitz continually frustrate each other. "The Sentence is Death" by Anthony Horowitz is an excellent golden age type mystery. There are a multitude of suspects, numerous twists and turns and many surprise revelations. Secrets abound. What fun! This tome was unputdownable!Thank you HarperCollins Publishers and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "The Sentence is Death".

Anthony Horowitz never disappoints!Richard Pryce, a high profile divorce attorney, is murdered in his home, bludgeoned to death with a two thousand quid bottle of wine, which is strange in itself as the victim didn’t drink alcohol. Even stranger, written on the wall near the body are the numerals 182. What does the message mean? Hawthorne and Horowitz are called to investigate. As per usual I was hooked from the onset, and couldn’t put the book down. Interesting and engaging characters, a suspect who threatened the victim with a wine bottle in the weeks before his death, two seemingly accidental deaths, past secrets, corrupt detectives, and a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into shooting Foyles’s War made this a compelling, addictive read, and a wonderful addition to an amazing series. There was a brief moment of uncertainty when I wondered if the mystery was going to be too predictable, but I should’ve known better, because not only did the plot go in a completely different, unexpected direction, but there was also a surprising revelation unveiled at the last second.I’m not sure how similar the real Anthony Horowitz is to the one portrayed in the books, but I just adore the way he pokes fun at himself. There are some hilarious moments as Horowitz not only attempts to outwit and solve the mystery ahead of Hawthorne, but also tries to discover more about the man as a person. Hawthorne is his usual un-charming and unhelpful self, annoying Horowitz to no end right from his first appearance. Just like The Word is Murder I love the chosen title The Sentence is Death, and how it was woven into the plot. Horowitz continues to be one of my favourite current writers. He could write about paint drying and I’d lap it up. The king of the modern Agatha Christie style murder mystery.