Play Book Tag discussion

Dear PBT readers far and wide,

Has anyone read Anthony Horowitz's mysteries? He has a new one out now, Moonflower Murders, which is a sequel to 2016's Magpie Murders.

My beloved local indie bookseller is partnering with the Milwaukee Public Library to bring this acclaimed author to us "virtually" ... This coming Friday, Nov 13, at 2:00 pm Central Time Zone.
Announcement is on the website - scroll down.
This is a fundraiser for the library, so there is a fee to sign in - $45 - but that includes a copy of the book.

What the announcement does NOT say, is that I have been asked to be the person interviewing Mr Horowitz. I was very upfront with them in saying I have NOT read a single book by him! Daniel (bookstore owner) and Judy (English professor emeritus at a local university, a member of the board of the library and the committee putting this together) say that's not a problem because they know I read widely and can easily come up with some scintillating conversational gambits!

The bookstore gave me a copy of the new book (600+ pages) ... which I started yesterday and will probably NOT finish before the interview.

H*E*L*P ...

Anyone who has read any of his works .... or for that matter who has read lots of mysteries ....

What kinds of questions would you have a burning desire to get answers to?

I am not usually nervous about stuff like this, (I'm doing another author event with Boswell in December) but this was so last minute (they literally contacted me this past Friday, just one week before the event), and I've never interviewed an author whose works I've never read.

Thanks in advance.

I have read a couple of his books and loved him... Magpie Murders and The Word Is Murder. Read my reviews and I will see what I can come up with as questions...and I am a huge

He plays with classic mystery tropes, breaking the 4th wall, what is real and what is not, and in some ways the literalness of language and use. He plays with perspective, coming from a world of series script writing.

I am curious if he does any word puzzles regularly like crosswords. What are his favorite mysteries...who inspires him - is it books ot tv series.

Will give more thought. Btw questions on writing process always good especially with mysteries...does he have all the clues and events lined up from the beginning? Does some character ever take over and change who is killed or who/how dunnit? What research does he do.

I've read three of his books, Magpie Murders, The Word Is Murder, and The Sentence is Death. Absolutely loved all of them! (4 stars each.) You can check out my reviews.

I have not read his Sherlock books yet, nor Moonflower Murders.

Magpie Murders was a mystery within a mystery, it was a fascinating concept and well executed. Not sure if anyone has done anything similar, I would be interested to know how he came up with the concept. Wikipedia has a short article about it, and it doesn't even have spoilers, though it doesn't have much information on the plot and no analysis.

In The Word is Murder and The Sentence is Death, he himself is featured as the sidekick of his fictional detective, which is another intriguing gimmick that he again executed very well. So it would also be interesting to know how he thought that up. Also, will there be a third book in this series, since he as his character was in the book contracted to novelize three of the detective Hawthorne's cases.

I'm terrible at coming up with questions to ask authors...

He is also famous for Alex Rider YA series...https://scroll.in/article/868723/i-wr...

Has done a lot in childrens and YA including games and programs to encourage children to write.

I haven't read any of his books, but have a couple ideas anyway.
I hosted an online interview with a local author for school kids earlier in the year. Involving the kids in the chat worked well to bridge some of the distance of online communication, and had them come up with really good questions to ask.
So, what I'm saying is, depending on what's possible in the technical setup is this: Involve the audience, and have them ask questions. Some of this can even be beforehand, fx the book store and library can ask people for what they want to ask him (they may even make a small competition: who asks the best question gets a book).

Is Horowitz at home? If he is, one of the good things about online stuff is to get to see his writing dungeon. Will he be willing to share that? Does he have any rituals when writing? Has he got a wall of post-its to keep track of his storý? Maybe ask to see his shelf of his own favourite writers. Does he have any items that are inspiration for his books? - that kind of thing, which is unique to being in his space is really cool.

I've read several of his books. Or, rather, I've listened to them. Maybe you could get a sense of his writing by listening to a few samples.

So, I would ask him; With regards to The House of Silk and Moriarty, how did he adapt his own style with Conan Doyles' in writing books using the Holmesian characters?


He has a successful children's series, 3(?) books using the Sherlock Holmes universe, several adult murder mysteries ( where in a few he features himself as a character) and he also writes for small and large screen. How does he do it? How does he move between genres and styles?

Does he have ideas for featuring COVID restrictions in a contemporary plot?

This is exciting BC. I can't wait to hear how it goes.

By the way ... if anyone is interested in signing in ... info on the bookshop's webpage. Cost is $45 and it includes a copy of the hardcover book. Extra $4 for shipping if you are not able to come in person to pick it up curbside. $20 of this goes directly to the Library fund, so that portion is tax deductible as a charitable contribution.

No pressure. Totally understand if you are not able to do this.


And thank you all for the suggestions so far. Keep them coming!

Johanne wrote: "I haven't read any of his books, but have a couple ideas anyway.
I hosted an online interview with a local author for school kids earlier in the year. Involving the kids in the chat worked well to ..."

Yes, the link will allow "audience" to post their questions for Horowitz. I'm not sure if the audience members will have their faces on the screen ... might depend on how many there are. I've "attended" such virtual events where only the two leaders are visible and I've attended where everyone signed in is on the screen. Certainly everyone except myself and Mr Horowitz will be muted.

Book Concierge wrote: "Johanne wrote: "I haven't read any of his books, but have a couple ideas anyway.
I hosted an online interview with a local author for school kids earlier in the year. Involving the kids in the chat..."

When we did the thing with the schools the kids were not visible but could post questions in the chat. It worked well, under the circumstances.

What fun BC! Can't wait to hear about it

I have participated where chat questions have worked very well.

annapi wrote: "I've read three of his books, Magpie Murders, The Word Is Murder, and The Sentence is Death. Absolutely loved all of them! (4 stars each.) You can ch..."

I listened to those 3 plus House of Silk. He is a prolific writer, having written many seasons of mysteries that are shown here on PBS (I think originally for BBC), plus his kids' series. I love that he makes himself a character in The Word is Murder and The Sentence is Death and brings another character into the filming of one of his TV shows. But some people really disliked that. I'm curious to know how he thought of putting himself (a version of himself) into his books.

In those 2 books, the professional detective is presented as highly unlikeable and very mysterious, little information on his life. How did the author decide to create such a character to interact with his own alter ego character?

Magpie Murders contains an entire Agatha-Christie like mansion whodunnit within a modern mystery involving the editor of that book. Maybe somebody above already suggested this, but I'd like to know who are his favorite mystery writers.

I might try to get on for the session. Thanks for letting us know and break a leg!

Y'all are the best! Thank you. I've gotten questions from some of the librarians at my local library as well. And I've read about 1/2 of his newest work Moonflower Murders, which prompted several questions.

I'll spend the rest of tonight and tomorrow morning finalizing my introductory remarks, and organizing the questions I have so far into "categories"

Thank you, again!

I'll see you there. I signed up and received the book today (though I won't be reading it before the program!)

Great job, Tessa! It seemed Horowitz enjoyed the questions and his responses were delightful. I was honored to have my question asked. You were a pro and also you looked fabulous!

Happy to hear it went well!

Is there any recording of the interview?

So glad it went well Tessa! I am sure you were a star (was there a red carpet?😄)

So wish work had allowed me to join! Glad it went well,!

annapi wrote: "Is there any recording of the interview?"

I don't think so, Anna, because it was a ticketed event. But I'll ask Daniel (owner of the bookshop who coordinated and hosted), if there will be any such option. There might be a fee to view it.


I DID ask everyone's questions and prefaced each with "My friend on Goodreads, NAME, mentioned ....."

annapi wrote: "Also, will there be a third book in this series, since he as his character was in the book contracted to novelize three of the detective Hawthorne's cases...."

He mentioned that he just finished book # 3 in the Hawthorne series. No title yet ... he wanted "Deadly Palindromes" but his editor (or publisher) "didn't know what a palindrome was so rejected that title." He also mentioned a story arc that will cover 10 books .... (Robin P ... do I remember that correctly?)

Theresa wrote: "I am curious if he does any word puzzles regularly like crosswords. I..."

YES ... he told a story of learning to do the crosswords while riding the train with his father. Said he loves all kinds of word play puzzles and games ... Anagrams are apparently featured in Moonflower Murders

Jgrace wrote: "So, I would ask him; With regards to The House of Silk and Moriarty, how did he adapt his own style with Conan Doyles' in writing books using the Holmesian characters?..."


First, he said that he read the entire canon cover-to-cover to really immerse himself in the author and the characters. He focused on the friendship between Holmes and Watson as one tool. Also, he had a notebook in which he kept notes on style or "tricks" the original author used. For example w/ Ian Flemming he noticed that he frequently has an inanimate object "state" something. On the order of "the book waited to be picked up and read." Or "the gun spoke with rapid-fire precision."

One final tidbit, which was almost a throw-away. Johanne had asked if he had any rituals and he said no ... but then he mentioned that he writes using one of his collection of fountain pens. He does NOT write on a computer. And he showed us a page from his tablet ... not close enough to read anything, but the writing seemed quite legible.

Oh, and when he answered a question he would address it directly to whoever asked. So when I said, "My Goodreads friend Robin wants to know..." He answered, "Robin, thanks for that question. Well...."

So each and every one of you was mentioned at least twice!

Yes, I know Theresa, Jgrace, and Anna were mentioned, I don't remember who else. I think he said 10 books for the Hawthorne series and that the idea is that over time the sidekick (who is the author) will uncover the secrets of Hawthorne's life.

He said he wasn't interested in writing a straightforward detective story because everything has been done. Even for the TV series Foyle's War, the idea is "how do you solve a murder when you are in the middle of a war?" So he took on the idea of story within a story, or making the author a character but not a smart one. He said he wouldn't want to write about the pandemic, but thought it would be great to write about a Zoom call with 9 or 12 people on screen and during the call one person of the group kills another one without it being obvious who and how.

He was very interesting and engaged and gave thoughtful answers. I imagine he does this a lot for various audiences, sometimes kids. I suppose a lot of authors must be doing virtual book tours, it saves a lot of money, time and aggravation. I'm really glad I attended. I think I will read the book and then pass it on to my sister-in-law for Christmas, as I'm pretty sure I gave her Magpie Murders in the past.

I'm glad this went so well :)!

Book Concierge wrote: "One final tidbit, which was almost a throw-away. Johanne had asked if he had any rituals and he said no ... but then he mentioned that he writes using one of his collection of fountain pens. He doe..."

Ooh....I find that fountain pen tidbit wonderful! I have a fondness for them. A friend wrote her cozy mystery series in longhand on legal pads while riding subway to anf from work every day.

Book Concierge wrote: "Theresa wrote: "I am curious if he does any word puzzles regularly like crosswords. I..."

YES ... he told a story of learning to do the crosswords while riding the train with his father. Said he l..."

I knew it! His books are full of word play suitable to puzzles.

Robin P wrote: "Yes, I know Theresa, Jgrace, and Anna were mentioned, I don't remember who else. I think he said 10 books for the Hawthorne series and that the idea is that over time the sidekick (who is the autho..."

I am tickled pink!

Robin P wrote: " a lot of authors must be doing virtual book tours, it saves a lot of money, time and aggravation. I'm really

Actually those were happening before pandemic. They have just grown exponentially since.

Thank you, BC. I'm so grateful to get credit for the questions. It never occurred to me that you would do that. It does make me wish that I'd figured out how to listen in.

One more thing ... we talked about titles (see above reference to "deadly palindromes") and about cover art.

He said he really likes the US cover for ... saying how clever it is with it's hidden image.

Then he commented on the UK edition cover design, which is this: . When presented with the cover design he commented "there's no owl in the book" .... but he loved the cover so much he went back and ADDED AN OWL to the story ...

And his original title of the book was Moonfish Murders ... which is an actual fish. But his editor / publisher hated that title and suggested Moonflower.

Theresa wrote: "Book Concierge wrote: "Theresa wrote: "I am curious if he does any word puzzles regularly like crosswords. I..."

YES ... he told a story of learning to do the crosswords while riding the train wit..."

AND .. he said you were very astute to pick up on that!
I agreed that you are a very smart woman.

Thank you Tessa! I wish I had been able to attend, but we were busy at the time. It sounds so cool!

I like the title Deadly Palindromes - I wish they'd keep it!

Book Concierge wrote: "Theresa wrote: "Book Concierge wrote: "Theresa wrote: "I am curious if he does any word puzzles regularly like crosswords. I..."

YES ... he told a story of learning to do the crosswords while ridi..."

NOW I am seriously feeling pink and goosey, as a friend says! Or chuffed as Brits say!

In truth, I do crosswords, had a father who did all kinds of word puzzles, and one of my best friends is the leading woman crossword puzzle constructor in the country. For me it was obvious in his books and added deeply to my enjoyment.

I got the word puzzle love from my mother and passed it on to my son. I am impressed that you have a friend who is a constructor!

Robin P wrote: "I got the word puzzle love from my mother and passed it on to my son. I am impressed that you have a friend who is a constructor!"

Elizabeth C. Gorski...New Yorker, Wall Street Journal, etc. Owner of Crossword Nation www.crosswordnation.com

Oh Tessa, it sounds like it went wonderfully! I now want to read his books :)