Reading order · 6 books · 2017 to 2026 · Set in London
Hawthorne and Horowitz Books in Order
In the Hawthorne books, Anthony Horowitz writes himself into the story as the reluctant sidekick to Daniel Hawthorne, a brilliant, rude former detective who now helps the police with difficult cases. Clever, funny, fair-play mysteries.
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Series facts
- Books
- 6
- Published
- 2017 to 2026
- First book
- The Word Is Murder
- Latest
- A Deadly Episode (2026)
- Setting
- Set in London
The reading order
Every Hawthorne and Horowitz book in publication order. Choose a title for its cast and summary.
6 books · Set in London
- 1The Word Is Murder2017With Daniel Hawthorne and Anthony HorowitzA wealthy woman walks into a funeral parlour in London to plan her own funeral, and six hours later she is murdered.Buy on Amazon
- 2The Sentence Is Death2018With Daniel Hawthorne and Anthony HorowitzA celebrity divorce lawyer is found murdered in his home, killed with a bottle of very expensive wine, with a number painted on the wall.Buy on Amazon
- 3A Line to Kill2021With Daniel Hawthorne and Anthony HorowitzHawthorne and Horowitz are invited to a literary festival on the Channel Island of Alderney, where a wealthy patron is murdered.Buy on Amazon
- 4The Twist of a Knife2022With Daniel Hawthorne and Anthony HorowitzAnthony Horowitz’s new play opens in the West End, and when a harsh critic is found stabbed, Horowitz himself is arrested for the murder.Buy on Amazon
- 5Close to Death2024With Daniel Hawthorne and Anthony HorowitzIn a quiet gated community in Richmond, a wealthy, unpopular newcomer is killed with a crossbow, and every neighbour had a motive.Buy on Amazon
- 6A Deadly Episode2026With Daniel Hawthorne and Anthony HorowitzFilming begins on an adaptation of Horowitz and Hawthorne’s earlier case, until the actor playing Hawthorne is stabbed in his trailer, and Horowitz suspects the real Hawthorne was the target.Buy on Amazon
Do you need to read them in order?
Read in order, starting with The Word Is Murder. Each case stands alone, but the strange partnership develops through the series.
Who appears in which book
The series’ main characters, book by book. Lead means the book is told around them; minor covers cameos.
| Book | Daniel Hawthorne | Anthony Horowitz |
|---|---|---|
| 1 The Word Is Murder | LLead | LLead |
| 2 The Sentence Is Death | LLead | LLead |
| 3 A Line to Kill | LLead | LLead |
| 4 The Twist of a Knife | LLead | LLead |
| 5 Close to Death | LLead | LLead |
| 6 A Deadly Episode | LLead | LLead |
Characters in the Hawthorne and Horowitz books
2 characters from Anthony Horowitz’s chart, with the number of Hawthorne and Horowitz books each appears in.
| Character | Books | First in this series |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel HawthorneDisgraced former detective turned police consultant | 6 | The Word Is Murder 2017 |
| Anthony HorowitzThe author, as Hawthorne’s reluctant chronicler | 6 | The Word Is Murder 2017 |