Are you ready for a new spy novel? Whether you’re looking to read an adult fiction work or one for young readers, try these 12 best Anthony Horowitz books.
If you are looking for the best book to read that will send you into a world of spies and mysteries, then you will want to look for one by Anthony Horowitz. This prolific author has been compared to Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie, two of the world’s most famous crime and detective writers.
Table of Contents
Anthony Horowitz’s Most Popular Books
1. The Word Is Murder
[The Word Is Murder](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072PQXYYJ? tag=work089-20)introduces Daniel Hawthorne, a disgraced police detective who finds himself amid a murder investigation. He has to hire a ghostwriter to document his life while working on the case and chooses Anthony Horowitz. This sets the stage for theHawthorne and Horowitz Mysteryseries, a rare instance where an author writes himself into a new book.
“But the thing is, you see -and to be honest, I don’t like to mention this- I’m a bit short. There just aren’t enough people getting murdered.”
Anthony Horowitz
2*. The Sentence Is Death*
Book number two of the Hawthorne and Horowitz Mysteryseries, The Sentence Is Death, was published in 2018 and is one of the top-rated Anthony Horowitz books. In this novel, Private Investigator Daniel Hawthorne and his sidekick Anthony Horowitz set out to find out who killed a successful celebrity divorce lawyer. Readers learn through this book that Hawthorne has some secrets worth hiding.
“He wasn’t being deliberately offensive. It was just that offensive was his default mode.”
Anthony Horowitz
3. Alex Rider: Stormbreaker
Not only does Anthony Horowitz write books for adults, but he has also written the Alex Riderseries for young adults. Stormbreaker is book number one of the series, introducing Alex and telling how he gets started in the spy world. The first book sends Alex on a mission to discover the truth behind his uncle’s death, putting him in the fire of a group of terrorists bent on killing all English children in cold blood. He published this book in 2000.
“Believe me, It would be better if we didn’t meet again. Go back to school. Go back to your life. And next time they ask you, say no. Killing is for grown-ups and you’re still a child.”
Anthony Horowitz
4. The House of Silk
The House of Silk was published in 2011 and is the first Sherlock Holmes novel authorized by the Arthur Conan Doyle estate in 125 years and the first Horowitz Holmes novel. In this mystery tale, Horowitz brings back the famous detective in a conspiracy mystery that runs from Boston to London. Horowitz’s love for the detective made him the perfect author to bring back the famous detective.
“Show Holmes a drop of water and he would deduce the existence of the Atlantic. Show it to me and I would look for a tap. That was the difference between us.”
Anthony Horowitz
5. Raven’s Gate
[Raven’s Gate](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007MHVVCU? tag=work089-20) is the first book in thePower of Fiveyoung adult series. This series follows Matt Freeman, a teenager on the wrong side of the law. In foster care, he discovers a mythical mystery that has something to do with his guardian and the village that is fostering him. The rest of the series involves his fight to find someone to believe him and discover the truth about the strange world he finds himself in.
“You are meant to be here. There are no coincidences. It’s all happening the way it was meant to be.”
Anthony Horowitz
6. A Line to Kill
Book three in theHawthorne and Horowitz Mysteryseries, A Line to Kill, sends the inspector and his writer to a literary festival on a quiet island, only to send them into a murder investigation. Not only do they need to find the killer, but they also need to find their way off the island where they are trapped with the unknown murderer. With many suspects and not a lot of clues, the story keeps readers guessing until the very end. This book was newly published in 2021.
“I’m surrounded by silence but at the same time I’m drowning in words and it hardly ever leaves me, that sense of disconnection.”
7. Forever and a Day
*Forever and a Day*is a James Bond novel that Horowitz published in 2018. This serves as the prequel to Casino Royale, and it sends Bond on a search for the killer of a British agent. Like most Bond books, it includes fast cars, luxury boats, and a love interest, but it also has a dangerous criminal network to fight. This book is number two in the Horowitz Bond line but number 48 in the entire James Bond extended series.
“Bond had always had a loathing of opera; its absurdly large women, its histrionics, its noise. The fact that Larsen was spending his last night there was somehow fitting. He was on his way from one hell to another.”
Anthony Horowitz
8. Magpie Murders
Magpie Murdersis book number one of theSusan Ryelandseries. It follows bestselling crime writer Alan Conway and his editor Susan Ryeland as they unravel a crime written within the pages of a manuscript. This particular book, which he published in 2016, is quite dark, but fans of Horowitz enjoy his dark tale. Many readers have found similarities between this writing style and that of Agatha Christie.
“As far as I’m concerned, you can’t beat a good whodunnit: the twists and turns, the clues and the red herrings and then, finally, the satisfaction of having everything explained to you in a way that makes you kick yourself because you hadn’t seen it from the start.”
Anthony Horowitz
9. Moonflower Murders
Moonflower Murdersis the second book in theSusan Ryelandseries. It opens with Ryeland living the life of a retiree on a Greek island, where she meets up with the Trehernes family, who bring to the island a story of murder. Ryeland finds herself intrigued. Like the Magpie Murders, Moonflower Murderstells a story with a book-within-a-book format, which makes it even more engaging. This book was published in 2020.
“Everything in life has a pattern and a coincidence is simply the moment when the pattern becomes briefly visible.”
Anthony Horowitz
10. Alex Rider Scorpia
*Scorpia*was published in 2004 and is book number five of the Alex Rider series. It takes the teen spy into the world of Scorpia, a powerful terrorist organization trying to recruit him. When Rider learns of the organization’s plot, which would lead to the slaughter of thousands of people, he tries to get on the inside to stop it.
“Alex listened as the two men argued, neither really listening to what the other had to say. So this was how the government worked!”
Anthony Horowitz
11. Trigger Mortis
Trigger Mortis is the first James Bond book by Anthony Horowitz. The book includes some writing from the original James Bond author, Ian Fleming, and it pits Bond against the Soviet Union and SMERSH. This book proved to the world that Horowitz was the right one to continue the Bond legacy for another generation. It was published in 2015.
You might be interested in exploring suspense authors, such as these incredible authors like David Baldacci).
“Fangio had once said: ‘You should never think of a car as a piece of metal. It’s a living being with a heart that beats. It can feel happy or sad. It all depends on how you treat it.”
Anthony Horowitz
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between mystery and thriller books?
Mystery books focus on solving a puzzle or crime, often with a detective protagonist, while thriller books emphasize suspense, danger, and action. Mysteries are more cerebral and puzzle-oriented, while thrillers are more emotional and adrenaline-driven.
What makes a great mystery or thriller book?
Great mystery and thriller books feature compelling characters, tight plotting, and skillful pacing that keeps readers engaged. They should offer fair clues for mystery readers while maintaining suspense and delivering satisfying resolutions.
Are mystery and thriller books suitable for all readers?
Mystery and thriller books can be suitable for most adult readers, though some may contain violence, mature themes, or disturbing content. It’s important to check reviews and content warnings if you’re sensitive to certain themes.
Why do people love mystery and thriller books?
People love mystery and thriller books for the intellectual challenge, emotional engagement, and escape they provide. These genres offer both entertainment and the satisfaction of solving puzzles or experiencing high-stakes situations safely.
12. Groosham Grange
Groosham Grange is a children’s book about a monstrous school. Anthony Horowitz published this book in 1988, and readers continue to get caught up in the odd school where David Eliot, the main character, finds himself. Readers find themselves wondering if Eliot will be able to get out alive.
If you are looking for more books about detectives to binge on a weekend,
“You think ghosts and witches and vampires and ghosts and two-headed monsters are bad. Why? Do you know what that is, David? It’s prejudice. Racial prejudice!”
Anthony Horowitz
