Saturday 11 March 2023

Saturday, A Good Book and V.R.E Day 5

I got to the end of my library books just in time, whizzing through loads in February. One of the best was read over last weekend. It was The Twist of a Knife by Anthony Horowitz. 


 This is the 4th book in which Horowitz  writes himself into the book as one of the main characters. He is again helping Daniel Hawthorne who is a private investigator but this time it's Horowitz himself who is accused of the crime of murder. The woman killed is a theatre critic who has written a very savage  piece about his latest play. A excellent story where it becomes difficult to decide between fact and fiction.
The play in question is called Mindgame and he really did write it and it toured around the country before going into London to the Vaudeville Theatre. It also had mixed reviews. 
That's where the fact is seamlessly replaced by the fiction. On the opening night much hated critic Harriet Thorsby turns up at the First Night Party and makes several pointed remarks to the actors, producer and to the writer. Later some of the cast go onto another party where they get to hear about the review she is writing for the next days newspaper. They all drink far too much and some are heard to wish her dead.
The next morning Thorsby is found murdered by one of the ornamental daggers which everyone was given as a first night gift by the producer. Unfortunately the only finger prints on the dagger are those  of Anthony Horowitz.
Finding himself in a police cell (there is much antagonism between Horowitz, Hawthorne and this particular police woman from previous encounters) he calls Hawthorne, even though he'd already decided not to work with him anymore and not to write anymore books about their shared cases after finishing working on the third.
Thank goodness Hawthorne answers the phone and manages to get Horowitz released and together they set about finding the real murderer. Does this crime come from something that happened many years ago?

I really enjoyed this book and avoided cheating so had no idea of who the murderer was until Hawthorne did a Poirot type reveal at the end, gathering everyone together in the theatre. It's so real that I found myself googling to see if the actress he mentions actually exists ?.........Of course she doesn't!

Next meal from the Experiment.
The 3rd piece of quiche with the rest of the potatoes made into a potato salad using mayo and my own parsley - The chives I have in pots are just showing but not big enough to cut to add yet. Eaten with more of the frozen mixed vegetables. (I don't get fed up with eating quiche 4 days running - always have different things with it)



 It would have been Col's 66th birthday today - only now qualifying for his State Pension. Thank goodness he retired from the County Council at 55 and we had a few years doing what we always wanted to do - that is to live off the smallholding, campsite and odd jobs. It was the best time and went well until his heart problems and then the lymphoma just a few years later.


Back Briefly Tomorrow even though it's Sunday.
Sue

38 comments:

  1. Happy birthday to Colin. I still wish my late husband on his birthday. I'm glad he retired early enough for you to enjoy those years. And I love Horowitz! He really plays with his readers.

    ReplyDelete
  2. ((())) I'm sure it was a tough day.

    That book sounds interesting. It's makes me wonder what kind of person writes themself into their book lol. Hope you have a good weekend. Any boot sales this weekend?

    ReplyDelete
  3. The book sounds brilliant. I think it is time I treated myself to another good read - thanks.
    Quiche is very cut and come again, I agree. Delicious!
    xx

    ReplyDelete
  4. When you make quiches yourself at home, it makes you realise just how watery and tasteless bought ones are, doesn't it? I've never read any Horowitz books, perhaps I should.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's a good book if you like crime. Need to read the other 3 before this one

      Delete
  5. I only discovered Horowitz a few years ago and have now read all of his books written for adults. I don’t enjoy YA fiction so giving those ones a wide birth. I think he has mastered the “light touch mystery” genre better than Osman and Richard Coles, in my opinion. I really enjoyed The Charity Shop Detective Agency.

    Happy birthday to Col.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I tried some of his other books but found I only like this series

      Delete
  6. I've enjoyed all those Horowitz/Hawthorne books, glad you liked that one. Horowitz seems able to write in any genre; a very clever man.

    ReplyDelete
  7. A bittersweet day for you, but also a time to remember with pleasure things you enjoyed together.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Will your pension increase now Sue? I am sure I read on a gov.uk website recently that women can increase their pension based on their husband’s contributions. In other words if as a wife and mother and homemaker one is lacking in nics contributions and has already reached pension age it may still be possible to boost your pension. Could be worth researching. My son used to love reading Anthony Horowitz books. He’s a very good writer and impossible to pigeonhole. I have kept his Greek Myths and Legends written for children because they are so good. Fabulous day in the bookshop yesterday with orders from Australia, Canada and USA to fulfil and decent footfall - the time flew. Currently reading Pat Barker’s “The Women of Troy” which is excellent and borrowed from the library of course. I have a free morning so I am going to plant up a couple of pots with tete a tete daffodils which have multiplied in the meadow bed over the last few years and split up some clumps of Devon cream primula which seem to be in flower most of the year in my garden. I will add height with stems from an acid yellow willow growing in the woodland and use home-made compost of course. That is my style of gardening! Sue, may I ask if you grow blueberries? I’ve never grown them but now I am on sandy soil with a plentiful supply of bracken for mulching I thought of trying one in a shady corner of the fruit cage. Would love to know your experience. Sarah in Sussex

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I tried blueberries in pots as we've always lived on clay soil but they always got smaller rather than bigger!

      Delete
  9. I have always found that eating a quiche day after day is no problem, if anything it can get better as the flavour develop and it sets more and more. Having it with something different every time is a really good idea, quiche and chips is always a favourite for me ... naughty but nice.#

    Thinking of Col today. Thank goodness you had those 'early retirement' years together. I wish Alan would take note, but he's now determined to stay working until his state pension kicks in.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Your doing the right thing Sue remembering good times, my husband died in 2017 at 57 I was 52 he never retired and worked up to two months before he died he was self employed and wanted to try to keep things as normal as possible. Heather

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The years between 2012 and when we had to move from the smallholding were the best fun

      Delete
  11. thanks for continuing to write your blog in spite of your loss.

    ReplyDelete
  12. That sounds like a good read. But I just picked up a historical fiction so looking forward to that.
    I do not mind eating the same thing several times in a row if I really like it.
    I am so glad you and your husband had time to enjoy his dream together at least for a little while. That was a true gift
    Cathy

    ReplyDelete
  13. Happy Birthday in heaven Colin. You find the most interesting reads.

    Your experiment is going very well.

    God bless.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thinking of you on Col's special day.
    That book sounds like a great read.
    I'm looking forward to your conclusions on your foodie experiment :)
    Alison in Wales x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think I can keep the trial going for 4 weeks and then see how much I've spent

      Delete
  15. I'm glad you had the good times with your husband. I'm glad we retired near the same time and my husband and i can do some things together. Some people I worked with waited to retire because it would bring a bigger monthly pension. Not me.
    I could also eat the same thing with different sides, that quiche look good!

    Your review is great and you should get on Goodreads and add your thoughts!! Horowitz is a good author.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Books written by AH are outstanding reads. I'm sure you are remembering many happy days with Colin today. It is a hard day. That said, remember the best of times and this will help. Thinking of you Sue.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I really love Horowitz's technique in this series. It's very clever (and has sent me to Google more than once to see what's real and what isn't!). I'm very much looking forward to this one. Sending extra love this day as I know your heart is full.

    ReplyDelete
  18. My brother also recc Twist of the Knife, but I found it unreadable. Such a slog thru the author's background etc, as he becomes part of the story. But maybe I should try it again since so many positive comments here.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think this series of 4 so far need to be read in order for the background

      Delete
  19. my thoughts are with you on colin's birthday x

    ReplyDelete
  20. A day to reflect on your happier times I should think. Colin would be my age now.
    I often feel I am lucky to still be here as all my grandparents died before they reached 60.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, we had 38 good years.
      Heard on the radio this morning that 60% of people over 65 have serious health problems - feeling very lucky

      Delete
  21. Our daughter will be 48 on Monday and I remembered that Col’s birthday was near her’s. A good marriage/partnership is a wonderful blessing and you had such adventures during that time. We were sorry that we never got to stay in your campsite as it always sounded the kind of place we liked. Catriona

    ReplyDelete
  22. Happy birthday to Colin. I am glad you had that time together before he passed. Thanks for the review of the Horowitz book, I will try. them.

    ReplyDelete