A review by ajnel
Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

 The novel starts with Susan Ryeland, being asked to investigate the disappearance of Cecily Treherne, daughter of the owners of the luxurious  Branlow Hall. Cecily's disappearance is linked to a past murder at the same hotel. Eight years ago, a guest, Frank Parris, was found bludgeoned to death. A hotel employee, Stefan Codrescu, was quickly apprehended and confessed to the crime. Cecily, before disappearing tells her parents she believes the key to the real murderer lies within a famous mystery novel, "Atticus Pünd Takes the Case," written by Alan Conway. Intrigued, Susan delves deeper and starts to suspect inconsistencies in the real-life case.  She decides to investigate the past murder to shed light on Cecily's disappearance. "Atticus Pünd Takes the Case" is then read as an embedded narrative, to provide clues to the past murder.  The novel thus follows the same structure as it's predecessor "Magpie Murders".  This is forgivable as it is a really fun way to present a whodunnit.  What is a bit cheesy, is the fact that both mysteries have as their respective dénouements, summoning gatherings.  Still a very well-written and hard to figure out whodunnit.