A Deadly Episode - Anthony Horowitz

 

Description

The Word is Murder, the first book in the Hawthorne series, is being made into a major feature film.

The actors have been cast, the script written, and filming has already started in Hastings.

But when Hawthorne and Anthony visit the set, they find a far from happy family.

The director’s pretentious, the screenwriter’s an eco-warrior, the two stars hate each other, and the producer has run out of money.

And things are about to get much, much worse.

In the middle of shooting, the actor playing Hawthorne is stabbed – which leaves the real Hawthorne with no choice. He has to step in and investigate his own murder.

Because the killer may not have got the right man. Was it Hawthorne himself who was meant to be the target?

A Deadly Episode is a wild ride through a world that the author knows only too well, and the most personal case Hawthorne has had to deal with so far.

Review

I've read the first and the fifth book in this series before reading this latest novel. Although the subject of the first book is being made into a film in this one, I think you could read it as a standalone. However, you would miss the depth that you get with knowing about the characters of Hawthorne and Horowitz previously.

I was reading along quite happily, enjoying the writing style as usual. About half way through the book it switches to a Hawthorne's first ever case, and I felt very put out. A whole new set of characters appeared and it was like reading another book. It actually hindered me picking it up again, because it felt like it was too much effort.  Luckily I did get back to the book and just as I had forgotten all about the original plot of the book because I had become immersed once more in the writing, we were taken back to it. I was rewarded with a very twisty ending and overall the book was great. 

I'm giving this book 4 out of 5 stars. My thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review. This book is published on 23 April 2026.

Yesteryear - Caro Claire Burke

 

Description

'EVERYONE IS GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THIS BOOK' BELLA MACKIE

'NIGHTMARISH, SHOCKING, BRILLIANT' STYLIST

'THE BOOK THAT WILL BE EVERYWHERE' INDEPENDENT

'INTELLIGENT, INCISIVE, INSANELY READABLE' JENNIE GODFREY

'BOLD, BITING. WILL LEAVE YOU GASPING' NITA PROSE

‘WICKEDLY FUNNY, FRIGHTENINGLY PERCEPTIVE' ABIGAIL DEAN

'INVENTIVE, ADDICTIVE, A WILD RIDE' ASHLEY AUDRAIN

'SHOT THROUGH WITH HUMOUR, LACED WITH DARKNESS' CLARE MACKINTOSH

'THE STEPFORD WIVES MEETS THE HANDMAID'S TALE' HANNAH DEITCH

'My name is Natalie Heller Mills, and I was perfect at being alive…'

Natalie lives a traditional lifestyle – and has the social media accounts to prove it. Her charming farmhouse on her working ranch is artfully cluttered, her husband is a handsome cowboy, her homemade sourdough boules are each more beautiful than the last. So what if there are nannies and producers and industrial-grade ovens behind the scenes? What Natalie’s followers don’t know won’t hurt them.

Then, one morning, Natalie wakes up in a strange, horrible version of reality. Her home, her husband, her children—they’re all familiar, but something’s off. Is this a hoax? A reality show? A test from God? Natalie knows just two things for sure: this isn't her perfect life, and she must escape, by any means possible.

NOW BEING ADAPTED INTO A MAJOR FILM STARRING ANNE HATHAWAY

Review

I don't know what to say about this book, because if I say too much it will spoil your reading of it.

Natalie is an Instagram influencer. She didn't use to be. It's taken her a lot of hard work and training to be this real online, even if she isn't this real offline. All her family are involved as she portrays the perfect traditional lifestyle on her ranch.

We see the "before" Natalie as she realises her husband Caleb is not who she thought he was and she needs to create a life for him to live. With support from her wealthy Father in law she has the means to create that life, and now the medium to show it to the world via Instagram. 

When Natalie wakes up one morning and doesn't recognise her home or her children, she wonders if someone is playing a reality TV show trick on her. It is her home, but without all the mod cons she hides from the real world. She has the right number of children, but not quite the same ones. As her life in 1805 begins she decides she has to escape from it. The real trad wife life is not for her it seems.

I really enjoyed the influencer parts of this book and the glimpse behind the "reality". Natalie is quite a character and not one I warmed to. Once it flipped to 1805 I got a bit lost and didn't enjoy it so much. I got my reward at the end, and all I can say is "wow!" What a premise for a book. Looking back there are some deep themes and a lot more under the surface of the superficial influencer tag.

I'm giving this book 4 out of 5 stars. My thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review. This book is published on 9 April 2026.