Murder links past and present once again in this mind-boggling metafictional mystery from Anthony Horowitz featuring detective Atticus Pünd and editor Susan Ryeland, stars of the New York Times bestsellers Magpie Murders and Moonflower Murders.
Editor Susan Ryeland has left her Greek island, her hotel and her Greek boyfriend, Andreas, in search of a new life back in England.
Freelancing for a London publisher, she's given the last job she wants: working on an Atticus Pünd continuation novel called Pünd’s Last Case. Worse still, she knows the new writer. Eliot Crace is the troubled grandson of legendary children’s author Miriam Crace who died twenty years ago. Eliot is convinced she was murdered—by poison.
To her surprise, Susan enjoys reading the manuscript which is set in the South of France and revolves around the mysterious death of Lady Margaret Chalfont, days before she was about to change her will. But when it is revealed that Lady Margaret was also poisoned, alarm bells begin to ring.
The more Susan reads, the clearer it becomes that Eliot has deliberately concealed clues about his grandmother’s death inside the book.
Desperately, Susan tries to prevent Eliot from putting himself in harm’s way—but his behaviour is becoming increasingly erratic. Another murder follows . . . and suddenly Susan finds herself to be the number one suspect.
Once again, the real and the fictional worlds have become dangerously entangled. And if Susan doesn't solve the mystery of Pünd’s Last Case, she could well be its next victim.
The series
In the world of modern mysteries, few characters blend suspense, intrigue, and clever literary twists as seamlessly as Susan Ryeland. Anthony Horowitz's Susan Ryeland series brings a refreshing, meta approach to the genre, where the boundary between fiction and reality is constantly shifting. At its heart, the series follows Susan, a savvy editor caught up in mysteries that force her to unravel more than just the stories she's editing.
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The beauty of Susan Ryeland lies in its intricate layering. On one level, it’s a traditional whodunit – a murder, a tangled web of motives, and a cast of suspects. But what sets this series apart is how Horowitz cleverly twists the conventions of the genre. With sharp wit and an eye for detail, Susan’s investigations lead readers into a maze of literary references, secrets within secrets, and layers of deception that mirror the very books she edits. It’s a series that knows its own formula, pokes fun at it, and then reinvents it with startling originality.
The books are more than just puzzle boxes for readers to solve—they're examinations of storytelling itself. As Susan delves deeper into each case, the narrative becomes a thrilling exploration of how stories are crafted, the power of narrative within a narrative, and the unpredictable nature of truth. The characters she encounters aren't just suspects—they’re part of a larger narrative game that plays with the reader's expectations, making each twist and turn all the more satisfying.
As Susan embarks on these complex journeys, her character evolves. Initially an editor just looking for a straightforward story, she finds herself drawn into mysteries that blur the lines between fiction and reality, often putting her own life at risk. Her personal growth, alongside the mysterious cases she faces, creates a dynamic tension that keeps readers hooked.
With its sharp dialogue, meticulously constructed plots, and delightful self-awareness, the Susan Ryeland series is a celebration of the mystery genre and the art of storytelling. Fans of classic mysteries with a contemporary twist, as well as readers who enjoy a good puzzle, will find themselves immersed in this smart, unpredictable series where nothing is quite as it seems.
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