Marble Hall Murders

Description

Marble Hall Murders: A Novel by Anthony Horowitz

Discover the ultimate metafictional mystery of 2025 with Anthony Horowitz’s Marble Hall Murders, the eagerly awaited third installment in the acclaimed Susan Ryeland series.
This masterfully crafted narrative intertwines a classic golden-age detective story with a contemporary thriller, offering readers a dual-layered puzzle that challenges the boundaries between fiction and reality.

Synopsis

Editor-turned-amateur sleuth Susan Ryeland has returned to England, leaving behind her tranquil life in Greece.
Seeking a fresh start, she takes on freelance work with a London publisher.
Her latest assignment: editing a continuation of the beloved Atticus Pünd detective series, titled Pünd’s Last Case.
The author, Eliot Crace, is the troubled grandson of the late Miriam Crace, a renowned children’s author who died two decades ago.
Eliot is convinced that his grandmother was murdered by poison and claims to have embedded clues to her killer’s identity within his manuscript.

As Susan delves into the manuscript, set in the South of France, she becomes engrossed in the fictional mystery of Lady Margaret Chalfont’s death—an ailing matriarch poisoned just days before altering her will.
The parallels between the manuscript and Miriam Crace’s real-life demise are unsettling.
As Susan uncovers these connections, Eliot’s behavior grows increasingly erratic, culminating in another murder that places Susan herself under suspicion.

Caught between the fictional world of Atticus Pünd and a real-life investigation, Susan must unravel the truth before she becomes the next victim.

Dual Narratives: A Story Within a Story

Horowitz continues his signature “novel-within-a-novel” format, presenting readers with two compelling narratives:

• The Inner Mystery:
  Pünd’s Last Case follows detective Atticus Pünd as he investigates the death of Lady Margaret Chalfont in a 1950s French villa.
  The classic whodunit is rich with red herrings, complex characters, and a locked-room mystery that pays homage to Agatha Christie’s finest works.

• The Outer Investigation:
  In the present day, Susan Ryeland’s journey to uncover the truth behind Miriam Crace’s death mirrors the fictional investigation.
  As she deciphers the manuscript’s hidden clues, Susan navigates a web of family secrets, publishing politics, and personal danger.

This layered storytelling invites readers to solve both mysteries simultaneously, enhancing the reading experience with intricate plotting and clever intertextuality.

About the Author

Anthony Horowitz is one of the UK’s most prolific and versatile writers, known for his work in adult and young adult fiction, television, theater, and journalism.
His bestselling Alex Rider series has sold over nineteen million copies worldwide and was adapted into a successful Amazon Prime series.
Horowitz’s previous novels, including Magpie Murders and Moonflower Murders, have been adapted into television miniseries for PBS.
In recognition of his contributions to literature, he was awarded the CBE.

Critical Acclaim

Marble Hall Murders has garnered praise from critics and readers alike:

“Horowitz dazzles with the brilliant third entry in his Susan Ryeland series… linking past and present in a virtuoso finale worthy of Agatha Christie.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“The dividing lines between reality and fiction (a Horowitz trademark) are deliciously intertwined.”
— Financial Times

“Another marvelous metafictional mystery.”
— Library Journal

“The novel-within-a-novel format works superbly once again as Ryeland rushes to figure out what’s real and what’s fictional before she becomes a victim herself.”
— Town and Country

“Horowitz’s most extended and intricately plotted whodunit yet.”
— Kirkus Reviews

Series Overview

The Susan Ryeland series is celebrated for its innovative structure and homage to classic detective fiction:

1. Magpie Murders
   Introduces Susan Ryeland and the fictional detective Atticus Pünd, blending a contemporary mystery with a 1950s-style whodunit.

2. Moonflower Murders
   Continues Susan’s adventures as she investigates a murder linked to a Pünd novel, unraveling secrets that blur the lines between fiction and reality.

3. Marble Hall Murders
   Elevates the metafictional concept, presenting a mystery that intertwines a new Pünd case with a real-life investigation that hits close to home for Susan.

Why Readers Love Marble Hall Murders

• Metafictional Mastery
  Horowitz expertly crafts a narrative that challenges readers to discern reality from fiction, offering a unique and engaging reading experience.

• Complex Characters
  Susan Ryeland’s evolution from editor to detective provides a relatable and compelling protagonist, while Atticus Pünd embodies the classic detective archetype with a modern twist.

• Intricate Plotting
  The dual narratives are meticulously plotted, with clues and twists that keep readers guessing until the final pages.

• Homage to Classic Mysteries
  Fans of Agatha Christie and golden-age detective fiction will appreciate the novel’s nods to traditional mystery tropes, reimagined for a contemporary audience.

Purchase Information

• Pages: 592

• Release Date: May 13, 2025