Close to Death

​This is the fifth outing of the Hawthorne and Horowitz crimefighting duo. If you’re unfamiliar with the earlier books, this could make things pretty confusing so it is definitely recommended you start with book one (The Word is Murder) to understand the basis of these stories which feature Horowitz as the famous author - albeit slightly bumbling - sidekick to the elusive private detective, Hawthorne. (A sort of pastiche on Dr Watson and Sherlock Holmes.)
 
Riverview Close is a residential enclave in Richmond-upon-Thames wherein dwell a set of law-abiding, respectable (and a touch snobby) characters. Among them are a doctor, dentist, a retired barrister, bookshop owners and a world-ranked chess player. They all rub along nicely together until the ghastly Kenworthy family arrive and bring with them all sorts of annoyances and Attitude with capital A. Loud music in the small hours, too many cars that block driveways, obnoxious kids on skateboards, dubious money, hints of right-wing opinion.
 
Unpleasant things start happening. A dog that may have strayed onto the Kenworthy property is found at the bottom of a well. Plants with sentimental meaning are trampled. When the residents receive notice from the council about improvement plans to the Kenworthy residence that involves removing trees for the construction of a “swimming pool and pavilion and the creation of a new patio area on the eastern law of the property”, you can pretty well predict what’s going to happen. It isn’t long before Giles Kenworthy becomes a bull’s eye (in the true archery sense). And this is followed soon afterwards by another demise featuring the traditional “locked room” scenario.
 
Of course, all the seething residents are suspects and have their own secrets. Hawthorne remains as frustrating and elusive ever as Horowitz entertains us with his clever trademark writing in which he pokes fun at himself and drops names of his real associates or friends (Ewan McGregor’s real dentist might have something to say on this) and all the while leading us down paths strewn with red herrings to try and figure out whodunnit. Escapist, enjoyable, good fun.
 
(With many thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC.)
 
4 stars
 
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amazon.com
 
amazon.co.uk (Kindle)
 
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