Midsomer Murders creator Anthony Horowitz is bringing one of his book series to the small screen – and it sounds perfect for Agatha Christie fans.

The novelist and screenwriter, known for his Alex Rider and Susan Ryeland book series, as well as for creating Midsomer Murders and Foyle’s War, never fails to deliver gripping, well-paced stories with compelling whodunnit plots. If, like me, you love a detective mystery, you’ll want to keep an eye out for his next project.

Anthony Horowitz is an English writer and screenwriter, Mantua, 8 September 2023© Leonardo Cendamo/Getty Images
Anthony Horowitz is adapting another of his novel series for TV

Keep reading to find out all we know so far…

Nicky MorrisNicky Morris

Anthony Horowitz’s new TV series

The 71-year-old writer is teaming up with his wife and producer Jill Green to adapt his Hawthorne crime series, which follows Detective Daniel Hawthorne, who approaches a writer to chronicle his investigations.

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During an appearance on BBC Breakfast, Anthony explained: “I am actually working on the TV series of Hawthorne! We haven’t sold it yet, but we have been commissioned to write the screenplay.”

The acclaimed writer revealed that in a “meta” twist, the writer Daniel employs is Anthony himself. “I’m inside the books as a sort of Dr Watson to his Sherlock Holmes,” he said.

What are the Hawthorne books about?

There are five novels in the book series, with the first released in 2017 and the latest in 2024. The titles are The Word Is Murder (2017), The Sentence Is Death (2018), A Line to Kill (2021), The Twist of a Knife (2022) and Close to Death (2024).

The story follows Detective Daniel Hawthorne, who, having been fired from the Metropolitan Police, decides to approach writer Anthony Horowitz to chronicle the complex murder case he’s investigating. While Anthony is initially hesitant, he becomes fascinated by the case and by Hawthorne.

Two of the stars of Midsomer Murders in a promotional image© ITV
Anthony Horowitz created the hit detective series Midsomer Murders

“Would it be really such a crazy idea for Anthony to become the Watson to his Holmes? The Hastings to his Poirot?” reads the description.

Perfect for Agatha Christie fans, Anthony’s book is described as a “classic crime for the modern reader,” and a “whodunnit to end all whodunnits.”

Anthony Horowitz’s latest series

Anthony’s announcement comes ahead of the release of the mystery series Marble Hall Murders, which is based on the best-selling novel by Anthony Horowitz and a sequel to Magpie Murders and Moonflower Murders.

Susan Ryeland (LESLEY MANVILLE) in Marble Hall Murders© BBC/Eleventh Hour Films/Sony Pictures Television/Jonathan Hession
Lesley Manville stars as Susan Ryeland in Marble Hall Murders

Lesley Manville stars in the series as book editor turned sleuth Susan Ryeland, alongside Tim McMullan as famous literary detective Atticus Pünd.

In the upcoming series, which will air on BBC One and iPlayer later this year, editor Susan Ryeland is hired to work on a continuation novel of the Atticus Pünd series, written by a troubled young author (Jamie Blackley).

Susan Ryeland (LESLEY MANVILLE), Atticus Pünd (TIM McMULLAN) in Marble Hall Murders© BBC/Eleventh Hour Films/Sony Pictures Television/Jonathan Hession
Tim McMullan plays famous literary detective Atticus Pünd

The synopsis continues: “When the job leads Susan into another murder case, she unexpectedly finds herself a suspect. In the world of the novel, Atticus Pünd is visiting the island of Corfu when he becomes embroiled in the murder of Lady Margaret Chalfont (Hodge), whose family he investigates with the assistance of a Greek detective (Zubin Varla).”