by Lorie Lewis Ham

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of the book and a link to purchase it.

Marble Hall Murders is the third book in Anthony Horowitz’s Susan Ryeland Series, and if I understand correctly, the final book, though with Anthony Horowitz, one never knows. I am a huge fan of his books and couldn’t wait to read this one.

In Marble Hall Murders, book editor Susan Ryeland has left the Greek island where she had moved with her boyfriend, Andreas, to run an inn. This new life wasn’t working for her. She missed England and the publishing world, so she returns home hoping to find a job in publishing again. Struggling to find work, she takes on a freelance job from a London publisher, hoping it will lead to a permanent position. However, the job she is given nearly makes her turn and run. She has been asked to work on an Atticus Pünd continuation novel called Pünd’s Last Case. The Pund books have caused her no end of problems, including putting her in the middle of two murders (see the previous two books–Magpie Murders and Moonflower Murders). Making it even worse, she knows the writer, Eliot Crace, who is the troubled grandson of legendary children’s author Miriam Crace, who died twenty years ago. Eliot is convinced Miriam was poisoned.

Susan is surprised when she actually likes the book, which is set in the South of France and involves the mysterious death of Lady Margaret Chalfont, days before she was about to change her will. When it is revealed that Lady Margaret was poisoned, Susan begins to realize that Eliot has included clues to his grandmother’s death in the book, along with family members who are barely disguised as characters. She tries to prevent Eliot from putting himself in danger this way, but he refuses to listen, and his behavior becomes increasingly erratic. Soon, there’s another real murder, and Susan finds herself a suspect. Once again, the real and fictional worlds have become dangerously entangled, and Susan must solve Pünd’s Last Case before she becomes a victim.

The way that Horowitz weaves these two stories together is brilliant. He does this even more so with his wonderful television adaptations. I can’t wait for the adaptation of Marble Hall Murders! The Pünd part of the stories in this series have a very Agatha Christie feel.

If this is the last book, I will be sad to see this series go, but I’m not sure how it could continue. Of course, knowing Horowitz’s penchant for finding new ways to do things, you never know. I really liked one of the new characters in Marble Hall Murders and would enjoy seeing him and Susan solve cases together in future books. I highly recommend this book, and pretty much anything that Anthony Horowitz writes! If you enjoy a good solid mystery, with plenty of twists and turns, and interesting characters, don’t miss this book and this series.

You can click here to purchase this book from Amazon.

To enter to win a copy of Marble Hall Murders, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “marble hall” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen July 26, 2025. U.S. residents only, and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

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Lorie Lewis Ham is our Editor-in-Chief and a contributor to various sections, coupling her journalism experience with her connection to the literary and entertainment worlds. Explore Lorie’s mystery writing at Mysteryrat’s Closet. Lorie’s latest mystery series is the Tower District Mystery Series. Both books, One of Us and One of You, are set in the Tower District of Fresno and the world of community theatre!