I DVRed Moonflower Murders back in 2024. I had read Anthony Horowitz’s book of the same title back in 2020. Moonflower Murders is the second Susan Ryeland (Lesley Manville) and Atticus Pünd (Tim McMullan) mystery in the series (Marble Hall Murders published in May 2025 is the third and possibly final book in the series).
Moonflower Murders begins with Susan Ryeland lured back to England by a couple whose daughter has gone missing after she announced she knew who murdered a guest at her parent’s hotel eight years ago. The daughter had read Atticus Pund Takes the Case and claimed a clue in the book reveals the real killer. And then, she disappeared.
The frantic parents offer Susan Ryeland £10,000 to try to find their missing daughter. The hotel on Crete that Susan and her boyfriend Andreas (Alexandros Logothetis) are operating is struggling. And infusion of cash could save the operation so Susan agrees to investigate. The parents are convinced that Susan–who was the editor for Atticus Pund Takes the Case–will discover the same clue that their daughter did.
Like the first book, Magpie Murders (2016), the chapters alternate between the real world and Atticus Pünd’s fictional world. I’ve enjoyed all three Susan Ryeland and Atticus Pünd mysteries and I’m looking forward to the third PBS series likely to be broadcast in early 2026. GRADE: A
I know everybody loves these, but for whatever reason – my fault, I’m sure – I just haven’t been able to get into them at all. I did watch the series, but the book just didn’t draw me in, even though I like Anthony Horowitz in general, particularly FOYLE’S WAR. We even watched his bizarre (unacknowledged) adaptation of Christie’s AND THEN THERE WERE NONE, NINE BODIES IN A MEXICAN MORGUE. We didn’t like the ALEX RIDER series either.
Jeff, I sometimes run hot and cold on some writers, too. The dual story telling is tricky and doesn’t always work.
What Jeff said. The dual story telling puts me off. Love Foyle’s War though.
Patti, I love FOYLE’S WAR, too! I don’t know when Horowitz sleeps. His output is prodigious!
Horowitz also wrote a number of the earliest (and to my mind, some of the best) Midsomer Murders. I’ve liked both Susan Ryland adaptations—but I haven’t read either of the books, so perhaps that makes a difference.
Deb, the novel within a novel can be off-putting for some readers. For the PBS series, Horowitz wrote the screenplays.