A fictional form of Anthony Horowitz – a “reluctant author” in the words of this book’s blurb, as opposed to the prolific and successful mystery novelist of real life – is sick to death of how his paymasters are treating him.

He has fulfilled a three-book deal, for which he needed to shadow dubious ex-detective Daniel Hawthorne; all three titles are thriving sales-wise, and Horowitz is now on his fourth, Moonflower Murders. He’s a playwright, too, with the London opening of his magnum opus Mindgame met with a stinker of a review – cue deadly revenge meted out to the reviewer.

Much like Horowitz’s less self-referential work, The Twist Of A Knife is incredibly well balanced and his male characters are complex. Hints of Horowitz’s Sherlockian ingenuity engage, likewise the theatrical interviews with murder suspects – and, as a reviewer, the way Mindgame’s critic focuses on Horowitz’s failures in order to undermine his otherwise successful first night left me feeling rather uncomfortable.

Not having read Horowitz’s three previous Hawthorne books did not dissuade my enthusiasm for this entry into the series: I learnt much about the protagonist’s demeanour and his motivations alike.