Talking Meta Fiction & Inspiration with Writer/Creator Anthony Horowitz

Whether you read his books or were introduced to shows he created like Collision or Foyle’s War, Anthony Horowitz is a name you should recognize. His early YA titles led to writing the explosively popular teen spy series known as the Alex Rider novels, which he later adapted to television. In between writing novels, he wrote for countless shows such as Agatha Christie’s Poirot and Midsomer Murders. After writing official novels for the Sherlock Holmes and James Bond universes, he followed up with Magpie Murders in 2016, which he developed into a hit series for Masterpiece in 2022. With its sequel – the new season – Moonflower Murders, Horowitz continues the story of editor-turned-reluctant-detective Susan Ryeland (Lesley Manville).

Both the novels and the two television seasons occupy the land of meta-fiction: A treatise on murder mysteries through the mechanism of a story within a story. Susan Ryeland must use the 1955 fictional world of private detective Atticus Pünd (Tim McMullen) and the murders he attempts to solve to illuminate clues and investigate mysteries in her present-day, real world. Making things more interesting, Susan interacts with Pünd; he appears in her life to help her think through each puzzle. They have rich exchanges and a meaningful friendship, despite his imagined existence.

Telly Visions spoke with writer, creator, and all-around good guy Anthony Horowitz about Moonflower Murders, creating meta-fiction, and the upcoming third novel in the Susan Ryeland series.