- Paperback: 384 pages
- Publisher: Orion; New Ed edition (1 April 2005)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0752864157
- ISBN-13: 978-0752864150
- Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 16.5 x 2.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 391,454 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
AMAZON.CO.UK
Anthony Horowitz is a very busy man. The Killing Joke, a grimly hilarious black comic novel, may be his first book for adults, but his Alex Rider series (in which a junior James Bond repeatedly saves the world) is a publishing phenomenon, selling millions to young readers – and shortly to be rendered into a film series. Horowitz has written a film for Christina Ricci, and has scripted such TV series as Foyle’s War and The Midsomer Murders. All of this varied experience has fed into The Killing Joke, and produced a novel that will have you laughing quite as often as it raises your pulse (and that's on Horowitz’s agenda, too).
Guy Henderson is a struggling actor recently dumped by his girlfriend. Getting drunk in a downmarket North London pub, he overhears builders telling a sick joke about a recently deceased actress – who just happens to be Guy’s long-lost mother. He objects, and is viciously headbutted for his pains. But does he seek revenge? No – the incident sends him on torturous quest for the source of jokes such as the one that offended him – and he encounters both shadowy, sinister figures and bizarre characters who appear to have stepped right out of jokes -- and don’t have his welfare at heart.The one-liners here are, to quote the title, killingly funny, and the hapless Guy is a wonderfully shambolic hero; If the final revelation doesn’t quite match the brilliantly sustained build up, few will complain. It looks like Horowitz has another career – first-rate comic novelist – to add to his bulging CV. --Barry Forshaw --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
'Only good writers can get away with stating the obvious, and Anthony Horowitz doesn't shy away from slippery banana skins or fly-in-the-soup gags...' TIMES 'This is The Avengers on acid, a wonderful barrage of literalised jokes and surreal situations that defy logic while being, somehow, entirely credible. Horowitz is a born storyteller, and there are some fantastically staged sequences that leave you laughing out loud... THE KILLING JOKE is not only the funniest book I have read this year, it's also the most original. CRIME TIME 'The move from humour to sinister goings-on is gripping in its originality, and is sure to place the book at the top of the year's black-comedy-thrillers.' COVENTRY EVENING TELEGRAPH 'A novel which amuses and excites throughout - with a great twist in the tail' BIRMINGHAM EVENING MAIL 'An usual tale of wit and originality but spiced with sinister and unforeseen happenings.' BRADFORD TELEGRAPH & ARGUS 'It starts in a world of reason and normality, but draws the reader helter-skelter into an increasingly mad, mad world' -- Ian Morson TANGLED WEB 'Horowitz has crafted an excellent comic thriller which is a real delight to read. And it'll make you chuckle.' -- Cath Staincliffe TANGLED WEB
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First Sentence
His name was Guy Fletcher. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
His name was Guy Fletcher. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a gripping book. What Horowitz does really well is that he not only keeps the tension, drama and humour that made Horowitz's children's books so popular, but uses the adult genre to make this book much deeper than his others.
The book is about a man named Guy Fletcher who, on hearing a rather horrible joke about a famous actress who died in a car crash, tries to find out where this joke and others like it come from. It isn't long however until Guy gets into serious trouble.
Some of the twists in the plot are extremely clever and Horowitz also makes even the more unlikely events in the story seem strangely plausible (as he always effortlessly seems to do).
This book is one of the reasons that reading is so enjoyable. It may look like a fairly long book, but it is so intense that you'll read it in a flash (I finished it in 3 days).
You might be wondering, why I've given the book 4 stars if it's so good. Well, the ending may be a bit dissatisfying, clever though it is and the book could be about 500 pages longer at the rate at which everyone who picks this book up will storm through it.
I would recommend this book to anyone apart from those who can't stand action of any kind in a novel, whether they barely read at all (this will be the one book you finish) or whether your an experienced reader who just likes a gripping book. However, I wouldn't recommend this book to those who are too young i.e younger than 14, due to the adult content in the book (some sex and bad language).
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The Killing Joke is the first book I've read by Anthony Horowitz but it will undoubtedly not be the last.
My first impression was that it would be a comical read. It turned out to be much more. There were many parts which made me chuckle but within it lied something much more sinister. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and literally could not put it down. It is well plotted and unpredictable. I recommend it to anyone and it is already being passed around my friends.
Courtney, 14
My first impression was that it would be a comical read. It turned out to be much more. There were many parts which made me chuckle but within it lied something much more sinister. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and literally could not put it down. It is well plotted and unpredictable. I recommend it to anyone and it is already being passed around my friends.
Courtney, 14
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Horowitz is good writer and I've enjoyed reading his children's fiction with my son and his TV scripts such as Foyle's War.
The Killing Joke starts well. Horowitz is accomplished at dialogue and knows how to keep the narrative moving with pace and wit.
Sadly once the story leaves the familiar (to both author and reviewer) environs of North London the entire fictional edifice begins to fall apart.
After an extended travelogue for the Suffolk Tourist Board the tale becomes increasingly mired in its own implausibility, abandoning comedy for unconvincing personal drama.
Finally even Horowitz gives up with an ending so inconclusive and sudden it's as if the writer has thrown up his hands and abandoned the project leaving the reader feeling frustrated and cheated.
The Killing Joke starts well. Horowitz is accomplished at dialogue and knows how to keep the narrative moving with pace and wit.
Sadly once the story leaves the familiar (to both author and reviewer) environs of North London the entire fictional edifice begins to fall apart.
After an extended travelogue for the Suffolk Tourist Board the tale becomes increasingly mired in its own implausibility, abandoning comedy for unconvincing personal drama.
Finally even Horowitz gives up with an ending so inconclusive and sudden it's as if the writer has thrown up his hands and abandoned the project leaving the reader feeling frustrated and cheated.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Good concept, poor execution
When I was given this book as a Christmas gift last year I read the synopsis and was instantly intrigued. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Jon, Nottingham
No killer punch
You don't need to read the bio to realise that Horowitz is trying his hand at a new genre. In fact, I'm pretty sure that The Killing Joke was originally pitched as one of those... Read more
Published on 6 Sep 2008 by Patrick Neylan
More than a joke
I've always associated Anthony Horowitz with rather serious subjects such as Foyles War on TV. However, this book breaks into completely new ground. Read more
Published on 23 Feb 2008 by P. N. Green
Original and entertaining... but slightly disappointing!
I got this book for Christmas and had specifically asked for it as I've love Horowitz's previous books. However, I'm feeling mild disappointment. Read more
Published on 5 Jan 2006
A thoroughly enjoyable and imaginative read!
Well written and a real page turner. I bought this book on impulse as I liked the unique concept behind the story, about following a joke back to it's source. Read more
Published on 28 April 2005 by "hodgkinson_k"
about the end...
As a Horowitz-fan, I adored reading this book, I recommend it to anyone with a sense of humour, and to all without a sense of humour. Read more
Published on 22 Feb 2005 by "numendil"
This Yank walks into a bookstore...
As an American grade school teacher and rabid Alex Rider fan, I have seen how immensely popular Mr. Horowitz is with children in America--and rightly so. Read more
Published on 5 Oct 2004 by J. M. Bentley
Not a children's book!
Despite being listed in the children's section this is not a children's book. Do not make the same mistake as me and think that it is!
Published on 28 Sep 2004
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