Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue is “antidote” to “cosy crime”, says writer Anthony Horowitz

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Anthony Horowitz, the acclaimed author behind popular mysteries like Foyle’s War, Midsomer Murders, Magpie Murders, and Moonflower Murders, introduces his newest TV mystery, Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue.

Set in a jungle with a rapidly growing number of deaths, the author describes his novel, Nine Bodies, as a direct contrast to the typical ‘cosy crime’ genre. He deliberately aimed to create something far from gentle or quaint, stating he wanted a story where characters immediately clash and there’s no sense of idyllic village life. He calls it a deliberately un-cosy crime drama.

Okay, so the show isn’t exactly warm and fuzzy, but it doesn’t feel totally out of left field either. I heard from Anthony Horowitz himself that people – even his wife, who also produces the show – immediately noticed similarities to *The Traitors*. He admits there’s a core idea they share – that question of ‘who can you trust?’ – but he’s quick to point out he actually started working on this long before *The Traitors* even came out, and hasn’t even *seen* it!

He openly admits being inspired by Agatha Christie’s classic mystery, *And Then There Were None* – the story of ten people trapped on an island with a murderer in their midst. He sees his own work as a contemporary take on that formula, calling Christie’s novel the greatest mystery she ever wrote. He’s particularly intrigued by the fact that it doesn’t feature a traditional detective, a quality he’s mirrored in his own story. He draws a parallel to the unsettling experience of being in close proximity to strangers – like on a plane – and only discovering their true nature when they reveal a dangerous side.

Anthony Horowitz is known for continuing the stories of famous literary characters, but he hasn’t yet written a new novel featuring the works of Agatha Christie – and he doesn’t particularly like being called a ‘continuity novelist.’ Having already penned over 50 novels for both adults and children, including the popular Alex Rider series, he’s taken on the challenge of writing new adventures for Sherlock Holmes and James Bond. But does revisiting these established characters require the same imagination as creating his own?

He believes all good writing comes down to energy, drawing readers in, telling a compelling story, and creating memorable characters. When writing continuations of famous series like Sherlock Holmes or James Bond, he feels the pressure of following exceptional authors. His goal is to honor their style and voice, essentially channeling them rather than imposing his own.

Horowitz, the author of three highly praised James Bond novels that continue the style of Ian Fleming, admits he’s never been approached to write a film script, nor has he ever sought the opportunity. He explains that working with major film producers requires a tough demeanor, and he’s content to avoid that world.

He also mentioned a key problem – figuring out how to bring Bond back to life – which he’s leaving to Steven Knight, the newly appointed screenwriter for the next Bond movie.

Bond famously died at the end of the last film, ‘No Time to Die,’ and it’s hard to imagine how the series will move forward from that. It felt like a mistake to kill him off, because Bond is such an iconic character – a timeless legend who should belong to everyone. If I were tasked with writing the next script now, I wouldn’t even know where to begin. A simple ‘it was all a dream’ scenario just wouldn’t work.

Since Horowitz seemed so open, I asked him about the growing trend of celebrities writing crime novels-or at least putting their names on them. He laughed and admitted that most writers are a little jealous of the attention and book deals celebrities receive. But he quickly added that he doesn’t mind as long as the book is actually good. He believes quality will always shine through, and British crime readers are smart enough to spot a poorly written book.

Horowitz doesn’t seem worried about criticism, but it makes you wonder who points out his mistakes. He jokes that his wife is his harshest critic, but he also says their marriage works so well because he always acknowledges when she’s right. Even if he initially disagrees, he’ll always revisit and revise his work based on her feedback.

I’m a stickler for a good mystery, and this creator clearly is too. He really puts himself through the wringer, constantly re-examining his work. He hates those stories where the puzzle doesn’t quite add up, or where the audience doesn’t have a fair chance to figure things out alongside the detective. It’s about fairness, he says, and that means obsessive attention to detail – endless checking and re-checking until everything clicks.

Given his extensive work in books and television, what guides his creative choices, like with the show ‘Nine Bodies’? He explains it’s based on instinct. He envisioned this show as a series of surprising moments, and the concept of someone vanishing in each episode felt right. He’s long used murder as a way to create suspense and keep viewers engaged – even in ‘Midsomer Murders,’ he strategically timed deaths to coincide with commercial breaks.

If he had to choose, he hesitated for the first time. He explained that his books have a lasting impact, and he’s particularly proud that the Alex Rider series has encouraged so many young people to read. However, he also admitted that being a writer can be quite isolating after a while.

Becoming a successful writer doesn’t fundamentally change things – you just get a little more space to work. What I really enjoy is working on projects for television; it gets me out of the house and I love the teamwork and energy. It’s amazing to visit a set – seeing a huge, elaborate scene built from something that began with just me, alone with my thoughts – it’s a really incredible feeling.

I’m still completely captivated by Anthony Horowitz, even after all these years – 46 since his first novel, to be exact! I recently devoured four episodes of ‘Nine Bodies’ in one sitting, and honestly, I couldn’t sleep until I’d finished the last two. When I told him that, he was thrilled, and he put it so perfectly: he believes the difference between a writer who makes it and one who doesn’t is simply that the successful one never gives up, and he definitely isn’t planning to!

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2025-09-23 03:19