While Stephen King’s 66 books prove anything, it is that the writer knows a great story when he sees one. King has penned all manner of stories, from the horror books that made him famous, like Carrie and The Shining, to surprisingly life-affirming stories like “The Life of Chuck” and “Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption.”

Although Thursday Murder Club series, the iconic TV show Murder She Wrote, and author Lucy Foley’s cleverly plotted mysteries, but it was another writer’s work that earned King’s comparison.

Stephen King Had High Praise For The Magpie Murders By Anthony Horowitz

King Called The Mystery Novel “A Great Whodunit”

Stephen King said Anthony Horowitz’s 2016 novel The Magpie Murders was like an even "Cleverer" Agatha Christie novel in what might be one of the author’s most generous blurbs. Christie was a prolific author of mysteries and, with the Poirot books, she arguably defined the shape of the modern cozy mystery. The self-referential humor, the colorful cast of suspects, the quirky protagonist with unexpectedly impressive detective skills, and the fun but quietly creepy atmosphere are all present in Christie’s books, which makes King’s claim an impressive achievement.

That said, Horowitz’s novel does live up to the hype. Much like Stephen King recommending You before Caroline Kepnes’ thriller became a major bestseller, the author was an early adopter of The Magpie Murders. Horowitz, however, had long before proven himself as a bestselling author. A prolific author of children’s books, Horowitz penned the successful Diamond Brothers and Alex Rider series as well as three James Bond novels that utilized previously-unused elements left behind in the wake of Ian Fleming’s death.

The Magpie Murders Really Is A Great Mystery-Thriller Book

Horowitz’s Plotting Makes For A Killer Mystery

Horowitz then went on to write for Agatha Christie’s Poirot, a TV show that allowed him to hone his mystery writing skills. Horowitz’s mystery writing peaks in The Magpie Murders, an ingeniously constructed whodunit that utilizes a unique and clever story-within-a-story setup. The Magpie Murders has two plots, as its heroine, Susan Ryeland, edits the latest manuscript from her mystery writer client.

The Magpie Murders is unique in using the framework of a murder mystery manuscript to tell a story within a story.

As Ryeland and the reader get through this new unpublished story, it gradually becomes clear that there is a very real tale of murder hidden under this Agatha Christie pastiche. While there are many great Agatha Christie adaptations and a lot of fantastic homages to her work, like the Knives Out movies, The Magpie Murders is unique in using the framework of a murder mystery manuscript to tell a story within a story.

Anthony Horowitz's Susan Ryeland Books Get Better & Better

The Mystery Author Is One Heir To The Iconic Christie’s Whodunit Throne

Like Christie at her best, Horowitz uses the murder mystery setup to mislead even the savviest readers. The Magpie Murders is much less predictable than it initially seems, and the books only get more deviously clever as the series continues. 2020’s Moonflower Murders sees the return of Ryeland in another meta-mystery that brings a postmodern style to the classic genre.

Meanwhile, 2025’s acclaimed Marble Hall Murders keeps the successful series going and proves that King wasn’t exaggerating when he said Horowitz was Christie’s heir. The series makes use of the familiar tropes of murder mysteries, keeping readers guessing until the final page and ensuring there is enough humor and charm to offset the death and gloom. Thus, while Stephen King's claim that the mystery is as good as Agatha Christie's work might seem dubious, the book really is that solid.