Moonflower Murders: A Novel

How does Moonflower Murders serve as both a mystery novel and a commentary on the genre itself? In what ways does Horowitz critique or celebrate the conventions of Golden Age detective fiction? Identify key elements that mirror or subvert traditional mystery tropes.

Explore Branlow Hall’s role as a setting and its association with nocturnal symbolism. How do the history and atmosphere of the country house hotel contribute to dramatic tension and enhance Horowitz’s exploration of the dark side of human nature?

The fictional detective Atticus Pünd plays a significant role in Susan’s investigation of a real-life murder. Explain how Pünd influences Susan’s methods as an amateur sleuth. How does Susan’s profession as an editor further shape her approach to solving the mystery?

Examine how class and social status influence the actions and motivations of the characters in Moonflower Murders. How does Horowitz use these themes to reflect on broader issues in contemporary society?

Discuss how Horowitz blurs the lines between fiction and reality in Moonflower Murders. In what ways does the novel suggest that fiction influences reality or vice versa?

How is the theme of The Limits of the Criminal Justice System portrayed in Moonflower Murders? Do you think the resolution of Atticus Pünd Takes the Case and Susan’s investigation satisfies both moral and legal justice?

Evaluate Susan Ryeland’s character development in Moonflower Murders. How does her personal narrative intersect with her role as an amateur detective in the novel?

Explore the novel’s interrogation of the role of authorship and the relationship between writer and story. How does Alan Conway’s fiction both reflect and contradict his personality? What does Horowitz ultimately suggest about the responsibility of authorial control?