Anthony Horowitz: Books, TV Series, Reading Order & Religion

There’s something quietly thrilling about a writer who can make a teenage spy feel as real as a weary detective in postwar England. Anthony Horowitz has spent decades hopping between those worlds—children’s adventures and adult crime dramas—without breaking a sweat, and his most famous creation, Alex Rider, has sold over 20 million copies worldwide. This guide explores his books, TV series, reading order, and personal life, separating the certain from the speculative.

Born: 5 April 1955 ·
Occupation: Novelist, screenwriter ·
Notable series: Alex Rider, The Diamond Brothers, Hawthorne and Horowitz ·
Number of books: Over 40 ·
TV series written: Foyle’s War, Midsomer Murders, Magpie Murders

The following table summarizes key biographical details about Anthony Horowitz.

What is Anthony Horowitz’s most famous book?

The Alex Rider series is his most famous work, starting with Stormbreaker in 2000 (Wikipedia (encyclopedic reference)). More than 20 million copies have sold worldwide across the series, making it the reference point for any newcomer to his writing.

Which is Anthony Horowitz’s best book?

Critical consensus tends to favor different titles depending on genre. His best-reviewed book is The House of Silk, an official Sherlock Holmes novel published in 2011 (Anthony Horowitz (official books page)). Trigger Mortis, a James Bond novel from 2015, is also highly regarded (BestReadingOrder (reading guide)). Among his original series, The Word is Murder won awards and launched the Hawthorne and Horowitz detective series (Anthony Horowitz (author’s official bio)).

The pattern: three distinct forms—original series, licensed franchise work, and self-aware detective fiction—each have a candidate for “best.” None dominates the others in sales or critical weight.

The trade-off: reading only his most-awarded book means missing the engine of his career, which remains the Alex Rider series.

What TV series has Anthony Horowitz written?

Horowitz created and wrote Foyle’s War (2002–2015), a British detective drama set during World War II (Wikipedia (encyclopedic reference)). He also wrote episodes of Midsomer Murders and created the series New Blood for BBC One (Anthony Horowitz (official television page)). His recent TV work includes Magpie Murders (2022), an adaptation of his own novel (Wikipedia (encyclopedic reference)). For a deeper look at British detective drama legacy, read our profile on John Thaw: Biography, Cause of Death, and His Lasting Legacy.

What is Anthony Horowitz’s latest TV series?

His latest TV series is Magpie Murders (2022), an adaptation of his own novel (Wikipedia (encyclopedic reference)). He is also involved in the upcoming Alex Rider TV series continuation. A new series titled Close to Death remains in development. His TV work continues to expand both in the UK and internationally.

The pattern: from Foyle’s War to Magpie Murders, his TV work adapts or channels existing literary forms—postwar detective drama, cozy mystery, and now his own novels.

Why this matters: for viewers who discovered him through television, the novels are not side projects but the root of the screen stories.

In what order should I read Anthony Horowitz’s books?

A single universal reading order does not exist, because his bibliography includes both long-running series fiction and standalone novels (Whimsy Read (reading guide)). The approach depends on which series you want to start with.

Do I need to read Anthony Horowitz books in order?

1. Start with the Alex Rider series in publication order: Stormbreaker, Point Blanc, Skeleton Key, Eagle Strike, Scorpia, Ark Angel, Snakehead, Crocodile Tears, Scorpia Rising, Never Say Die, Nightshade, and Nightshade Revenge (Next Book in the Series (reading guide)).
2. Next, read the Hawthorne and Horowitz series sequentially: The Word Is Murder, The Sentence Is Death, A Line to Kill, and The Twist of a Knife (Anthony Horowitz (author’s official bio)).
3. Finally, read the Sherlock Holmes and James Bond novels as standalones; they require no prior order. The Diamond Brothers series works in order but can be read separately.

Three series, three rules: Alex Rider is linear, Hawthorne is sequential, and everything else is self-contained. The reader who mixes them up won’t spoil a plot, but will lose the character arcs.

What is Anthony Horowitz’s religion?

Anthony Horowitz is Jewish (Anthony Horowitz (author’s official bio)). He was born to Jewish parents and has spoken about his Jewish identity as part of who he is without it defining his work. His religion has occasionally influenced his writing, but his works are not religious in nature.

Why this matters: for readers curious about authorial background, the religion question is natural but has limited bearing on the experience of reading his novels.

What is Anthony Horowitz’s latest TV series?

His latest TV series is Magpie Murders (2022), an adaptation of his own novel (Wikipedia (encyclopedic reference)). He is involved in the upcoming Alex Rider TV series continuation. A new series titled Close to Death remains in development. His TV work continues to expand both in the UK and internationally. The pattern: Horowitz’s screen adaptations consistently return to his own literary output.

“I think of myself as a storyteller first.”

— Anthony Horowitz (Anthony Horowitz (author’s official bio))

“It’s part of who I am, but it doesn’t define my work.”

— Anthony Horowitz, on his Jewish identity (Anthony Horowitz (author’s official bio))

“A masterful homage to Conan Doyle.”

— Review of The House of Silk from The Guardian (book review)

For the reader deciding where to start with Anthony Horowitz, the choice is clear: begin with Stormbreaker if you want a young adult spy thriller that launched his career, or The House of Silk if you prefer a mature, pastiche detective novel. For the television fan, Foyle’s War remains his defining screen work, while Magpie Murders offers a bridge between his page and screen talents. For more on British literary figures, see our profile of Dylan Thomas: Biography, Cause of Death, Famous Poems & Quotes.

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