Thomas Ray's Reviews > Moonflower Murders

Moonflower Murders (sequel to Magpie Murders), Anthony Horowitz (1955-, “living in twilight between this world and the one he creates,” “Nightcaps” chapter), © 2020 but set in June 2016 (in the book, 6/20/2016 is a Friday; actually it was a Monday: Agatha Christie, but not Anthony Horowitz, takes trouble to get such details right), 9780062955470 ebook

A bit grim.

Enough characters that you'll want to make a list:

Atticus Pünd, fictional character, detective, in nine books-within-the-book, by Alan Conway, including /Atticus Pünd Takes the Case/ (#3, the entire 72,000 words of which is included in, and constitutes about a third of, /Moonflower Murders/, set in 1953, written in 2008, published 2009. Atticus Pünd is 62 years old in 1953.) The full list:
1. Atticus Pünd Investigates
2. No Rest for the Wicked
3. Atticus Pünd Takes the Case
4. Night Comes Calling
5. Atticus Pünd’s Christmas
6. Gin & Cyanide
7. Red Roses for Atticus
8. Atticus Pünd Abroad
9. Magpie Murders

Alan Conway, gay, deceased author of Atticus Pünd mysteries, including Magpie Murders (the book-within-the-book-of-the-same-name). Murdered 2014.

Melissa Johnson, Alan Conway’s ex-wife of 8 years, mother of their son. They separated in 2007. She lived next door to Branlow Hall at the time of the 2008 murder there. Madeline Cain, Atticus Pünd’s assistant in Atticus Pünd Takes the Case, is modeled on Melissa Conway.

Freddy Conway, their son, born 1996.

James Taylor, Alan Conway’s partner and heir. James Fraser, Atticus Pünd’s assistant in the fourth Atticus Pünd novel, is modeled on James Taylor.

Ian, James Taylor’s current partner.

Sajid Kahn, solicitor, living in Framlingham, Suffolk, discovered Alan Conway’s body in 2014. (The Trehernes, the MacNeils, the Williamses, and Katie Leith, see below, are clients, as were Frank Parris, and Alan Conway.)

Craig Andrews, age 44, author. Susan Ryeland had published his first novel. Had been a successful banker for 20 years before retiring as head of Goldman Sachs’ UK Shares division and beginning his writing career in 2012 at age 40. “Who in their right mind would want to marry a writer?”

John Andrews, Craig Andrews’ brother, former chief executive of a bank, imprisoned for 3 years for illegal financial dealings in 2008.

Michael J. Bealey, Orion Books.


Susan Ryeland, age 48, part owner (for the past 2 years) of the Polydorous, a 12-room hotel on the island of Crete, former (2003-2014) editor at Cloverleaf Books.

Katie Leith, age 46, Susan Ryeland's sister, lives near Woodbridge, Suffolk.

Gordon Leith, accountant, Katie’s husband.

Jack Leith, age 21, their son.

Daisy Leith, age 19, their daughter.


Andreas Patakis, Susan Ryeland’s partner, part owner of the Polydorous

Panos, chef at the Polydorus

Vangelis, waiter, guitarist, at the Polydorus


Lawrence and Pauline Treherne, owners of a luxury hotel, Branlow Hall, near Woodbridge, Suffolk. Offered Susan Ryeland £10,000 to find their missing daughter. (Branlow Hall has a "Moonflower wing." The fictional book, /Atticus Pünd Takes the Case/, is set in the "Moonflower Hotel." Lance and Maureen Gardener are characters in /Atticus Pünd Takes the Case/, modeled on Lawrence and Pauline Treherne.)

Cecily MacNeil, age 34, one of the Trehernes’ two daughters, worked as general manager of Branlow Hall at the time of Frank Parris’s murder, interviewed Stefan Codrescu and hired him. Disappeared June 11, 2016. Samantha Collins, the doctor’s wife in /Atticus Pünd Takes the Case/, is modeled on Cecily Treherne.

Aidan MacNeil, age 32, Cecily’s husband. Does public relations at the hotel. Moved from Glasgow to London in 2001. Met Cecily in August 2005. They moved into Branlow Cottage together in December 2007. Algernon Marsh, swindler, doctor’s brother-in-law in /Atticus Pünd Takes the Case/, is modeled on Aidan MacNeil.

Jodie MacNeil, Aidan’s sister, caretaker of their mother.

Roxana, 7-yr-old daughter of Cecily and Aidan, born January 2009.

Eloise Radmani, widowed, from Marseille, Roxana’s nanny since March 2009.

Bear, Cecily's shaggy dog (it's that kind of story!), a golden retriever. Kimba, chow, in /Atticus Pünd Takes the Case/, is modeled on Bear!

Lisa Treherne, age 36, the Trehernes’ other daughter, does the accounts, contracts, human resources, and stock control at Branlow Hall. p. 51, location 671. Melissa James, actress, in /Atticus Pünd Takes the Case/, is modeled on Lisa Treherne.

Derek Endicott, night manager at Branlow Hall, on duty the night Frank Parris was murdered. Eric Chandler, actress’s butler in /Atticus Pünd Takes the Case/, is modeled on Derek.

Gwyneth Endicott, Derek’s mother. Phyllis Chandler, actress’s housekeeper in /Atticus Pünd Takes the Case/, is modeled on Gwyneth Endicott.

Inga, Danish, works reception at Branlow Hall; helps with Roxana sometimes

Lars, Danish, bellman and barman at Branlow Hall

Stefan Codrescu, Romanian, maintenance guy at Branlow Hall, convicted of murdering Frank Parris, sentenced to life in prison. Age 22 on his arrest, June 19, 2008. Pled guilty. Simon Cox (Sīmanis Čaks), would-be film producer in /Atticus Pünd Takes the Case/, is modeled on Stefan Codrescu.

Helen, head of housekeeping in 2008 at Branlow Hall, died 2014.

Natasha Mälk, Estonian, maid at Branlow Hall in 2008 who discovered the body. Nancy Mitchell, receptionist in /Atticus Pünd Takes the Case/, is modeled on Natasha Mälk.

Marcus, runs the spa at Branlow Hall in 2016.

Lionel Corby, Australian. Born 1985. Relocated to England 2005. Branlow Hall spa manager in 2008. Dr. Leonard Collins, character in /Atticus Pünd Takes the Case/, is modeled on Lionel Corby.

Anton, chef at Branlow Hall in 2008.

William, groundsman at Branlow Hall in 2008.

Stavia, volunteer in a charity shop in Framlingham, Suffolk.


Frank Parris, flamboyantly gay, was murdered ~8 yrs ago ("Friday," June 15, 2008, which was a Sunday) at Branlow Hall on the same day (Saturday) Cecily Treherne and Aidan MacNeil were married (at Branlow Hall). He checked in Thursday. Was age 53 when he died. His Australian advertising agency, Sundowner, failed, May 2008. Frank had gone to Australia in 2005. Francis Pendleton, actress Melissa James’ husband in /Atticus Pünd Takes the Case/, is modeled on Frank Parris.

Martin Williams, lives at Heath House in Westleton (since 1998); Frank Parris visited the Williamses the day he was killed.

Joanne Williams, Martin's wife, Frank Parris's sister.

George Saunders, retired headmaster, was originally booked into the room Frank Parris was murdered in, was shifted to a different room before he checked in.


Detective Chief Superintendent Richard Locke, headed the investigations into Frank Parris's murder in 2008 and Alan Conway’s murder in 2014. Is investigating the disappearance of Cecily in 2016.

Detective Inspector Jane Cregan, first cop on the scene of Frank Parris’s murder in 2008.