Wednesday, September 02, 2020

I Have Anthony Horowitz Covered!

 

At the beginning of the month, I told you that Anthony Horowitz's next book was definitely on my radar. Now that I've located the UK cover for Moonflower Murders, I thought it was time for a Cover-Off. 

Let's not waste any time and get right down to it!







Well, with that fire engine red blasting out at us, the US cover certainly grabs the eye, doesn't it? I'm surprised (and pleased) that there are no blurbs to be found, except for telling browsers that the author has been on the New York Times bestseller list. (I must be a rebel because I don't care if the books I read make it to any list or not, although it can be disheartening when authors I love to bits are consistently ignored.)

There has to be some symbolism with the numbered key and all the little doodads hanging down on strings, but the US cover-- to me-- is blah. Or should I have said meh?

On the other hand, the UK cover jumps out at me. My favorite color is blue, and the author's name and the book title stand out clearly. What grabs my attention, however, is the owl-- a noted nocturnal hunter-- swooping in for the kill on a bare-limbed moonlit night. Yes, this cover is the one for me.

Now this little factoid has absolutely nothing to do with my cover preference, but I've always loved the word "moonflower." Somehow, it's magical to me, probably because I once sat outside on warm, full moon nights in my own little moon garden where the predominant color of the flowers was white. How those blossoms glowed in the moonlight! But I digress.

Which cover of Moonflower Murders do you prefer? US? UK? Neither one? Inquiring minds would love to know!

19 comments:

  1. I'm right there with you when it comes to blurbs on covers, Cathy! It's nice when they're NOT there. As to the cover design, I think I like the UK cover better. Yes, the bright red of the US cover stands out. But there's something about those dark tree limbs and the moon, etc.. They make me curious, if that makes sense.

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  2. The UK one does it for me, gorgeous colour and beautiful owl.

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  3. Visually I prefer the UK one, but I ultimately like covers that relate to the story so hopefully there is an owl in the book

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    1. Well, the comment after yours proves that the owl does figure in the book. Thanks, Jenclair!

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  4. UK! And the owl does have symbolism--I'm reading it now. The number 12 on the key also has meaning, but much more prosaic. :)

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  5. OK, I'll be different and vote for the US cover (though I do like the blue and the owl). I surmise that all the things hanging are important to the story. Mostly, I'm just glad there will be another Horowitz book. :-)

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    1. And that's the bottom line, isn't it, Kay? :-)

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  6. Well, hands down, I'd say that the British cover is artistically more beautiful, and the owl flying in the moonlight just works and is pleasing to look at.
    The U.S. cover is eye-catching and I think some people will buy the book based on that red and the key.
    Both book covers will sell books. Mainly, I think Horowitz's name will sell the books.
    Can't wait for the review.

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    1. I just got approved for an advance reading copy. Yippee!

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  7. Aha! I wondered what significance "moonflowers" had in the title and found out: These lovely white morning glories are poisonour to humans and animals. So the plot thickens.

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    1. I looked them up and recognized them immediately from the photo. Datura. It can be deadly, and I've seen it many times while out exploring ghost towns here in Arizona. I impressed a docent at the Alwick Castle Gardens in England with my knowledge of the plant. Me? I was getting a kick out of wandering through their Poison Garden. :-)

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  8. Another 'vote' for the UK cover here. It's more visually arresting, and the owl as nocturnal hunter is a nice play on the 'moon' aspect of the title.

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  9. The owl really adds menace to the cover design. I would pick up that book. I might pick up the U.S. book.
    Can't wait for the review.

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    1. There will be one, since I've been approved for an ARC.

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