Anthony Horowitz TV Shows & Movies That Are Perfect For Cozy Mystery Fans

Anthony Horowitz is known around the world for his gripping mystery novels and captivating television shows.

With a career spanning over four decades, he has penned numerous bestselling books and scripted several hit TV series and movies.

From the thrilling adventures of Alex Rider to the intricate whodunits of Susan Ryeland, Horowitz’s works have us constantly scratching our heads, wondering how on earth he has managed to create yet another incredible puzzle for us to solve.

So, just how many of his books and novels have been adapted for TV? Has he created any original TV shows that don’t have books?

And, what is it that makes them a must-watch for cozy crime enthusiasts?

Plus, we’ll also take a look at what’s coming down the pipeline in terms of new books and shows.

TV Adaptations of Books

Alex Rider

The Alex Rider series, which includes Stormbreaker (2000), Eagle Strike (2003), and Snakehead (2007), among others, was adapted into a TV series in 2020.

The show, also titled Alex Rider, premiered on Amazon Prime Video and received positive reviews for its faithful adaptation of the books.

Magpie Murders

Magpie Murders (2016), the first novel in the Susan Ryeland series, was adapted into a six-part TV drama series in 2022.

The show, which aired on PBS and BBC, features a unique story-within-a-story format, where Susan Ryeland investigates the murder of a mystery author while also delving into the fictional world of the author’s latest novel.

Moonflower Murders

Moonflower Murders (2020), the sequel to Magpie Murders, was also adapted into a TV series in 2024.

The show continues the story of Susan Ryeland as she investigates another murder mystery. This time, she is asked to return from Greece to find a woman who has gone missing.

The link is that Cecily Treherne was reading an Atticus Pund novel, loosely based on an actual murder that took place at her family hotel, when she discovered that the wrong man was accused of the crime.

Now, Susan must go back through the book she previously edited and figure out who the real killer is, as well as what happened to Cecily.

Original TV Shows

Nine Bodies in A Mexican Morgue

Written by Horowitz and directed by Viviane Andereggen and Brian O’Malley, Nine Bodies in A Mexican Morgue stars Eric McCormack (Will & Grace), David Ajala, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson (Trapped), and Siobhán McSweeney (Derry Girls).

With six 45-minute episodes, the series aired in 2025 in the UK on BBC and in the US on Fubo and MGM+.

The story follows a plane carrying a small group of passengers, crew, and pilot that crashes in the Mexican jungle.

All the bodies are recovered and placed in a morgue…but it turns out that only one of them died in the crash.

The other passengers were murdered afterward, each one in a unique way. But by whom? And why?

With hints of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue is far more fiendish!

Like many of his previous adaptations, this too was produced by Eleventh Hour Films, a company founded by Jill Green, who also happens to be his wife.

Incidentally, Sony acquired a majority stake in the company in July 2024 so cha-ching for Jill Green!!

New Blood

Currently available on BBC iPlayer is New Blood, created and written by Horowitz, and was first released in 2016.

Six years after a sinister drug trial in India goes horribly wrong, a young teacher is found dead.

Two investigators – DC Arrash ‘Rash’ Sayyad (Ben Tavassoli) and junior Serious Fraud Office investigator Stefan Kowolski (Mark Strepan) – are separately drawn in, investigating different strands of the same case.

As a war begins to rage between two major pharmaceutical companies and with two hit-women on their trail, Rash and Stefan’s paths unexpectedly cross, forcing them to join together to uncover the truth.

The show is made up of seven episodes, which cover three separate cases.

Foyle’s War

Foyle’s War, a detective drama series created by Horowitz, aired from 2002 to 2015.

The show, which follows the investigations of Detective Superintendent Christopher Foyle during World War II, was praised for its historical accuracy and engaging storylines.

Horowitz wrote and executive-produced the series, which won several awards, including the Edgar Allan Poe Award for ‘TV Episode Teleplay’ in 2016.

Injustice

Injustice, a TV mini-series written by Horowitz, aired in 2011. This show follows a lawyer who becomes embroiled in a murder investigation and must navigate the complexities of the justice system.

Collision

Collision, a five-part miniseries created by Horowitz, aired on ITV in 2009.

The show explores the interconnected lives of several characters involved in a major road accident.

Murder in Mind

Murder in Mind is an anthology series created by Anthony Horowitz that aired on BBC One from 2001 to 2003.

This crime drama-thriller explored various murderous themes, with each episode presenting a self-contained story told from the murderer’s perspective.

With 23 episodes across three series, each episode features a new cast and story, and explores various aspects of murder, including psychological factors, moral dilemmas, and the consequences of criminal actions.

Guest stars include David Suchet (Poirot), Keeley Hawes, Bhasker Patel, and Kevin Whately (Morse and Lewis).

Other Notable Works

Midsomer Murders

Horowitz contributed to the popular TV series Midsomer Murders, writing several episodes between 1997 and 2000.

The show, known for its quirky characters and intricate murder mysteries, has become a staple of British television with its 25th season airing in 2025.

Poirot

Horowitz also wrote for the long-running TV series Agatha Christie’s Poirot, which aired from 1989 to 2013.

His episodes, which included adaptations of Christie’s novels and short stories, were praised for their faithful interpretation of the original works.

In total, Horowitz wrote/adapted nine episodes, which are:

• Evil Under the Sun – Season 8, Episode 1
• Lord Edgware Dies – Season 7, Episode 2
• Murder on the Links – Season 6, Episode 3
• Hickory Dickory Dock – Season 6, Episode 2
• Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan – Season 5, Episode 8
• Dead Man’s Mirror – Season 5, Episode 7
• The Yellow Iris – Season 5, Episode 3
• The Theft of the Royal Ruby – Season 3, Episode 9
• The Mystery of the Spanish Chest – Season 3, Episode 8
• The Double Clue – Season 3, Episode 7
• The Million Dollar Bond Robbery – Season 3, Episode 3

Anthony Horowitz Movies

Horowitz penned the screenplay for Just Ask for Diamond, a 1989 adaptation of his Diamond Brothers novel, The Falcon’s Malteser.

The film boasted an impressive cast, including Bill Paterson, Jimmy Nail, Roy Kinnear, Susannah York, Michael Robbins, and Patricia Hodge, with Colin Dale and Dursley McLinden portraying Nick and Tim Diamond.

In 2003, Horowitz wrote the screenplay for The Gathering, a feature film starring Christina Ricci.

He also brought Alex Rider to the big screen, writing the screenplay for Stormbreaker, the first major motion picture in the series.

Upcoming Anthony Horowitz TV Shows

I’m not sure if Anthony Horowitz ever sleeps because not only does he have the third installment of the Susan Ryeland series, Marble Hall Murders, coming out in September 2026, but he has also confirmed that he is working on the script for a Hawthorne & Horowitz TV show.

Marble Hall Murders

Marble Hall Murders brings Lesley Manville back as book editor-turned-sleuth Susan Ryeland for one last, twisty literary mystery.

Hired to edit a new Atticus Pünd continuation by a troubled young writer, Susan realizes the manuscript conceals the solution to a real, decades-old murder, and she is suddenly a suspect herself.

As Atticus investigates a deadly tangle of secrets in 1955 Corfu, fiction and reality collide with deadly consequences.

The show will air on PBS Masterpiece in the US and BBC in the UK.

So There You Have It

From his early days of dramatizing Hercule Poirot episodes in 1991 to his upcoming Marble Hall Murders, Anthony Horowitz has been writing and adapting TV shows for more than 30 years.

He has written over 50 books across various genres, including adventure, mystery, thriller, horror, and fantasy.

In addition to novels, he has also written short story collections, graphic novels, and books adapted from his television work.

Fingers crossed he keeps writing for many more years to come.