Author Anthony Horowitz does a weird thing with his latest mystery novel, “The Word is Murder.”

He inserts himself into the story.

He becomes a character in his own book.

He becomes a Dr. Watson-type character to his own Sherlock Holmes creation.

Perhaps, Horowitz got the idea from writing as Watson in his earlier novel, “The House of Silk,” a Sherlock Holmes story. Horowitz did a marvelous job with that earlier work. As well as the Sherlock Holmes-related sequel, “Moriarty.”

Horowitz has a penchant for the unusual as displayed last year with the novel “Magpie Murders,” a mystery within a mystery

In “The Word is Murder,” former police detective Daniel Hawthorne wants Horowitz to write his investigative adventures. Hawthorne is a brilliant detective who lost his job following a bit of a scandal. Because of his deductive genius, the police often retain Hawthorne for his skills.

Hawthorne served as a police consultant for Horowitz’s work in television. Horowitz does not like Hawthorne but reluctantly agrees to the book deal. Horowitz cannot resist the case: the mother of a famous actor is murdered only hours after she pre-paid for her funeral arrangements.

Hawthorne is equally reluctant to explain how he reaches his deductions or anything about himself. Which leaves Horowitz furious and frustrated.

The premise of the book is jarring at times. Horowitz writes about his real writing projects (actually a bit too much, bordering on narcissism), all while Hawthorne, victims, suspects and the case are presumably fiction — though Horowitz writes of them as if they really exist/happened.

Kinky Friedman made a career out of writing mystery novels where he made himself not only Watson but Holmes, too. Friedman’s series of books were great fun.

Though odd, so is Horowitz’s latest and he leaves the possibility of creating a series of “Hawthorne Investigates” books.