Meet New Books
Book Cover

Magpie Murders

Book 1 in the series:Susan Ryeland

Save:
Find on Amazon

'Magpie Murders' by Anthony Horowitz is a cleverly crafted mystery novel that presents a story within a story. It follows Susan Ryeland, an editor, as she delves into the mysteries surrounding a manuscript by a popular author, Alan Conway, which goes missing after his suspicious death. The narrative seamlessly weaves between the traditional British whodunit style of Conway's manuscript and the real-life mystery Susan finds herself entangled in, creating a metafictional delight for mystery fans. expertly pays homage to classic detective novels while offering a fresh and inventive take on the genre.

The writing style of 'Magpie Murders' is described as intelligent, classic, and reminiscent of Agatha Christie's works, with intricate plots, well-developed characters, and clever narrative devices. The book's structure, with two interconnected mysteries and a metafictional approach, keeps readers engaged and guessing until the satisfying conclusion. Horowitz's ability to blend different writing styles, explore themes of crime fiction, and deliver unexpected twists and turns throughout the narrative showcases his talent as a mystery writer.

Characters:

The characters are vividly drawn, with Susan Ryeland as a central figure navigating two intricately woven mysteries, supported by a colorful cast of fictional detectives and real-life figures.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style blends classic detective fiction with modern storytelling, featuring rich descriptions and a meta-narrative that adds depth to the storytelling.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot features a dual narrative where a murder mystery written by a fictional author unfolds alongside the investigation into his suspicious death, interlinking the two tales with clever twists.

Setting:

The setting oscillates between a cozy English village in the past and the present-day world, reflecting the classic ambiance of vintage murder mysteries.

Pacing:

The pacing varies, with a blend of slow-building tension leading to climactic reveals, balancing the richly detailed storytelling with suspenseful moments.
A bottle of wine. A family-sized packet of Nacho Cheese Flavoured Tortilla Chips and a jar of hot salsa dip. A packet of cigarettes on the side (I know, I know). The rain hammering against the windows...

Notes:

Magpie Murders is a mystery novel that features a book within a book structure.
The novel is both a whodunit and a commentary on the mystery genre.
The protagonist is an editor named Susan Ryeland who reads the manuscript of a murder mystery novel.
The main murder mystery takes place in 1955 and focuses on detective Atticus Pund.
The author, Alan Conway, is a famous crime novelist who has submitted his last manuscript before his death.
When Susan reads the manuscript, she discovers that the final chapters are missing, leading to a real-life investigation into Conway's death.
The book is heavily inspired by classic British crime fiction, particularly Agatha Christie.
The narrative intertwines real-life events with the fictional plot, creating a metafictional experience.
The story critiques the publishing industry and the relationship between authors and their creations.
Horowitz employs clever wordplay and anagrams throughout the novel, adding layers to the mystery.

From The Publisher:

Anthony Award for Best Novel Nominee

Barry Award for Best Novel Nominee

Macavity Award for Best Novel

LibraryReads #1 Pick

"Magpie Murders is a double puzzle for puzzle fans, who don't often get the classicism they want from contemporary thrillers." -Janet Maslin, The New York Times

New York Times bestseller | Nominee for the Anthony Award for Best Novel | Nominee for the Barry Award for Best Novel | Winner of the Macavity Award for Best Novel | #1 Indie Next Pick | NPR best book of 2017 | Amazon best book of 2017 | Washington Post best book of 2017 | Esquire best book of 2017

From the New York Times bestselling author of Moriarty and Trigger Mortis, this fiendishly brilliant, riveting thriller weaves a classic whodunit worthy of Agatha Christie into a chilling, ingeniously original modern-day mystery.

When editor Susan Ryeland is given the manuscript of Alan Conway's latest novel, she has no reason to think it will be much different from any of his others. After working with the bestselling crime writer for years, she's intimately familiar with his detective, Atticus Pünd, who solves mysteries disturbing sleepy English villages. An homage to queens of classic British crime such as Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers, Alan's traditional formula has proved hugely successful. So successful that Susan must continue to put up with his troubling behavior if she wants to keep her job.

Conway's latest tale has Atticus Pünd investigating a murder at Pye Hall, a local manor house. Yes, there are dead bodies and a host of intriguing suspects, but the more Susan reads, the more she's convinced that there is another story hidden in the pages of the manuscript: one of real-life jealousy, greed, ruthless ambition, and murder.

Masterful, clever, and relentlessly suspenseful, Magpie Murders is a deviously dark take on vintage English crime fiction in which the reader becomes the detective.

Ratings (117)

Incredible (11)
Loved It (51)
Liked It (28)
It Was OK (16)
Did Not Like (11)

Reader Stats (223):

Read It (113)
Want To Read (88)
Did Not Finish (5)
Not Interested (17)

9 comment(s)

It Was OK
1 week

3.5 stars. This one was interesting, a mystery inside of another mystery. How fun. An editor reads the latest manuscript of a book but the more she reads the more it reveals and it seems to be a real life mystery inside of it. I didn't have any issues with it but I didn't get as invested in it as some other mystery I've read. But it was enjoyable enough and I would read more by this author

 
Incredible
1 month

Good whodunnit! I have a few feminist qualms but i forget them now so I suppose they don’t matter that much!

 
Loved It
2 months

4.5 stars.

 
Loved It
3 months

****4.0****

Let me start by Telling that this is a CLEVER book. Very clever!!

There's a mystery inside a mystery and the both mysteries are connected through the writer Alan Conway and his characters.

When Alan Conway's book "Magpie Murders", the last of his Atticus Pünd series comes for a manuscript reading to his publisher Susan Ryeland, little did she know that Alan conway is going to be dead soon.

“The most obvious conclusions are the ones I try to avoid”

In Magpie Murders, the whole setting is a kind of Agatha Christie setting, a calm english village, suddenly in limelight because of murders and everyone is a suspect. Sir Magnus Pye's HouseKeeper, Mary Elizabeth Blakiston is found dead at the stairs of Pye hall, which looks like an accident. And within 2 weeks Sir Magnus Pye himself is found dead,beheaded with a sword that was displayed with a full suit of armour in Pye Hall. Are the murders connected? The gossip on who did it is going on in the village. Atticus Pünd comes into picture and solves the case.

“Rumours and malicious gossip are like bindweed. They cannot be cut back, even with the sword of truth. I can, however, offer you this comfort. Given time, they will wither and die of their own volition.”

But when she comes to know he is dead (suicide because of his illness) and the final chapters of his newest book are missing, Susan's detective instincts kick-in. She finds out that the character's of Conway's last book are actually taken from his own life and he has brutally described them. Susan is somehow convinced that Alan Conway is murdered. And somehow the missing last chapters of his book will explain the murders, that is Murders that takes place in Magpie Murders and Alan Conway's also.

“Fiction merely allows us a glimpse of the alternative.”

Narrated is a very gripping way and both the mysteries keep you at the edge. Very clever plot and a page turner.

Happy Reading!!

 
It Was OK
3 months

Better main characters

 
Incredible
4 months

this is easily in my top ten favorite mystery novels, for several reasons. I actually listened to it and the narration by Stephanie Bond was excellent, I enjoy books within books , I love golden age mysteries ( usually set between WW1 and WW2), I love books about the writing or publishing industry, I just like the 'Agatha Christie' vibe that this book gave off .

 
Loved It
6 months

Loved the device of having a murder mystery within a murder mystery, and found both parts of the book compelling and satisfying

 
It Was OK
7 months

Started off great, but half way through it dragged on. Interesting idea of trying to draw a parallel between ‘the book’ and ‘real life’ characters.

The Conway part of the book could not pull me in. Just wanted to get to the Atticus Pund ending after a point.

 
Loved It
9 months

Tribute to Agatha Christie

Classic detective style

Dual mysteries

Brilliant storytelling

Engaging characters

Witty humor

Metafictional elements

Reflective of Christie's style

Originality in homage

Intriguing plot twists

Character parallels

Clever motives

Enjoyable surprises

Anticipation for future works

 
 
Meet New Books is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products and services on amazon.com and its subsidiaries.
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.