Magpie Murders

A Novel

By: Anthony Horowitz

Narrated by: Samantha Bond, Allan Corduner

Length: 15 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

From the New York Times best-selling 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 best-selling 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 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 listener becomes the detective.

©2017 Stormbreaker Productions Ltd. (P)2017 Orion UK

Brilliant!

Incredible plot twists and ingenious book within a book device. Excellent characterizations as well. Will read more from this author!

Inventive Plotting and Narration

What made the experience of listening to Magpie Murders the most enjoyable?

The readers deftly deliver the characters. The plotting is original and genuinely interesting. I wasn't dying to know whodunit or surprised that much to find out, but the journey was truly enjoyable. I really don't even like Whodunit's very much. But this one was, as billed, exceptional.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The first narrator - the editor. She's a believable struggler, and not whiny in the least. It's great that to have female characters that are strong and smart in mainstream work.

What about Samantha Bond and Allan Corduner ’s performance did you like?

Their excellent voice quality, timing, weaving in and out of characters. I love Audible's sound quality across the board.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

What's in a name? More than you might want to know.

Any additional comments?

Some of the names of the Magpie Murders characters are too awful - then you get it. Highly recommend.

A very clever who-dunnit

There is a whole lot to like about this audiobook. I really enjoyed the narration. This is one of those stories that the less you know about it the more you will enjoy it. As I have mentioned in other reviews, I have impeccable taste in audiobooks and if I tell you it's good...it's good.
As you listen to the story, you will have no problem figuring out who has influenced Mr. Horowitz and he honors those that came before him in a most masterful way. Treat yourself to this audiobook. I promise that you will enjoy it as much as I did.

75% through I was ready for it to be over.

Samantha Bond is an excellent narrator. The book itself is mediocre, pretentious and way too long.

Just ok

The first 1/2 was a fine who dunnit. The second 1/2 was not the clever twist they were striving for, but an irritating copout

A Delicious Crime Fiction Stew

My sense was, throughout this walloping tale, that Horowitz was having a whale of a good time. It added to enjoyment of the story. Got bogged down under the sheer weight of detail toward the end, then realized that, too, is a factor in classic crime fiction. This is, in fact, both homage to the genre and a map of its landscape. The great detective himself would approve.

Absolutely Wonderful

This book is a standout in so many ways and for so many reasons.
This is exceptional writing. This is character driven and super fleshed out, descriptive and funny even, at times. There is something so unique and original about the way this book is put together. It is truly akin to getting two fantastic and brilliantly written books for the price of one. Because of TMM I’ve already purchased two more of his titles and I really love and appreciate when that happens. It’s a rare treat to discover not just another book I love but to really discover an author for the first time. It’s quite nice. The performance were equally outstanding, original, and exceptional.
Easiest five star review I’ve ever given:
What a great book thank you! Oh and thank you for a COMPLETE ending as well, literally every little detail is wrapped up and I truly appreciate that also. Yes.

Very Entertaining

I really enjoyed this book. As an audiobook, I was a bit confused in the beginning by the two different narrators. I think this would have been clear if I had the actual book in my hands but I didn't understand at first that we were delving into two different stories. I appreciate how the author wove the stories together and it was enjoyable to be left in suspense while the other picked up. I do not read a lot of murder mystery books but this made me want to read more. The narrators did a beautiful job.

Definitely Satisfying Mystery

A murder mystery within a murder mystery. Sometimes I got confused, but that's not unusual. To be really picky about about a book that's all about details, I wonder how the murderer was able to wipe a computer clean without knowing the password. That's my one contribution to trying to pay attention to all the details that were actually clues.

I will say that learning the motives for the murders was at least as interesting as learning the murderers themselves. It was all well-defined in the end.

Beyond that, I marvel at the mind of an author who could create such puzzles, keep his audience engaged, and present a satisfying ending. I also appreciated the insights into writing (like a method of naming characters), editing, and publishing books.

Two mysteries for the price of one: Failed concept

Would you try another book from Anthony Horowitz and/or Samantha Bond and Allan Corduner ?

I have enjoyed Mr. Horowitz's revivals of Sherlock Holmes and James Bond and yes I will definitely continue to follow him despite his failure here.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Discard the 2015 story of the literary editor playing at detective chasing down the author's killer - it just isn't credible that she would be able to do this. Keep the Christie-like Magpie Murders yarn from 1955 with the rather interesting Atticus Pund. It's a bit forced, but it's still enjoyable.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

Both narrators did a fine job. One had good material to work with, and the other didn't.

Did Magpie Murders inspire you to do anything?

Revisit Agatha Christie.

Any additional comments?

The 2015 narrative seemed to have forgotten all about modern police and detection methods and technologies, which I thought was ridiculous. There is no way the police would have been so casual in not looking into the suspicious death of a wealthy and successful writer. There is no way a total amateur like Susan Rylande could have figured things out. Her narrative is a failure, and hence the book itself is a failure. Just let the Pund story stand on its own, and you would have a perfectly delightful English mystery. In fact, Mr. Horowitz might want to try his hand at creating the preceding 8 Atticus Pund mysteries, they might be a real pleasure.