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 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 listener becomes the detective.

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

Wow

Like nothing else I have listened to or read. Pay attention, I missed some parts driving and had to re-listen.

beware

There is a review on here that contains a major spoiler in it's first sentence. Unfortunately, I read it before finished the book, so it was a bit annoying, even though one may have guessed it. I will never know.

Even still, I listened to this book while on a long driving trip, it was easy to follow (once I knew who the characters were) and I enjoyed the journey, both literally and literaturely!

Solidly Entertaining

Without spoilers, this book is two mysteries for the price of one, although I have to say I prefer one of them significantly over the other. It's a modern take on Agatha Christie and if I have one quibble, it's how much I dislike the modern female protagonist. She falls into every cliche of what an unmarried career woman should want, and being one myself, makes me want to scream. Please, male authors: stop this at once.

That said, I found it compelling to listen to, great performances, and reminds me why I love a great whodunit. Recommended, but with some reservations.

Excellent

Very well done on all fronts. The narrators were excellent . one of the best of all the books I have listened to..

Totally Loved This!

I really, really enjoyed this audio book. The narrators were great - the male narrated the "fictional" book, and the female narrated the "real" book.

Two excellent mysteries in one, really enjoyed the "fictional" sub-book. Loved the detective, Atticus Pundt!