Stars: ****

I was recommended Magpie Murders by a lot of people, but when I first started read this book about a year ago, I got a few pages in and then put it down again. It didn’t immediately grab my attention.

But when I picked it back up and gave it another go (I know sometimes when I start a book I’m just not in the right head space for it!), I found myself really immersed in the story: it’s like nothing I’ve read before!

Magpie Murders is a story within a story.

Susan Ryland is an editor for Alan Conway, a crime fiction writer with a successful series of detective books. His detective, Atticus Pünd, is in the hearts of many of his fans and there’s even talk of a TV show.

But when Susan begins to read the manuscript of the new book, it almost ruins her life. Why? We have to read both Alan Conway’s book, and the main story to find out!

It was full of red herrings, numerous motives and a wide cast of characters who all developed the story and plot in their own way. In short, it contained everything a good murder ‘whodunnit’ story should have!

I’m really glad I decided to pick this book back up again!