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The Magpies #3
Last of the Magpies
The chilling conclusion to the #1 bestseller The Magpies.
Winner of the Most Elusive Villain award at the Dead Good Readers Awards 2019
Twelve months ago, Jamie Knight walked straight into Lucy Newton’s trap. Both Jamie and his ex-wife Kirsty barely survived. Now, with the police investigation into Lucy’s disappearance going nowhere, Jamie teams up with a true crime podcaster to track down his nemesis.
But can Jamie persuade Kirsty to help? Can Kirsty forgive him for his past mistakes? And who, if anyone, will survive the final showdown? Featuring extracts from Lucy’s secret memoir, Last of the Magpies brings the trilogy to a shocking conclusion.
Winner of the Most Elusive Villain award at the Dead Good Readers Awards 2019
Twelve months ago, Jamie Knight walked straight into Lucy Newton’s trap. Both Jamie and his ex-wife Kirsty barely survived. Now, with the police investigation into Lucy’s disappearance going nowhere, Jamie teams up with a true crime podcaster to track down his nemesis.
But can Jamie persuade Kirsty to help? Can Kirsty forgive him for his past mistakes? And who, if anyone, will survive the final showdown? Featuring extracts from Lucy’s secret memoir, Last of the Magpies brings the trilogy to a shocking conclusion.
First published April 30, 2019
2031 people are currently reading
1907 people want to read
About the author
Mark Edwards
36 books5,910 followersMark Edwards writes psychological thrillers in which scary things happen to ordinary people.
He loves hearing from readers and always responds. Mark can be contacted in the following ways:
Email: mark@markedwardsauthor.com
Twitter @mredwards
Facebook/Instagram: @markedwardsauthor
You can download a free box set of 'Short Sharp Shockers' by visiting www.markedwardsauthor.com/free
Mark has sold over 5 million books since his first solo novel, The Magpies, was published in 2013 and has topped the bestseller lists numerous times. His other novels include Follow You Home, Here To Stay and The Psychopath Next Door. He has also published six books co-authored with Louise Voss. His next novel, The Wasp Trap, will be published in the UK/Australia in July 2025 and the US/Canada in September 2025.
Mark lives in the West Midlands, England, with his wife, their three children, two cats and a golden retriever.
He loves hearing from readers and always responds. Mark can be contacted in the following ways:
Email: mark@markedwardsauthor.com
Twitter @mredwards
Facebook/Instagram: @markedwardsauthor
You can download a free box set of 'Short Sharp Shockers' by visiting www.markedwardsauthor.com/free
Mark has sold over 5 million books since his first solo novel, The Magpies, was published in 2013 and has topped the bestseller lists numerous times. His other novels include Follow You Home, Here To Stay and The Psychopath Next Door. He has also published six books co-authored with Louise Voss. His next novel, The Wasp Trap, will be published in the UK/Australia in July 2025 and the US/Canada in September 2025.
Mark lives in the West Midlands, England, with his wife, their three children, two cats and a golden retriever.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 437 reviews
February 12, 2020
Jamie Knight is disappointed that the police can't find Lucy Newton (killer and former neighbor who harassed Jamie and his girlfriend Kirsty). A year has passed since he last encountered Lucy and still nothing, no sign of her. Jamie teams up with a podcaster that is good at finding people. Can Jamie get his former love (Kirsty) to help out? Will they find Lucy? What secrets will be revealed?
Terrific conclusion to "The Magpies" series. I suggest, if you choose to read these books, you read "The Magpies" first to fully understand what is going on in the follow-up short-stories. I liked how Kirsty got a bit more gutsy in this story and tried to overcome her fears. This book had some chilling moments, surprises, suspense, action... A satisfactory conclusion to the series.
Terrific conclusion to "The Magpies" series. I suggest, if you choose to read these books, you read "The Magpies" first to fully understand what is going on in the follow-up short-stories. I liked how Kirsty got a bit more gutsy in this story and tried to overcome her fears. This book had some chilling moments, surprises, suspense, action... A satisfactory conclusion to the series.
February 16, 2025
An action-packed, adrenaline rush, satisfying conclusion to the ‘Magpies' series!
As some of you may recall, The Magpies is my least favourite Mark Edwards book, and the only full length novel of his that wasn't a five star read for me. Still, I enjoyed it enough to want to find out how it all ended for Jamie, Kirsty, and Lucy, and there was no way I was going to miss the chance to read a Mark Edwards story. I went in thinking this was a full length novel, but when I looked down and realised I was at 11% and only on chapter three, I concluded this wasn't the case, so just to clear up any misconceptions, Last of the Magpies is an 100 page, 16 chapter, novella.
I have to say, I really enjoyed this one, and it even made me nostalgic for The Magpies. Lucy's first draft auto-biography (her real story) chilled me to the bone, and also served to nudge my memory regarding the plot of the first two installments, because it's been a year since I read The Magpies. A character from The Lucky Ones made a cameo appearance, which I own, but haven't yet gotten around to reading, so I'm really fired up to read that one now. The podcast aspect of this one had me particularly enthralled.
I must admit, I teared up a bit when it ended. Fans of this series, and Mark Edwards in general, will devour this one.
I'd like to thank Netgalley, Amazon Publishing UK – Thomas & Mercer, and Mark Edwards for the e-ARC.
Release Date: 30th April, 2019.
As some of you may recall, The Magpies is my least favourite Mark Edwards book, and the only full length novel of his that wasn't a five star read for me. Still, I enjoyed it enough to want to find out how it all ended for Jamie, Kirsty, and Lucy, and there was no way I was going to miss the chance to read a Mark Edwards story. I went in thinking this was a full length novel, but when I looked down and realised I was at 11% and only on chapter three, I concluded this wasn't the case, so just to clear up any misconceptions, Last of the Magpies is an 100 page, 16 chapter, novella.
I have to say, I really enjoyed this one, and it even made me nostalgic for The Magpies. Lucy's first draft auto-biography (her real story) chilled me to the bone, and also served to nudge my memory regarding the plot of the first two installments, because it's been a year since I read The Magpies. A character from The Lucky Ones made a cameo appearance, which I own, but haven't yet gotten around to reading, so I'm really fired up to read that one now. The podcast aspect of this one had me particularly enthralled.
I must admit, I teared up a bit when it ended. Fans of this series, and Mark Edwards in general, will devour this one.
I'd like to thank Netgalley, Amazon Publishing UK – Thomas & Mercer, and Mark Edwards for the e-ARC.
Release Date: 30th April, 2019.
February 13, 2025
The ending to this series was very satisfying. Fantastic character development and a phenomenal plot which does not let up in intensity and intrigue from the start of book one till the very end of number three. Mark Edwards never ceases to "wow" me.
September 19, 2019
EXCERPT: The room smelled of dust, like it hadn’t been cleaned for a long time. If this was Paul's parents house, where the hell were they? There was a churning sensation in Jamie's stomach and his mouth was so dry he wasn't sure if he would be able to speak. A memory seized him, a memory of the time he had entered Lucy and Chris's flat,searching for evidence. He remembered what he had found there. The CCTV system. The spectacles from Lucy’s victims. That night had changed his life forever, and a wave of dread crashed over him as he realised this could be another night like that one. That, after tonight, things might never be the same.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Twelve months ago, Jamie Knight walked straight into Lucy Newton’s trap. Both Jamie and his ex-wife Kirsty barely survived. Now, with the police investigation into Lucy’s disappearance going nowhere, Jamie teams up with a true crime podcaster to track down his nemesis.
But can Jamie persuade Kirsty to help? Can Kirsty forgive him for his past mistakes? And who, if anyone, will survive the final showdown? Featuring extracts from Lucy’s secret memoir, Last of the Magpies brings the trilogy to a shocking conclusion.
MY THOUGHTS: While I generally love Mark Edwards writing, I am not this series biggest fan. I always felt that I was on the outside looking in, that I was being told what happened rather than living through it as it happened. Not something I am accustomed to feeling about Mark's writing.
I felt that the whole thing was a bit OTT, that everything was too extreme, almost as though it was written for shock factor rather than a good plot development. Sorry Mark, but I far prefer all the other books that I have read by you to this series.
THE AUTHOR: Mark has sold over 2 million books since his first solo novel, The Magpies, was published in 2013. Since then he has topped the bestseller lists several times. His other novels are Because She Loves Me, Follow You Home, What You Wish For, The Devil's Work, The Lucky Ones, The Retreat and In Her Shadow. He has also published A Murder of Magpies (a short sequel to The Magpies) and six books co-authored with Louise Voss.
Mark lives in the West Midlands, England, with his wife, their three children, two cats and a golden retriever.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Last of the Magpies by Mark Edwards for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Twelve months ago, Jamie Knight walked straight into Lucy Newton’s trap. Both Jamie and his ex-wife Kirsty barely survived. Now, with the police investigation into Lucy’s disappearance going nowhere, Jamie teams up with a true crime podcaster to track down his nemesis.
But can Jamie persuade Kirsty to help? Can Kirsty forgive him for his past mistakes? And who, if anyone, will survive the final showdown? Featuring extracts from Lucy’s secret memoir, Last of the Magpies brings the trilogy to a shocking conclusion.
MY THOUGHTS: While I generally love Mark Edwards writing, I am not this series biggest fan. I always felt that I was on the outside looking in, that I was being told what happened rather than living through it as it happened. Not something I am accustomed to feeling about Mark's writing.
I felt that the whole thing was a bit OTT, that everything was too extreme, almost as though it was written for shock factor rather than a good plot development. Sorry Mark, but I far prefer all the other books that I have read by you to this series.
THE AUTHOR: Mark has sold over 2 million books since his first solo novel, The Magpies, was published in 2013. Since then he has topped the bestseller lists several times. His other novels are Because She Loves Me, Follow You Home, What You Wish For, The Devil's Work, The Lucky Ones, The Retreat and In Her Shadow. He has also published A Murder of Magpies (a short sequel to The Magpies) and six books co-authored with Louise Voss.
Mark lives in the West Midlands, England, with his wife, their three children, two cats and a golden retriever.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Last of the Magpies by Mark Edwards for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
April 13, 2019
Twelve months ago, Jamie Knight walked right into Lucy Newtons trap. Both Jamie and his ex-wife Kirsty barely survived. Jamie has now teamed up with a true crime podcaster to track down his nemesis.
You will have to read the first two books in this series before you ready his one as it can't be read as a standalone. It's just a novella, so it will take the average reader about an hour to get through it. In this third instalment, Jamie and Kirsty are still trying to get over their ordeal that happened in Mount Pleasant. With the police getting nowhere in their search for Lucy, could a podcaster help where the police have failed? I'm actually quite sad that this is the last book in this series.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK, Thomas & Mercer and the author Mark Edwards for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
You will have to read the first two books in this series before you ready his one as it can't be read as a standalone. It's just a novella, so it will take the average reader about an hour to get through it. In this third instalment, Jamie and Kirsty are still trying to get over their ordeal that happened in Mount Pleasant. With the police getting nowhere in their search for Lucy, could a podcaster help where the police have failed? I'm actually quite sad that this is the last book in this series.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK, Thomas & Mercer and the author Mark Edwards for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 22, 2019
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Mark Edwards, and Amazon Publishing UK for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
The series that first pulled me into the web of Mark Edwards’ writing is finally coming to an end. Perhaps one of his most eerie psychological thriller series, The Magpies, pushed an unsuspecting couple—Jamie and Kirsty Knight—to the brink. After a harrowing few pieces, this novella seeks to tie it all together. After their horrible experience at the hands of their neighbour, Lucy Newton,, Jamie and Kirsty are no longer on speaking terms, having gone their separate ways. Jamie is still trying to bring closure to things, made all the more difficult when Lucy escaped from prison in a past story. Now on the lam, Jamie seeks to find her, trolling through the various fan sites that have arisen, parsing through the comments of the ‘Newtonites’ to find the woman who has wreaked such havoc. Jamie turns to a podcaster with much experience bringing justice in a world where knee-jerk solutions appear to be the norm. As Jamie and Emma Fox begin their trek to find Lucy, the official story remains untold, at least from the victims’ perspective. Lucy published her tell-all, citing innocence, which the public devoured in short order, but Jamie has yet to really seek to tell his version of events. When he approaches Kirsty with the idea, she is anything but happy, even though she would love nothing more than to put the Lucy narrative to rest. When Emma follows a lead and falls off the grid, Jamie cannot help but wonder if she has finally found Lucy. Now it’s time to decide, follow the digital breadcrumbs and potentially face Lucy, or ignore it and hope Lucy truly does disappear forever? The choice is surely not easy! Edwards does well with this finale, though using the novella format, he may have inadvertently rushed things and left series fans a little deflated. Still, I’d recommend this one for fans of the Magpies collection, if only to get a sense of closure.
Mark Edwards does well with his writing, usually able to pull the reader into the middle of things from the get-go. His Magpies series seems to have garnered the most fame for him, as I have seen scores of people speaking about it and anticipating new work on the subject of Lucy Newton. He’s gone so far as to reference her in his other work, for the attentive reader. With this piece, Edwards must not only tie-off loose ends, but also work to deliver new information to keep the reader hooked. Working with the Jamie Knight and Kirsty characters, their past pain and anguish is less of a discussion point here, but rather the attempt to get closure. The reader has little time to really see what they have been doing to bide their time since the last instalment, as it would seem trying to bring normalcy is the sole item on the agenda. Lucy Newton’s character finally gives us some of the context series fans have been searching for. Edwards injects unpublished chapters of her memoir into the novella, offering backstory about her childhood and courting by Chris Newton. While brief and sometimes only tangential, the curious reader can learn something here and is able to find a nugget or two on which to feast. The story flowed well and seemed rapid, taking the reader on quite the ride in a short time. That being said, I almost would have liked more meat, more spine-chilling action as things progressed to a final reveal, where all is decided once and for all. I cannot say more, for it would spoil things, but perhaps the haste to get this to readers left Mark Edwards churning out something swiftly between projects, rather than a stunning and mind-blowing psychological thriller we all expected. Still, it was enjoyable, with its short chapters and teasing about the backstory of Lucy Newton.
Kudos, Mr Edwards, for a great finale. Maybe I am alone in my criticisms, but it does not detract from the pleasure I have for this novella and series in general.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
The series that first pulled me into the web of Mark Edwards’ writing is finally coming to an end. Perhaps one of his most eerie psychological thriller series, The Magpies, pushed an unsuspecting couple—Jamie and Kirsty Knight—to the brink. After a harrowing few pieces, this novella seeks to tie it all together. After their horrible experience at the hands of their neighbour, Lucy Newton,, Jamie and Kirsty are no longer on speaking terms, having gone their separate ways. Jamie is still trying to bring closure to things, made all the more difficult when Lucy escaped from prison in a past story. Now on the lam, Jamie seeks to find her, trolling through the various fan sites that have arisen, parsing through the comments of the ‘Newtonites’ to find the woman who has wreaked such havoc. Jamie turns to a podcaster with much experience bringing justice in a world where knee-jerk solutions appear to be the norm. As Jamie and Emma Fox begin their trek to find Lucy, the official story remains untold, at least from the victims’ perspective. Lucy published her tell-all, citing innocence, which the public devoured in short order, but Jamie has yet to really seek to tell his version of events. When he approaches Kirsty with the idea, she is anything but happy, even though she would love nothing more than to put the Lucy narrative to rest. When Emma follows a lead and falls off the grid, Jamie cannot help but wonder if she has finally found Lucy. Now it’s time to decide, follow the digital breadcrumbs and potentially face Lucy, or ignore it and hope Lucy truly does disappear forever? The choice is surely not easy! Edwards does well with this finale, though using the novella format, he may have inadvertently rushed things and left series fans a little deflated. Still, I’d recommend this one for fans of the Magpies collection, if only to get a sense of closure.
Mark Edwards does well with his writing, usually able to pull the reader into the middle of things from the get-go. His Magpies series seems to have garnered the most fame for him, as I have seen scores of people speaking about it and anticipating new work on the subject of Lucy Newton. He’s gone so far as to reference her in his other work, for the attentive reader. With this piece, Edwards must not only tie-off loose ends, but also work to deliver new information to keep the reader hooked. Working with the Jamie Knight and Kirsty characters, their past pain and anguish is less of a discussion point here, but rather the attempt to get closure. The reader has little time to really see what they have been doing to bide their time since the last instalment, as it would seem trying to bring normalcy is the sole item on the agenda. Lucy Newton’s character finally gives us some of the context series fans have been searching for. Edwards injects unpublished chapters of her memoir into the novella, offering backstory about her childhood and courting by Chris Newton. While brief and sometimes only tangential, the curious reader can learn something here and is able to find a nugget or two on which to feast. The story flowed well and seemed rapid, taking the reader on quite the ride in a short time. That being said, I almost would have liked more meat, more spine-chilling action as things progressed to a final reveal, where all is decided once and for all. I cannot say more, for it would spoil things, but perhaps the haste to get this to readers left Mark Edwards churning out something swiftly between projects, rather than a stunning and mind-blowing psychological thriller we all expected. Still, it was enjoyable, with its short chapters and teasing about the backstory of Lucy Newton.
Kudos, Mr Edwards, for a great finale. Maybe I am alone in my criticisms, but it does not detract from the pleasure I have for this novella and series in general.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
April 14, 2019
Last of the Magpies.... Nooooooo!! Mark Edwards, thank you for writing 2 more short stories to round out the incredible story of The Magpies but I am sad that it is over now. Magpies was the first of your books that I read and loved and this final installment was wonderful. My only complaint being that it was too short!! Yes I know it is a short story but I was still wanting more!
Lucy Newton is still free and Jamie and Kirsty still live in fear. Jamie has stayed in the UK, unable to return to Australia while Lucy still hasn't been caught. Kirsty is trying really hard to move on with her life and wants nothing more to do with anything - including the podcast that Jamie has found himself involved in. I loved reading the extracts from Lucy's secret memoirs - that could have been a book on its own! A satisfying conclusion to a fantastic series - bravo Mark!
Thanks to Amazon Publishing, Thomas and Mercer and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
Lucy Newton is still free and Jamie and Kirsty still live in fear. Jamie has stayed in the UK, unable to return to Australia while Lucy still hasn't been caught. Kirsty is trying really hard to move on with her life and wants nothing more to do with anything - including the podcast that Jamie has found himself involved in. I loved reading the extracts from Lucy's secret memoirs - that could have been a book on its own! A satisfying conclusion to a fantastic series - bravo Mark!
Thanks to Amazon Publishing, Thomas and Mercer and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
April 28, 2019
LAST OF THE MAGPIES is the final frightening conclusion to the #1 bestseller The Magpies by Mark Edwards. I definitely recommend that you read the books in sequence, to follow the storyline.
The books in the series include:
The Magpies (Book 1)-Full length novel
A Murder of Magpies (Book 2)- Novella
Last of The Magpies (Book 3-Conclusion)-Novella
It follows the story of Jamie, Kirsty and Lucy to its conclusion.
Twelve months ago, Jamie Knight walked straight into Lucy Newton’s trap. Both Jamie and his ex-wife Kirsty barely survived. Now, with the police investigation into Lucy’s disappearance going nowhere, Jamie teams up with a true crime podcaster to track down his nemesis.
But Jamie needs Kirsty’s help to hunt down Lucy, but can Kirsty forgive him for his past mistakes? And who, if anyone, will survive the final showdown? Featuring extracts from Lucy’s secret memoir, Last of the Magpies brings the trilogy to a shocking conclusion.
This 100 page novella is a very good read with a satisfying ending.
Many thanks to the author, Amazon Publishing UK via NetGalley for my digital copy.
The books in the series include:
The Magpies (Book 1)-Full length novel
A Murder of Magpies (Book 2)- Novella
Last of The Magpies (Book 3-Conclusion)-Novella
It follows the story of Jamie, Kirsty and Lucy to its conclusion.
Twelve months ago, Jamie Knight walked straight into Lucy Newton’s trap. Both Jamie and his ex-wife Kirsty barely survived. Now, with the police investigation into Lucy’s disappearance going nowhere, Jamie teams up with a true crime podcaster to track down his nemesis.
But Jamie needs Kirsty’s help to hunt down Lucy, but can Kirsty forgive him for his past mistakes? And who, if anyone, will survive the final showdown? Featuring extracts from Lucy’s secret memoir, Last of the Magpies brings the trilogy to a shocking conclusion.
This 100 page novella is a very good read with a satisfying ending.
Many thanks to the author, Amazon Publishing UK via NetGalley for my digital copy.
November 2, 2021
The final installment of the Magpies trilogy and to be honest I wish I has stopped at the end of book one.
Book one was fab, I loved it and really got into the story line. Book two and three for me have been meh, somewhere along the way the characters have got wet around the edges, the plot lines predictable.
I also dont understand why two and three weren't combined seeing as they are only one hundred pages each.
My advice if your diving in, keep those expectations low.
At time of posting this trilogy is availble on Kindle Unlimited.
Book one was fab, I loved it and really got into the story line. Book two and three for me have been meh, somewhere along the way the characters have got wet around the edges, the plot lines predictable.
I also dont understand why two and three weren't combined seeing as they are only one hundred pages each.
My advice if your diving in, keep those expectations low.
At time of posting this trilogy is availble on Kindle Unlimited.
May 16, 2019
Brilliant conclusion to this series,for me would of been better to have a book two of The magpies instead of two short stories so the book could of been longer and just as good as the first book.highly recommend I'm left wanting more books of this type from mark Edward's looking forward to his next book.
April 14, 2019
Last of the Magpies by Mark Edwards is the third and finale instalment of his Magpie books. It follows the story of Jamie, Kirsty and Lucy to its conclusion.
This book like the second instalment is a Novella and a very quick read. I would suggest that you would need to read the other books in the series first as I don't think this book would work as a stand alone.
Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book like the second instalment is a Novella and a very quick read. I would suggest that you would need to read the other books in the series first as I don't think this book would work as a stand alone.
Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 30, 2019
Last of the Magpies is the final book in this trilogy. This review will be somewhat different for me ... I'm actually reviewing all three books at the same time.
THE MAGPIES .... this is a gripping psychological thriller is which the monsters are the next door neighbors... a nightmare that could happen to anyone.
A MURDER OF MAGPIES .... Takes place 5 years later. Jamie has lost everything, but the person responsible for all the murder and mayhem has been identified.
LAST OF THE MAGPIES .... this is the chilling conclusion that features extracts from a secret memoir. The killer is on the run ... and Jamie may be in the cross-hairs. The ending is shocking.
This is an exceptional trilogy (although there are cliff hangers from the first two books), well-written and packed with lies, secrets, twists and turns. Do yourself a favor and start at the beginning ... you won't regret it.
Many thanks to the author / Amazon Publishing UK / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
April 18, 2019
This is the 3rd and final book in the trilogy 'Magpies'. I loved the first book and not so much the second but this one was a fitting climax to a very good series.
Jamie Knight and his ex-wife just about survived when they walked into Lucy Newton's trap. Twelve months on with the police making very little progress on Lucy's, Jamie decides to join forces with a true crime pod-caster to track down his arch enemy. It may be harder to get Kirsty to forgive him for his past errors and join the team to hunt down Lucy.
You will really need to read the previous two books in this series to get a full understanding and satisfaction. This 100 pages climax is a good read and a very decent climax.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Thomas & Mercer for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Jamie Knight and his ex-wife just about survived when they walked into Lucy Newton's trap. Twelve months on with the police making very little progress on Lucy's, Jamie decides to join forces with a true crime pod-caster to track down his arch enemy. It may be harder to get Kirsty to forgive him for his past errors and join the team to hunt down Lucy.
You will really need to read the previous two books in this series to get a full understanding and satisfaction. This 100 pages climax is a good read and a very decent climax.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Thomas & Mercer for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
April 3, 2020
This was so much fun! I wish more authors would go back to favorite characters & give us a quick update on what happened after. Although to be fair, these (part 2 & 3) are much more then that. This especially was an action packed story all in itself. An absolutely fitting end to a unique & horrifying mini-series!
**Although.. there were several excerpts from Lucy’s memoir.. & all I could think was oh man, I would love to read THAT!😁
**Although.. there were several excerpts from Lucy’s memoir.. & all I could think was oh man, I would love to read THAT!😁
May 21, 2019
At only 100 pages, there is no time for red herrings, so there are not any surprises here. Everything happens pretty much as I expected, so it left me feeling as though something is missing or lacking, but the blame is really due to the short length. I got this free from Kindle Readers Reading library.
April 22, 2019
Thank you to Net Galley, the publishers and Mark Edwards for an ARC copy.
Twelve months ago, Jamie Knight walked straight into Lucy Newton’s trap. Both Jamie and his ex-wife Kirsty barely survived. Now, with the police investigation into Lucy’s disappearance going nowhere, Jamie teams up with a true crime podcaster to track down his nemesis.
But can Jamie persuade Kirsty to help? Can Kirsty forgive him for his past mistakes? And who, if anyone, will survive the final showdown? Featuring extracts from Lucy’s secret memoir, Last of the Magpies brings the trilogy to a shocking conclusion.
A quick short story, a 100 pages but a nice conclusion to the "Magpie story" with even in this short story still a few twists and shocks.
I guess the only compliant I have is maybe the story was too short.
I did enjoy reading Mark Edwards own story of his enormous success with self publishing "The Magpies", it's success, then finding a publisher. How one book gave him the financial freedom to become a full time writer which was good news for us readers!
Twelve months ago, Jamie Knight walked straight into Lucy Newton’s trap. Both Jamie and his ex-wife Kirsty barely survived. Now, with the police investigation into Lucy’s disappearance going nowhere, Jamie teams up with a true crime podcaster to track down his nemesis.
But can Jamie persuade Kirsty to help? Can Kirsty forgive him for his past mistakes? And who, if anyone, will survive the final showdown? Featuring extracts from Lucy’s secret memoir, Last of the Magpies brings the trilogy to a shocking conclusion.
A quick short story, a 100 pages but a nice conclusion to the "Magpie story" with even in this short story still a few twists and shocks.
I guess the only compliant I have is maybe the story was too short.
I did enjoy reading Mark Edwards own story of his enormous success with self publishing "The Magpies", it's success, then finding a publisher. How one book gave him the financial freedom to become a full time writer which was good news for us readers!
May 23, 2019
2.5 stars rounded up
Some things are just better left alone...
This last shortie tying up the Magpie trilogy was another disappointment. Like book 2 A Murder of Magpies, there was just too much crammed in to a short time frame which made the whole plot highly unrealistic and hard to become invested in the protag's plight.
Another problem I had, same as book 2, is that the main draw for me has always been the well crafted antagonist Lucy. But she was demoted down to second string it feels like, and without her, this never really captured the intensity of book 1 The Magpies.
I’m still a huge fan of Edwards and eagerly await his next new work, but I'm hoping he stays away from shorties for awhile.
ARC provided by NetGalley
Some things are just better left alone...
This last shortie tying up the Magpie trilogy was another disappointment. Like book 2 A Murder of Magpies, there was just too much crammed in to a short time frame which made the whole plot highly unrealistic and hard to become invested in the protag's plight.
Another problem I had, same as book 2, is that the main draw for me has always been the well crafted antagonist Lucy. But she was demoted down to second string it feels like, and without her, this never really captured the intensity of book 1 The Magpies.
I’m still a huge fan of Edwards and eagerly await his next new work, but I'm hoping he stays away from shorties for awhile.
ARC provided by NetGalley
September 18, 2024
অবশেষে শেষ করলাম ম্যাগপাইজ ট্রিলজি। লেখককে একটা ধন্যবাদ দিতে চাই পাঠকদের বিরক্তির দিকটা মাথায় রেখে বইগুলো ছোট ছোট করার জন্য। আর এই বিরক্তির দিকটা কিন্তু বেশি ছিল গল্পের অন্যতম প্রধান চরিত্র জ্যামি নাইটের উপর। চরম মাত্রার স্টুপিড একটা লোক। আমার এটা ভেবে রাগ হচ্ছিল যে একটা লোক কতবার ভুল মানুষকে চুজ করতে পারে! এবারো যখন ঘটলো (মনে মনে আশঙ্কা করছিলাম) তখন চিল্লায়ে বলতে ইচ্ছা করছিল 'কাম অন, জ্যামি। আর কতবার ভাই?'। যাইহোক, লুসি নিউটনের অধ্যায় শেষ হলো। একটা আশানুরূপ সুন্দর সমাপ্তিও ঘটলো পাঠক যা হামেশায় চাইবে। কিন্তু আমি বিরক্ত। বইটা ছোট হওয়ার জন্য একটা তারকা বেশি দিয়ে দিলাম 😂।
April 25, 2019
This novella is, as the title implies, the end of the author’s trilogy, and you definitely need to have read the two previous instalments for this one to make sense. The first is a full length book, and was the author’s first solo novel, whereas the next two are short but complete novellas. This was a satisfying end to the story of Magpie Lucy Newton as you really don’t know how it’s going to work out.
A year after Lucy escaped from the police after her attempt to exact vengeance for the death of her husband failed, Jamie and Kirsty are still estranged, dealing with their trauma in different ways. When a leading True Crime podcaster, Emma, persuades Jamie to help with a story about Lucy, he hopes it will help track her down since all police efforts have failed, but the hunt will put them in danger once more...
The advantage of a novella in this situation is that the story is pared down to the essentials and you can quickly get the gratification of finding out what happened, and Edwards has achieved this by cutting out all the angst of the first book and getting straight into the plot. A surprising amount happens for a 100 page book and we get a couple of twists and a full resolution of the story arc. There was the same suspense and dread, and Lucy is as evil as ever - and we get excerpts from her unpublished memoir that reveal that she has literally been that way since childhood.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review. Last of the Magpies is published on 30.04.19.
A year after Lucy escaped from the police after her attempt to exact vengeance for the death of her husband failed, Jamie and Kirsty are still estranged, dealing with their trauma in different ways. When a leading True Crime podcaster, Emma, persuades Jamie to help with a story about Lucy, he hopes it will help track her down since all police efforts have failed, but the hunt will put them in danger once more...
The advantage of a novella in this situation is that the story is pared down to the essentials and you can quickly get the gratification of finding out what happened, and Edwards has achieved this by cutting out all the angst of the first book and getting straight into the plot. A surprising amount happens for a 100 page book and we get a couple of twists and a full resolution of the story arc. There was the same suspense and dread, and Lucy is as evil as ever - and we get excerpts from her unpublished memoir that reveal that she has literally been that way since childhood.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review. Last of the Magpies is published on 30.04.19.
May 12, 2019
Was so happy when I saw mark share the news of there being a 3rd book to the magpie series.
Loved the first 2 and loved tis 3rd book. Would recommend reading the first 2 books before this one
❤️❤️
Loved the first 2 and loved tis 3rd book. Would recommend reading the first 2 books before this one
❤️❤️
May 4, 2019
To be completely honest I didn’t care for all three of the Magpie books. I requested this because it was Mark Edwards, he’s a great author. I also didn’t realize this was a novella and an extension of the original story. So I went back and read the first book, unfortunately I wasn’t impressed. I didn’t like the characters at all! I’m not one that necessarily needs to like the characters but Jaime was so weak and continued to be weak throughout these books. I found him to be annoying. I also didn’t like Lucy as a villain. I just found these books kinda ridiculous. Edwards said the first book was one of his first stories that he wrote, he definitely got a lot better!
*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
April 20, 2019
This novella brings a conclusion to the story of Jamie and Kristy (along with some other characters) from The Magpies. I am so glad the author continued the story. It was fast paced and exciting all the way through. Anyone who read and enjoyed Magpies should read A Murder of Magpies and this one. You won't be disappointed!
The author's note at the end is interesting too. Mark Edwards is one of those approachable authors who enjoys interacting with his readers.
The author's note at the end is interesting too. Mark Edwards is one of those approachable authors who enjoys interacting with his readers.
May 6, 2019
As the blurb states, this is the conclusion to the authors book, The Magpies, and would really recommend you reading that book before embarking on this one to get the most enjoyment from it. As believe me, if you’ve read that one you are going to LOVE this one!
I feel like I’ve been on quite a journey with these characters now. Not only is there The Magpies, there is a prequel also, so I’ve really been invested with what has been going on in there lives and I wanted justice as well as some sort of happy ending for all involved. Except of course Lucy. I was hoping something dark and sinister was instore for her.
I won’t tell you to much but needless to say the author takes us on another dark and twisted journey with a finale that more than satisfied. I wasn’t prepared for a certain creepy crawly to be mentioned and boy did that send shivers down my spine. The author really knows how to get the reader facing their biggest fears and was just grateful that it didn’t quite give me nightmares.
Last Of The Magpies is a great conclusion to what has been one hell of a twisted ride. It was everything I had hoped for and more. Dark, tense and totally riveting. Loved it.
I feel like I’ve been on quite a journey with these characters now. Not only is there The Magpies, there is a prequel also, so I’ve really been invested with what has been going on in there lives and I wanted justice as well as some sort of happy ending for all involved. Except of course Lucy. I was hoping something dark and sinister was instore for her.
I won’t tell you to much but needless to say the author takes us on another dark and twisted journey with a finale that more than satisfied. I wasn’t prepared for a certain creepy crawly to be mentioned and boy did that send shivers down my spine. The author really knows how to get the reader facing their biggest fears and was just grateful that it didn’t quite give me nightmares.
Last Of The Magpies is a great conclusion to what has been one hell of a twisted ride. It was everything I had hoped for and more. Dark, tense and totally riveting. Loved it.
April 29, 2019
Well it was with a little sadness that I read this final book about Lucy Newton.
Lucy is an evil character I don't like but a very realistic and unique one that really grew on me. Likewise Jamie, her victim, he blames Lucy for destroying everything he cared about he lost his home, his girlfriend and his unborn baby daughter. On the other side Lucy blames him for the death of her soulmate. It was always going to be an edge-of-your-seat showdown.
I wasn't disappointed. The author made an excellent job of tying up all the loose ends and bringing in some interesting side stories and entwining them all together in one short adrenaline pumping book that I was unable to put down.
Scarily realistic, this is a brilliant read and well worth the 5 stars
Lucy is an evil character I don't like but a very realistic and unique one that really grew on me. Likewise Jamie, her victim, he blames Lucy for destroying everything he cared about he lost his home, his girlfriend and his unborn baby daughter. On the other side Lucy blames him for the death of her soulmate. It was always going to be an edge-of-your-seat showdown.
I wasn't disappointed. The author made an excellent job of tying up all the loose ends and bringing in some interesting side stories and entwining them all together in one short adrenaline pumping book that I was unable to put down.
Scarily realistic, this is a brilliant read and well worth the 5 stars
April 29, 2019
The Magpies was the first book I read by Mark Edwards way back in 2013 and it’s one that often springs to mind as it’s one of my favourite psychological thrillers EVER. I also really enjoyed the follow up A Murder Of Magpies. So imagine my delight when I found out the author had written a chilling conclusion to The Magpies in the form of Last Of The Magpies I should point out it’s a short story (100 pages) and not a full length novel, but don’t let that put you off the author manages to pack a lot into this thrilling sequel.
As far as Jamie Knight is concerned Lucy Newton is the devil reincarnated, she has made his life a misery from the day they became neighbours, she caused his marriage to break down, and drove him to the brink. Twelve months after his last encounter with Lucy, one in which he his ex-wife Kirsty barely survived, he’s determined to find Lucy for a final showdown, but who will survive? that’s the question I was eager to find the answer to.
I loved the extracts from Lucy’s Secret memoirs, you get a real sense of her manipulative and conniving personality, she’s someone who has no compassion for others. It’s these chapters that make for an unsettling read. Lucy is a fascinating character you can’t help being drawn to her, trying to fathom out how far she will go to keep her freedom. You can’t help rooting for Jamie, a victim of Lucy’s depraved games, hoping that he would at last find away to rid himself of Lucy once and for all.
I’m not sure how I expected Mark Edwards to conclude Lucy’s story, but in my opinion it’s the most fitting ending. As I mentioned this is a short read, but the author still manages to pack plenty in, the plot doesn’t feel rushed and the author manages to incorporate a great deal of tension into the plot. I’ve really enjoyed this series of books and couldn’t help but find Lucy’s character memorising, even though she repulsed and fascinated me in equal measures. Highly recommended
All my reviews can be found at http://thebookreviewcafe.com
As far as Jamie Knight is concerned Lucy Newton is the devil reincarnated, she has made his life a misery from the day they became neighbours, she caused his marriage to break down, and drove him to the brink. Twelve months after his last encounter with Lucy, one in which he his ex-wife Kirsty barely survived, he’s determined to find Lucy for a final showdown, but who will survive? that’s the question I was eager to find the answer to.
I loved the extracts from Lucy’s Secret memoirs, you get a real sense of her manipulative and conniving personality, she’s someone who has no compassion for others. It’s these chapters that make for an unsettling read. Lucy is a fascinating character you can’t help being drawn to her, trying to fathom out how far she will go to keep her freedom. You can’t help rooting for Jamie, a victim of Lucy’s depraved games, hoping that he would at last find away to rid himself of Lucy once and for all.
I’m not sure how I expected Mark Edwards to conclude Lucy’s story, but in my opinion it’s the most fitting ending. As I mentioned this is a short read, but the author still manages to pack plenty in, the plot doesn’t feel rushed and the author manages to incorporate a great deal of tension into the plot. I’ve really enjoyed this series of books and couldn’t help but find Lucy’s character memorising, even though she repulsed and fascinated me in equal measures. Highly recommended
All my reviews can be found at http://thebookreviewcafe.com
July 16, 2019
Say it isn't so Mark, say it isn't so!
Well, like all good stories, they have to come to an end. In many ways, I'm happy Mark (I think by now after all his books I've read, he wouldn't mind me using his first name) decided to conclude this story, but I have to be honest, I'm sad it's over.
I'm glad to see that he brought closure to our beloved characters, Jamie, Kirstie, Paul, and even Lucy. Maybe it isn't what we expected, or even hoped for, but it wasn't our story to tell. I think maybe the most unexpected, was Paul. Unsuspecting Paul... that's what he will forever be known as.
Alright everyone... it's time to "Move on. Live your life."
I hope that Mark doesn't stop here with creating series though. I think he has an even better one in store for us, but he just doesn't know it yet!
I want to thank NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK, and especially Mark Edwards for allowing me the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for my review.
Well, like all good stories, they have to come to an end. In many ways, I'm happy Mark (I think by now after all his books I've read, he wouldn't mind me using his first name) decided to conclude this story, but I have to be honest, I'm sad it's over.
I'm glad to see that he brought closure to our beloved characters, Jamie, Kirstie, Paul, and even Lucy. Maybe it isn't what we expected, or even hoped for, but it wasn't our story to tell. I think maybe the most unexpected, was Paul. Unsuspecting Paul... that's what he will forever be known as.
Alright everyone... it's time to "Move on. Live your life."
I hope that Mark doesn't stop here with creating series though. I think he has an even better one in store for us, but he just doesn't know it yet!
I want to thank NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK, and especially Mark Edwards for allowing me the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for my review.
April 3, 2022
*Thrilling Conclusion*
**4.5 Stars**
Well this is the final instalment and conclusion of the trilogy.
Jamie is getting over the consequences of walking into a trap set by Lucy his nemesis who he seems to be obsessed with getting her to pay for her crimes. Lucy was one of his neighbours who has sociopathic tendencies. She is a master manipulator who gets her kicks from the carnage left in her wake.
Kirsty, Jamie’s ex-wife has moved on with her life and after being involved with Jamie’s last trap to track down Lucy she wants to give him a wide birth.
The most frustrating thing for Jamie is that Lucy got away is now on the run. In his desperation to hunt her down he gets involved with a true crime podcaster but he is missing one vital component Kirsty, can he talk her into helping him again? I will leave it there because the ending is like a gift that keeps giving, more revelations and more shocks on the way
**4.5 Stars**
Well this is the final instalment and conclusion of the trilogy.
Jamie is getting over the consequences of walking into a trap set by Lucy his nemesis who he seems to be obsessed with getting her to pay for her crimes. Lucy was one of his neighbours who has sociopathic tendencies. She is a master manipulator who gets her kicks from the carnage left in her wake.
Kirsty, Jamie’s ex-wife has moved on with her life and after being involved with Jamie’s last trap to track down Lucy she wants to give him a wide birth.
The most frustrating thing for Jamie is that Lucy got away is now on the run. In his desperation to hunt her down he gets involved with a true crime podcaster but he is missing one vital component Kirsty, can he talk her into helping him again? I will leave it there because the ending is like a gift that keeps giving, more revelations and more shocks on the way
March 30, 2025
Ending was satisfying for the series.
September 10, 2019
Last of the Magpies by Mark Edwards is the third and final book in The Magpies series.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Thomas & Mercer, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Series Background: (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)
Jamie and Kirsty thought they had found the home of their dreams until the downstairs neighbours started to torment them. Chris and Lucy Newton made their lives hell. Kirsty eventually left, but Jamie’s pride took over. He refused to give in. Eventually he discovered that the Newton’s had bugged their apartment, and videotaped them. He also discovered that Lucy Newton was responsible for 18 deaths in the long-term care facility in which she worked. A scuffle with Chris lead to a fire in the flat, resulting in Chris’s death, but not before Jamie had all the evidence he needed to put Lucy Newton behind bars. However, on appeal, Lucy was freed, and again Jamie and Kirsty were drawn into her world. Again, Lucy was apprehended, but escaped custody before even hitting jail.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
It’s been a year since Lucy escaped custody, and Jamie is still obsessed. The police have not had any luck in finding her, but Jamie feels he cannot move on until she has been dealt with. Kirsty is handling things much better. Her torture by Lucy has made her stronger, and she is doing everything in her power to take control of her life.
Emma is a podcaster who has had luck tracking down people who don’t want to be found. She and Jamie decide to work together to find Lucy. Kirsty ends up being dragged in again.
My Opinions:
I loved this series. Please….this is a series…Do not read this as a stand-alone book.
Each installment has quickly sucked me in. Thankfully this is another short read, so I didn’t have to set it down.
I think Mark Edwards created wonderful characters. The Lucy/Jamie rivalry expanded in this one, and the characters all stepped up. I love the direction the author took the plot, and although I wasn’t surprised by the final twist, it was well done.
This book is again about revenge….and justice….
I think the author ended the series well. I will continue to pick up any book he writes.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Thomas & Mercer, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Series Background: (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)
Jamie and Kirsty thought they had found the home of their dreams until the downstairs neighbours started to torment them. Chris and Lucy Newton made their lives hell. Kirsty eventually left, but Jamie’s pride took over. He refused to give in. Eventually he discovered that the Newton’s had bugged their apartment, and videotaped them. He also discovered that Lucy Newton was responsible for 18 deaths in the long-term care facility in which she worked. A scuffle with Chris lead to a fire in the flat, resulting in Chris’s death, but not before Jamie had all the evidence he needed to put Lucy Newton behind bars. However, on appeal, Lucy was freed, and again Jamie and Kirsty were drawn into her world. Again, Lucy was apprehended, but escaped custody before even hitting jail.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
It’s been a year since Lucy escaped custody, and Jamie is still obsessed. The police have not had any luck in finding her, but Jamie feels he cannot move on until she has been dealt with. Kirsty is handling things much better. Her torture by Lucy has made her stronger, and she is doing everything in her power to take control of her life.
Emma is a podcaster who has had luck tracking down people who don’t want to be found. She and Jamie decide to work together to find Lucy. Kirsty ends up being dragged in again.
My Opinions:
I loved this series. Please….this is a series…Do not read this as a stand-alone book.
Each installment has quickly sucked me in. Thankfully this is another short read, so I didn’t have to set it down.
I think Mark Edwards created wonderful characters. The Lucy/Jamie rivalry expanded in this one, and the characters all stepped up. I love the direction the author took the plot, and although I wasn’t surprised by the final twist, it was well done.
This book is again about revenge….and justice….
I think the author ended the series well. I will continue to pick up any book he writes.
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