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Magpie
She has almost everything. The rest she’ll take.
Single White Female meets The Perfect Nanny in this taut, psychological suspense novel about a perfect couple and their seemingly perfect roommate—that is until she threatens to destroy everything they’ve worked so hard to create.
Marisa and Jake are a perfect couple, and Kate, their new lodger, is the perfect roommate--and not just because her rent payments will give them the income they need to start trying for a baby. Except no one is perfect. Sure, Kate doesn’t seem to care much about personal boundaries and can occasionally seem overly familiar with Jake, but Marisa doesn’t let it concern her. Kate will soon be gone, and it will just be her, Jake, and their future baby.
Conceiving a baby is easier said than done, though, and Jake and Marisa’s perfect relationship is put to the test through months of fertility treatments and false starts. To make matters worse, Kate’s boundary-pushing turns into an all-out obsession--with Jake, with Marisa, and with their future child. Who is this woman? Why does she seem to know everything about Marisa and Jake?
In her quest to find out who Kate really is, Marisa might destroy everything she’s worked so hard to create: her perfect romance, her perfect family, and her perfect self. Jake doesn’t know the half of what Marisa has created and what she stands to lose. Magpie is a tense and twisting novel about mothers and children, envy and possession, and the dangers of getting everything you’ve ever dreamed of.
Single White Female meets The Perfect Nanny in this taut, psychological suspense novel about a perfect couple and their seemingly perfect roommate—that is until she threatens to destroy everything they’ve worked so hard to create.
Marisa and Jake are a perfect couple, and Kate, their new lodger, is the perfect roommate--and not just because her rent payments will give them the income they need to start trying for a baby. Except no one is perfect. Sure, Kate doesn’t seem to care much about personal boundaries and can occasionally seem overly familiar with Jake, but Marisa doesn’t let it concern her. Kate will soon be gone, and it will just be her, Jake, and their future baby.
Conceiving a baby is easier said than done, though, and Jake and Marisa’s perfect relationship is put to the test through months of fertility treatments and false starts. To make matters worse, Kate’s boundary-pushing turns into an all-out obsession--with Jake, with Marisa, and with their future child. Who is this woman? Why does she seem to know everything about Marisa and Jake?
In her quest to find out who Kate really is, Marisa might destroy everything she’s worked so hard to create: her perfect romance, her perfect family, and her perfect self. Jake doesn’t know the half of what Marisa has created and what she stands to lose. Magpie is a tense and twisting novel about mothers and children, envy and possession, and the dangers of getting everything you’ve ever dreamed of.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published May 3, 2022
2363 people are currently reading
92506 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Day
22 books1,814 followersElizabeth Day is an English journalist, broadcaster and novelist. She was a feature writer for The Observer from 2007 to 2016 and has written four novels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,868 reviews
August 6, 2021
Um… I’m in the minority here but I wasn’t really sure what the point of the book was. And, it’s a hard one to review without giving spoilers but I’ll do my best.
The story starts with Marisa and Jake. They haven’t known each other long but have moved in together and are trying for a baby. Marisa was abandoned by her mother when she was 7 years old and her father pretty much switched off after that. Jake represents stability and solidity and she likes that. But money is a teeny bit tight so they take in a lodger, Kate. Marisa is not comfortable with Kate who seems overly familiar, overly interested in her eventual pregnancy and seems to treat the house as her own.
Then the story switches to Kate’s POV and things are quite different. This, folks, is the twist!
What the book does well is convey the misery of infertility for women who really, really want a child. There are also some mental health issues covered which I thought was done quite sensitively.
What I didn’t like was the evil mother-in-law trope being invoked again. This time it is Jake’s mother, Annabelle, and she really is portrayed as an evil, harradin. But I’ve just recently read books with evil MILs and I’m kind of over it right now. I thought the ending was a bit optimistic but, who knows, it could happen.
It was well written and a quick read and I don’t really know what else to say about this book. Thanks to the publisher via Netgalley for the ARC which I have reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
The story starts with Marisa and Jake. They haven’t known each other long but have moved in together and are trying for a baby. Marisa was abandoned by her mother when she was 7 years old and her father pretty much switched off after that. Jake represents stability and solidity and she likes that. But money is a teeny bit tight so they take in a lodger, Kate. Marisa is not comfortable with Kate who seems overly familiar, overly interested in her eventual pregnancy and seems to treat the house as her own.
Then the story switches to Kate’s POV and things are quite different. This, folks, is the twist!
What the book does well is convey the misery of infertility for women who really, really want a child. There are also some mental health issues covered which I thought was done quite sensitively.
What I didn’t like was the evil mother-in-law trope being invoked again. This time it is Jake’s mother, Annabelle, and she really is portrayed as an evil, harradin. But I’ve just recently read books with evil MILs and I’m kind of over it right now. I thought the ending was a bit optimistic but, who knows, it could happen.
It was well written and a quick read and I don’t really know what else to say about this book. Thanks to the publisher via Netgalley for the ARC which I have reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
May 3, 2022
Magpie by Elizabeth Day
Marisa thinks that she and Jake are the perfect couple. Sure, Jake is somewhat stiff and standoffish, not demonstrative with his affection, and too much of a mama's boy. They've moved in together and Marisa can work on her book creating business and doesn't have to worry about not being able to make her rent anymore. Jake wants Marisa to have his baby, he will never abandon her like her mother did.
So things are maybe almost perfect until Jake's finances require that they take in a lodger named Kate. Now Kate is all in their business, Marisa no longer has Jake to herself, and Kate seems to know everything about their lives. She knows things she shouldn't know as a stranger off the street. She seems to be wedging herself between Marisa and Jake. Marisa can't take Kate trying to destroy her relationship with Jake and her pregnancy hormones are making it harder to handle even the simplest of things.
The story deals well with the constant hoping and heartbreak of dealing with infertility, and infertility treatments, as a couple makes their way down the line of options for a baby they desperately want. We see the first part of the book from Marisa's POV and then we change to another POV and the story is blown wide open. I enjoyed both POVs for the most part but the intrusion of the evil mother in law flattened my enjoyment of the story. No one needs help from that meddling witch. This was a 3.5 read for me but rounding down for evil MIL and an ending that seems too rosy for several reasons.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for this ARC.
Marisa thinks that she and Jake are the perfect couple. Sure, Jake is somewhat stiff and standoffish, not demonstrative with his affection, and too much of a mama's boy. They've moved in together and Marisa can work on her book creating business and doesn't have to worry about not being able to make her rent anymore. Jake wants Marisa to have his baby, he will never abandon her like her mother did.
So things are maybe almost perfect until Jake's finances require that they take in a lodger named Kate. Now Kate is all in their business, Marisa no longer has Jake to herself, and Kate seems to know everything about their lives. She knows things she shouldn't know as a stranger off the street. She seems to be wedging herself between Marisa and Jake. Marisa can't take Kate trying to destroy her relationship with Jake and her pregnancy hormones are making it harder to handle even the simplest of things.
The story deals well with the constant hoping and heartbreak of dealing with infertility, and infertility treatments, as a couple makes their way down the line of options for a baby they desperately want. We see the first part of the book from Marisa's POV and then we change to another POV and the story is blown wide open. I enjoyed both POVs for the most part but the intrusion of the evil mother in law flattened my enjoyment of the story. No one needs help from that meddling witch. This was a 3.5 read for me but rounding down for evil MIL and an ending that seems too rosy for several reasons.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for this ARC.
July 16, 2022
This is exciting, twisty, high tension, character driven, claustrophobic, intense book I was drawn into at the first chapter and I couldn’t put it down! Definitely worths to your cancellations in your life!
Marisa decides to move with Jake and build a new life with him including having a baby even though she has known for a few months. But their financial struggle force them have a lodger Kate who doesn’t respect to personal bounds and privacy, having interest in Jake that puts poor Marisa into unputdownable position! Did they know each other? What Marisa keeps into herself that ruin everything she’s built?
In the middle of the book : I just got punched by the twist that I never saw it coming.
Tension building was perfect, character development was detailed, layered, realistic, pacing was riveting.
I was so close to give five stars but ending was a little far fetched. I was expecting something more surprising, wild!
Without giving much away, I honestly recommend it to thriller lovers who like to read something heart pounding, addictive, unputdownable!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Simon& Schuster for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
Marisa decides to move with Jake and build a new life with him including having a baby even though she has known for a few months. But their financial struggle force them have a lodger Kate who doesn’t respect to personal bounds and privacy, having interest in Jake that puts poor Marisa into unputdownable position! Did they know each other? What Marisa keeps into herself that ruin everything she’s built?
In the middle of the book : I just got punched by the twist that I never saw it coming.
Tension building was perfect, character development was detailed, layered, realistic, pacing was riveting.
I was so close to give five stars but ending was a little far fetched. I was expecting something more surprising, wild!
Without giving much away, I honestly recommend it to thriller lovers who like to read something heart pounding, addictive, unputdownable!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Simon& Schuster for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
May 25, 2022
**Many thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, and Elizabeth Day for an ARC of this book! Now available as of 5.3!**
You and me and baby makes three...
...but what happens when a fourth player just won't let go?
Marisa and Jake are the picture of bliss. They have a place of their own and now are looking to fill that last empty place in their hearts...with none other than a beautiful baby, of course. Infertility troubles strike, however, and the path is laden with landmines. As the struggles continue, Jake and Marisa decide to allow a roommate, Kate, to move in to help them financially. At first, there's nothing but harmony, but the situation shifts quickly and Marisa realizes that Kate knows a bit more than she should...about EVERYTHING...and is a little too invested in the baby-to-be. Is there cause for alarm here, and is one member of this trio much more dangerous than they appear to be? Certainly, three's a crowd. But will a mother's unconditional love and sense of possessiveness be TOO powerful, TOO far-reaching...or even deadly?
Magpie is an interesting bird. (No pun intended...mostly.) First off, the blurb I read from the publisher in the printed copy of the ARC gives A LOT away about the plot, to the extent that I pretty much knew what was going on from about 20% on once I dove in and started reading. Even without this forecasting, any seasoned thriller lover will pick up on the twist almost immediately. So then the question becomes...is the book still enjoyable if you know what's going on and are waiting for the big reveal?
In the case of this book...ALMOST. It nearly was.
Day's writing is solid and enjoyable for the first 50-60% (until the big reveal), although reading so much about IVF and fertility struggles was a bit hard to get through, even without personal experience in that department. I can only imagine how hard that would be if I DID have those experiences, so trigger warning alert to those who don't want to hear about it, because the author does not hold back. By the end, I honestly don't think I could have handled hearing any more about the subject matter...things got fairly intense.
What took this from an enjoyable read and turned it into something head-scratching was this book's "second act," as it were. The book veered from thriller territory into something else entirely...and I'm not sure I understand why. One of my pet peeves when reading a thriller is a too-happy-and-clean cut ending...and after a brief sojourn with the TRUE villain (again, nothing original here, in terms of this reveal...another easily predictable plot point)...we ended up there. Not only was the ending sappy, I just found it wholly unrealistic and almost off-putting in terms of how it handled the subject matter, and at the very least, the author missed an opportunity to handle some of the serious subjects broached here with a bit more grace.
The first half of this book I would solidly give 4 stars, and the second a definite 3, so I'd give this book a 3.5, but I'm rounding down here for the reasons above...and also perhaps because the only kind of 'pie' I think I'm going to stick to in the near future is pumpkin. 🥧
3.5 stars
You and me and baby makes three...
...but what happens when a fourth player just won't let go?
Marisa and Jake are the picture of bliss. They have a place of their own and now are looking to fill that last empty place in their hearts...with none other than a beautiful baby, of course. Infertility troubles strike, however, and the path is laden with landmines. As the struggles continue, Jake and Marisa decide to allow a roommate, Kate, to move in to help them financially. At first, there's nothing but harmony, but the situation shifts quickly and Marisa realizes that Kate knows a bit more than she should...about EVERYTHING...and is a little too invested in the baby-to-be. Is there cause for alarm here, and is one member of this trio much more dangerous than they appear to be? Certainly, three's a crowd. But will a mother's unconditional love and sense of possessiveness be TOO powerful, TOO far-reaching...or even deadly?
Magpie is an interesting bird. (No pun intended...mostly.) First off, the blurb I read from the publisher in the printed copy of the ARC gives A LOT away about the plot, to the extent that I pretty much knew what was going on from about 20% on once I dove in and started reading. Even without this forecasting, any seasoned thriller lover will pick up on the twist almost immediately. So then the question becomes...is the book still enjoyable if you know what's going on and are waiting for the big reveal?
In the case of this book...ALMOST. It nearly was.
Day's writing is solid and enjoyable for the first 50-60% (until the big reveal), although reading so much about IVF and fertility struggles was a bit hard to get through, even without personal experience in that department. I can only imagine how hard that would be if I DID have those experiences, so trigger warning alert to those who don't want to hear about it, because the author does not hold back. By the end, I honestly don't think I could have handled hearing any more about the subject matter...things got fairly intense.
What took this from an enjoyable read and turned it into something head-scratching was this book's "second act," as it were. The book veered from thriller territory into something else entirely...and I'm not sure I understand why. One of my pet peeves when reading a thriller is a too-happy-and-clean cut ending...and after a brief sojourn with the TRUE villain (again, nothing original here, in terms of this reveal...another easily predictable plot point)...we ended up there. Not only was the ending sappy, I just found it wholly unrealistic and almost off-putting in terms of how it handled the subject matter, and at the very least, the author missed an opportunity to handle some of the serious subjects broached here with a bit more grace.
The first half of this book I would solidly give 4 stars, and the second a definite 3, so I'd give this book a 3.5, but I'm rounding down here for the reasons above...and also perhaps because the only kind of 'pie' I think I'm going to stick to in the near future is pumpkin. 🥧
3.5 stars
June 10, 2022
Magpie is a domestic suspense thriller that is confused about what story it wants to tell.
In an effort to avoid spoilers, I am not going to summarize the plot. Instead, please read the book description if you would like a plot synopsis.
While the actual writing is excellent and kept my interest from start to finish, the plot is all over the place and finally ends on a thread that seems inconsequential.
Magpie deals with themes of motherhood and trust. Who should the reader believe? Marisa? Jake? Kate? Or Annabelle?
I was waiting for something really unexpected to happen due to the increasingly menacing tone, but after the initial twist, I found the ending to be somewhat of a cop out. I guess I was hoping for more of a dark turn, but the author doesn’t actually go there.
The audiobook is narrated by Tanya Reynolds, who does a fantastic job. However, I needed to significantly speed up the playback to achieve a more regular speech pattern.
Overall, I really enjoyed 95% of this book. I just didn’t buy the ending.
3.5/5 stars rounded down
In an effort to avoid spoilers, I am not going to summarize the plot. Instead, please read the book description if you would like a plot synopsis.
While the actual writing is excellent and kept my interest from start to finish, the plot is all over the place and finally ends on a thread that seems inconsequential.
Magpie deals with themes of motherhood and trust. Who should the reader believe? Marisa? Jake? Kate? Or Annabelle?
I was waiting for something really unexpected to happen due to the increasingly menacing tone, but after the initial twist, I found the ending to be somewhat of a cop out. I guess I was hoping for more of a dark turn, but the author doesn’t actually go there.
The audiobook is narrated by Tanya Reynolds, who does a fantastic job. However, I needed to significantly speed up the playback to achieve a more regular speech pattern.
Overall, I really enjoyed 95% of this book. I just didn’t buy the ending.
3.5/5 stars rounded down
December 21, 2021
The act of collecting, clinging to something and keeping is the backdrop of the story, not as the famous rythm goes, one for sorrow, two for joy that I will use later to structure and write my review.
First the plot, Marisa meets Jake and after a whirlwind romance they move in together and decide to start a family, but as money gets tighter, they agree to take in a lodger Kate. But something is not quite right, and Marisa gets a feeling of unease when the closeness of her partner, Jake, and Kate becomes apparent. You might guess what happens next and I almost put down the book for an unimaginative plot then the whole thing turned on its head as we deal with mental health, fertility, love, and acceptance, with as much anticipation as any thriller.
One for sorrow – there is a clever plot but an underlying sadness to the story which is dealt with brilliantly by the author.
“… happiness was transient, and she would find this out when the lodger came”.
Two for joy – whilst possessing a darkness, the story also possesses one of hope, acceptance, and healing. We see kindness in the characters and joy for this reader !!!!
Three for a girl – The character development of the women in the story was excellent. We have the girlfriend Marisa and Kate the lodger who inevitability clash because something is not quite right about how Kate fits into their lives. The way she stands and sits too close to Jake.. the way the two of them stop talking when she enters the room, but they find an accommodation – but over what?
Four for a boy – Jake the central male character navigates his way very cleverly through a difficult and distressing period, so hats off to the author for not creating intriguing female characters at the expense of a weak male character.
Five for silver, and as the saying goes, every cloud has a silver lining, and so does the story of the 3 central characters.
Six for Gold – this was gold standard story telling. I loved the plot, the characters, the themes of infertility and mental health that was dealt with so sensitively in the story and the writing style of the author. We also have a reference to the "... golden Buddha, shining out from the centre. Peace she thinks."
Seven for a secret never to be told. Eight for a wish, nine for a kiss and ten for the book you should not miss.
Well, no spoilers by me, but this is a book well worth reading. Highly recommended.
First the plot, Marisa meets Jake and after a whirlwind romance they move in together and decide to start a family, but as money gets tighter, they agree to take in a lodger Kate. But something is not quite right, and Marisa gets a feeling of unease when the closeness of her partner, Jake, and Kate becomes apparent. You might guess what happens next and I almost put down the book for an unimaginative plot then the whole thing turned on its head as we deal with mental health, fertility, love, and acceptance, with as much anticipation as any thriller.
One for sorrow – there is a clever plot but an underlying sadness to the story which is dealt with brilliantly by the author.
“… happiness was transient, and she would find this out when the lodger came”.
Two for joy – whilst possessing a darkness, the story also possesses one of hope, acceptance, and healing. We see kindness in the characters and joy for this reader !!!!
Three for a girl – The character development of the women in the story was excellent. We have the girlfriend Marisa and Kate the lodger who inevitability clash because something is not quite right about how Kate fits into their lives. The way she stands and sits too close to Jake.. the way the two of them stop talking when she enters the room, but they find an accommodation – but over what?
Four for a boy – Jake the central male character navigates his way very cleverly through a difficult and distressing period, so hats off to the author for not creating intriguing female characters at the expense of a weak male character.
Five for silver, and as the saying goes, every cloud has a silver lining, and so does the story of the 3 central characters.
Six for Gold – this was gold standard story telling. I loved the plot, the characters, the themes of infertility and mental health that was dealt with so sensitively in the story and the writing style of the author. We also have a reference to the "... golden Buddha, shining out from the centre. Peace she thinks."
Seven for a secret never to be told. Eight for a wish, nine for a kiss and ten for the book you should not miss.
Well, no spoilers by me, but this is a book well worth reading. Highly recommended.
October 17, 2021
I had such high hopes for this one but ultimately it fell flat for me. I was hoping for a subtle thriller about motherhood that was unsettling but meaningful like The Push was but in the end this just fell on boring thriller tropes and was way longer than it needed to be.
This one started out intriguing with a slightly weird, off-kilter budding relationship being strained by the need for a lodger to move in. The first part plays out a reasonably intense scenario with our pregnant main character becoming suspicious of the relationship between her partner and their new lodger.
This first part ends on a crescendo that leads us to the first twist. The twist which lots of other reviewers loved and didn’t see coming, but that I’d picked up the gist of from only a few pages in. But nevermind, we’re only half way through the book at this point, let’s see what the rest of the book can deliver!!! Oh did I say first twist earlier? I meant *only* twist.
The rest of the story (200 pages, or so) eeked out painfully slowly only to judder to a dissatisfying tropey ending that almost made me throw the book across the room. And to make it worse, all the characters were boring and unlikeable so I couldn’t even empathise with the emotional pain infertility has on a woman who really wants a child.
There is nothing wrong with Day’s writing, it’s eloquent and easy to read, however this story really did 0 things right for me and I have to say, this has unfortunately been my least favourite read of the year so far.
I’ve grown disillusioned with thrillers over recent years, it’s really about time I stop putting so much expectation on them. This one was not for me, clearly, but that’s not to say it’s not for you. I’m in the minority with my review. Don’t let my words be your final decision on whether you pick this book up or not!
Ad-gifted by 4th Estate Books.
This one started out intriguing with a slightly weird, off-kilter budding relationship being strained by the need for a lodger to move in. The first part plays out a reasonably intense scenario with our pregnant main character becoming suspicious of the relationship between her partner and their new lodger.
This first part ends on a crescendo that leads us to the first twist. The twist which lots of other reviewers loved and didn’t see coming, but that I’d picked up the gist of from only a few pages in. But nevermind, we’re only half way through the book at this point, let’s see what the rest of the book can deliver!!! Oh did I say first twist earlier? I meant *only* twist.
The rest of the story (200 pages, or so) eeked out painfully slowly only to judder to a dissatisfying tropey ending that almost made me throw the book across the room. And to make it worse, all the characters were boring and unlikeable so I couldn’t even empathise with the emotional pain infertility has on a woman who really wants a child.
There is nothing wrong with Day’s writing, it’s eloquent and easy to read, however this story really did 0 things right for me and I have to say, this has unfortunately been my least favourite read of the year so far.
I’ve grown disillusioned with thrillers over recent years, it’s really about time I stop putting so much expectation on them. This one was not for me, clearly, but that’s not to say it’s not for you. I’m in the minority with my review. Don’t let my words be your final decision on whether you pick this book up or not!
Ad-gifted by 4th Estate Books.
May 21, 2021
4+
‘One for sorrow, two for joy ..’
Marissa is viewing a house for her and boyfriend Jake to live in when a magpie flies in through the open doors. A harbinger? Only time will tell. They move in and for financial reasons take in Kate as a lodger and she becomes a firmly affixed limpet on the hull of their relationship.
This is a such a clever book which is very well written and is perfectly paced throughout. It has some good twists that take you totally by surprise as they come out of the blue but which enable you to make sense of some observed disconnection and frissons of unease in the narrative. In places it’s creepy, tense and claustrophobic in the smothering overstepping of bounds and it becomes quite scary. This leads to a growing antipathy between the three of them which escalates. The characterisation is the standout feature of the book and I’d go so far as to say it’s outstanding. Marissa is a cauldron of various emotions from anger to insecurity and everything in between. She hides things and prefers to paper over the cavernous cracks in her personal life. Kate seems a controlling , manipulative cuckoo in the nest but as the storyline develops it’s clear she’s carrying a huge burden. The prize for ultimate manipulation goes to Jake’s mother, whose passive aggressive barking and biting is fist clenchingly odious. The novel deals with some weighty issues from mental health to fertility problems to trauma of various kinds and all are dealt with sensitively by the author.
My only reservation after such a compelling, hard to put down read is the resolution which seems a bit too picture perfect. What unfolds between the three of them is messy and maybe as a consequence it needs a messy end.
Overall, this is a very polished, clever, domestic noir/psychological thriller from the talented Elizabeth Day. If you like a read with twists and a multitude of emotions you may enjoy this one!
With thanks for NetGalley and 4th Estate for the arc in return for an honest review.
‘One for sorrow, two for joy ..’
Marissa is viewing a house for her and boyfriend Jake to live in when a magpie flies in through the open doors. A harbinger? Only time will tell. They move in and for financial reasons take in Kate as a lodger and she becomes a firmly affixed limpet on the hull of their relationship.
This is a such a clever book which is very well written and is perfectly paced throughout. It has some good twists that take you totally by surprise as they come out of the blue but which enable you to make sense of some observed disconnection and frissons of unease in the narrative. In places it’s creepy, tense and claustrophobic in the smothering overstepping of bounds and it becomes quite scary. This leads to a growing antipathy between the three of them which escalates. The characterisation is the standout feature of the book and I’d go so far as to say it’s outstanding. Marissa is a cauldron of various emotions from anger to insecurity and everything in between. She hides things and prefers to paper over the cavernous cracks in her personal life. Kate seems a controlling , manipulative cuckoo in the nest but as the storyline develops it’s clear she’s carrying a huge burden. The prize for ultimate manipulation goes to Jake’s mother, whose passive aggressive barking and biting is fist clenchingly odious. The novel deals with some weighty issues from mental health to fertility problems to trauma of various kinds and all are dealt with sensitively by the author.
My only reservation after such a compelling, hard to put down read is the resolution which seems a bit too picture perfect. What unfolds between the three of them is messy and maybe as a consequence it needs a messy end.
Overall, this is a very polished, clever, domestic noir/psychological thriller from the talented Elizabeth Day. If you like a read with twists and a multitude of emotions you may enjoy this one!
With thanks for NetGalley and 4th Estate for the arc in return for an honest review.
May 30, 2022
A couple, Jake and Marisa are expecting their first baby and have just moved into a lovely new home when they suddenly decide to take in a boarder to bring extra money that will help defray the extra costs of an expanded family. The boarder (Kate) seems to overstep her boundaries right from the beginning and she also begins to get a little too cozy with Jake which starts bringing excess chaos and jealousy to the surface. Marisa's moods are getting darker as time goes on and she begins following Kate not really knowing what she expects to find out but soon Marisa's actions will lead to the most explosive and unexpected confrontation where life will unravel for all three people involved but not in the way any of them could have anticipated.
"Magpie" was a book that was very different than my expectations. I thought I knew where the storyline was headed but at the halfway point the book started taking a completely different path. The book was well-written and will have great appeal to many readers although I was let down because it wasn't the genre I was looking forward to. I was expecting an exciting psychological thriller and when the story unfolded into a twisted climax at the halfway point, I said to myself "Here we go!" But, No! The exciting and mysterious thriller turned into a women's book that was more of a drama about the deep and hearfelt pain and emotions of a a woman who struggles with infertility. I'm sorry to say the book just didn't work for me but I would still recommend the book to other readers so they can base their own opinions on the subjects of pregnancy, infertility and surrogates and the Biggie "Mental Illness".
I want to thank the publisher " Simon & Shuster " and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this novel and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given this book a rating of 3 UNHAPPY 🌟🌟🌟 STARS!!
"Magpie" was a book that was very different than my expectations. I thought I knew where the storyline was headed but at the halfway point the book started taking a completely different path. The book was well-written and will have great appeal to many readers although I was let down because it wasn't the genre I was looking forward to. I was expecting an exciting psychological thriller and when the story unfolded into a twisted climax at the halfway point, I said to myself "Here we go!" But, No! The exciting and mysterious thriller turned into a women's book that was more of a drama about the deep and hearfelt pain and emotions of a a woman who struggles with infertility. I'm sorry to say the book just didn't work for me but I would still recommend the book to other readers so they can base their own opinions on the subjects of pregnancy, infertility and surrogates and the Biggie "Mental Illness".
I want to thank the publisher " Simon & Shuster " and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this novel and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given this book a rating of 3 UNHAPPY 🌟🌟🌟 STARS!!
October 12, 2021
My thoughts about this book are probably as confusing as the plot because I have so many issues with it…
It is about 100 pages too long (unnecessary explanations and the last 50 pages could and should have been cut as they bring nothing to the story and make things even worse). In many ways, it is offensive to people with mental health issues - ostracising a woman and banishing her to the countryside because she has ?? Who knows, Day never explains, instead implies bipolar, schizophrenia, psychosis are the same. Both women are boxed in the stereotype of a woman who needs and wants a child and lives to satisfy and bend to a man.. wtf!? yet Kate claims to be a feminist… mmm where is that?
Day also defines people by voting Labour or Tory which is so narrow-minded and closed, it is dangerous. A person is so much more than the party they vote for and it is disappointing to see Day characterise people this way.
All characters are pretty much unpleasant and distant - you can’t warm up to any of them. There’s also much missing to the story, or that’s how it feels.
The stereotypical mother-in-law as a condescending woman is present… who ends up being the villain? Probably, maybe? Who even knows? Towards the end, it’s just boring and dragged.
Also, a thriller? Really? There’s nothing suspenseful about this book and thrilling it is not…
It is about 100 pages too long (unnecessary explanations and the last 50 pages could and should have been cut as they bring nothing to the story and make things even worse). In many ways, it is offensive to people with mental health issues - ostracising a woman and banishing her to the countryside because she has ?? Who knows, Day never explains, instead implies bipolar, schizophrenia, psychosis are the same. Both women are boxed in the stereotype of a woman who needs and wants a child and lives to satisfy and bend to a man.. wtf!? yet Kate claims to be a feminist… mmm where is that?
Day also defines people by voting Labour or Tory which is so narrow-minded and closed, it is dangerous. A person is so much more than the party they vote for and it is disappointing to see Day characterise people this way.
All characters are pretty much unpleasant and distant - you can’t warm up to any of them. There’s also much missing to the story, or that’s how it feels.
The stereotypical mother-in-law as a condescending woman is present… who ends up being the villain? Probably, maybe? Who even knows? Towards the end, it’s just boring and dragged.
Also, a thriller? Really? There’s nothing suspenseful about this book and thrilling it is not…
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 18, 2022
This book was an Experience with a capital “E.” Though some of the subject matter made me uncomfortable, I was drawn in by the writing and unsettled by the plot.
First, let me say that the quality of the writing in this book is superior to the writing in many of its thriller contemporaries. I was captivated by the author’s writing style and found the book to be especially interesting in the first half while the mystery was unfolding. I figured out the twist halfway through but was still surprised with the way it unfolded.
However, I had some conflicting feelings about the ultimate message of this book, especially by the end. This is pretty hard to explain without spoiling. So broadly, I will say that I was somewhat uncomfortable with the approach this book took toward mental illness and also towards “crazy women.” I’m sure most of you are familiar with the thriller trope of “is this thing really happening or is this person mentally ill?” I normally enjoy this trope, but in this case I felt rather uncomfortable with the way the subject of the possible mental illness was depicted, especially with regard to some particular issues women face. It verged at times into stereotypes and messages about “crazy women” that I did not enjoy. I also did not enjoy the ending.
Nonetheless, I really enjoyed the author’s talent - her skill at creating a compelling narrative, her sense of foreboding, and her overall way with words were very enjoyable to read. So this was a mixed bag experience for me. I would definitely love to read another book by this author but I would just rather not see mental illness depicted again the way it was here.
3.5 stars - very hard to rate. I would round up for the reading experience, but ultimately am rounding down because of the ending and because the treatment of the subject matter just left me feeling uncomfortable. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC!
First, let me say that the quality of the writing in this book is superior to the writing in many of its thriller contemporaries. I was captivated by the author’s writing style and found the book to be especially interesting in the first half while the mystery was unfolding. I figured out the twist halfway through but was still surprised with the way it unfolded.
However, I had some conflicting feelings about the ultimate message of this book, especially by the end. This is pretty hard to explain without spoiling. So broadly, I will say that I was somewhat uncomfortable with the approach this book took toward mental illness and also towards “crazy women.” I’m sure most of you are familiar with the thriller trope of “is this thing really happening or is this person mentally ill?” I normally enjoy this trope, but in this case I felt rather uncomfortable with the way the subject of the possible mental illness was depicted, especially with regard to some particular issues women face. It verged at times into stereotypes and messages about “crazy women” that I did not enjoy. I also did not enjoy the ending.
Nonetheless, I really enjoyed the author’s talent - her skill at creating a compelling narrative, her sense of foreboding, and her overall way with words were very enjoyable to read. So this was a mixed bag experience for me. I would definitely love to read another book by this author but I would just rather not see mental illness depicted again the way it was here.
3.5 stars - very hard to rate. I would round up for the reading experience, but ultimately am rounding down because of the ending and because the treatment of the subject matter just left me feeling uncomfortable. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC!
February 13, 2025
Magpie follows Marissa, Kate and Jake. Marissa and Jake seem to have a perfect relationship. So perfect, in fact, that they dream of having a baby together.
Kate, is their perfect new lodger, whose rent should help them start their family. She gets on with Jake quite well.
All sounds perfect, doesn't it? Guess what, if it seems that way, it's probably not. We all read Thrillers, we know this.
It's not just the fertility issues that start to put a strain on their relationship. Their new lodger also seems to like to push boundaries. It's most distracting.
Magpie is a good book. It's a solid story that I know a lot of Readers will really enjoy. I'm glad I picked it up, but unfortunately, I don't think it is one that will stick in my mind for long.
For one, I'm not sure the subject matter really suited my tastes. Additionally, from the beginning I couldn't stand Marissa. I felt like I was supposed to be on her side and if anything, it was the opposite for me.
This book is broken into separate Parts. Part I is from one perspective and then Part II shifts to another. Right around this time there was a big reveal.
For me, the reveal felt like it happened too early, because after that it was sort of just telling the aftermath of that reveal. It sucked any intrigue out of it for me.
I also feel, and this is 100% personal taste, that I would have enjoyed it more if it would have had a format that alternated perspectives for much longer. Sure, this could add some confusion, but also, that's part of the fun.
There was something else more towards the end, but that ended up falling a little flat for me in comparison. Overall, this is a solid story. The things that didn't work for me are personal taste issues and completely subjective. I'm sure many, many Readers will have a lot of fun with this.
If the synopsis sounds intriguing to you, absolutely give it a shot. There's a book for every Reader and a Reader for every book. This one could be a new favorite for you.
This review feels a bit shorter than those I generally tend to write, but this one is really difficult to talk about without going into specifics. I don't want to spoil it for anyone, so will leave it here.
Magpie is entertaining, if not super memorable. I'm glad I gave it a shot. Even though it won't end up on any of my favorites lists, it wasn't a bad way to pass the time.
Thank you to the publisher, Simon & Schuster, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I appreciate the opportunity to provide my opinion.
Kate, is their perfect new lodger, whose rent should help them start their family. She gets on with Jake quite well.
All sounds perfect, doesn't it? Guess what, if it seems that way, it's probably not. We all read Thrillers, we know this.
It's not just the fertility issues that start to put a strain on their relationship. Their new lodger also seems to like to push boundaries. It's most distracting.
Magpie is a good book. It's a solid story that I know a lot of Readers will really enjoy. I'm glad I picked it up, but unfortunately, I don't think it is one that will stick in my mind for long.
For one, I'm not sure the subject matter really suited my tastes. Additionally, from the beginning I couldn't stand Marissa. I felt like I was supposed to be on her side and if anything, it was the opposite for me.
This book is broken into separate Parts. Part I is from one perspective and then Part II shifts to another. Right around this time there was a big reveal.
For me, the reveal felt like it happened too early, because after that it was sort of just telling the aftermath of that reveal. It sucked any intrigue out of it for me.
I also feel, and this is 100% personal taste, that I would have enjoyed it more if it would have had a format that alternated perspectives for much longer. Sure, this could add some confusion, but also, that's part of the fun.
There was something else more towards the end, but that ended up falling a little flat for me in comparison. Overall, this is a solid story. The things that didn't work for me are personal taste issues and completely subjective. I'm sure many, many Readers will have a lot of fun with this.
If the synopsis sounds intriguing to you, absolutely give it a shot. There's a book for every Reader and a Reader for every book. This one could be a new favorite for you.
This review feels a bit shorter than those I generally tend to write, but this one is really difficult to talk about without going into specifics. I don't want to spoil it for anyone, so will leave it here.
Magpie is entertaining, if not super memorable. I'm glad I gave it a shot. Even though it won't end up on any of my favorites lists, it wasn't a bad way to pass the time.
Thank you to the publisher, Simon & Schuster, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I appreciate the opportunity to provide my opinion.
June 24, 2022
Elizabeth Day's 'Magpie' is a fresh, thought provoking and insightful novel examining growing up and finding oneself, mental health, starting your own family while still being constrained by your family of origin, and learning how to stand up for what is right - despite its repercussions. (and much more).
'Magpie' tells the story of main characters Marissa, Kate, and Jake. (Jakes mother plays a strong role as well). In the beginning we are led to believe their relationship to each another is one way. Then, about a quarter of the way through, the story takes a rapid 180, and we find out the relationship between the three of them is very, very different. I really enjoyed this sudden and shocking twist - and it is seamlessly explained and believable. After this occurrence, I became suspicious about motives and things not being as they seemed. Well.... they weren't. I was expecting something very different as the ending unfolded and was very pleased with how it concluded.
The characters are all dynamic, strong and very well developed. Ms. Day made sure we get to know each of them - past development, present situations and psychology - in detail.
Narrator Tanya Reynolds was terrific as solo narrator and kept pace with all of the twists, turns and character emotions flawlessly. A fantastic listening experience.
'Magpie' tells the story of main characters Marissa, Kate, and Jake. (Jakes mother plays a strong role as well). In the beginning we are led to believe their relationship to each another is one way. Then, about a quarter of the way through, the story takes a rapid 180, and we find out the relationship between the three of them is very, very different. I really enjoyed this sudden and shocking twist - and it is seamlessly explained and believable. After this occurrence, I became suspicious about motives and things not being as they seemed. Well.... they weren't. I was expecting something very different as the ending unfolded and was very pleased with how it concluded.
The characters are all dynamic, strong and very well developed. Ms. Day made sure we get to know each of them - past development, present situations and psychology - in detail.
Narrator Tanya Reynolds was terrific as solo narrator and kept pace with all of the twists, turns and character emotions flawlessly. A fantastic listening experience.
June 1, 2022
One and a half stars.
My first suggestion is don’t read the hyped up write ups by other authors on the covers of this book. If you do you will probably end up expecting a different book. The book I read was nothing like the hype. That bird had flown. I was left with a feathered creature of another kind.
I loved the cover of this book. Thought it was very clever with the feather and the woman’s face. I expected the book to be cleverly written too. Maybe it was, but I did it find it so. I loved the premise of the book but it never lived up to expectations. The story is told of Marisa, Kate and Jake, flipping in times from then and now. I was interested enough reading for a while and curious to see where it was going. But it was slow going and by the time the narrative switched to Kate I was over the repetition. From then on I started to skim.
In my view this story was not a thriller. And even though I could empathise with that longing for a child, none of the characters were likable. And Jake’s mother Annabelle is a nasty piece of work.
A lot of people will like this book. I was not one of them. Maybe I’m just over dark depressing reads, with unlikable character and liberal use of bad language. Also books that claim to be psychological thrillers and never live up to the hype. As I said, birds of a different feather. Not for me, but others may really like it. I'd also suggest the less you read of the blurb beforehand, could be a better option.
My first suggestion is don’t read the hyped up write ups by other authors on the covers of this book. If you do you will probably end up expecting a different book. The book I read was nothing like the hype. That bird had flown. I was left with a feathered creature of another kind.
I loved the cover of this book. Thought it was very clever with the feather and the woman’s face. I expected the book to be cleverly written too. Maybe it was, but I did it find it so. I loved the premise of the book but it never lived up to expectations. The story is told of Marisa, Kate and Jake, flipping in times from then and now. I was interested enough reading for a while and curious to see where it was going. But it was slow going and by the time the narrative switched to Kate I was over the repetition. From then on I started to skim.
In my view this story was not a thriller. And even though I could empathise with that longing for a child, none of the characters were likable. And Jake’s mother Annabelle is a nasty piece of work.
A lot of people will like this book. I was not one of them. Maybe I’m just over dark depressing reads, with unlikable character and liberal use of bad language. Also books that claim to be psychological thrillers and never live up to the hype. As I said, birds of a different feather. Not for me, but others may really like it. I'd also suggest the less you read of the blurb beforehand, could be a better option.
January 7, 2022
What a crazy ride. This thriller took me up and down, and spun me around so much with its crazy plot twists. I was so excited to read this one. It had so much potential but the last few chapters were a let down.
I don’t even know how to properly explain this without ruining it. This is one you’re gonna have to read for yourself. The tangled web this author weaved still has my head spinning.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I don’t even know how to properly explain this without ruining it. This is one you’re gonna have to read for yourself. The tangled web this author weaved still has my head spinning.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
May 5, 2022
Magpie had me intrigued from the beginning. There is a twist that occurs a fourth of the way that was totally unexpected. From that point forward, the tension was high and a sense of unease was expertly woven throughout. The story is as much compelling and heart wrenching as it is entertaining. This is the first book I have read by Elizabeth Day, but definitely will not be my last. It is well paced and suspenseful ,making it an addictive read. Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for my copy.
February 4, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of
Magpie.
The premise sounded interesting and though the first half was intriguing, the narrative suddenly took a strange turn.
First, I'm not a fan of using mental illness as a literary device, especially when it concerns how a person may or may not act when she or he is not on medication.
A person with a mental illness or issues is not a plot device used to move the story forward.
Second, there's a scene when Kate is celebrating her 30th birthday and remarks how this gives her license to dress like a 'slut.'
I don't know why a term is thrown in like this; to show we're empowered and we're taking back these misogynistic terms for our own use?
Why not say she could dress however she likes or not mention her appearance at all?
Third, the narrative is teeming with cliches; mostly Freudian, as Jake, the husband, is a mama's boy and struggles with a domineering mother who is wary of any woman who takes her place in her son's affections.
The story takes a strange turn when it suddenly becomes a dispute between mother and son, and the earlier issue with Marisa and her mental health takes a backseat.
I get the feeling the author was purposely trying to throw readers plot twists to keep us guessing but I wasn't guessing at anything.
I just wanted to get to the end.
The writing is decent, but the narrative is long, filled with repetitive filler and details that don't move the story forward, just ups the word content.
I did't like or sympathize with Marisa, Kate and Jake and found the story neither suspenseful or exciting, mostly boring.
I doubt I'll read anything more by the author.
The premise sounded interesting and though the first half was intriguing, the narrative suddenly took a strange turn.
First, I'm not a fan of using mental illness as a literary device, especially when it concerns how a person may or may not act when she or he is not on medication.
A person with a mental illness or issues is not a plot device used to move the story forward.
Second, there's a scene when Kate is celebrating her 30th birthday and remarks how this gives her license to dress like a 'slut.'
I don't know why a term is thrown in like this; to show we're empowered and we're taking back these misogynistic terms for our own use?
Why not say she could dress however she likes or not mention her appearance at all?
Third, the narrative is teeming with cliches; mostly Freudian, as Jake, the husband, is a mama's boy and struggles with a domineering mother who is wary of any woman who takes her place in her son's affections.
The story takes a strange turn when it suddenly becomes a dispute between mother and son, and the earlier issue with Marisa and her mental health takes a backseat.
I get the feeling the author was purposely trying to throw readers plot twists to keep us guessing but I wasn't guessing at anything.
I just wanted to get to the end.
The writing is decent, but the narrative is long, filled with repetitive filler and details that don't move the story forward, just ups the word content.
I did't like or sympathize with Marisa, Kate and Jake and found the story neither suspenseful or exciting, mostly boring.
I doubt I'll read anything more by the author.
September 1, 2021
Magpie, if I was to do a short review I would say
‘In every way, every word, every scene the writing, the characters and the story are delicious, this book is pure reading magic causing reader happiness up to the highest levels, buy it and you are in for a guaranteed treat of a book’
So, I think I will leave it as a short review
It’s wonderful
10/10
Never an easier 5 Stars
‘In every way, every word, every scene the writing, the characters and the story are delicious, this book is pure reading magic causing reader happiness up to the highest levels, buy it and you are in for a guaranteed treat of a book’
So, I think I will leave it as a short review
It’s wonderful
10/10
Never an easier 5 Stars
March 19, 2022
I ended up liking this is -ish, but it was tough going for a while. Marisa is a difficult character to like, and when Kate starts to tell her side of the story, she also seems distant and analytic, reporting her feelings in a way that didn’t make me feel them along with her. This story is about motherhood, but I can’t tell you much more about it without giving too much away.
The author uses the phrase “the smile didn’t reach her eyes” multiple times, and while I understand this, it’s already become a cliché, and one that an author can’t use more than once per novel, let alone multiple times.
The psychological wackiness of this is compelling and page turning. It gets better at 30 percent, more interesting at 50 percent, and much better at the end—you can decide if you want to not enjoy 90 percent of a book.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel, which RELEASES MAY 3 in the United States.
The author uses the phrase “the smile didn’t reach her eyes” multiple times, and while I understand this, it’s already become a cliché, and one that an author can’t use more than once per novel, let alone multiple times.
The psychological wackiness of this is compelling and page turning. It gets better at 30 percent, more interesting at 50 percent, and much better at the end—you can decide if you want to not enjoy 90 percent of a book.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel, which RELEASES MAY 3 in the United States.
October 9, 2021
This is an entertaining read that focuses on the tension between two women, Marisa and Kate and is told from their perspectives. Kate is the lodger at Marisa and Jake’s house and is a complete opposite to Marisa. Kate is stylish, dark haired, sporty, whereas Marisa is blond, curvy and less concerned about her attire.
Marisa had only known Jake for a short time but knew that he was the one for her and a baby was high on her list. Once they take on a lodger the game changes and their relationship suffers. Marisa feels that Kate is obsessed with her and Jake.
Kate acts as if the house is hers and thinks nothing of helping herself to whatever she needs. The stress of trying to get pregnant is telling on Marisa and she becomes suspicious of the relationship between Jake and Kate. .
This is a well written novel that wasn’t spoilt for me by guessing some of the twists. Lots of emotions and some great characters make this a very good read. I particularly enjoyed the character Annabelle, the overbearing mother in law.
Marisa had only known Jake for a short time but knew that he was the one for her and a baby was high on her list. Once they take on a lodger the game changes and their relationship suffers. Marisa feels that Kate is obsessed with her and Jake.
Kate acts as if the house is hers and thinks nothing of helping herself to whatever she needs. The stress of trying to get pregnant is telling on Marisa and she becomes suspicious of the relationship between Jake and Kate. .
This is a well written novel that wasn’t spoilt for me by guessing some of the twists. Lots of emotions and some great characters make this a very good read. I particularly enjoyed the character Annabelle, the overbearing mother in law.
July 12, 2023
I know my rating goes against the norm, but- I loved this psychological thriller. There were a few times where I could guess what was going to happen but so many more times that I had no clue. It had my mind going crazy wondering what was going to happen next. That’s the kind of book I get into. So if you like psychological thrillers that don’t have gore, this may be your next best Read!
May 22, 2022
Jake and Marisa rent a room to Kate in order to make ends meet in their new house. Marisa and Jake have been trying very hard to get pregnant and that process isn’t helped by Kate’s intrusion into their relationship. That’s part one of the book - then comes the Big Twist, which did surprise me.
The book veered back and forth between Marisa feeling insecure and put upon and Kate feeling insecure and put upon. Jake just tried to please everyone (but especially his domineering mother) and did what he was told to do by the women in the book. This is not a thriller and not suspenseful but I did want to know how it turned out so I kept reading. The ending was actually a little wimpy. This is the second book I’ve read by this author and I thought that were both just OK.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
The book veered back and forth between Marisa feeling insecure and put upon and Kate feeling insecure and put upon. Jake just tried to please everyone (but especially his domineering mother) and did what he was told to do by the women in the book. This is not a thriller and not suspenseful but I did want to know how it turned out so I kept reading. The ending was actually a little wimpy. This is the second book I’ve read by this author and I thought that were both just OK.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
Read
July 27, 2025Source of book: Bought by me
Relevant disclaimers: None
Please note: This review may not be reproduced or quoted, in whole or in part, without explicit consent from the author.
And remember: I am not here to judge your drag, I mean your book. Books are art and art is subjective. These are just my personal thoughts. They are not meant to be taken as broader commentary on the general quality of the work. Believe me, I have not enjoyed many an excellent book, and my individual lack of enjoyment has not made any of those books less excellent or (more relevantly) less successful.
*******
And let us continue with my attempt to write brief-ish reviews. This was one of a pile of a thrillers I’m slowly working my way through as the mood takes me. The theme of this one is, broadly, motherhood, which is naturally somewhat inextricable from themes of gender, patriarchy, and all the rest of it.
The book opens with the heroine Marissa trying to buy a house in which she and her partner Jake can try to have a baby together. As she’s being shown round, a magpie ominously swoops inside, before being removed with some difficulty. Nevertheless, Marissa is in love with the place, as she is in love with Jake, who she has only been dating for three months, their romance something of a whirlwind. Not long after Marissa successfully conceives, Jake confesses things aren’t going to well at work, and they’ll need to take in a lodger to help with their cash flow. When Kate initially moves in, she seems friendly enough, but Marissa finds her increasingly intrusive, even suspecting she may be having an affair with Jake.
You know, I ended up liking this pretty well. I felt it had a real emotional depth to it, especially when it came to talking about motherhood (both as a reality and as a concept) and the lose/lose proposition it is for many women, in that if don’t or can’t go that route, society makes you feel like you’ve failed your gender, and if you do, society strips you of personhood. I’ve seen some reviews expressing concern and/or distaste over the (mild spoiler incoming) fact mental illness is used as a twist/reveal but I actually found that, compared to a lot of thrillers I’ve read which have a borderline Victorian gothic approach to mental health, it was … semi-reasonably handled? In that the “shock value” aspect is quickly replaced by something more pragmatic and grounded.
In fact, this was a common thread to most of the thrillery reveals and reversals as the book progressed. And probably contributed to why I came away from the book feeling so positively about it. I mean, thrillers can have happy endings, for sure, but it’s mostly “and then the place burned down” or “and then whoever turned out to be villain after 300 pages fell off a cliff” and the focus is on catharsis and the restoration of order. Magpie, by contrast, ends on a note of unity and optimism that felt genuinely sincere.
So yes. A well-written, well-constructed domestic thriller with a heart and something to say.
Relevant disclaimers: None
Please note: This review may not be reproduced or quoted, in whole or in part, without explicit consent from the author.
And remember: I am not here to judge your drag, I mean your book. Books are art and art is subjective. These are just my personal thoughts. They are not meant to be taken as broader commentary on the general quality of the work. Believe me, I have not enjoyed many an excellent book, and my individual lack of enjoyment has not made any of those books less excellent or (more relevantly) less successful.
*******
And let us continue with my attempt to write brief-ish reviews. This was one of a pile of a thrillers I’m slowly working my way through as the mood takes me. The theme of this one is, broadly, motherhood, which is naturally somewhat inextricable from themes of gender, patriarchy, and all the rest of it.
The book opens with the heroine Marissa trying to buy a house in which she and her partner Jake can try to have a baby together. As she’s being shown round, a magpie ominously swoops inside, before being removed with some difficulty. Nevertheless, Marissa is in love with the place, as she is in love with Jake, who she has only been dating for three months, their romance something of a whirlwind. Not long after Marissa successfully conceives, Jake confesses things aren’t going to well at work, and they’ll need to take in a lodger to help with their cash flow. When Kate initially moves in, she seems friendly enough, but Marissa finds her increasingly intrusive, even suspecting she may be having an affair with Jake.
You know, I ended up liking this pretty well. I felt it had a real emotional depth to it, especially when it came to talking about motherhood (both as a reality and as a concept) and the lose/lose proposition it is for many women, in that if don’t or can’t go that route, society makes you feel like you’ve failed your gender, and if you do, society strips you of personhood. I’ve seen some reviews expressing concern and/or distaste over the (mild spoiler incoming) fact mental illness is used as a twist/reveal but I actually found that, compared to a lot of thrillers I’ve read which have a borderline Victorian gothic approach to mental health, it was … semi-reasonably handled? In that the “shock value” aspect is quickly replaced by something more pragmatic and grounded.
In fact, this was a common thread to most of the thrillery reveals and reversals as the book progressed. And probably contributed to why I came away from the book feeling so positively about it. I mean, thrillers can have happy endings, for sure, but it’s mostly “and then the place burned down” or “and then whoever turned out to be villain after 300 pages fell off a cliff” and the focus is on catharsis and the restoration of order. Magpie, by contrast, ends on a note of unity and optimism that felt genuinely sincere.
So yes. A well-written, well-constructed domestic thriller with a heart and something to say.
May 29, 2021
This was a book that I found myself intrigued by the synopsis so was interested to read the advanced readers copy I received.
The new novel from the best-selling author ‘The Party’ (not that have read this title) is described as a ‘thrilling,stylish and psychologically astute story of jealousy, motherhood and power.’
We are introduced to Marisa who has been seeing Jake for a few months, but when he asks her to move in with him and to start trying for a baby, she believes that he is the one. When they take in a lodger, Kate, their relationship is put to the test when Kate seems to show an interest in Jake, along with the baby Marisa is carrying.
It is hard to review this book without giving away what happens and that would spoil anyone picking this up to read so I won’t go into it further. However, I hate to say it but once the twist has been revealed about halfway through the book, well, nothing really happens and it all feels a bit flat and not heading in any particular direction. Even the ending was a little subdued and uninteresting, unfortunately I found myself not really caring how the book ended or what happened but rather just wanting to have finished it. Not one that I would recommend I’m afraid, quite a forgetful book.
The new novel from the best-selling author ‘The Party’ (not that have read this title) is described as a ‘thrilling,stylish and psychologically astute story of jealousy, motherhood and power.’
We are introduced to Marisa who has been seeing Jake for a few months, but when he asks her to move in with him and to start trying for a baby, she believes that he is the one. When they take in a lodger, Kate, their relationship is put to the test when Kate seems to show an interest in Jake, along with the baby Marisa is carrying.
It is hard to review this book without giving away what happens and that would spoil anyone picking this up to read so I won’t go into it further. However, I hate to say it but once the twist has been revealed about halfway through the book, well, nothing really happens and it all feels a bit flat and not heading in any particular direction. Even the ending was a little subdued and uninteresting, unfortunately I found myself not really caring how the book ended or what happened but rather just wanting to have finished it. Not one that I would recommend I’m afraid, quite a forgetful book.
May 18, 2022
oh…so we’re still using mental illness as a ‘reveal’ in 2022? this was a pretty entertaining read but that just doesn’t sit right with me, please come up with something else
August 5, 2021
4.5 stars. So addictive and fast-paced! I was hooked from the very first page.
September 21, 2021
Waste of paper. Reads like a sixth form writing assignment.
May 3, 2022
This was an entertaining read and kept my interest. It is told from two points of view and the two narrators have very different stories.
At the beginning of the book we hear from Marisa. Marisa and Jake have moved in togther and are trying for a baby, even though they haven't known each other long. Money is a little tight, so they take in a boarder - Kate. Marisa is uncomforable with Kate and feels like she acts the house it hers and that Kate is way too interested in Marisa's pregnancy status.
Kate's point of view is very much different, and that's where the conflict arises and my eyes flew open in surprise. I don't want to give anything away so I'll stop here.
An interesting and enjoyable read with a real twist. Well-written and well plotted. Thanks to Simon & Schuster through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on May 3, 2022.
At the beginning of the book we hear from Marisa. Marisa and Jake have moved in togther and are trying for a baby, even though they haven't known each other long. Money is a little tight, so they take in a boarder - Kate. Marisa is uncomforable with Kate and feels like she acts the house it hers and that Kate is way too interested in Marisa's pregnancy status.
Kate's point of view is very much different, and that's where the conflict arises and my eyes flew open in surprise. I don't want to give anything away so I'll stop here.
An interesting and enjoyable read with a real twist. Well-written and well plotted. Thanks to Simon & Schuster through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on May 3, 2022.
November 11, 2022
Although I own this book I listened to it by audio, I sometimes sat and read and listened .
It was written well, flowed well enough and I could follow it.
Around the fourth section of the book it became more upbeat for me.
The two women, Jake and the ever emotional upheaval of “trying” for a baby.
I guessed some of what would happen but it still didn’t upset my reading I was quite invested then.
If you read the blurb it is very much like what it says.
I wasn’t excited or on the edge of my seat, it was (for me) more of a suspense domestic drama with a few bits and bobs thrown in.
I’d never deter anyone to not read this as it was GOOD. I’m just not sure if it’s memorable enough for me, hence the three stars.
I plodded along nicely with this book.
It was written well, flowed well enough and I could follow it.
Around the fourth section of the book it became more upbeat for me.
The two women, Jake and the ever emotional upheaval of “trying” for a baby.
I guessed some of what would happen but it still didn’t upset my reading I was quite invested then.
If you read the blurb it is very much like what it says.
I wasn’t excited or on the edge of my seat, it was (for me) more of a suspense domestic drama with a few bits and bobs thrown in.
I’d never deter anyone to not read this as it was GOOD. I’m just not sure if it’s memorable enough for me, hence the three stars.
I plodded along nicely with this book.
May 20, 2022
This book started out with the potential of being a really good thriller but it could not reach it. I found it just an average read.
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