A book within a book! Author Alan Conway sends his final manuscript to his publisher and editor. But the book is incomplete and Alan dies before they can ask about the ending. Editor Susan notices similarities between the book and real life: has a murder been committed?
Magpie Murders is a murder mystery within another. It has recently been made into a TV adaptation which I only watched after listening to this audiobook (the TV version was fab but the book was even better!)
Alan Conway’s Atticus Pund novels are hugely popular and his editor Susan is excited to read the final book in the series. Atticus is dying but takes on one final case. A woman dies in an apparent accident but her employer is then decapitated. The detective then interviews the suspects and is about to reach a conclusion when the manuscript abruptly finished. Susan is eager to find the missing final chapter but her visit to Alan’s home reveals he was using people and places he knew as his characters and settings. Does this mean he wrote about real murders?
I LOVED the way the two mysteries unfolded and was gripped by the narrative style and audio narration. Everthing just worked so well together and was so cleverly constructed. Readers are allowed to read along with Susan as she enjoys the final book in the Pund series and then act as an amateur sleuth alongside her as she investigates the death of the author.
There are clues and red herrings aplenty in both the manuscript and real life as the plot threads together. However, it is the characters of Susan and Atticus that really shine. Atticus is reminiscent of Poirot who I grew up adoring, whilst Susan is modern and intelligent. Both characters just leapt off the page, brought to life by the fantastic storytelling skills of the author.
Magpie Murders is a clever mystery within a mystery and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
Magpie Murders book blurb (Susan Ryeland 1)
When editor Susan Ryeland is given the tattered manuscript of Alan Conway’s latest novel, she has little idea it will change her life. She’s worked with the revered crime writer for years and his detective, Atticus Pund, is renowned for solving crimes in the sleepy English villages of the 1950s. As Susan knows only too well, vintage crime sells handsomely. It’s just a shame that it means dealing with an author like Alan Conway…
But Conway’s latest tale of murder at Pye Hall is not quite what it seems. Yes, there are dead bodies and a host of intriguing suspects, but hidden in the pages of the manuscript there lies another story: a tale written between the very words on the page, telling of real-life jealousy, greed, ruthless ambition and murder.
From Sunday Times bestseller Anthony Horowitz comes Magpie Murders, his deliciously dark take on the vintage crime novel, brought bang- up-to-date with a fiendish modern twist.
1943, Paris. Christine is a British agent working to get secrets from the German occupiers. Now she teams up with Charlie, an American spy, but can she put her emotions to one side to save her friends?
The Paris Spy’s Girl is an historical novel set in Paris during WW2.
Christine has overcome a traumatic past to become a spy, using her feminine wiles alongside a truth serum to find out Nazi secrets. Now she is paired up with Charlie but finds it difficult to fully trust him while those she loves are in danger. Not only people but the whole war effort are compromised as events unfold.
I felt quite emotionally detached from Christine. She keeps her feelings in check so even though the book is written in the first person, I didn’t feel that I knew her well. Most of the book is written in 1943 but there are some chapters to show why she left England and how she trained for her role. This added some depth to her characters, a better understanding of her motives, and also heightened awareness of the restraint she shows in her interactions.
The pace of the book is quite slow at the beginning as we find out how Christine got involved with the resistance and her friendship with Suzanne developed. There is plenty of tension as danger is never very far away. I thought the angle of women spies was quite refreshing and even more so when you realise it has a basis on real people who bravely subverted the Nazi regime.
The Paris Spy’s Girl is a well researched historical novel.
The Paris Spy’s Girl: An utterly breathtaking and heartbreaking World War II novel, inspired by true events by Amanda Lees
Paris, 1943. I stare at Charlie across the crowded room. Working deep undercover, we’re surrounded by Nazi high command. Slowly, he smiles at me and my breath catches. I have to trust him, or we’re both dead…
As war rages across France, English exile Christine has become the most deadly asset the British Secret Service has in occupied Paris. But when Suzanne, her best friend and the sole agent who knows the details of the top-secret D-Day landings, is betrayed to the Nazis by someone at the heart of their spy network, she is devastated. Going undercover with Charlie – a handsome but elusive American spy with an agenda of his own – is her only chance to catch the traitor in their midst.
Pretending to be not only Nazi collaborators but lovers too, they must save Suzanne from almost certain death and prevent the D-Day landing plans from ending up in the wrong hands. But as Christine and Charlie’s pretend desire turns to true love, her past – and the real reason she had to leave England forever – puts their whole mission in terrible danger.
With the Nazis closing in and Suzanne’s life on the line, Christine is forced into one last, desperate act: heading back into deepest, darkest enemy territory, knowing her disguise could have been exposed. With even her trust in Charlie shaken, will Christine have to choose between her love for him, her best friend’s life, and freedom for France? And who will pay the ultimate sacrifice…?
A totally compelling, page-turning historical novel of love, bravery and sacrifice in the darkest of times. Set in wartime Paris, this is an utterly gripping and tear-jerking read perfect for readers of Kate Quinn, Rhys Bowen and Mandy Robotham.
About the author:
Amanda Lees is an author, broadcaster and an actress. She has written for, or contributed to, the Evening Standard, The Times, US Cosmopolitan and Company Magazine, as well as numerous online publications. Amanda appears regularly on BBC radio and LBC and was a contracted writer to the hit series Weekending on Radio 4.
As well as her new World War Two romantic thriller series, she has published two bestselling satirical fiction novels, a YA thriller trilogy and a number of non-fiction titles including The Dictionary of Crime.
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TRIGGER WARNING: miscarriage, IVF, adoption, organ donation, brain damage caused by meningitis
Fifteen years ago Toni gave her sister Liv a kidney to save her life. Now Liv offers to give her baby to Toni so that she can have the family she’s always dreamed of…
My Sister’s Baby is a very emotional family drama novel set in Australia.
Toni, Liv and Mandy are united in their grief after their father’s death. Toni and her husband have the additional heartache of having been through several rounds of IVF that ended in miscarriage. The sisters’ mum Sara is struggling to cope with Mandy who suffered brain damage after contracting mengingitis as a child.
Liv has always wanted to repay Toni for donating a kidney to her after a car crash and now she has the chance to make her a mother. Toni accepts her sister Liv’s baby but finds the reality of a newborn difficult to cope with. Meanwhile Liv fraudulently arranges the birth certificate which lead to her getting blackmailed.
There are some big issues covered in this book. I thought they were handled sensitively and gave a depth to the characters. In particular, my heart went out to Mandy who is aware of her limitations and the burden she is to her family. The book is very thought provoking about the impact disability has on siblings, the sacrifices that are made and the resentment this could cause.
Toni finally has what she has always dreamed of but struggles to adapt. I felt so enraged at her husband’s double standards. The author makes many references to Liv’s secrets and it is pretty obvious that there is more than just the birth certificate. The ending was predictable but well written and engaging.
My Sister’s Baby is a hugely emotional book about family and impossible choices.
My Sister’s Baby
Your sister once saved your life… Would you repay her with the child she’s always dreamed of?
Liv and Toni were once inseparable. While their parents focused on Mandy, their little sister with special needs, the two older sisters leaned on each other for love, support and security.
When they were in their teens, and Liv needed a lifesaving operation, Toni didn’t hesitate to do whatever it took to help her. Since then, their lives have gone in different directions. They live in different cities and rarely see each other. But now it’s Toni who needs help from Liv. Because she’s desperate for a baby…
When Liv finds herself in a situation where she could help Toni fulfil her dream, she wants more than anything to say yes. But Liv is keeping a dark secret. And she can’t help but wonder – is giving a baby to her sister the right thing to do… or will it destroy their family forever?
A gripping emotional page turner. Perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Kate Hewitt and Emma Robinson.
Author Bio –
Louise Guy, bestselling author of six novels, blends family and friendship themes with unique twists and intrigue. Her characters captivate readers, drawing them deeply into their compelling stories and struggles. Previously published by Lake Union, she lives in Australia.
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Four year old Mia Donovan is safe with her family, so why are there reports on social media that she is missing? Her mother Jessie is worried that her own past may put Mia in danger…
The Girl on the News is a mix of murder mystery, family drama and psychological thriller set in the UK.
Jessie is trying to put the past behind her. She is fiercely protective of her identity and is not on social media for her own protection as well as that of her family. Jessie is the new identity of Rosie McShane, a convicted child killer who murdered her best friend. But someone knows the truth and is ready to expose it to the public, putting Jessie and her family at risk.
It took me a little while to get into this book due to the frequent change in perspective, however I soon settled into the plot and was hooked. There is fantastic emotion in this book as Sadie and Heather deal with their mother’s age and illness as well as the historic murder. Meanwhile Jessie’s mum is very peculiar despite being sober for 6 months. Her attitutude and behaviour toward her daughter have always been awful. The interviews and diary entries are heartbreaking and Rosie seems so young and innocent that it is impossible to feel anything but sorrow at her unfortunate life before and after her best friend’s murder.
The tension is good and there are red herrings to make us suspect a variety of characters. It is clear that Rosie was innocent so who is the real killer? I was absolutely gripped by the plot and the character development. However, I had to suspend my disbelief as there was zero detail on why Rosie was convicted. There appeared to be no evidence whatsoever so I couldn’t understand why she was suspected let alone convicted. I found the ending a little disappointing as there wasn’t much explanation about how and why.
The Girl on the News is a tense and emotional book, full of drama and heartache.
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Book: The Girl on the News
Author: Elisabeth Carpenter
Pub Day: January 29th 2024
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My heart pounds as I take in the headline: ‘Missing girl believed kidnapped’. Underneath is a photo of my beautiful daughter Mia, her gap-toothed grin unmistakable. But Mia is safe beside me, snuggled up on the sofa. Why would someone pretend my child has been taken?
I thought my husband Mark and I had built a perfect new life with our precious daughter Mia. She is everything to us. I thought we were finally safe from my past. But I know Mia’s picture on the news means someone has uncovered who I really am…
They must know about the terrible accusations I faced. Those other missing little girls. I was only a child myself but no-one believed I was innocent. Not even my own family. It still haunts me, every day.
Then my worst nightmares come true. Mia is taken, snatched from the playground, and my world collapses.
My sweet daughter is in danger. Because whoever took those children years ago must still be out there. Why are they trying to destroy my life again? And if they knew where to find me, how to take my daughter – does that mean they are someone close to home?
I can’t trust anyone. But it’s not like last time. I’m not a child any longer. And I will do anything to get Mia back, before it’s too late…
An utterly shocking and page-turning psychological thriller perfect for fans of Shari Lapena, The Housemaid and All Her Fault.
Author Bio
Elisabeth Carpenter lives in Preston with her family. She completed a BA in English Literature and Language with the Open University in 2008.
Elisabeth was awarded a Northern Writers’ New Fiction award, and was long-listed for Yeovil Literary Prize (2015 and 2016) and the MsLexia Women’s Novel award (2015). She loves living in the north of England and sets most of her stories in the area, including the novel she is writing at the moment.
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DI Jack MacIntosh has a grisly case. Bodies are being discovered with their lips sewn together, but during the post mortem investigation the pathologist finds a severed rat’s head was placed inside the mouth before death. Meanwhile a journalist’s wife has been kidnapped and a ransom is demanded…
Three Broken Bodies is the fifth book in the revised and redeveloped DI MacIntosh series. There are follow on aspects to Jack’s personal life and the murder case that relates to his mother so there are spoilers.
Jack’s latest case is very unpleasant. I liked how the natural revulsion of the police characters is depicted, showing that exposure to such atrocities can still affect them emotionally. There is a gang element to the plot and the violence is as graphic as you might expect.
The book is written in the third person throughout to show the different layers to the plot. This allows us to see a variety of perspectives and feel the fear of the characters in danger. We witness the police investigation, gang members, potential victims, prison residents and a panicked husband of a kidnapped woman. There are lots of threads of plot which are woven together cleverly by the author.
Jack is a complex character and doesn’t always follow the rules. He works to his own code and keeps secrets from his friends and colleagues. His past plays a significant role in a number of the plot elements, for example his antagonistic relationship with the missing woman’s journalist husband and the murder of his mother.
Three Broken Bodies is a tense and enjoyable detective thriller with a fab lead character.
THREE BROKEN BODIES (Detective Jack Macintosh #5) by Michelle Kidd
MEET DETECTIVE JACK MACINTOSH IN THIS BRILLIANT CRIME SERIES.
An absolutely gripping crime thriller with a massive twist.
Detective Jack is called out to a body on the South Bank. The victim’s hands and feet are bound, her skin badly bruised, her lips crudely sewn shut.
Inside the dead woman’s mouth is the severed head of a rat.
This is the second body in two days.
The following night, a third body is discovered in a derelict brewery. The same bruising, the mouth sewn shut, a rat’s head. This time it’s a young man — and he’s been dead at least a week.
With no witnesses and no clues to who the victims are, Jack’s investigation is going nowhere.
Then he gets a call from journalist Jonathan Spearing. There’s no love lost between the two men — but now Jonathan needs Jack’s help. Katie Spearing is missing. She’s been gone for two days. And Jonathan just received a text: We have your wife.
Jack uncovers a connection between Katie Spearing and the three broken bodies. Now he’s in a desperate race against time.
Perfect for fans of Helen H. Durrant, Biba Pearce, Lynda La Plante, Angela Marsons and Rachel McLean.
READERS LOVE THE JACK MACINTOSH SERIES:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Truly gripping and suspenseful . . . keeps you guessing throughout.’ Bob
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Gripping and twisty. Couldn’t put it down.’ Sue W.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Full of unsuspected twists and turns . . . Incredibly fast-paced and puzzling.’ Nicola H.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Brilliant . . . This series gets better and better.’ Colin B.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A real page-turner.’ Lynda C.
THE DETECTIVE
Detective Inspector Jack MacIntosh is a dedicated police officer, the one person you would want to fight your corner. But he has been known to cross the line to get the job done. As a four-year-old boy he discovered his mother’s body swinging from a light fitting. Jack and his younger brother were taken into care — Jack did OK, his brother not so much. A bit of a loner, Jack has never married — although plenty of women would like to give it a shot. He lives in a charming mews cottage in central London. No one is quite sure how he can afford it on a detective’s salary.
MICHELLE KIDD
Michelle Kidd is a crime fiction author best known for the DI Jack MacIntosh and DI Nicki Hardcastle series. She qualified as a legal executive in the early 1990s, spending ten years practising civil and criminal litigation.
But the dream to write was never far from her mind and in 2008 she began writing the first book in what would later become the DI Jack MacIntosh series. Michelle now works full time for the NHS and lives in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. She enjoys reading, wine and cats — not necessarily in that order.
BOOKS BY MICHELLE KIDD:
DI JACK MACINTOSH SERIES:
