Book Review - Magpie murders by Anthony Horowitz
Alan Conway is a mystery author best known for his ‘Atticus Pünd’ detective series, and when his editor, Susan Ryeland, receives his latest instalment, she can’t wait to get stuck in. A body is found at the foot of the stairs of a mansion. Secrets abound in a quaint English town, in a set up that will be familiar to fans of Agatha Christie and midsummer murders.
But there’s something different about ‘magpie murders’, and just before she, and we, are finishing it, something happens that puts it in a completely different light. And Susan finds herself thrust into the role of detective.
Detective fiction
I ordered ‘magpie murders’ by Anthony Horowitz in early 2020, back when the world was putting up the 'out for lunch' sign and we had suddenly gained a lot of leisure time. On the recommendation of an RTE radio DJ (I know, I know) it disappeared into the black hole of my TBR pile, only recently rescued by my wheel of names.
After a slow start, this is classic detective fiction. Like I say, for me I found it took a while to get going, and then suddenly you have the rug pulled completely out from under you feet. It’s very clever with a cunning set up. As usual with book reviews for detective fiction, I’m going to be careful with the details I include.
Story within a story
It’s really a story within a story, and in lesser hands it would have been much too clever for it’s own good. One of the ways it excels is that because Susan is a crime fiction editor, she knows all the tropes. It adds another level to the story.
All the classic red herrings are here. I suspected everyone at some stage, and as usual I kept changing my mind. Sometimes I got confused with the overlap between the two stories, but in the end it worked out.
Anthony Horowitz is obviously superb at writing in this genre, and you can sense that he had a lot of fun with this story, much like Alan Conway does. I wouldn't say it’s a parody of detective fiction, as he’s too good a writer for that, but there are times when it feels like a greatest hits from the golden age of detective fiction.
Satisfying
‘Magpie murders’ is perfect for putting your feet up, a glass of wine and a packet of biccies nearby with the curtains pulled on a dark night. Bonus points for the rain hammering at the window. A proper old fashioned page turner in the classic Agatha Christie style.
I do enjoy these ‘classic’ detective fiction tales, but sometimes think I get more enjoyment from the build up than the reveal. I do know that I can’t read two in a row in this particular genre - it’s as if I’ve satisfied that part of my brain for now.
This is a puzzle within a puzzle, with plenty of cracking twists, great characters and setting, and I tore through the last few chapters. I’ll read more by Horowitz over Christmas, the perfect season for this genre.
Book review - Magpie murders by Anthony Horowitz
477 pages
Published June 6th 2017 by Harper
Second book in the series review ‘Moonflower murders’