Summary
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. [summary from https://www.anthonyhorowitz.com/books/title/magpie-murders]
Group Reviews/Comments
I didn’t hate it as much as the last Horowitz we read.
One of the best I’ve read with this group! Novel within a novel–so much fun!
I liked the self-referential, meta-commentary on the world of mystery fiction.
Enjoyed both mysteries!
Audio version was confusing [note: a number of people echoed this sentiment].
Did not like the switching from story to story [quite a few comments on this]
Was prepared not to like it, but I did!
Really liked the Susan character and part of the story–liked learning how mystery fiction is made and editors work.
Really liked Atticus Pund!
Had no trouble following the switches in stories, but the anagram part really stretched believability.
The ending of the Susan story was weird. Didn’t seem like real life.
Really liked the commentary on mysteries.
Took a lot of skill to write this, really liked it.
