‘Behind the twinkling lights, danger watches closely’
– The Christmas Magpie
[ About The Christmas Magpie ]
It’s Noel and Dani’s first Christmas in their new home and they want everything to be perfect – lavish presents, a beautiful tree and outdoor decorations to join in with the festivities in this welcoming community. But they quickly wonder if this street is as perfect as it appears.
First, there are the unwelcome presents left anonymously on their doorstep. Then they are sure someone is watching them… And why are the neighbours all obsessed with a notorious killer who is housed at the nearby women’s prison?
After tragedy strikes at a Christmas party, Noel and Dani try to find out who is targeting them – but, in this case, it might be safer not to know . . .
[ My Review ]
The Christmas Magpie by Mark Edwards publishes November 13th with Michael Joseph and is described as ‘a terrifying festive thriller’.
Many readers will be familiar with The Magpie series from Mark Edwards which I believe reached its conclusion with the third book. This Christmas novella is an offshoot of this series with one particular character making an appearance, which I suspect opens the possibility of future books. I haven’t read Mark Edward before so I was intrigued to sample his writing via this shorter festive read.
The story centres around a young couple, Noel and Dani, who have just moved into their new home in a small estate. The neighbours are quite friendly, for the most part, with a touch of The Stepford Wives, in the way that things are done. Initially Noel and Dani find the ambience of the community quite entertaining in its strive for perfection. Their home is located near an open women’s prison which makes for many a conversation, particularly as one of the wardens lives in the estate.
When strange packages arrive at their door, life takes a very unexpected turn, with Dani and Noel very unsettled, as these disconcerting gifts appear to have been sent by someone who knows them.
As the sense of foreboding increases Dani and Noel are left reeling when tragedy strikes and their world is turned upside down. Is this perfect neighbourhood all that it appears to be? Can Noel and Dani ever find happiness in their new home?
Unfortunately I found the characters in this tale all a little underdeveloped, with the plot just too far-fetched for me. I really can’t quite put my finger on it but it’s almost like it was written by a less experienced writer. The Christmas Magpie may work better for readers who have read the three-book series but overall I was left quite underwhelmed.
[Thank you to Michael Joseph and Netgalley for a copy of The Christmas Magpie in return for my honest review]
[ Bio ]
Mark Edwards writes books in which scary things happen to ordinary people, the best known of which are The Magpies series, Follow You Home and Here To Stay.
His novels have sold over 5 million copies and topped the bestseller lists numerous times. His latest novel, The Wasp Trap, was published in 2025. The New York Times said, “Moves with increasingly head-spinning velocity as the secrets come spilling out.”
