An homage to the golden age of crime novels and a page-turning work of fiction in it's own right, this literary meta-mystery will grip you from the start.
Don’t miss Magpie Murders on PBS's MASTERPIECE Mystery!
"A double puzzle for puzzle fans, who don’t often get the classicism they want from contemporary thrillers." —Janet Maslin, New York Times
New York Times Bestseller | Winner of the Macavity Award for Best Novel | NPR Best Book of the Year | Washington Post Best Book of the Year | Esquire Best Book of the Year
From the New York Times bestselling author of Moriarty and Trigger Mortis, this fiendishly brilliant, riveting thriller weaves a classic whodunit worthy of Agatha Christie into a chilling, ingeniously original modern-day mystery.
When editor Susan Ryeland is given the manuscript of Alan Conway’s latest novel, she has no reason to think it will be much different from any of his others. After working with the bestselling crime writer for years, she’s intimately familiar with his detective, Atticus Pünd, who solves mysteries disturbing sleepy English villages. An homage to queens of classic British crime such as Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers, Alan’s traditional formula has proved hugely successful. So successful that Susan must continue to put up with his troubling behavior if she wants to keep her job.
Conway’s latest tale has Atticus Pünd investigating a murder at Pye Hall, a local manor house. Yes, there are dead bodies and a host of intriguing suspects, but the more Susan reads, the more she’s convinced that there is another story hidden in the pages of the manuscript: one of real-life jealousy, greed, ruthless ambition, and murder.
Masterful, clever, and relentlessly suspenseful, Magpie Murders is a deviously dark take on vintage English crime fiction in which the reader becomes the detective.
Anthony Horowitz is the author of the New York Times bestseller Moriarty and the inter- nationally bestselling The House of Silk, as well as the New York Times bestselling Alex Rider series for young adults. As a television screenwriter, he created Midsomer Murders and the BAFTA-winning Foyle’s War, both of which were featured on PBS’s Masterpiece Mystery. He regularly contributes to a wide variety of national newspapers and magazines, and in January 2014 was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for his services to literature. He lives in London.
With movies like Knives Out and The Glass Onion keeping us entertained over the past few years, we see it fit to revisit one of our own favorite mystery writers and his impressive selection of satiating thrillers. Looking for a bloody story with a psychological twist? How about an acclaimed super-spy series? Maybe you’re looking […]
Mystery readers know that a true literary sleuth never really goes on vacation—we just exchange our armchairs for deck chairs (and our pipes for bubble pipes). Fortunately June is busting out all over with new books from favorite authors like Anthony Horowitz and Laurie R. King. Toss a book or two (or eleven) from the list below into your […]
It seems like every year turns out to be a Golden Age of Thrillers, and 2017 was no exception. In fact, we saw so many edge-of-your-seat thrillers with so many compelling characters, surprising twists, and heart-pounding action scenes it was tough to narrow it down to just 25. But we’re professionals. The 25 books on […]
It’s been a crazy 12 months in the world, and now more than ever, we’re looking to fiction to give us an escape, or even to help us make sense of things. These 25 books do a bit of both, and represent the most powerful reading experiences we’ve had all year.
June is sleuthin’ out all over, with brand new novels by some of our favorite authors (like Magpie Murders‘ Anthony Horowitz), and hot new cases for some of our favorite gumshoes—from John Connolly’s Charlie Parker, to Sherlock Holmes’ esteemed daughter and his wife. Don’t miss these page-turners, and use those extra hours of daylight for […]
