Set mostly in London, this is a novel about a woman in her twenties with a traumatic past who quickly falls in love and moves in with her new boyfriend. There’s a sense of foreboding in the opening chapters so it’s no surprise when things turn sour, though what this first twist was came as a surprise. The only criticism I’d have is that I didn't find the characters particularly compelling and, while some very serious issues are raised, these feel a little skimmed over in favour of plot. Nonetheless a very well-written and gripping novel.

Magpie is a tense novel about motherhood, fertility, and possession, as it turns out things that seem too good to be true might in fact not be as they seem. It opens with Marisa, newly moved in with Jake who she's only known for a few months and trying for a baby, who seems to have everything she wants. When they take in a lodger, Kate, things become strained, but Jake doesn't seem concerned by what Marisa thinks is weird behaviour, but the truth might not be what it seems.

This novel didn't go as I expected from the blurb, with the twist partway through changing the book quite a lot and bringing a suddenly quite different perspective on having children and a different narrative. Some people might expect it as the start of the book is quite weird, with what felt like a lot of information dumped at once, but that makes more sense as a choice looking back on it now I've finished the book, even if at the time I found it a bit boring to hear all the detail about how Marisa and Jake met. I didn't expect the twist until it got very close, however, so I did find the moment of revelation quite effective.

I enjoyed reading the book as a light read with a tense edge, though I did find it a bit strange what you did and didn't know about the characters (for example, you learn a lot about Marisa's family early on, but that never really goes anywhere). I found the ending was a bit too neat and seemed to gloss over some of the pretty big things covered in the book, but I suppose that, as is found in the rest of the book, it could be read with a 'is everything is neat as it seems' lens too, and it did satisfyingly give an unlikeable character some level of comeuppance.

Dear Elizabeth Day
Please write more books! I didn’t think you could better The Party but this is even more brilliant. Absolutely loved it and will be telling everyone to buy it.
A massive 5/5. Best book of the year so far.

Marissa and Jake are having a baby. They get a lodger and then things get complicated.
I thought I knew where it was going and then I was surprised, more than once, by how things turned out.
It's a clever book. The cast of characters is quite small which means you get a good chunk of time finding out about each person.
It's hard to review without giving much away. Luckily my husband has also read it so at least I have someone to discuss all the details with!

Wow. I thought Elizabeth Day might not be able to top 'The Party' or 'Paradise City' but she continues to publish at the peak of her powers. Using (presumably) her own experience of infertility and IVF, Day channels this very personal story through the lens of Marisa, Kate and Jake. Blonde, curvy Marisa thinks she has the perfect life - newly decorated home, creative job illustrating bespoke children's books, and a perfect partner in Jake. Dark-haired, skinny Kate seems like the cuckoo in the nest - but is she? With nods to 'Rebecca' (a book that comes up at least once) the power struggle between women, including Jake's monstrous middle-class mother Annabelle, makes for compelling reading. Skillfully written and just as judiciously edited, Magpie will be another feather in this author's cap.

I wasn't expecting to enjoy this novel so much but I loved it! I was really liking the writing style and engaging with the writing characters, and then I saw the plot twist coming and was disappointed as two of the last four thrillers I have read have employed this same trope (I won't say what, as I try to post reviews without spoilers). HOWEVER. The author spun that twist so fast I was reeling. And I LOVE when a book surprises me. After that it was one snaky road all the way to the end, with twists and turns aplenty. What differentiated this from just being another decent thriller for me was not just the quality of the writing, but also the attention to character development - every character was complex, flawed, and beautifully realised, so that I felt like I'd met real people along the way.

I've read Elizabeth Day's non-fiction books before, and am thrilled that her fiction equally brilliant. I will be eagerly awaiting the next novel! An easy five stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher, who granted me a free ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

Genre: Womens Fiction | General Fiction | Thriller

Release Date: Expected 2nd September 2021

TW: Pregnancy, Fertility Issues, Mentions of serious illness and sexual assault.



Marisa and Jake are the perfect couple and they're very much in love. Even though she hasn't known him for very long, Marisa has never been more sure of anything before and she can't wait for her own Happy Ever After now they're moving in together and starting a family.

But when they decide to take in a lodger, Kate - things get weird. At first it just seemed like she had a polite interest in them, but soon her interest in Jake especially shifts into something uncomfortable and concerning. Kate is slowly becoming obsessed with Marisa's boyfriend and her unborn child but Jake doesn't seem to think Kate is doing anything wrong at all. Either she's losing her mind or something very bad is happening right in her own home.

Marisa has everything she's ever dreamed of - and now she needs answers no matter the cost.

Magpie is a tense, twisty tale about jealousy and envy, and the terrifying reality of getting everything you've ever wanted. This was definitely one of those stories that always has something sinister lurking around the corner every time you think you know what's happening. Somewhere between an authentic domestc drama and a thriller, this was oddly and uncomfortably gripping.

Delving into Marisa's troubling past, the things she's been dealt over the course of her life we can slowly understand the different peices of her life and build a picture of how she became who she is today. We mostly hear the tale from Marisa's point of view, and I could feel the scathing jealousy and insecurity in her voice. She was somehow so unlikeable and totally relatable all at once.

Elizabeth Day is a master of misdirection and this is one to watch.



RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐



Thank you to Elizabeth Day, Fourth Estate and Netgalley for this ARC in return for an honest review.

This is a well-written example of this type of psychological thriller. It had a major twist in the middle which was surprising. Then I was expecting another one near the end which I thought was coming but it fizzled out. I thought the thread of Marisa's mother might come to something but it didn't. Very readable but lightweight.

Jake and Kate are expecting a baby and take Marisa in as a lodger. This book is told from a couple of different perspectives and is a lot more twisty than it initially seems. Marisa has a much different understanding of her relationship with Jake and it isn't quite clear who is telling the truth and who is the intruder here. I thought this was a fun, quick read that is gripping enough to hold your attention.

Magpie is a book that I really cannot recommend highly enough. It is also quite difficult to review without giving away the twist that comes about a third of the way through, and completely surprised me.
Marisa and Jake are in a relationship, and when he suggests they move in together and start a family, she is in complete agreement. Jake then announces his finances have taken a hit so suggests they get a lodger to help out, and Marisa reluctantly agrees. Kate soon has her feet under the table and Marisa realises something isn’t quite right, ending in a terrifying confrontation.
Elizabeth Day is possibly best known for her podcast and subsequent books ‘How to fail’, but she is foremost a talented writer of fiction that has engaging, sometimes flawed characters and intriguing storylines. Her novels appeal to a wide range of people who can all find something to relate to within them. I think I actually gasped out loud at one point while reading Magpie and felt such hatred towards Jake’s mother Annabel. Only a truly accomplished writer can create reactions like that.

So I read this far too quickly and gutted it’s over. Magpie by Elizabeth Day is the definition of a page turner.

There’s twists that I didn’t see coming, and the pace throughout had me staying up late and setting early alarms to read more.

5⭐️ read for me and look forward to hearing what other readers think of it too! Magpie is out on 2 September and available to pre-order now. Big thanks to @4thestatebooks for the early copy on Netgalley 🤗

I loved ‘ The Party’ by Elizabeth Day but ‘Magpie’ just didn’t quite live up to my expectations. It was an enjoyable enough read but I has guessed the ending quite early on so the big reveal was not really a surprise to me.

Really enjoyed reading this book, enjoyed all the twists and turns and all the mystery involved in the story. Love to read more form the author.

Marisa may have only known Jake a few months, but she has never felt this certain about anyone. When he asks her to move in with him and they start trying for a baby, she knows she has finally found the steadfast love and support she has been looking for all her life. But their relationship is tested when they take in a lodger, Kate, who has little regard for personal boundaries and seems to take an uncomfortable interest in Jake – as well as the baby they are hoping to have. Why is Kate so obsessed with the couple? And, more worryingly, why doesn’t Jake share Marisa's concern? In her determination to find the answers, Marisa risks losing everything she holds dear.

Magpie deals with toxic family relationships, sexual assault, mental health issues and fertility concerns in a compelling and authentic way. It is full of twists and I found myself constantly on edge whilst reading it.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

I loved this book. So many twists and turns that I didn't see coming. The characters were so well written and developed and I could just picture them all so clearly. Totally engrossing and I read it far too quickly even though I did not want it to end!

Do not miss this book. An amazing read. It has so many twists and turns that will knock you for six, The main characters are all really well written and the plot is fantastic. An excellent read

I chose this book because of the synopsis. I later discovered that the author was the same Elizabeth Day who wrote Failosophy – a book I really enjoyed. I had no idea that she wrote fiction as well, but was pleasantly surprised with Magpie.

It started well, with a happy (albeit fast-moving) relationship between Marisa and Jake. I’m immediately suspicious about short-term relationships where one partner is pushing the other to move in together and have a baby. It seems quite common in thrillers, so my radar went up quickly and, sure enough, things started to take an unpleasant turn.

However, the twist isn’t what you expect! Once Kate moved in I started to figure it out and had guessed just before it was revealed. However, I liked that you found out halfway through and then see the other perspective of the story. This made it much more engaging; I hate books where the author builds the story unnecessarily and the twist is rushed and disappointing. Thankfully, Magpie was not a traditional thriller.

What did surprise me was the way it plays out and tricks you into thinking you’ve figured it all out. There are so many twists after the ‘big reveal’ that it’s never clear how it’s going to end. I was still a little bit disappointed with the ending, but the rest of the book is so well-paced and well-written that it’s still an excellent story.

Not one character in this book is likeable… Marisa is shallow and comes across as very spoilt; Jake seems understanding, but at times crosses a line. Even though I felt most sympathy for Kate and her backstory, she still wasn’t a nice person. Other characters provide good depth to the story, and each of them has their reasons for acting the way they do, but I struggled to forgive them.

I love reading books set in places I’ve lived, but so many authors write about London and make multiple errors about the city. It made a nice change to read a book about London by someone who has actually been there!

Overall, this was a gripping and surprising thriller, that tugs on the heartstrings in very unexpected ways!

I really loved this gripping novel although the ornithological imagery that came to me throughout was the cuckoo in the nest rather than a magpie. It’s hard to say much about it without giving the central point of the plot away but, as with Day’s previous novels, it’s a real page-turner that I read in three long nights. Clever, empathetic and extremely clear-eyed on the impact of pursuing motherhood at almost any cost, I really enjoyed this novel and highly recommend. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I thought this book was an interesting read. It is quite hard to describe without giving the plot away, as there is a major plot twist half way through, which I thought was great as it really pulls the rug away and you know why. I think it is good at describing the issue it raises and was interesting in its set up.

It’s a good premise, this; a tale told from two different women’s perspectives, at least one of whom must be a profoundly unreliable narrator. But which?

The first section didn’t quite work for me - it seemed too obvious there was some massive secret we weren’t being told, some explanation that was lacking. The motivations were too vague and the characters too sketchily drawn. Indeed, the central male character remains vague and shadowy throughout, and this is a significant weakness, as we are meant to believe three passionate bright women are earnestly fighting for him, this sweaty muscle-bound prince of bland, who drinks too much and likes Oasis?

A significant chunk of the narrative is devoted to the pain of infertility, the heartbreak of repeated dashed hopes, painful, intrusive procedures; the pressure they place on a relationship, the jealous rage engendered by seeing women get pregnant with ease, then produce endless fluffy offspring without a moment’s angst. This is beautifully done. So too is the replication of the breezy mumsnet posts which the desperate trawl for guidance.

The end was a little too pat and improbable for my taste, with the most troublesome character conveniently sent backpacking, the deus ex machina of the 21st century. Maybe she’ll come back in a sequel to make more mischief. I’d like to hope so.