The Christmas Magpie (The Magpies #4) by Mark Edwards
Genre: Psychological thriller, Novella, Quick read
Read: 17th November 2025
Published: 30th October 2025
★★★★★ 5 stars
DESCRIPTION:
IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK ALOT LIKE…MURDER
Discover the terrifying festive thriller from the five million copy bestselling author of The Magpies and Here To Stay
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 THOUGHTS:
It's beginning to look a lot like...MURDER!
I'm not usually one for festive reads but I couldn't pass up this creepy little thriller by Mark Edwards, featuring his most famous and love-to-hate characters Lucy Newton. But this time there is a new magpie in the flock. Or is that murder?
We meet Noel and Dani who have just moved into Nightingale Close, a close-knit yet delightful little community with their self-appointed leader in Linda, principal of the nearby girls high school. It is approaching Christmas and Noel is planning on this being their best Christmas ever as their first one together in their new house. Added to that, Noel is a Christmas baby himself having been born on Christmas Eve. Nothing and no one is going to ruin this for them, of that he is certain.
And then things slowly start to unravel as they at first begin to receive some strange parcels with some even stranger contents. From mince pies laced with chilli to a sexy santa dress for Dani to a creepy porcelain doll that never seems to die. Then the electrics in their house begin to play up and they return home from the pictures to discover they have been burgled. But the one thing that remains that was never there before - that damn doll! A tragedy then sets off a chain of events that drags them even deeper into danger, where the tension lays simmering beneath the surface.
And then there are the nearby neighbours. Not the ones in the Close or even the surrounding streets. But the ones housed in the nearby women's prison - namely notorious multiple murderer Lucy Newton.
Behind bars, Lucy finds herself the recipient of a series of Christmas cards signed "Secret Santa aka the Christmas Magpie". With each card comes the promise of something more, something that whets Lucy's appetite as she ponders just who is behind the series of little gifts...and what exactly they have in store for her. Whatever it is, can the Christmas Magpie outsmart the original magpie?
Yes, she's back. Her presence looms large even if she isn't centre stage but the tension she brings is unmistakeable! If you haven't already met Lucy, then you are in for a treat. Once met, never forgotten.
This Christmas novella is a delightfully dark Christmas treat. As the technical fourth in the Magpie series, with The Psychopath Next Door loosely claiming that place, this one is set to rekindle those Lucy vibes...or if you haven't read the previous books, then it will most certainly have thrown the cat amongst the magpies as it were. But rest assured though it is part of a series it can be read as a standalone as Lucy is not the main feature here though she does feature a lot more than she did in The Psychopath Next Door so you aren't missing anything that went on before. Much of what had gone on before is explained in enough detail to leave readers with a something of a picture while not giving everything away for those who haven't read the other books.
The doll was a thrilling touch that added that extra edge of creepiness to this delightfully dark and creepy festive thriller. A short snappy read that I read rather quickly in a matter of hours. This one is Mark Edwards at his finest! I loved it!
MEET THE AUTHOR:
He has sold more than three million copies of his books and topped the bestseller lists numerous times since his first solo novel, The Magpies, was published in 2013.
His other novels are What You Wish For, Because She Loves Me, Follow You Home, The Devil’s Work, The Lucky Ones, The Retreat, In Her Shadow, Here To Stay and The House Guest. He has also published two short sequels to The Magpies, A Murder of Magpies and Last of The Magpies, and six books co-authored with Louise Voss.
Many of his books have been translated into foreign languages including French, German, Italian, Spanish, Estonian, Thai, Lithuanian, Czech, Hungarian, Turkish and Russian.
In 2019 Mark won The Cat and Mouse Award for Most Elusive Villain at the Dead Good Reader Awards for Last of the Magpies.
Mark loves hearing from his readers and encourages them to contact him. He regularly interacts with readers on his Facebook page, where he hosts book release launch parties and lots of giveaways.
You can follow Mark on Twitter, like his Facebook page or take a peek at his pics on Instagram.
Mark lives in the West Midlands, England, with his wife, their three children, three cats and a golden retriever.
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