Another great book by Mark Edward’s. Plenty of tension and twists I was gripped from the first page. Thriller at Christmas was superb and I didn’t want it to end. I highly recommend this book and author

Review of ‘The Christmas Magpie’ by Mark Edwards, due to be published on 13 November 2025 by Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House.

Two storylines - that of Dani and Noel who have moved to their new house just before Christmas, and Lucy, serving a whole life sentence for multiple murders.

When Noel and Dani start to receive strange gifts and messages from a ‘secret Santa’ things take a dark and disturbing turn.

This was a really enjoyable, short festive read that I very much enjoyed, good detailing and great character development, with a storyline that keeps you guessing. A recommended read.

A book that starts off fairly innocuously and then wham straight into the action. A white knuckle ride from start to finish. I have only recently started reading Mark’s books and I am well and truly hooked.

If you’re after a festive thriller that blends holiday cheer with sinister mystery, The Christmas Magpie delivers a fast-paced, twist-laden psychological ride. It’s atmospheric, unsettling, and just the right length to devour in a single sitting—an addictive thriller that keeps you flipping pages, wondering—which neighbour is real… and which one is hiding something far deadlier?

Mark Edwards never fails to deliver, and The Christmas Magpie is certainly no exception. This book is a deliciously dark novella, laced with tension, twists, unsettling neighbours, and perhaps the creepiest Secret Santa I’ve ever come across.

It’s suspenseful and atmospheric, with just the right amount of Edwards’ signature dark humour sprinkled on top for good measure.

Another hit from Mark Edwards!

Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced copy

This was a fast-paced, festive read that brought back the brilliant Lucy Newton. It’s a short novella that you could easily get through in one sitting, and it kept me turning the pages. Perfect for when you want something twisty but don’t have the time or headspace for a full-length thriller.

It didn’t have quite the same depth or dark tension as the earlier Magpie books, but that’s expected with a shorter story. Even so, it still had that familiar Mark Edwards style; sharp, addictive, and just enough suspense to keep you guessing.

A fun, creepy little read for the festive season.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.

Mark has the knack of writing a good suspensful novel and this one didnt disappoint. It wasnt a very long story but for me that is a good thing and I wanted to keep reading. I always know i am enjoying a story when I keep wanting to go back to it.

Thanks for the advance copy.

Loved this novella! Yes I read a Christmas book in July but it's never too early. The book was short and snappy, so we're the chapters and it had me hooked from the get go. Cosy Christmas book with creepy thriller thrown in? Yes please.

Must admit, this grabbed me from the off.
Quite short but every chapter pretty packed with action so flowed really well.
Enjoyed the plot and looked forward to getting back to it once I'd managed to put it down.

After reading The Handmaid’s Tale, I needed something lighter… so I reached for a cozy Christmas thriller (yes, that’s a thing) Christmas? Check. Cozy? Not so much.

This novella had me in a chokehold from page one and didn’t let go until the final page. Mark Edwards is a crime/thriller plotting genius. Nothing is ever as it seems, and the red herrings? Sprinkled in like festive tinsel .

SYNOPSIS:

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...

Atmospheric, chilling, and clever — The Christmas Magpie delivers on all fronts. I loved every single page and can’t wait to dive into more of Mark’s backlist.

Crimes at Christmas? Go on then!

I really liked this. It's got some great characters in it. The only criticism I have it that Mark Edwards made it so obvious that it was this guy who it ended up not being, that I was able to guess who it actually was pretty quicky. Know what I mean?
Other than that, the pacing was good, especially for a relatively short read. There was plenty of fun and games in it and I would actually re read this around Christmas time for sure.
Fab book, well done.

Dani and Noel have moved to a new house and meet their new neighbours for the first time when putting up their Christmas lights. Then bizarre and scary 'secret santa' presents are left on their doorstep. They become suspious of all their neighbours as they don't know who to trust. At a nearby women's prison, a serial killer is producing a Christmas play and planning mayhem.
This is a short and engaging read. Just the thing to get you into the Christmas spirit,

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Mark and NetGalley for allowing me to read The Christmas Magpie before publication date.

With creepy Secret Santas and threatening messages, this is definitely not a traditional cosy Christmas story.

Noel and Dani are looking forward to their first Christmas in their new home. On the whole, the neighbours are welcoming, providing they adhere to the rules of the Residents Association.
There is one exception, the surly prison officer, Justin.

When unpleasant Secret Santa presents arrive on their doorstep, it causes them to doubt the neighbours.

Franklin Grange, an open prison for category A women prisoners, is sited a short distance away from their home.
One resident, psychopath and multiple killer, Lucy Newton, is serving a life sentence. She is given an opportunity to work with a creative writing teacher to produce a script for a play which the residents will perform.
The chosen book is A Christmas Carol. Will Lucy learn from the experiences of Scrooge in the book?
She is also receiving Christmas Cards from a Secret Santa.

A great shorter read in the Magpie series. I enjoyed the fast pace and characters. Highly recommended for Mark Edwards fans

The Christmas Magpie is a quick-paced novella wrapped up in festive creepiness. It’s a twisty thriller you won’t be able to put down.

Dani and Noel have just moved into their first home; it’s newly built on an estate with seemingly pleasant neighbours. The new couple are planning on a cosy Christmas; however, odd packages begin to show up on their front doorstep from a Secret Santa. The odd gifts turn more and more menacing.

Meanwhile, down the road a ways is an open women’s prison. The inmates are planning to put on a Christmas play. Who is involved? None other than Lucy Newton, the psychopath from author Mark Edwards Magpie series. And Lucy is about to take centre stage. The Christmas Magpie works well as a standalone, and if you’ve not read the series you will want to after this. It’s that gripping.

Thank you to Mark Edwards, Penguin Random House, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a great addition to the Magpie series by Mark Edwards. I devoured this in one sitting and really enjoyed the twists throughout. I’d definitely recommend this book.

Noel & Dani move into their new house in an exclusive community. Once they do things start to go horribly wrong for them. How is this linked to Lucy Newton?

Wow this was outstanding. My only gripe was that it felt short.

Readng in the heat of summer, but this is just the perfect Christmas read. So famous for his oustanding novel The Magpies, this is another chaper in that dark, depraved world. I really enjoyed it, but wished it was longer, such a dark and tense read!

The Christmas Magpie by Mark Edwards is a fast-paced Christmas thriller full of twists.

It centres on a young professional couple, Dani and Noel, who have just bought and moved into the house of their dreams and are preparing for Christmas. On their street is a very active Residents Association. The annual Christmas Lights Switch On Party is where Dani and Noel meet all their neighbours.

After the street party, Noel and Dani start to receive unwanted Secret Santa presents. Who is sending them the gifts? Is it a neighbour? There were twists and turns, which only added to the tension, and I really feared for Noel and Dani.

I really enjoyed this tight thriller and look forward to reading other books by Mark Edwards.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House, for making this e-ARC available to me to read in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Thankyou to the publishers and Net Galley for sending me an ARC for The Christmas Magpie. I leave this my honest review voluntarily.
This Novella is about 200 pages. Its part of The Magpie series but it can be read as a standalone. I know this as I've not read The Magpie series yet!!
Noel and Dani are a young married couple who have just moved into a new house in December. they meet their new neighbours and are welcomed into the community. Shortly after moving in they start receiving macabre presents!! Some are to evoke fear on a personal level!! At the same time a notorious killer Lucy Newton is housed in a women's prison near by and has been tasked with rewriting the classic A Christmas Carol, so the inmates can put on a show at Christmas!! Lucy has an ending for the show planned that no one will see coming!! Who is sending Noel and Dani the presents?? and what has Lucy got planned??
I really enjoyed this short story! It kept my interest throughout. I thought it was well written. It was suspenseful and humorous in places! I did work out the twist and who was behind it all though!! That didn't stop me enjoying the book and giving it a high rating!! overall I thought it was a fun festive read!