Noel and Dani have just moved into their new home, and Christmas is fast approaching. All the neighbours, with the exception of miserable Justin living opposite, are friendly and there is an active Residents’ Association whose rules must be abided by. This includes decorating the front of their houses for Christmas, and everyone switching them on at the same time.

Unpleasant Secret Santa gifts start arriving on their doorstep, including beautifully wrapped mince pies which turn out to taste horrible. Who would do something like that?

Meanwhile, in the nearby prison, Lucy is serving a whole life sentence for murder. She is a psychopath and everyone treats her with caution. She’s involved in putting on a Christmas play at the prison, but she is also receiving messages from Secret Santa.

Then the lives of Noel and Dani, and Lucy, become entwined.

More of a novella than novel, but absolutely brilliant and it kept me hooked.

Thank you to NetGalley, Michael Joseph, and Penguin Random House for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

A new book by Mark Edward’s yes please. I had previously read the other books in the magpie series and I started this one with great anticipation. Well it certainly was another fantastic read . Finished it in one sitting . A fast paced Novella with plenty of twists that kept me on my toes

I was delighted to be able to get an advanced copy of “The Christmas Magpie” by my favourite author, Mark Edwards. It’s been an exiting period with so many new books by Mark. How does he manage it? Part of the answer, at least in this case, is that it’s a short book rather than a full-length novel. And, as with his excellent book Sweetmeat, Mark is proving that he is both a master of shorter books and the value of such length books.

I’ve often said that whenever I start reading a book by Mark, I wonder what situation is he going to drop me in this time. While there are always characters at the centre of the story rather than making you, the reader, the protagonist, he has this knack of making the situations, at least at the start of the story, seem so relatable. And that’s often what makes them so tense and engaging. This time I wasn’t sure if I would feel that way as I knew there would be a connection with some of Mark’s other books (The Magpies, A Murder of Magpies, Last of the Magpies, and others). What a silly thought, of course I would feel like that. And perhaps I felt it a little bit more than sometimes due to it being set in Shropshire, where I am originally from (albeit a different part to where the book is set).

While the book is very much part of the Magpies family (or ‘mischief’, ‘tidings’, or ‘murder’ – magpies apparently have many collective nouns) of books – I think it can be enjoyed without having read (or remembering!) any of the others. Reading it could provide a degree of a spoiler if then going back in time to read one of the others, but I doubt that even there it will be much of an issue.

Due to its length, it didn’t take me long to read and I will definitely be getting hold of a physical copy of the book as I think I will start a new Christmas tradition of reading this book on Christmas Eve every year. I look forward to Mark’s next book coming soon!

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.