I’d say this book is a strong domestic drama with some well written characters. There are some unexpected twists and some difficult subjects handled sensitively within this read. I have to say I was expecting a little more from the ending after racing through it however I did enjoy the story.

This is a clever psychological drama with several twists and turns designed to unsettle reader and draw them in. It’s difficult to review Magpie without giving away the early twist which turns the book on it’s head, suffice to say you will never quite know exactly what is going on. It does deal with some quite heavy themes, particularly infertility and mental illness, without trivialising them, impressive in what is really an entertaining page turner. I only know Elizabeth Day as a broadcaster, she is an excellent and very accomplished writer too. Thank you to #netgalley and #4thestatebooks for allowing me to review this ARC

A fiendishly clever book with a twist after part one that turns the story on its head in a most unexpected way. I won't give the plot away except to say that this has themes of infertility and mental health. It is sensitively handled and a truly gripping story where you don't know where your loyalties will lead you next. It will leave you asking who the magpie is, and were you right? Brilliantly done. Five stars.

I previously enjoyed Elizabeth Day's novel The Party so you might too if you like her writing style.

What a clever read that had me turning pages as fast as I could. I thoroughly enjoyed Magpie and the trajectory of confusion, miscommunication, malice and twisted perspective that it took us on. I really didn't expect the plot that unfolded and it was a great read to get stuck into and not let go until we had the full story. Fascinating new novel from the talented Elizabeth Day.

Oh wow!!!! What an unexpected twist!
Marisa and Jake move in together soon after having met and they decide to try for a baby almost immediately. Marisa can't believe her luck: Jake seems to be everything she's ever dreamed of.
When they decide to take in a lodger, Kate, she makes herself a bit too at home and seems overlyinterested in their plans for the baby.
I can't tell a lot about the rest of the plot without giving away too much, but be assured this is a great, creepy read and you'll be hooked from start to end.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

At one point during reading I had to stop and re-read previous pages - this is all part of the plan to leave you as unsettled as some of the characters. Keep reading - it is worth the effort. A fast-paced thriller with twists and turns - an enjoyable read.

Brilliant book! When Marisa and Jake take in lodger Kate, Marisa starts to suspect Kate is making herself too at home, possibly even having a relationship with Jake. I can’t say much more without spoilers; however I will say that this is an excellent book and is a must-read. With twists and turns and a most satisfactory ending, I thoroughly enjoyed it and could not put it down.

Marisa and Jake take in lodger Kate to earn some extra money and all hell breaks loose. This is a very well written domestic drama that I literally flew through. It was at times creepy and shocking but also dealt with some heavy issues including mental illness and fertility problems and lots and lots of emotional baggage.

I especially loved how all the characters were fully fleshed out and I felt everything from pity to hate for them. I felt so bad for Marisa, Kate was a complete basket case but I still managed empathy for her too. The twist really surprised me in the best way possible and Elizabeth Days writing makes for a face paced read. I can't wait too add this book with the lovely cover to my collection.

This was an interesting book with a very unexpected twist! Full of relationship dynamics between Marissa and Jake, and then Kate, their lodger. Interspersed with family relationships with Jake's difficult to please mother and father who just wants an easy life!

The story starts in the present with Marissa and Jake and then moves to the past where fertility issues arise and options need to be considered. I couldn't put it down!

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.

When Marissa meets Jake she is delighted to have found a stable, loving man after her turbulent past. When Jake asks her to move in with him, she jumps at the chance and they start trying for a baby almost immediately.
Their relationship is tested when Jake suggests they take in a lodger, Kate, who becomes overly familiar way too quick and takes an uncomfortable interest in the baby they are planning to have.
This book was so tense. The twist comes fairly early on in the book and I was absolutely hooked from the minute it was revealed. It has such a creepy vibe with amazingly clever writing. I loved the character dynamics and I found myself really feeling the heartbreak, strain and pressure the characters faced. In parts it was nearly hard to read but I loved every minute of it. I would highly recommend

This dark disturbing domestic thriller noir introduces us to Marisa, who is looking forward to her first baby with perfect partner Jake, but conflicted about the unsettling presence of their lodger Kate, who seems to covet her life, her home, and Jake. Events quickly escalate, and Marisa, Jake and Kate find themselves caught up in an emotional roll-coaster storm with danger and darkness at its core.
A very well written story, the clues are there from the start that Marisa - a young woman with abandonment issues who is also a rape survivor - is not the most reliable of narrators but still the twists will leave you gasping. Underlying the plot is an exploration of the theme of motherhood - Marisa, Kate and Jake's mother Annabelle would all lay down their lives for their own child. But that maternal love is in danger of turning toxic when it comes under threat.
With three strong female characters driving the plot, beautifully descriptive prose and an underlying air of menace from the start, this is an engrossing read.

This took me two sittings to read as it is slightly longer than the average book, but so worth a read. If I could have read it in one day, I would! Each chapter had me page turning to discover more twists.

The chapters are written from the point of view of the 2 main female characters, set in the past and currently. Having a point of view from both characters really made me think about which character I was siding with. For a start, Marisa was really struggling with Kate the lodger moving in and I sympathised with her. Then all of a sudden, I changed and sided with Kate. Then I wasn’t sure who my loyalties were with! What an emotional rollercoaster.

Jake was just a spare part stuck in the middle of it all, trying to please both characters and his parents!

The storyline does touch on the subject of infertility and mental illness, both of which were written about sensitively and it appeared well researched by the author too.

For me, this is an outstanding book and well worth the 5 stars. Be warned, it will mess with your head!

Thank you to netgalley, the publishers and the author for an arc. Really enjoyed reading.

Marisa isn’t keen on Kate, who is renting a spare room in the home belonging to her and boyfriend Jake. Kate seems too close to their lives, always popping up when she’s not wanted, or butting in on an emotional moment between the couple, who are desperately keen for a baby. Marisa is convinced that Kate’s got an agenda, and will stop at nothing to get what she wants – so what is she to do? This thriller feels like a different direction for Elizabeth and I am all for it: I read it one go because I wanted to see where the plot would take the reader. It is extremely well written, engaging and you are hanging on every page, feeling as though you’re almost in the room when Marisa makes a series of decisions about how she’ll deal with the interloper Kate.

I very nearly DNF this because I was a little bored by the start but I'm so glad I didn't. This was a roller coaster of a book to read with a few unexpected turns that I love in books! I've read some reviews that weren't happy with the way it ended but actually, I found the story so heavy that it really was quite nice the way it ended.

I won't be specific to avoid spoilers but the story mentions sexual abuse, mental illness, inability to conceive amongst other topics so it can be triggering or a difficult read for some.

This was a review copy via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Enjoyable enough,with characters that I felt were just a bit off,so willing to believe anything and everything they did.
At one point I felt like it was one too many twists to the story.
As a whole though it's a solid read,touching on some sensitive subjects well.

Magpie by Elizabeth Day is just phenomenal - full of twists, turns, it's truly edge-of-your-seat reading!

It has the most epic of twists and leaves you veering from being on one person's side to another.

The story revolves around Jake, Kate, Marisa, and each chapter moves between the two female protagonists.
It begins with Marisa and Kate who move into a new home, but need to bring in a lodger due to money being a 'big tight.' Marisa believes Kate has been in her home before, small things like moving her running shoes, putting her toothbrush in the family bathroom when she has one of her own in the loft, and some of the gestures she shares with Jake.
Further, into the story - it's Kate's turn - we read from Kate's perspective and this is where the tale is truly flipped upon its head.

Elizabeth Day's characters leave you unsure of where your loyalties lie - is it with Marisa or Kate?

This is definitely a recommended novel!

I have historically enjoyed Elizabeth Day’s books – both fiction and non fiction. And have listened avidly to the last series of her podcast ‘How To Fail with Elizabeth Day’ – where she has a fabulously eclectic mix of guests talking about their ‘failures’. When I saw she had a new novel out – I dived on NetGalley to request a copy and was very kindly granted one. Here’s the blurb:

“Sometimes Marisa gets the fanciful notion that Kate has visited the house before. She makes herself at home without any self-consciousness. She puts her toothbrush right there in the master bathroom, on the shelf next to theirs.
In Jake, Marisa has found everything she’s ever wanted. Then their new lodger Kate arrives.
Something about Kate isn’t right. Is it the way she looks at Marisa’s boyfriend? Sits too close on the sofa? Constantly asks about the baby they are trying for? Or is it all just in Marisa’s head?
After all, that’s what her Jake keeps telling her. And she trusts him – doesn’t she?
But Marisa knows something is wrong. That the woman sleeping in their house will stop at nothing to get what she wants.
Marisa just doesn’t know why.
How far will she go to find the answer – and how much is she willing to lose?“

Ooh – this is GOOD! It’s not often I dole out a 5* review on NetGalley – but this is definitely a book that deserves one. It is incredibly well written, it feels like a grown up, ‘proper’ book – if that doesn’t sound too wanky?! It feels like care and attention has been made to the words and sentence structure and how it is all presented – as if it has been properly crafted and not just rushing to get the story down.

The book starts with Marisa and Jake and their new relationship. Jake is quite repressed with his emotions – but Marisa is madly in love and desperate to start a family with him. Her friend Jas is wary of it all going a bit quickly – but accepts the situation. Jake is the main breadwinner – but when a deal goes tits up he can no longer fund everything and so they get a lodger – Kate. Marisa is somewhat suspicious of Kate and her motives and feels she’s trying to get her claws into Jake as time progresses.

Then THERE IS A MASSIVE TWIST! It is brilliant. I’m not going to even hint at what it is – but it is amazing and really well written. I hate reviews that give stuff away – and so I’m not going to!

Whilst the story focusses on the 3 main characters of Marisa, Jake and Kate – the interweaving of additional characters, and back stories, is done really well. Are Jake’s parents misunderstood? Supportive? Spiteful? Downright evil?

There is also an element of infertility that is discussed in a really perceptive way. Ms Day has been very open about her own fertility journey and so this part of the storyline feels really well written and personal and consequently emotive.

I loved this book and devoured it very quickly. It’s out at the beginning of September – and I would highly recommend pre ordering it immediately.

A massive thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

A taut psychological thriller with twists aplenty. This wasn't what I expected at all but I really enjoyed it, although not too sure about the ending.
There are some difficult subjects at the heart of this, and it was a really emotional read. It's compelling and you're not going to want to put it down, I read it in about two days because I needed to know!

Jake and Marissa have just moved in together when they acquire a lodger, Kate.
Marissa has a niggling feeling about Kate but Jake says she is ok and she trusts Jake.
But Kate always gets what she wants.
Can Marissa find out what she wants before its to late?

Thanks to @NetGalley and @4thestatebooks for the e-ARC of @elizabday's upcoming novel 'Magpie' to be published in two weeks on 2nd September. As an avid reader of Elizabeth's Sunday column in You magazine (which my mum keeps for me each week) and a listener of her podcast 'How to Fail', I was thrilled to be sent the book and was itching to start it.

'Magpie' was everything I love in a book - somewhat damaged and flawed protagonists and tension cranking up in each chapter. We have damaged artist Marisa who finds love with Jake and all moves very swiftly when she moves in to his house. I loved the description of Jake as "belong(ing) to that cadre of Englishmen who have never had to worry about learning the rules because they are the ones who make them." Struggling with unexplained infertility (which is written with searing honesty), the pair are mentally and physically exhausted.

Day writes so skilfully and just when I thought that I had this book sussed, the twist makes an unexpected appearance. In fact, there's twist after twist and I was in that skittish situation where you consider re-reading the first part to see if you've missed any unequivocal evidence. The ambiguity is such that I was completely blindsided by the subsequent action.

I loved the ornithological title; the folklore of the magpie being linked with possession and the fact that we have the episode of a magpie flying through bi-fold doors which in itself is not only completely unwelcome but can also be seen as a bad omen.

This is an exhilarating novel and definitely a page-turner. I couldn't help but imagine this on the screen (much the same as I do with all books I love) and imagined Joanne Froggatt playing Marisa. The ever so memorable mother-in-law Annabelle has to be played by Zoë Wanamaker. All other casting ideas available on request! Jesting aside, this is one to pre-order if you, like me, enjoy a totally engrossing literary thriller.