A short seasonal story, I admit I hadn’t read or even realised that this was a take featuring a reoccurring character from previous books by the author- the fact I was able to read and enjoy without knowing this shows it can work as a stand alone for new readers
Less high concept than some of the author’s stand alines I’ve read this was more of a domestic crime: a young couple move into a new neighbourhood and start to fall victim of pranks, and escalating threats.. As they try to work out who from the community cast were introduced to might be behind it, a secondary seemingly unrelated tale of a Christmas show being put on at a local prison starts to intertwine with their story.
Fast and collect this might be the book you’re looking for if you find yourself with a few breaks between your Christmas preparations

This is a festive novella that follows Dani and Noel who move into their new home in the run up to Christmas. There’s a dual timeline with Lucy, who is an renowned, psychopathic inmate at a local prison. As the young couple and Lucy start receiving unsettling gifts from Secret Santa, the two stories come together in a chilling and explosive finale. A dark, quick read, with interesting and unpleasant characters along with a compelling storyline.

Thank you to Mark Edwards, Michael Joseph and Netgalley for my advance copy.

You think Christmas story, it is all going to be lovey dovey but this book is not that!! It is a great mystery book that keeps you on tenterhooks from start to finish while you blame everyone....

This was a fab, quick and easy book to read. It’s the perfect dark Christmas novella to get you in that murderous, festive spirit!

The story flicks between the domestic life of Noel and Dani, who have just moved in to a new home together, and a local open prison.

It was a bit predictable in places but that didn’t make it any less enjoyable

Another fantastic read from Mark Edward’s, you definitely want to add this to your December 2025 reading list!

Another 5 star read from the Magpie universe and Mark Edwards. When Dani and Noel move into their new property, creepy things begin happening. Is it something to do with the nearby prison which its infamous residents or something more sinister? You won't want to read this one in the dark. I hope Mark Edwards continues to write books in the Magpie series. 5 stars

The Christmas Magpie is a compelling and engaging read.

The author, who is one of my favs draws the reader in from the first page and maintains interest throughout.

The characters are well-developed and relatable, adding depth to the story. The plot is thoughtfully constructed, with a good balance of intrigue and resolution.

Overall, it's a thoroughly enjoyable work that is easy to recommend to anyone looking for a well-written and satisfying story.

I was thrilled to receive an advance copy of The Christmas Magpie - I'm a huge fan of Mark Edwards, and this dark little festive novella did not disappoint. The best thing about Mark Edwards is that he always finds new ways to surprise his readers, and this one felt especially fun and sinister in equal measure.

Noel (very fitting name!) and Dani have just moved into what should be a friendly neighbourhood, all twinkling lights and community spirit - except for one rather grumpy neighbour and a slightly obsessive Residents' Association. But when strange gifts begin to appear on their doorstep (mince pies with a horrible twist, anyone?), the Christmas cheer quickly turns sour. Meanwhile, in a nearby prison, Lucy Newton (yes, THAT Lucy) is back.

The story moves seamlessly between the domestic unease of Noel and Dani's new life and the cold walls of the prison, all coming together in a way that's unsettling, clever, and classic Mark Edwards.

Highly recommended for anyone who likes their Christmas reads with a dark twist. I may even re-read this during the festive season!

Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A young couple move into their first home just before Christmas and are looking forward to having their best Christmas ever. The neighbours all seem friendly, but are all rather obsesses=d with the fact that a notorious serial killer is in the prison which is a short distance away. Anonymous, secret - Santa presents start to arrive - all unpleasant hoaxes; they become convinced that someone is watching them. Its a dark and suspenseful story with plenty of action and a roaring climactic finish.

Noel and Dani should be having a merry christmas. They are not. There are a lot of strange things going on. Who is behind it? Read and find out.

Am I in my Christmas era already yes yes I am it’s Christmas in July!
I enjoyed this one it was a quick read but was so full of tense creepy moments I couldn’t put it down
A Brilliant thriller great characters nothing not to love

This is everything I want from a Christmas book!
I dislike the predictability and happy ever afters may holiday novels bring. But this packs a punch from beginning to end and will keep you guessing all the way through.
I definitely recommend reading The Magpies first so there’s more context to the characters here. Lucy is a menace, a character that you love to hate, and she keeps coming back to remind us that she’s still around.

Dani and Noel have just moved into a new home and are going to have their first Christmas together. Where they meet the chair of the residence association Linda and she gives them the run down of what is expected from them. Their home needs to be festooned with Christmas decorations. Which makes them more eager to have a great first Christmas together.
But it is short lived when creepy things start arriving on the doorstep including a weird doll that freaks Dani out and they get burgled. Who is doing this and why? The couple think its one of the neighbours, but they don’t have any proof.
In the meantime, the rest of the residents are fixated on the local open prison where one of the residents works. It’s where the notorious killer Lucy Newton nicknamed -The magpie’ is hoping that she will be reformed. She pretends that she is recovering, and she has been asked to direct the Christmas Play but instead of the play. She wants to create havoc in the Prison. Little does Dani and Noel know that bother their worlds will collide.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the Christmas Magpie by Mark Edwards. This is a tense, festive and downright creepy Novella from Mark Edwards. It was a quick read I it is a great page turner but, at first, I was wondering how the two storylines were relevant to each other. But it came clear at the end. 4 stars from me

Really enjoyed this book. It had me hooked right from the beginning. The plot was exciting. With lots of twists and turns to keep you interested. I hope there maybe a follow on book. Find out what happens next. The book was well written

The Christmas Magpie is a chilling and atmospheric thriller that perfectly blends festive cheer with dark secrets and mounting suspense.
Mark Edwards crafts a story filled with twists that keep you guessing until the final page.
A gripping read

Lovely novella by one of the best authors around. Christmas wrapped with murder and mystery, what’s not to like. This was short and sweet and kept me hooked right to the end. The ending and the culprit came as a surprise to me, so overall I enjoyed it.
Thank you to the publishers Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for an advanced copy of this ebook and giving me a chance to review this book!

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.