A Murder of Magpies

This delightful mystery combines great characters, enjoyable intrigue, and a tongue-in-cheek look at the publishing world- what's not to love? Well written and witty, this wonderful series debut pulled me from the opening paragraphs. The mystery is rather complicated but unfolds well, and the glimpses of Sam's life in publishing bring a welcome element of humor to the story. I love a good mystery, especially one not soaked in blood or graphic violence, and will definitely be looking for other offerings from this author. I think this book would appeal to anyone who likes Alan Bradley or Elizabeth Peters mysteries.

Reading A Murder of Magpies will make you feel as though you've just been dished some of the juiciest dirt on the publishing business, and author Judith Flanders has found the perfect character to tell us all about it. Sam Clair has an infectious snarky wit that's almost impossible to resist. She is a very self-contained character who, for some reason, has chosen to live her life on the outside. It can't have everything to do with her annoyingly perfect lawyer mother Helena, and I'd love to know more. (Yes, that means I hope we'll be hearing more from Sam.)

As clever as she is, she doesn't always get it right, and one of the funniest threads in the book concerns the trials and tribulations she has with her bestselling author and the show more author's latest book, which Sam believes is a total disaster. This editor thinks she has an inside edge on almost everything-- like when she goes to question someone because she thinks she-- as a middle-aged woman-- will get more out of the person than the police ever would. (She just may have something there.)

Flanders really ups the ante on readers' sleuthing skills because what is originally thought to be a missing persons case morphs into something much larger and complex. Something that the police are going to have difficulty in handling but is perfect for the sharp eyes and minds of Sam and her mother. Watching these two women dig for the truth is worth the price of admission, and as I've already said, I'm definitely looking forward to reading more about Samantha Clair. show less

Judith Flanders’ A Murder of Magpies is an excellent addition to the pantheon of mystery novels set in modern London. Flanders’ examination of London’s publishing, fashion, and legal intricacies are reminiscent of J.K. Rowling’s portrayal of London highlife in The Cuckoo’s Calling without being derivative. Through her main character, Samantha “Sam” Clair, Flanders takes her readers into these worlds of high drama, conflicting personalities, and professional tension, while at the same time making them accessible. Sam Clair is the everywoman who takes her job seriously and is loyal to her friends, using these two qualities to become an amateur detective that any reader is sure to enjoy. She is not jaded by the opulence show more around her, nor is she taken in by it. The secondary characters are equally interesting on their own rather than just serving to forward the plot. From Sam’s mother, Helena Clair, to her neighbor, Pavel Rudiger, and Inspector Jacob Field, Flanders populates her novel with such a rich variety of characters that the reader can’t help but begin mentally casting them for the film adaptation. An avid author and historian of the Victorian era, A Murder of Magpies represents Flanders’ first foray into fiction and what a wonderful entry it is. Personally, I look forward to a follow-up with more of Sam Clair. show less

This book is like the low-key professional version of a Stephanie Plum novel. Sam, the main character, is a book editor in a London publishing house - steadily employed, respected, and reliable. She prefers classic black suits to Stephanie's spandex. Her humor is dry rather than slapstick, her Lulu is a Goth receptionist, her Grandma Mazur is her posh, sophisticated, lawyer mother who can get more done in an hour than most people accomplish in a day. Her love interest is one, very steady cop instead of a dynamic duo, forever engaged in battle. All of these elements are fabulous for readers who have tired of Evanovich's exagerrated series. Unfortunately, the mystery plot is complicated by too many characters and complex financial details show more and Sam's character is occasionally inconsistent - she claims to lead a boring life and then jets off to Paris for a fashion show. If this is a proposed series, the characters need a little work but the author's mystery plotting needs extensive improvement. show less

What a lark! I loved Sam's sarcastic sense of humor. A quick read. Lots of twists! I had a great time listening to this one. I'm glad to see this is the first of a series. I look forward to more!

I received an e-arc of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

A Murder of Magpies was a really funny and relaxing read. What made this cozy mystery stand out for me was its unique protagonist, Sam Clair. Now, Sam isn't your usual detective. Not one bit. She's a 40-something book editor who's not afraid to ask all the right questions to some very wrong people. I just loved her independence and intelligence, and her witty, highly sarcastic commentary made me laugh out loud for a great part of the book.

While the character of Sam made the book very enjoyable, I couldn't really bring myself to care all that much about the rest of the characters. Actually, most of the time, to me they just felt as show more "fillers", like they were there just because they were supposed to be. I also wasn't overly keen on the romance. I saw it coming pretty early on, and so I was more or less just waiting to see how it would develop. Unfortunately, when it did develop, I just couldn't feel it. To me, the whole thing felt slightly rushed and a little forced.

As for the mystery itself, I was surprised by the solution, even though I had a lot of trouble bringing myself to care about it at all. Now, mystery lovers may disagree with me, but while I was very intrigued at the beginning, I gradually lost interest. The mystery just became too complicated for me to follow, and I gave up even trying to guess 'who did it'. Even though I really appreciated all the research the author clearly did to make the work stand, all the details about corporate finances and frauds that surround the primary investigation made this mystery slightly too heavy and hard for me to follow.

Now, don't get me wrong, this wasn't a bad book at all. I really enjoyed reading it, and its incredibly amusing main character really made it worth it. If you're looking for a cozy mystery that will make you laugh like crazy, then I think you'll probably enjoy this book. show less

Witty publishing world mystery with intelligent, independent (only occasionally grumpy) midlife female main character

Since Samantha (Sam) Clair is a non-flashy middle-aged woman who works as a book editor and lives a quiet somewhat solitary life with just a few close friends, people tend to seriously underestimate her intellect, her powers of observation, her pointed sarcastic wit, and her won’t be brushed off or appeased determination. When one of her authors goes missing and police seem more interested in his yet to be published tell-all exposé than finding him Sam starts her own investigation.

Readers who enjoy the challenge of puzzles may feel differently, but while I loved this smart, funny book and its good-hearted but show more sometimes grumpy main character, the solving of the mystery was the least interesting part of the story for me, especially when characters were systematically analyzing the meaning of clues. What I did like was following Sam around to see what she’d say and do next. One moment she’d be flattering an egotistical bigwig, lulling him into thinking this frumpy older woman respects and reveres him, but when that bigwig was dismissive or not forthcoming with information she was hoping to sweet-talk out of him she’d turn on a dime and dish out a devastating faux-innocent put down that would silence the room and then walk out without looking back, no longer interested, with me running along behind her.

I also enjoyed being there for Sam’s interactions with her high-style gossipy author, her whip-sharp ultra-competent lawyer mother, her willing to innovate outside the box editorial assistant, and her reclusive never leaves his apartment neighbor. Sam has a somewhat skeptical attitude toward the nascent romance developing between her and the lead detective that’s refreshing because it’s so non-starry-eyed, and this book’s inside look at the world of publishing can’t help but be entertaining for bibliophiles. A fun book, especially if you’d like a slightly older, intelligent, independent woman as your main character.

I read an advanced review copy of this book given to me at no cost by the publisher. Review opinions are mine. show less