About the Book

When Jamie and Kirsty move into their first home together, they are full of optimism. The future, in which they plan to get married and start a family, is bright. The other residents of their building seem friendly too, including the Newtons, a married couple who welcome them to the building with open arms.

But then strange things start to happen. Dead rats are left on their doorstep. They hear disturbing noises, and much worse, in the night. After Jamie’s best friend is injured in a horrific accident, Jamie and Kirsty find themselves targeted by a campaign of terror.

As they are driven to the edge of despair, Jamie vows to fight back—but he has no idea what he is really up against . . .

The Magpies is a gripping psychological thriller in which the monsters are not vampires or demons but the people who live next door. It is a nightmare that could happen to anyone.

Review

In all honesty, I tend to stay away from suspense/thrillers, I always become acutely aware of my blood pressure raising, which isn't my favorite feeling. The Magpies is a guarantee to get your heart beating and force you to get a cup of calming tea. This novel is a absolute anxiety raiser.

This novel is an interesting one. It works with the typical haunted house premise: new couple pours all of their money into a house with so much hope and happiness, but in this case, the house is not haunted. Well, at least not in the stereotype ghosts/demons kind of way.

We get Kirsty and Jamie, an unmarried couple who are as happy as can be to get a stellar flat for fairly cheap. They soon find out that things are not as they seem with their fellow neighbors, and these neighbors may even have it out for their blood. This novel works within the slow burn method, which I personally enjoy. Tension raises slowly but surely and stress levels go through the roof.

Jamie and Kirsty are both fleshed out, realistic people, both with flaws and strong points. They are both very believable and therefore easy to root for. You want these two to be happy, you want them to feel peace in what should be a good situation, but that turns out not to be the case.

Overall, this is a solid 4/5 book, it's captivating and astutely written and it's guaranteed to stress you out, whether you like it or not.

Reviewed by Amy Richardson