Thank you Simon & Schuster Audio, #partner for the ALC of The Christmas Magpie in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Published: November 17, 2026
Summary:
Unavailable in any other format in the U.S. — a terrifying festive holiday thriller from the five-million copy bestselling author of The Magpies and The Wasp Trap.
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 . . .
My thoughts:
I was thrilled to be offered this audio-only sinister holiday novella…that’s my favorite kind of holiday read and boy did this deliver! While I have not read any of the other books in the Magpie series, I had no issues enjoying this one, and I now am quite eager to get my hands on the previous books in this series!
I love how dark and tense this story turned out to be. I found myself on edge as these strange parcels started showing up at Noel and Dani’s new place…there just seemed to be a sense of unease as the story goes on and it doesn’t help that there’s a women’s prison nearby with notorious murderer, Lucy Newton, who is also dealing with some strange gifts.
While this book is technically part of a series, it does stand on its own, giving just enough backstory to fill in what we need to know if we are new to the series. I had no issues; other than the fact I want more.
I’ve read a few books by this author and I am most definitely a fan. He definitely has a knack for psychological suspense and ratcheting up that tension and unease.
Audio thoughts:
This was amazing on audio, with Imogen Church and Theo Solomon doing a fantastic job bringing the story to life. Their pacing was spot on & they infused just the right amount of emotion and tension into their voices as needed.
Books in this series:
- The Magpies
- A Murder of Magpies
- Last of the Magpies
- The Christmas Magpie – due out 11/17 (audio only in the states)
