Magpie Lane
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- Create Date：2021-08-28 06:51:17
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Lucy Atkins
- ISBN：1784293830
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Summary
When the eight-year-old daughter of an Oxford College Master vanishes in the middle of the night， police turn to the Scottish nanny， Dee， for answers。 As Dee looks back over her time in the Master's Lodging - an eerie and ancient house - a picture of a high achieving but dysfunctional family emerges: Nick， the fiercely intelligent and powerful father; his beautiful Danish wife Mariah， pregnant with their child; and the lost little girl， Felicity， almost mute， seeing ghosts， grieving her dead mother。
But is Dee telling the whole story？ Is her growing friendship with the eccentric house historian， Linklater， any cause for concern？ And most of all， why was Felicity silent？
Roaming Oxford's secret passages and hidden graveyards， Magpie Lane explores the true meaning of family - and what it is to be denied one。
But is Dee telling the whole story？ Is her growing friendship with the eccentric house historian， Linklater， any cause for concern？ And most of all， why was Felicity silent？
Roaming Oxford's secret passages and hidden graveyards， Magpie Lane explores the true meaning of family - and what it is to be denied one。
Reviews
Malcolm
，
Having read a couple of fiction books about nannies and how they relate to the families they work in， specifically Blood Wedding by PIerre Le Maitre and Lullaby by Leila Slimani， I seem to see them everywhere。 This is another in the same vein。 Most writers explore the dependency of the parents on these careers which in some cases means they don’t fully check out the people they are leaving their children with。 One aspect that also screams out to the reader is ‘don’t trust the narrator’。In this c Having read a couple of fiction books about nannies and how they relate to the families they work in， specifically Blood Wedding by PIerre Le Maitre and Lullaby by Leila Slimani， I seem to see them everywhere。 This is another in the same vein。 Most writers explore the dependency of the parents on these careers which in some cases means they don’t fully check out the people they are leaving their children with。 One aspect that also screams out to the reader is ‘don’t trust the narrator’。In this case the narrator is Dee， a Scottish nanny with a troubled past who tries to avoid prolonged placements or becoming too close to the children in her care。 The book starts with a new family which turns out to be exceptionally dysfunctional， father， child and pregnant stepmother， and a child that Dee finds very endearing。 The first part of the book deals with the family and Dee’s developing relationship with the child Felicity。 When Felicity disappears we move to the investigation， seen through Dee’s eyes as the narrator and this primarily hangs on the police interviews。 No real surprises in the book but perhaps that is not what the author was aiming for。 A good read with some excellent characters。 Well worth reading。 。。。more
Carla
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 It’s an easy and enjoyable read。 Love how there’s a horror vibe with the old house， witch hexes and all that。 The story will also keep you hooked until the end。 The reason why I don’t want to give it 5 stars is because I don’t like any of the characters。 Light spoilers ahead:Although the parents are absent and don’t really care about their little girl， I don’t think it’s okay for the nanny to take her out of school， bring dead animals to the house， etc。 I mean it breaks my heart that they’d do t It’s an easy and enjoyable read。 Love how there’s a horror vibe with the old house， witch hexes and all that。 The story will also keep you hooked until the end。 The reason why I don’t want to give it 5 stars is because I don’t like any of the characters。 Light spoilers ahead:Although the parents are absent and don’t really care about their little girl， I don’t think it’s okay for the nanny to take her out of school， bring dead animals to the house， etc。 I mean it breaks my heart that they’d do that to a little girl but it’s their kid… She never gave them an opportunity to change。 And even if they didn’t… you can’t just do that！ 😂 。。。more
Georgina
，
Unbelievably absurd ending。
Francene Carroll
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 3。5 starsI enjoyed this book and was intrigued to see how it ended， but overall it was a bit disappointing。The Oxford setting was really interesting and the history was quite fascinating， however I feel the author tried to cram too much of her research about the city and mathematics in。 It felt strained at times。 I was hoping for a big twist at the end， but it was very predictable from the moment Linklater was introduced。 The biggest issue I had with the book was the fact that it felt like two s 3。5 starsI enjoyed this book and was intrigued to see how it ended， but overall it was a bit disappointing。The Oxford setting was really interesting and the history was quite fascinating， however I feel the author tried to cram too much of her research about the city and mathematics in。 It felt strained at times。 I was hoping for a big twist at the end， but it was very predictable from the moment Linklater was introduced。 The biggest issue I had with the book was the fact that it felt like two separate narratives。 There was a gothic storyline with supernatural elements that petered out and went nowhere。 What was the actual point of this storyline about V and her twins？ We never find out if the nanny was responsible for poisoning one of the children。 It was obviously meant to be a red herring， making us question Dee， but it wasn't well done。 The other storyline was a psychological narrative with Dee as the unreliable narrator。 Felicity's parents were too unsympathetic and their behavior too unsubtle for this to really work for me。 Although Dee is clearly unstable， Nick and Mariah's lack of interest in their child was too extreme for me to doubt Dee's version of events much。 For someone who is supposed to be very intelligent， Dee is pretty clueless。 Why did she think no one would track her down to her inherited home in Scotland？ Also， why didn't the police hone in on Linklater from the start？ A disgruntled and peculiar man who has an extreme grudge against Nick for kicking him out of his home， （and who'd turned up at his house drunk in the middle of the night）， would have been top on the list of suspects。 Considering how much time Dee and odd-looking Linklater spent visiting cafes and traipsing around Oxford with Felicity before she went missing why didn't anyone come forward to say they'd seen them together when her photo was posted everywhere？ These issues marred the book， but it was still a worthwhile read。 。。。more
Kristen Guthrie
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mysterious book about a nanny and her mysterious girl。 Goes on a little long， but good
Jennifer Jank
，
The promise of the writing isn't entirely fulfilled by the end - I saw it coming a mile away。 But the writing was good and characters enjoyable。 The promise of the writing isn't entirely fulfilled by the end - I saw it coming a mile away。 But the writing was good and characters enjoyable。 。。。more
John Rouse
，
This book is a modern day Gothic。 The author is quite deft in creating atmosphere and putting in plenty of details about Oxford and its literary connections。 Dee's backstory is gradually brought out in a way that adds to the suspense and our understanding of her character。 Dr。 Linklater is a superb creation。 He adds the right level of sui generis intrigue。 The only weakness that I see in this book is that the ending is all too predictable。 This book is a modern day Gothic。 The author is quite deft in creating atmosphere and putting in plenty of details about Oxford and its literary connections。 Dee's backstory is gradually brought out in a way that adds to the suspense and our understanding of her character。 Dr。 Linklater is a superb creation。 He adds the right level of sui generis intrigue。 The only weakness that I see in this book is that the ending is all too predictable。 。。。more
Neil Bradford
，
A good holiday read。
David Boddy
，
Pageturner framed within dysfunctional Oxford academia。
Marcy Skala
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Enjoyed getting an even more inside look into life in Oxford than one does by watching the Inspector Morse series。 I was enjoying the book in many ways。 Loved the Linklater character。 But was let down by the highly implausible ending。
Valerie
，
Atmospheric and moody without being overwrought。
Candy Wood
，
About halfway through， I started feeling that I wasn’t going to like the way this book ended。 Without spoiling anything， I can say that the feeling was only partly accurate。 The premise is fascinating—the narrator is being interviewed by police investigating the disappearance of a little girl， with flashbacks filling in many details she doesn’t tell the police。 The narrator， Dee， is a nanny who has worked for many visiting academics and is now employed by the new Master of an Oxford college and About halfway through， I started feeling that I wasn’t going to like the way this book ended。 Without spoiling anything， I can say that the feeling was only partly accurate。 The premise is fascinating—the narrator is being interviewed by police investigating the disappearance of a little girl， with flashbacks filling in many details she doesn’t tell the police。 The narrator， Dee， is a nanny who has worked for many visiting academics and is now employed by the new Master of an Oxford college and his young， Danish second wife; the girl， Felicity， is “selectively mute，” speaking to her father and eventually to Dee but never to her stepmother or in school。 Since we only see Nick and Mariah through Dee’s eyes， they come across as horrible， self-absorbed parents， but it’s clear that Dee， though she really cares about Felicity， has her own issues as well。 Definitely worth reading， anyway。 。。。more
Amanda
，
I was looking for a well constructed， pacy diversionary read - and this was perfect。Moody， atmospheric and almost totally satisfying （I was mildly unhappy with the very end）。Highly recommended。
Paul Gormley
，
A gripping thriller。 Dee is nanny to a young girl， Felicity， who has gone missing in Oxford。 In a police interview room， Dee is questioned about her relationships with Felicity and the rest of the family and reflects back on events leading up to the girl's disappearance。From early on， the suspicion is that we are in the hands of an unreliable narrator。 Other viewpoints are suggested through the line of questioning， often aggressive， during the interview。We discover family secrets and repressed m A gripping thriller。 Dee is nanny to a young girl， Felicity， who has gone missing in Oxford。 In a police interview room， Dee is questioned about her relationships with Felicity and the rest of the family and reflects back on events leading up to the girl's disappearance。From early on， the suspicion is that we are in the hands of an unreliable narrator。 Other viewpoints are suggested through the line of questioning， often aggressive， during the interview。We discover family secrets and repressed memories and emotions in this intelligent， well written and gripping story。 Highly recommended。 。。。more
Kat
，
4。5/5Με σκηνικό την Οξφόρδη και τις ενδιαφέροντες προσωπικότητες της ανά τον χρόνο εξελίσσεται μια οικογενειακή ιστορία με αρκετές δόσεις μυστηρίου， δράμα， χιούμορ， τρυφερότητα και διάφορα είδη αγάπης που σε κάθε αναγνώστη θα δημιουργήσει και διαφορετικά συναισθήματα， αντιδράσεις και προσδοκίες！Οι χαρακτήρες ισορροπούν σε μία γκρίζα ζώνη μεταξύ σωστού και λάθους και στο τέλος ο αναγνώστης καλείται σύμφωνα με το δικό του ήθος και αίσθημα περί δικαιοσύνης να επιλέξει την πορεία των ηρώων！ Μέσω της 4。5/5Με σκηνικό την Οξφόρδη και τις ενδιαφέροντες προσωπικότητες της ανά τον χρόνο εξελίσσεται μια οικογενειακή ιστορία με αρκετές δόσεις μυστηρίου， δράμα， χιούμορ， τρυφερότητα και διάφορα είδη αγάπης που σε κάθε αναγνώστη θα δημιουργήσει και διαφορετικά συναισθήματα， αντιδράσεις και προσδοκίες！Οι χαρακτήρες ισορροπούν σε μία γκρίζα ζώνη μεταξύ σωστού και λάθους και στο τέλος ο αναγνώστης καλείται σύμφωνα με το δικό του ήθος και αίσθημα περί δικαιοσύνης να επιλέξει την πορεία των ηρώων！ Μέσω της πρωταγωνίστριας αλλά και του παιδιού που προσέχει καθώς και ενός άντρα που γνωρίζουν στη πορεία κατανοούμε δεσμούς που μπορούν να δημιουργηθούν ανάμεσα σε ανθρώπους που δεν ταιριάζουν πουθενά η με κάποιους άλλους αλλά ταιριάζουν μεταξύ τους！Μου κράτησε αμείωτο το ενδιαφέρον παρότι όχι καθαρά αστυνομικό και θεωρώ πως αξίζει να διαβαστεί！ 。。。more
Dee Landman
，
A bit predictable。
Wendy Greenberg
，
A 3。5 is my real score！ Missing child， academia， ancient customs dovetailing with privilege， a nanny， her selectively mute charge， Felicity， and the Oxford marginalia that seep into the delightfully crafted plotSo much I loved about this page turning read。 It contains so much of Oxford town v gown existence that， living in Oxford， is so familiar to me。 The story moves between high functioning minds， raw ambition， dysfunction and negligent parenting！ The narration cleverly allows a story arc that A 3。5 is my real score！ Missing child， academia， ancient customs dovetailing with privilege， a nanny， her selectively mute charge， Felicity， and the Oxford marginalia that seep into the delightfully crafted plotSo much I loved about this page turning read。 It contains so much of Oxford town v gown existence that， living in Oxford， is so familiar to me。 The story moves between high functioning minds， raw ambition， dysfunction and negligent parenting！ The narration cleverly allows a story arc that overtly is a police interview and covertly nips and tucks its way behind the scenes as the questioning is fleshed out by the protagonist's memories。The lurking sense of doubt in the reader's mind， or this reader's mind， was if the nanny Dee was a benign or malign presence。 Was this a case of an unreliable narrator or was it a modern ghost story seeping through the many layers？All this I enjoyed。 My reservations about an otherwise great read was its ending。 No spoilers but a mite too pedestrian after what had gone before。 。。。more
Katrina
，
An entertaining enough who-dunnit。
Sandra Kambouri-Arwni
，
Μου άρεσε περισσότερο απ' όσο περίμενα κι αυτό ήταν μια ευχάριστη έκπληξη。 Κεντρική ηρωίδα μας είναι η Ντι。 Η οποία όλο θέλει να γυρίσει στην Σκωτία απ' όπου κατάγεται κι όλο μένει στην Οξφόρδη ως νταντά ''περιορισμένου χρόνου'' μιας και δεν θέλει να δένεται με οικογένειες。 Γι' αυτό δουλεύει συνήθως για επισκέπτες καθηγητές。 Αυτήν την φορά όμως， και παρόλο που το είχε εξ αρχής ξεκαθαρίσει ότι θα έφευγε σύντομα， δέθηκε με την μικρή Φελίσιτι。 Το αγάπησε αυτό το ''ιδιαίτερο'' κοριτσάκι。 Η Φελίσιτι Μου άρεσε περισσότερο απ' όσο περίμενα κι αυτό ήταν μια ευχάριστη έκπληξη。 Κεντρική ηρωίδα μας είναι η Ντι。 Η οποία όλο θέλει να γυρίσει στην Σκωτία απ' όπου κατάγεται κι όλο μένει στην Οξφόρδη ως νταντά ''περιορισμένου χρόνου'' μιας και δεν θέλει να δένεται με οικογένειες。 Γι' αυτό δουλεύει συνήθως για επισκέπτες καθηγητές。 Αυτήν την φορά όμως， και παρόλο που το είχε εξ αρχής ξεκαθαρίσει ότι θα έφευγε σύντομα， δέθηκε με την μικρή Φελίσιτι。 Το αγάπησε αυτό το ''ιδιαίτερο'' κοριτσάκι。 Η Φελίσιτι είναι η κόρη του κοσμήτορα， Νικ， που μόλις μετακόμισαν με την εγκυμονούσα σύζυγό του， Μαράια， στην οικία του κοσμήτορα του κολεγίου της Οξφόρδης。 Είναι 8 χρονών。 Έχει χάσει την μητέρα της στην ηλικία των 4。 Κι από τότε δεν μιλάει παρά μόνο στον πατέρα της。 Σιγά-σιγά， η Ντι καταφέρνει με την αγάπη και την φροντίδα της να κερδίσει την εμπιστοσύνη της μικρής και να την κάνει να της ανοιχτεί。 Αρχίζει να μιλάει και στην Ντι， μειώνοντας σταδιακά τον χρόνο που μιλάει στον πατέρα της καθώς εκείνος ασχολείται όλο και λιγότερο μαζί της。 Κι αυτή η σχέση μεταξύ νταντάς και παιδιού， αρχίζει να λειτουργεί αρνητικά για την Ντι καθώς ο πατέρας αρχίζει να την βλέπει με άλλο μάτι και να πιστεύει ότι η Ντι είναι υπεύθυνη για την απομάκρυνσή του από την κόρη του。 Στο πλάνο μπαίνει και ο ιστορικός σπιτιών Λινκλέττερ τον οποίο έχει προσλάβει η Μαράια ν' ανακαλύψει την ιστορία του σπιτιού που χρονολογείται 400 χρόνια πριν και των κατά καιρούς κατοίκων του。 Ο οποίος γνωρίζεται με την Ντι και την Φελίσιτι στην πρώτη του επίσκεψη στο σπίτι， κι η σχέση αυτή σταδιακά γίνεται όλο και πιο στενή και δείχνουν να την απολαμβάνουν και οι τρεις。 Και ξαφνικά， η Φελίσιτι εξαφανίζεται。 Ένα βράδυ που είναι μόνη στο σπίτι με την Μαράια και το μωρό。Η αυλαία ανοίγει σ' ένα δωμάτιο ανάκρισης。 Η Ντι κάθεται απέναντι από ένα ζευγάρι αστυνομικών που της κάνουν ερωτήσεις σχετικά με την μικρή， τον Νικ， την Μαράια， την σχέση μεταξύ του ζευγαριού αλλά και την συμπεριφορά τους απέναντι στην μικρή Φελίσιτι και γενικά θέλουν να μάθουν τα πάντα για όλους。 Για τις ημέρες πριν την εξαφάνιση αλλά και νωρίτερα， από την τυχαία γνωριμία της Ντι με τον κοσμήτορα， την εγκατάστασή της στο σπίτι， την σχέση της με το παιδί αλλά και με το ζευγάρι。。。 και γενικά οτιδήποτε θα μπορούσε να τους οδηγήσει σε κάποιο στοιχείο για να μπορέσουν να ψάξουν και να βρουν την μικρή για την οποία υπάρχει και η υποψία ότι μπορεί να έφυγε μόνη της σε μια προσπάθεια να τραβήξει την προσοχή。 Το κάθε κεφάλαιο λοιπόν， ξεκινάει με την συζήτηση μεταξύ της Ντι και των αστυνομικών και την ερώτηση που της θέτουν。 Και συνεχίζει με τις αναμνήσεις της Ντι η οποία μας ξεδιπλώνει μέρα την μέρα την ζωή της κατά την διάρκεια της συγκατοίκησής της με την οικογένεια του κοσμήτορα， βυθίζοντάς μας όλο και περισσότερο στον κόσμο αυτού του παιδιού που παραμελείται διαρκώς από τον εργασιομανή πατέρα αλλά και από την σύζυγό του， γεγονός που θα χειροτερέψει με τον ερχομό του μωρού τους。。。 που δέχεται bulling στο σχολείο του επειδή δεν μιλάει。。。 που βλέπει το φάντασμα της μητέρας του （αλλά και άλλα φαντάσματα） στο κλειδωμένο δωματιάκι στην σοφίτα όπου είναι το υπνοδωμάτιό του。。。 που του αρέσει να μαζεύει ή να ξεθάβει περίεργα αντικείμενα （ακόμα και οστά ζώων） και να φτιάχνει με αυτά ''μαγικά σύμβολα''。。。 και που γενικά είναι ένα ιδιαίτερο παιδί。 Σιωπηλό και δυστυχισμένο。 Μου άρεσε πάρα πολύ。 Κατάφερε να με βάλει μέσα σ' αυτό το σπίτι。 Να ταυτιστώ με τους χαρακτήρες。 Με κάθε έναν ξεχωριστά。 Να μπω στην καθημερινότητά τους。 Να αγαπήσω την Φελίσιτι και να στεναχωριέμαι για τον τρόπο που μεγαλώνει。 Για τον τρόπο που της φέρονται。 Για τα βιώματά της。 Χαρακτήρας που ξεχωρίζει είναι ο ιδιόμορφος Λινκλέττερ。 Έχει και μια νότα μεταφυσικού。 Τα φαντάσματα που βλέπει η μικρή， η ιστορία των παλιών κατοίκων του σπιτιού που μας δίνεται σταδιακά， η ατμόσφαιρα του ίδιου του σπιτιού που στέκεται εκεί εδώ και 4 αιώνες， το κλειδωμένο δωματιάκι της σοφίτας， οι παράξενοι θόρυβοι και οι σκιές。。。 όλα αυτά στην σωστή ποσότητα。 Τόσο όσο。 Μπορεί να μην έχει ΤΙΣ ανατροπές， αλλά την αγωνία του την έχει。 Και πολύ το ευχαριστήθηκα。 。。。more
Alexandra Bejan
，
5⭐ Este livro foi uma ótima leitura do início ao fim。 Estava a começar a entrar numa ressaca literária e este livro salvou-me！ Desde a primeira página que me envolvi na história， com personagens muitíssimo bem construídos。 Ao longo do livro criava teorias do que realmente aconteceu a Felicity e até cheguei bem perto da verdade， mas depois desisti dessa teoria （sempre que tenho razão fico a pensar que estou errada😅）。 Mas mesmo assim o final surpreendeu-me， foi o melhor final que esta história po 5⭐ Este livro foi uma ótima leitura do início ao fim。 Estava a começar a entrar numa ressaca literária e este livro salvou-me！ Desde a primeira página que me envolvi na história， com personagens muitíssimo bem construídos。 Ao longo do livro criava teorias do que realmente aconteceu a Felicity e até cheguei bem perto da verdade， mas depois desisti dessa teoria （sempre que tenho razão fico a pensar que estou errada😅）。 Mas mesmo assim o final surpreendeu-me， foi o melhor final que esta história poderia ter。 P。s: caso estejam a pensar em ler este livro LEIAM， mas tenham atenção porque algumas personagens podem irritar-vos cof cof Nick cof cof e se isso acontecer é porque estão a ler bem🤣 。。。more
Katie。mccarron
，
If you're looking for a good page turner， look no further！ If you're looking for a good page turner， look no further！ 。。。more
Betsy Heasman
，
Was seriously gripped by this book！
Jo
，
TOWN AND GOWNDevoured in 24 hours - a great read with not one but three unreliable narrators。 Apparently this is domestic noir， a bit like ‘Apple tree lane’ which I haven’t read yet。 Whatever the genre is I enjoyed it and was prepared to suspend disbelief and appreciate the controversial ending。 The main protagonist is not an attractive character - a bit olive kitteridge in some ways - but I empathised with her opinions on poor parenting having done nannying work myself。 I really disliked Nick a TOWN AND GOWNDevoured in 24 hours - a great read with not one but three unreliable narrators。 Apparently this is domestic noir， a bit like ‘Apple tree lane’ which I haven’t read yet。 Whatever the genre is I enjoyed it and was prepared to suspend disbelief and appreciate the controversial ending。 The main protagonist is not an attractive character - a bit olive kitteridge in some ways - but I empathised with her opinions on poor parenting having done nannying work myself。 I really disliked Nick and Mariah as I’m sure was the author’s intention and loved Linklater who is probably the best person in it。 I did feel somefeminist guilt for my attitude to Mari， who obviously wasn’t mentally stable。 Other male characters don’t come over well。 The history of Oxford interested me as I spent time there years ago and the literary references。 The snobbery and outdated rituals of the university are shown as totally ridiculous along with the petty power struggles。 I felt great sympathy for Felicity and realised there was only one outcome for her。 The plot canters along at breakneck speed using the two detectives and their interrogation as background。 They come over as sinister and insensitive， very unlike that other Oxford detective Morse。 There is also a touching love story and beautiful Scottish countryside is contrasted with town life。 The suspense continues right through to a twisty end; it would make a good mini series。 4。5 stars 。。。more
Joanna
，
This was a book group choice which I really enjoyed。 Funnily enough I had just finished listening to The Dictionary of Lost Words。 Which was also set in Oxford。 Dr Murray was mentioned for his work in both books。 Having lived in Oxfordshire it was great to revisit。 Found the characters interesting。 Wonder If it was coincidence that Dee met Nick by the mathematical bridge and he gave her a job as nanny to his 8 year old daughter who was mute。 The ending left me wondering what would happen next？ G This was a book group choice which I really enjoyed。 Funnily enough I had just finished listening to The Dictionary of Lost Words。 Which was also set in Oxford。 Dr Murray was mentioned for his work in both books。 Having lived in Oxfordshire it was great to revisit。 Found the characters interesting。 Wonder If it was coincidence that Dee met Nick by the mathematical bridge and he gave her a job as nanny to his 8 year old daughter who was mute。 The ending left me wondering what would happen next？ Great read 。 。。。more
Mr C Beck
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MehThe prose was ok IMO， but honestly was felt with a slightly shaggy-dog story aftertaste。 Couldbe just me， I was just hoping for a real summer blockbuster and this wasn’t it
Trudy
，
Such a cozy little treasure。 I'd categorize this with "A Man Called Ove，" and "Eleanor Oliphant is completely Fine，" and then cross those with an Agatha Christie mystery。 Even the title screams COZY MYSTERY。 But it's so much more than a cozy mystery。 It's also a psychological thriller。 It's a Domestic thriller。 Some might even say it's a love story。 Whatever category it falls under it's excellent - It's atmospheric and addictive。 I was able to see and experience Oxford through this book。 The cha Such a cozy little treasure。 I'd categorize this with "A Man Called Ove，" and "Eleanor Oliphant is completely Fine，" and then cross those with an Agatha Christie mystery。 Even the title screams COZY MYSTERY。 But it's so much more than a cozy mystery。 It's also a psychological thriller。 It's a Domestic thriller。 Some might even say it's a love story。 Whatever category it falls under it's excellent - It's atmospheric and addictive。 I was able to see and experience Oxford through this book。 The characters were brilliant and the detailing of each enabled me to love some and hate others。 It was fun starting out with a "feel" for characters only to gradually change directions。 So， Dee is the nanny for the new Master of Oxford College - and his wife。 Nick and Mariah Law。。。。。。and their 8 year old daughter from Nick's previous marriage - Felicity。 Mariah is pregnant with their own first child。 What a perfect little family。。。。。except that it isn't。 For starters - Felicity doesn't speak。 Literally。 She's selectively mute。 And secondly why are Nick and Mariah so weird about Nick's ex-wife？ And what made Felicity selectively mute？ Okay。。。。。。 so now the new Master and his pregnant wife are moving into the lodgings provided by the college and they desperately needed help with Felicity - because they will be insanely busy， giving dinners， lectures， travelling， etc。 Dee will be needed to handle Felicity's daily schedule and meals。 Okay - it all SOUNDS perfectly acceptable and normal， except for the fact that Felicity has gone missing and everything's turned upside down！ Here come the twists and turns and revelations and true colors and all that kind of thing。 This story moves very well， paced excellently and at times suspenseful。 This would make an excellent movie。。。。。。with lots of fun figuring out the cast。 I loved this right up to the very last page。 I'm being very vague because I don't want to spoil anything。。。。。but highly recommend and can't wait to get my hands on something else from this author。 。。。more
Ankayarkanni Prasad
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“Things can be wrong and right at the same time; correct in one system but not in another。” Says Dee。 And she is correct。 It is her version of events， things as she sees them and we cannot help but completely agree with her。 We might not actually notice the one-sidedness of the narrative， the demonizing of the learned， the rich， the good- looking and the successful people in powerful positions。 It is due to the clever writing and craftsmanship of the author bedecked with quaint historical facts “Things can be wrong and right at the same time; correct in one system but not in another。” Says Dee。 And she is correct。 It is her version of events， things as she sees them and we cannot help but completely agree with her。 We might not actually notice the one-sidedness of the narrative， the demonizing of the learned， the rich， the good- looking and the successful people in powerful positions。 It is due to the clever writing and craftsmanship of the author bedecked with quaint historical facts and anecdotes that makes for a compelling， suspenseful and enjoyable read。 。。。more
Carolyn Drake
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A thriller/mystery with a nicely unravelling plot and a reliably unreliable narrator。 A little girl goes missing， and we hear about the events leading up t0 her disappearance through the remembered thoughts of her nanny， Dee， who is turning things over in her mind as she is being interviewed by the police。 Set in a very gothic Oxford College Master's House， the novel has a dark undertow， and teases its revelations out gradually， although the destination isn't wholly unexpected。 A thriller/mystery with a nicely unravelling plot and a reliably unreliable narrator。 A little girl goes missing， and we hear about the events leading up t0 her disappearance through the remembered thoughts of her nanny， Dee， who is turning things over in her mind as she is being interviewed by the police。 Set in a very gothic Oxford College Master's House， the novel has a dark undertow， and teases its revelations out gradually， although the destination isn't wholly unexpected。 。。。more
Zara
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 I found this book really gripping and I loved the bonus ghost story！ I read The Broken Girls recently and it also used the ghost story element as a literary tool to add suspense and doubt - I’m a fan of the technique！ Magpie Lane is well written and the Oxford setting is very evocative。 Would recommend to mystery lovers， though it’s not a thriller and the pace reflects that
Hugh Melvin
，
Very well written with a tight storyline。 Subtly avoided clichéd ending。
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Magpie Lane
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Magpie Lane&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft
The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Magpie Lane&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0