What is this about?: Sam Clair, editor, and friend to Kit Lowell begins to investigate his disappearance just as word gets out about the sensational new book he’s about to publish.
What else is this about?: This is an introduction to a woman who could be any one of us in an office, putting out firee, dealing with her mother and million other things that make her relatable. Sam Clair is genuinely FUN.
Blurb
A whip-smart, impeccably crafted debut mystery, A Murder of Magpies takes readers on a whirlwind tour of London and Paris with an unforgettably original new heroine
It’s just another day at the office for London book editor Samantha “Sam” Clair. Checking jacket copy for howlers, wondering how to break it to her star novelist that her latest effort is utterly unpublishable, lunch scheduled with gossipy author Kit Lowell, whose new book will dish the juicy dirt on a recent fashion industry scandal. Little does she know the trouble Kit’s book will cause-before it even goes to print. When police Inspector Field turns up at the venerable offices of Timmins & Ross, asking questions about a package addressed to Sam, she knows something is wrong. Now Sam’s nine-to-five life is turned upside down as she finds herself propelled into a criminal investigation. Someone doesn’t want Kit’s manuscript published and unless Sam can put the pieces together in time, they’ll do anything to stop it.
With this deliciously funny debut novel, acclaimed author Judith Flanders introduces readers to an enormously enjoyable, too-clever-for-her-own-good new amateur sleuth, as well Sam’s Goth assistant, her effortlessly glamorous mother, and the handsome Inspector Field. A tremendously entertaining read, this page-turning novel from a bright new crime fiction talent is impossible to put down.
A Murder of Magpies was a perfect cozy mystery.
Sam Clair is an editor for a small publishing house – right there, I was hooked.
She works on chick lit, a genre that doesn’t get near enough credit as the big literary books another editor, Ben, insists on paying top dollar for even though they don’t actually bring in anywhere as near the money her chick lit titles get. When the book opens, one of Sam’s biggest authors has turned in a book she thinks won’t sell, and she is gearing up to start the marketing and publicity for the book, which he swears is sensational. And it is – it’s sensational enough to make him disappear.
And then the case blows up and Sam realises exactly what Kit has stumbled in to.
Sam is drawn into the investigation when her own home is broken into but more than that when the police won’t take Kit’s disappearance seriously. As a result, we are introduced to her high-powered lawyer mother, Helena; Jake a CID officer she falls into bed with and a cast of neighbours that are completely endearing. What’s more endearing is that Helena is right there next to Sam, investigating this case because she’s her daughter, advocating for breaking and entering and getting the cops to pull their socks up when they need it the most. Helena is a force of nature, or to be more accurate a Martian to Sam, who can’t understand how her mother manages to do everything she does, and Sam is her daughter.
In short, I loved it!
Her friend’s disappearance slowly becomes a much larger fascinating case that draws Sam into the world of fashion, money laundering and the kind of things a nice editor like her shouldn’t be doing – but she does them because her friend is missing.
One of the best things about Sam’s voice is how utterly relatable she is – when she complains about office politics, or the lack of respect she gets bc she works on something like chick lit. Sam is the type of person who stays at the same job for years, but really is just as adept manipulating her boss into doing what she wants bc she’s really quite good at reading people – she just maybe doesn’t realise it. I think it’s a huge part of her charm.
The beauty of this book is in the simplest of things that made me smile – like Sam complaining about commuting, or making snarky one liners (or thoughts running through her head) as she breaks and enters, or weaves a rather plausible story to weasel her way into a house to talk to a witness.
Then there’s her no-fucks-given meeting fashion CEOs, because dammit her friend is missing and she wants answers.
This is one of those inexplicable gems that you find when you weren’t looking, and become a fan of even before the book is half over. Sam is the kind of person that could be sitting next to you at work, or in the lunch room, that you could be best friends with. She’s intelligent, funny and hugely filled with snark, even though it might not come out at the right time.
In short, she’s brilliant. Go find her books and read them right now.
I like the sound of of this, add to my wishlist, thanks.
I don’t read a lot of cozy mysteries (I think you know that by now :P) but I’m really liking the sound of this one. Also love the title for some reason and the cover is great as well. 🙂
I liked this one, too! It was both suspenseful and fun. The author also writes nonfiction about the Victorian Age. Thanks for reminding me that I intended to read Judtith Flanders’ The Invention of Murder: How Victorians Reveled in Death and Detection and Created Modern Crime.
Oh wow, I love the sound of this. A book editor MC? A cozy mystery? Takes place in London and Paris? COUNT ME IN!!!
I love books set in that book world kind of setting. Especially when the MC also makes you laugh. 🙂
I love love love the premise of this Verushka! And it’s entirely true, romance and chick lit doesn’t receive nearly enough credit for how well books sell and it’s probably because the authors are overwhelmingly female as are the readers. Sam is probably all of us at one point, a boss who thinks he knows better and not feeling respected at work simply because you’re a woman. The words hilarious and mystery usually don’t sound right next to one another but this sounds incredible and absolutely LOVED your review!
I’ve tried a couple of times to comment on this and other posts, but for some reason–not having any luck. I did like A Murder of Magpies.
Her name is Sam and she complains about commuting. Hmmm, is she me? Well, we would at least be kindred spirits. She sounds rather fabulous, actually, and I think I would enjoy solving a mystery with her
Sam sounds pretty amazing! I know we would be work buddies.