Elizabeth Day: Magpie

Book Reviews

Jul 8

Written By Oscar Shinozuka

Magpie by Elizabeth Day

Genre: Psychological Thriller, Mystery, Suspense

My Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Overall Review

"Magpie" by Elizabeth Day is a compelling psychological thriller that delves into the complexities of identity, obsession, and the blurred boundaries of truth. With its intricate narrative and nuanced characters, Day crafts a suspenseful story that will keep readers captivated until the very end.

The novel follows the life of protagonist Lucas, a successful and charming journalist who seems to have it all. However, his life takes an unexpected turn when he becomes infatuated with a mysterious woman named Diana, who he believes holds the key to his elusive sense of self. As Lucas becomes increasingly consumed by his obsession, the lines between reality and fantasy blur, leading him down a dark and treacherous path.

Elizabeth Day's writing is beautifully atmospheric, evoking a sense of unease and tension that permeates the story. She effortlessly navigates between different timelines, alternating between Lucas's present-day struggles and his troubled past. The narrative structure adds depth to the characters and gradually reveals the traumatic events that shaped Lucas's identity.

Day's exploration of identity is a central theme in "Magpie," as Lucas grapples with his own sense of self and the desire to belong. Through his obsession with Diana, Day questions how our perceptions of others can shape our own identities and ultimately lead us astray. The complexities of human connection and the consequences of unchecked desires are deftly explored, leaving readers pondering the impact of their own relationships and the search for authenticity.

The characters in "Magpie" are deeply flawed and intricately drawn. Lucas, with his charm and vulnerability, elicits both sympathy and frustration from the reader. Diana, on the other hand, remains enigmatic, and her motives and intentions are shrouded in mystery. The supporting cast adds depth and complexity to the narrative, each with their own secrets and motivations that intertwine with Lucas's journey.

One aspect that stands out in "Magpie" is Day's ability to create a palpable sense of tension throughout the story. As Lucas's obsession escalates, the suspense builds, leaving the reader on edge and eagerly turning the pages. The gradual revelations and unexpected twists keep the plot engaging, although at times it may feel slightly predictable for avid thriller readers.

However, the strength of "Magpie" lies not only in its suspenseful plot but also in its thought-provoking exploration of identity and the nature of truth. Day's prose is elegant and introspective, inviting readers to reflect on the intricate layers of human identity and the consequences of unchecked desires.

In conclusion, "Magpie" is a gripping psychological thriller that explores the complexities of identity and obsession. Elizabeth Day's skillful storytelling and thought-provoking themes make this novel an engaging and worthwhile read. While the plot may not be entirely unpredictable, the nuanced characters and atmospheric writing make "Magpie" a compelling addition to the genre. Fans of psychological thrillers will find themselves immersed in this dark and compelling tale.

Creative Imagination: Metaphors That Paint A Clear Picture

>Marisa was simultaneously fascinated and horrified by the baby. It seemed strange that this alien being had been squashed up in her mother's stomach and had emerged, bearing only the vaguest resemblances to a proper human, with skin so thin and stretched it seemed almost translucent. The baby's fingers were tiny as maggots, her eyes cloudy like apple juice. And all the grown-ups were mad about her, this squalling newborn, who had no personality as far as Marisa could see.

<cite>Elizabeth Day, pg. 17</cite>

The use of the phrase, "tiny as maggots"

She lay awake for a long time, feeling the slug trail of tears on her face, and she made a promise to herself that she would never talk about it again. She would pretend not to mind, and in this way, she would grow strong and careless and no one else would ever be able to hurt her.

-Elizabeth Day, pg. 26

>She had been smitten and only later had she thought to question the fact that "smitten" came from the verb "to smite," something more often associated with angry deities meting out dramatic lightning bolts of punishment and that, when she Googled the original etymology, actually meant "to smear or blemish" and wasn't romantic at all.

<cite>Elizabeth Day, pg. 40</cite>

>She watches the interactions between Jake and Kate with morbid fascination. She tells herself she doesn't want to find any further evidence of their closeness and yet, at the same time, she is compelled to do so. She wants her suspicions proved right, while at the same time knowing that this will undo her. It will smash apart everything she has ever wanted. It will destroy the only relationship she has ever been able to trust. But she keeps returning to it, a freshly formed scab that she starts to pick at with the tip of her finger, worrying the edges as if to test the strength of the rust-dried platelets, the web of fragile new skin.

<cite>Elizabeth Day, pg. 90</cite>

>In her study, she watches the sun rise. The clouded sky goes nicotine yellow. Her desk turns sepia in the light. It is too bright.

<cite>Elizabeth Day, pg. 97</cite>

>In November, Kate was determined that she would initiate sex at all the most fertile moments in her cycle, but it was difficult to do this in a way that seemed natural or sensual because she was in her head so much of the time they were actually making love. Would this be the time they conceived, she would ask herself as Jake fucked her, and would she know, would she feel any differently, would there be some cosmic sign that this was it? And should she stay lying down for half an hour afterward as she had read you were meant to, so that the sperm had time to make their way up up your cervix? And should she put her legs up to help them along? Except that would look ridiculous and still she didn't want to let on to Jake that she cared so much. She didn't want him to obsessed as she was, and yet at the same time, she worried that he was fixated on a baby and she was letting him down. All of this whirred through her mind when they had sex, and when Jake was on the verge of coming, she sometimes pretended she was too, so that it would be over. After all, what did her own pleasure count when she was failing so conspicuously to do the thing other women did without thinking.

<cite>Elizabeth Day, pg. 142</cite>

> Annabelle pretends she doesn't need to hear it, but she lets Jake carry on talking and Kate watches as she grows rosy and contented, fattened like a maggot by all the compliments.

<cite>Elizabeth Day, pg. 257</cite>

>...two flawed people, fitted into each other's failings like ivy burrowing into the loosening gaps between brick. You couldn't cut back the ivy without risking the house falling down. But the stone would crumble eventually, weakened by the insistent force of the plant pushing its thickening stem into every soft place. And then there would be a collapse, a cloud of imploded stone. That is how it would end.

<cite>Elizabeth Day, pg. 309</cite>

Thanks for reading my review! Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!