MAGPIE MURDERS. SAT 9.15 BBC 1 - tv pace. NO SPOILERS

[Blondeshavemorefun]

An unmarried, middle-aged editor named Susan Ryeland receives from her superior the handwritten manuscript of the latest projected novel of the best-selling writer Alan Conway, but notices that the final chapter is missing.

Shortly afterwards, she learns that Alan Conway has died in an apparent suicide by falling off the tower of his mansion.

A suicide note in Conway's own handwriting is delivered to her office.

However, she has nagging doubts about the reality of the events, and decides to investigate Conway's death in order to know the truth, and to find where the last chapter of the manuscript went.

new drama for Saturday night - 6 parts

@rookiemere do you think having seen this TV series would actually spoil the books though? or say, just go for it?

@martinisforeveryone no I definitely think the books are worth a read. Obviously you'll know who the murderers are, but they are quite densely plotted so that might in fact be an advantage as on first reading all of the clues went right past me.

Thanks for the tips @rookiemere I shall either put the two books on my birthday list, or get a trial with audible 😀

Yes dh and I have seen

Dh even more puzzled than me over it

I found it confusing at first as I was trying to work out the who done it bit if both stories together !

And trying to remember the significance of the double casting .

Now I am really into it ....and want to binge the last 2 episodes 😂😂

But I won't !!

I will look out for a used copy of the book though .

Curious at how it works in the book .
I presume each chapter just jumps about/swops ?

So the characters in her book are based on the editor and sister

Yes. The story is loosely her life story. I think the editors Greek partner is the murderer personally

Was the the one in the phot at the end of this weeks episode though? Isn't that too obvious?

Oh really ?

I thought the gardener /handy man

He found boy in lake

Was there at the house when lady fell down the stairs

Yes him.

Not really. He's enough of a side character to be forgotten about when you're watching it. If it's not him it'll transpire he was an ex lover and up there to stop him jumping or something like that. Or the money will be at the bottom of it

Too obvious and clumsy to be the gardener

I meant obvious because there's a photo of him fighting with the deceased at the top of the tower, right at the edge 😂

Greek bf - He was the ex lover of the ex wife

Editor didn't like being told that

And she didn't say to ex wife oh he's now my bf of 7yrs

Current boyfriend=ex lover of ex wife 😯
Brain explodes.

This is what I mean about needing to rewatch to actually get my head around it all. So much seemingly unrelated stuff that I need to reassess.

Andreas is too much of a red herring .

Though he does know more about it than he is letting on.

Remember he was at the solicitors and was given a cheque and some paperwork .

The last chapter maybe ???

Add to the fact he wants to up sticks and move to Greece .

I have to keep reminding myself ,who was up on the tower ....and who got decapitated !

Has Greek/Greece been mentioned in the 1950 's plot yet/at all ?

And also good whey we don't binge as can discuss theories 😂

I still haven't deleted it yet from my planner !

Will deff need a rewatch before last episode 😂

Ohhh I wonder if..... Andreas is a side plot.
He knew that without the last chapter Susan would " fail" and therefore be happy to go to Greece with him 🤔🤔🤔!

Now I have to point out that I am rubbish with " who done it's " !!

I could never even work out who the villian was in the old Scooby Doo episodes !!😂😂😂

That's very complex

I've now watched it all on iPlayer and really enjoyed it. I think having read the books helped, as even though it was a while ago I didn't find it the dual characters confusing. I actually found it more helpful as I tended to get the characters confused in the book.

Lesley Manville is fab - my only complaint is in the books she's a little less glam!

Just caught up with the 4th episode . I didn't like it to start with but am enjoying it now and have to really concentrate . So Andreas isn't the nice boyfriend she thinks he is , hmm .

I'm quoting myself to say that I got a trial with Audible and it was on special for 99p to cover 3 months. So you get access to the 'free' books and podcasts but also 1 credit for each of those 3 months for the books that cost extra - in the form of a credit. That means I can get Magpie Murders and Moonflower Murders as well and another book of choice.

Thought I'd mention it for anyone else who might want to take advantage of that offer if you can get it. Otherwise both books are on Kindle offer at £4,99 and £2,99 respectively.

I'm so glad it's not just me who's having to check, double check and do some hard thinking for this series.

Interesting letter in the Radio Times for other fans of Leslie Manville's wardrobe in this.
She got to keep most of it!

That's great, she looked terrific!