MagpieMurders

When editor Susan Ryeland is given the manuscript of Alan Conway's latest novel, she initially expects it to be much like any of his others. Having worked closely with the bestselling crime writer for years, Ryeland is intimately familiar with his detective, Atticus Pünd - who solves mysteries in sleepy English villages. Conway's traditional formula pays homage to classic British crime queens such as Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers, and has certainly proven to be successful. Unfortunately, Susan must also put up with Conway's troubling behaviour if she wants to keep her job.

In Conway's latest tale, Atticus Pünd investigates a murder at Pye Hall - a local manor house. While there are the typical dead bodies and an array of fascinating suspects, the more Ryeland reads, the more convinced she becomes that there is another story hidden in the pages of the manuscript; one of real-life jealousy, greed, ruthless ambition, and murder.

Magpie Murders, a masterful, clever, and relentlessly suspenseful novel, offers a deviously dark take on vintage English crime fiction. As the reader delves into the story, they become the detective - piecing together clues and solving the mysteries along with Atticus Pünd.

作者简介

安东尼•霍洛维茨，英国知名侦探小说作家、编剧。一九五五年四月，霍洛维茨出生于伦敦一个富裕的犹太家庭。童年时期虽生活优渥，但并不快乐。据他回忆，作为一个超重又内向的孩子，经常遭到校长体罚，在学校的经历也被他描述成“残酷的体验”。八岁时，他就意识到自己会成为一名作家；他说：“只有在写作时，我才会感到由衷的快乐”。母亲是霍洛维茨在文学世界的启蒙者，不仅引导他阅读大量书籍，甚至在他十三岁生日时送给他一副人类骸骨。他表示，这件礼物让他意识到“所有人的最终结局都不过是白骨一具”。其父因与时任英国首相哈罗德•威尔逊的政客圈子过从甚密，为了自保，将财产秘密转入瑞士的隐秘账户。结果在霍洛维茨二十二岁时，父亲因癌症去世，大额财产下落不明使霍洛维茨与母亲陷入困境，自此家境一落千丈。一九七七年，霍洛维茨毕业于约克大学英国文学与艺术史专业。之后他果然朝着作家之路迈进：...