Book of the week

This chilling new novel from Sophie Draper tells the story of Claire, her husband Duncan and their son Joe, who live in a beautiful house that overlooks the water. The spooky setting is fitting for the tale that unravels throughout this creepy narrative.

From the outside, the couple look as though they have it all, but in reality Claire is unhappy in her Magpie marriage and has been playing the By Sophie Draper. Avon waiting game until her son turns Books, £6.39 18 so she can leave her husband, whom she suspects has been unfaithful to her several times. The family is thrown into turmoil when Joe goes missing and the novel is split into a double narrative told from the perspective of both Claire and Duncan.

The chapters are set before and after Joe’s disappearance, which admittedly was slightly confusing at first.

For the most part, it focuses on the breakdown of the marriage of Claire and Duncan – a relationship evidently full of distrust – and it becomes clear their son often gets caught in the crossfire.

Joe has been affected by the negative familial atmosphere in the house, and prefers to spend his time outside with his metal detector.

While they’re evidently flawed characters who have arguably failed to protect their son, the skill of Draper is highlighted by her ability to evoke compassion for both parents, making the truth even more difficult to uncover.

The author’s focus on depicting the setting, combined with the use of pathetic fallacy, creates a spooky atmosphere that is unsettling as more secrets are uncovered. The clever choice of Magpie as a title, symbolising the notion of being attracted to things that glisten, both literally and metaphorically, becomes a recurring theme throughout this thoughtfully written book, and I found myself hanging on to every word until the very last page.

I frequently had a lump in my throat as it quickly becomes apparent that all is not what it seems, and each character suffers in their own way from the indiscretions and mistrust that has been breeding in the family. This multi-faceted story serves as a reminder of the importance of telling the truth, no matter how difficult the truth may be.

The complex, well-written tale reaches a shocking conclusion which will have the reader feeling somewhat hoodwinked, and the author manages to tie up all the loose ends so there are no unanswered questions, which is satisfying in a thriller.

Brilliant and atmospheric, it will have readers gripped. Review by Hollie Bruce.