Critic Reviews
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It is extremely good. Stars Lesley Manville, Conleth Hill, and Tim McMullan are compelling in their respective roles as crime editor-turned-chance sleuth Susan Ryeland, her nightmare star author-turned-murder victim Alan Conway, and the coolly meticulous post-war detective Atticus Pünd at the heart of Conway’s award-winning whodunnit series.
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It’s a tightly plotted, handsomely presented, smartly acted, entirely enjoyable and structurally unusual piece.
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It sounds like a lot to keep track of, but that’s where Horowitz and Cattaneo shine. Clever transitions bridge the two worlds while linking Susan and Pünd, and period costumes help to clarify which world the story is following in each scene.
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Mr. Horowitz and director Peter Cattaneo have constructed both an engaging mystery and a clever sendup of the literary universe they're invading.
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It’s easy to watch, not least of all thanks to the always engaging Manville and a game cast, some of whom appear in both time frames. It’s good, twisty fun.
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Magpie Murders does a fine job exploring the novel's dual storylines and incorporating the various twists and turns in the deaths of Magnus and Alan. The story within a story structure could have become far too convoluted for viewers to follow, but it's well-managed, with the two narratives existing harmoniously.
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Occasionally it is maddening, but there is true satisfaction in watching the pieces of Horowitz’s puzzle click into place. ... Submit yourself to all of the tongue-in-cheek genre tomfoolery, however, and it’s a terrific series with enough in-jokes to keep any armchair detective happy.
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While at times the show-within-a-show can grow a bit tired, Magpie Murders is a very enjoyable murder mystery with enough revelations and twists to keep you guessing until the end.
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If The Masterpiece Mystery! TV version lacks some of the book's formal brilliance and literary showmanship, it's still a superior brainteaser. [10 - 23 Oct 2022, p.4]
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 5 out of 5
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Mixed: 0 out of 5
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Negative: 0 out of 5
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Jan 6, 2023
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Oct 26, 2022