A review by bookph1le
Magpie by Elizabeth Day

2.0

I'd put this book more in the category of psychological suspense and/or family drama than in the mystery/thriller category, despite that the opening third reads like a thriller.

I have some big caveats about this book.

Spoiler

The ending rubbed me the wrong way, when Kate is thinking about how she'll willingly give up every part of herself because the baby is just that important to her. Isn't this just perpetuating the narrative that a woman's true purpose is to become a mother? I like to think that good parents will sacrifice everything to protect their children, but I reject the idea that tossing aside your own identity, your own needs, and your own sense of self because this not only denies women their identities as individual human beings, it's also not a good example to set for your children. Plus, isn't it glaringly obvious that this is an entirely patriarchal notion, since no one expects men to subsume themselves in their children?

Also, its portrayal of mental illness is beyond problematic.