The show begins with Allan Conway (Conleth Hill) who narrates the first chapter “Sorrow” of his novel about Atticus Pund. He describes Pund as the “world’s greatest detective.” Conway, unhappy with his first attempt, starts over the scratch. By the time he makes it to chapter five, he has run out of ideas. Flipping through pages of a book, he gets inspiration. In chapter seven, the author explains how Pund solved Mary Blakiston’s death, his last case. Conway describes Pund as more than a friend. After reaching the completion of his novel, Conway breaks his pen, sending ink spewing in every direction.

Susan Ryeland (Lesley Manville) is checking in at the Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany. As she prepares to hand her cellphone to security, Charles calls. She provides a lowdown of her schedule while the security officer prompts her to hurry. She hands over the phone before heading to the escalator, where she changes shoes on the ride up.  She runs include Klaus Eckerman (James Flynn) who asks if she has considered his. She tells him the offer is too low. He disagrees, saying there is no reason to haggle since they’re old friends. She reminds him of 18 million copies sold in 35 languages and an agreement for a TV series is on the table. He says Worterhaus has lost interest. She is aware of Worterhaus because Conway isn’t a fan.

He increases his offer to 75,000 euros. She increases the deal to 100,000 euros, which he believes is too high. When she reminds him of Conway’s new book, he asks if she has read “Magpie Murders.” She is confident it will be a number one seller, even though she is yet to read it. He promises to give her an answer for the 100,000-euro offer later over a drink.

At the hotel, Susan is going through her suitcase when a man tries to deliver her champagne. She denies ordering champagne before looking through the peephole. A gentleman is standing at the door, with a bottle of champagne and two glasses. She tells him to leave it but decides she wants full-service. He reminds her it is against hotel policy. She grabs his tie and pulls him toward her for a kiss. Susan and Andreas Pataki (Alexandros Logothetis) are lying in bed. She asks how he found out where she was at. He admits Alice told him, so he decided to take the day off from teaching to visit her. Thrilled, she promises to give Alice a promotion when he agrees to take the same flight home as her.

The Stansted Express delivers Susan and Andreas home. She offers him a ride in her taxi, but he is taking the tube. He promises to meet her at noon tomorrow before they separate.

Susan arrives at her office, where she meets Alice (Danielle Ryan). She gives her a gift from Andreas. Alice says Charles Clover (Michael Maloney) wants to see you. She enters Charles’s office to discover Conway delivered his “Magpie Murders.” He believes Conway’s novel will be a number one hit. Thrilled, she prepares to leave when he reminds her of the meeting with Citywide Media. She says they don’t know anything about publishing. He explains that is why they want her to manage the buyout. She doesn’t know if she has what it takes to run a company. He reminds her about the salary offer, which is much more than she is earning now and a 5-percent share.

Andreas teaches a class on “Homer’s Odyssey.” His students cannot answer a question in regard to the epic poem. He discusses his class’s failure to answer the question, with Lee Jaffrey (Paul Tylak) as they walk down a flight of steps.

A magpie tweets as Susan enters her apartment. She flips on the music before she pours herself a drink. She heads to the shower after a short jig. She grabs another drink and Conway’s “Magpie Murders.”

In 1955, Atticus Pund (Time McMullan) is challenged with his greatest mystery, his mortality. He rings the doorbell of Dr. R. Benson’s office on Harley Street. Dr. Benson (Beverly Longhurst) informs him to get dressed. He asks her to give him the worst. She explains his condition is not deteriorating. He asks her to give him a life expectancy prediction. She assures him it is not an easy prediction because the tumor is advanced. Early detection would’ve given her a chance to operate. A helpless Atticus takes a seat. When she apologizes, he assures her there is no need because his life has been long and some sense, good. He always thought his death would come sooner because it has always been two steps behind. She is not keen on his idea of a vacation. Downtrodden, he admits to not being a skilled skier. Now, he will never have the opportunity.

Susan contacts Charles to ask why he didn’t inform her of Atticus’ condition. She questions if he has spoken with Conway about killing off Atticus. He isn’t for sure since he is yet to finish the book. She suggests he confront Conway about Atticus’s demise. He tells her they will speak Monday after she finishes the book.

Conway is confronted by a lady who asks about the release date of his next novel. He responds, “Soon.” When the lady tries to capture a selfie of the two of them, he angrily refuses before heading to the train station. During a train ride, Conway works on his novel. A flashback of him saying the end and breaking his ink pen pops up on the screen. He imagines a doctor tells him the cancer is stage IV and his chance of survival is 10 percent. Back in the present, Conway coughs and slings his newspaper off the table. In a flashback at a bar, he guzzles down a glass of alcohol. He writes Charles a note to apologize about dinner last night.

Raising his voice, he corrects Charles when he refers to his novel as “The Magpie Murders.” He yells the bloody title is “Magpie Murders.” A plate of food smashes on the floor. He has a flashback of the fan who loves his books. Back in the present, Conway looks stressed. Rushing down the sidewalk, he tells a flirting couple to get a room. After tossing his briefcase in the trunk, he discovers a large scratch on the side of his vehicle. He rubs his finger across the scratch as two guys watch a short distance away. One of the boys is Conway’s son, Freddy Conway (Nathan Clarke). When his friend refers to his behavior as not liking his dad, Freddy says, “I wish he’d drop dead.”

Conway meets Sajid Khan (Sanjeev Kohli) on the road, neither wants to go around. Kamal pleads with Conway who crosses his arms and shakes his head no. He lays his head on his fist until Conway gives in and goes around him. He says, “Suck it” when he pulls in the driveway. He enters the house to see James Fraser (Matthew Beard) sitting on the steps. Conway was hoping James would have left before he arrived. He says I wanted to stay, so I could say goodbye. He questions if Conway left him in the manuscript. Conway says I didn’t think you cared. When James apologizes, Conway says for humiliating me while partying with your friends. He tells him to leave and not take the car. James reminds him the car is registered in his name. Conway tells him to take a taxi to the station.

Susan questions Andreas about his dislike of Conway. He describes him as being unpleasant. He admits to knowing Conway before he and Melissa married. He was still a teacher at the time. She discusses her concerns about the job offer. He assures her everything will be great since they have Atticus Pund. She provides him with a description of “Magpie Murders.” Pund investigates the murder of Sir Magnus’s housekeeper, Mary Blakiston in Saxby on Avon, a fictional village. Her body was discovered at Pye Hall, Sir Magnus’ family home. Rumor has it, Blakiston fell down a flight of stairs. Andreas suggests the housekeeper may have been pushed, not fell.

Andreas watches sports while Susan digs into the “Magpie Murders.” On the way home from Dr. Benson’s office, he is trying to understand his illness. Conway describes it as “another throw of the dice” for Pund who had always lived his life against the odds. When he enters his flat, he is greeted by James. He asks, where have you been, I’ve been worried. Pund admits to seeing Dr. Benson, which James finds concerning. He assures him it is nothing to fret over. James reminds him of Joy Sanderling (Nia Deacon) who is expected to arrive any minute. He is surprised when Pund denies being told of her visit in advance. When Joy called the day before yesterday, he checked Pund’s schedule, which was open. Pund isn’t keen on the idea of adding another client to his roster. James assures him Joy seems desperate.

Joy tells Pund how she feels about Robert Blakiston. They are planning to marry, regardless of what others think. Pund asks her to explain. They believe Robert murdered his mother, Mary. He assures her the rumors are enough to give people a reason to think twice. She refuses to believe the rumors. He asks why people are pointing at him. She explains how Robert works in a garage while his mother resided in the village. Their relationship was strained because she wanted him to stay home all the time. James interrupts, saying his mother does the same thing. Pund rolls his eyes back and shakes his head. James drops his head. Joy says Robert has a terrible temper. Mary had been trying to get Robert to repair a light fixture in her cottage. She says Mary picked Robert up at the wrong time.

In the book world, Mary met Robert to remind him about the damaged light fixture. He reminds her that he is no longer a child. She shames him for not already having it done, calling him a big disappointment. Raising his voice, he tells her to find someone else to fix it. He suggests she drop dead to let him have some peace. The next day, Mary’s body was discovered at the bottom of the staircase in the family home of Sir Magnus. Joy explains how everyone is pointing the finger at Robert. Local law enforcement is investigating Mary’s death. Pund asks how Mary felt about her and Robert’s relationship. She says Mary didn’t like it. Refusing to say why he says this could the motive for killing her. She admits being with Robert when Mary died.

Joy wants Pund to clear Robert’s name in Mary’s death. She reminds him of his popularity. If he tells everyone Robert is not responsible for Mary’s death, they will believe him. He smirks and picks up his teacup.

Andreas’ excitement over the sporting event on TV startles Susan awake.

Robert meets Joy as she leaves Pund’s flat. He asks how it went. She tells him Pund says he can’t do anything about gossip. When he refers to Pund as a “bastard,” Joy immediately defends him. He says there are other detectives. She doesn’t think they can help them. He refuses to let the villagers drive him out. She assures him they will be okay. As they pull away from Pund’s flat, Robert gives it a stern look.

Claire Jenkins (Pippa Haywood) visits Conway who isn’t happy to see her. She informs him that she wants her job back. He reminds her of what he said about it not working. She needs the money because jobs are scarce in the country. He focuses more on the game than her. She admits to enjoying the time she spent with him while they worked together. He says that is not what you said. She pleads with him to consider giving her a second chance. He agrees to consider it. She is concerned about his cough. He assures her it is nothing more than a chest infection. She asks if the manuscript is complete and who typed it up. Snarky, he says I can type before rushing away to take a phone call. As she flips through the manuscript, she discovers Conway’s description of the sister. He describes her as unloved, unmarried, and desperate for cash. She looks shocked and devastated.

Back to the book, Conway says Clarissa Pye looked ridiculous as she hops on your bicycle. All the villagers know she was desperate. Back to the book, Clarissa was raised in Pye Hall. She lives alone after being cast out by her brother. Back in the real world, Conway rushes the paperwork for his new novel. After the conversation end, he realizes Claire has left.

Susan complains to Andreas that Conway didn’t include the final chapter in the manuscript. She isn’t happy when he smirks at the idea. He suggests she work out the ending. She slams the manuscript on the bed. When she considers contacting Charles, he convinces her to go to bed.

A gentleman visiting Conway finds him lying in the garden. He looks up at the roof just in time for a magpie to fly away.

Susan and Andreas go for a walk. He admits to having a secret that she doesn’t know about. Shocked, she says don’t tell me you and your wife are getting back together. He reminds her of his wife not liking him. She disagrees, saying she adores you. He tells her his plans of resigning from teaching at the school. She asks why. He says the students don’t want to learn. She asks what will he do. He tells her about a plan to partner with his cousin, Yannis to acquire a hotel in Crete.  She says, “Wow.” He asks her to go with him. They discuss her job offer, which she is still unsure of. She refuses the offer before walking away.

Susan and Andreas apologize at the same time. She is concerned about him being unhappy with her, which he readily denies. They are stuck in traffic, so he decides to take the tube.

Susan arrives at her office to be greeted by Alice. She asks her who photocopied Conway’s manuscript. Alice says Jemima, but she hasn’t seen her. She promises to chase it down. Susan visits Charles to alert him about the missing chapter.  He pleads with her to take a seat before telling her about Conway’s death. She is in disbelieve. After trying to reach Conway all weekend, he received a call from Sajid Khan who informed him about his death. They believe Conway fell from his tower. He hands her Conway’s suicide note. She refuses to believe it. Charles feels bad about not speaking up at their last dinner.

Susan reads Conway’s suicide note, which reads it will be all over by the time you read this. He speaks of his great successes and cancer diagnosis. Susan suggests Conway’s decision to kill off Pund was related to his own cancer diagnosis. Charles says the manuscript had 332 pages like the photocopier. They believe Conway kept the last chapter on purpose. Susan apologizes for Charles’s loss.

Suffolk detective superintendent Locke (Daniel Mays) arrives to speak with Charles and Susan. Locke asks when Charles received Conway’s suicide note. He received it this morning. Locke says Conway had been lying on the ground for quite some time before Khan found him. Susan questions why he would jump from a tower instead of hanging or overdosing. Locke asks her to identify Conway’s handwriting. She tells him to assume someone forced him to write the suicide note. Locke refuses to believe Conway’s death is a mystery, but Susan disagrees.

He asks about her and Conway’s relationship. She tells Locke, they didn’t get along. He admits to not being surprised. Susan tries one last attempt at getting Locke to change his mind about Conway’s death. She reminds him the envelope was typed while the letter was handwritten. He thanks them and leaves. Charles scolds her the way she treated Locke. She suggests they focus on the last chapter of the manuscript. They are concerned the investors will pull out of the acquisition without Conway’s novel. She agrees to visit Suffolk because there should be a handwritten draft of the manuscript somewhere. Snarky, she says I finally get the opportunity to see Conway’s place, but only after he is dead.

Susan leaves Andreas a voicemail to alert him of her trip to Suffolk. She says they will talk about him going to Crete later. As she locks her seatbelt, she looks in the rearview mirror to find Pund staring back at her.

Magpie Murders Review

The show moves along quite nicely. However, the flashbacks can be confusing at times. The constant switching from a flashback, back to real-time, and to another flashback makes it difficult to keep everything together. It may help once you get acquainted with the characters in both the real world and the book.

While the acting is good, I do feel some of the characters are miscast. People are going to complain about the demographics of the cast, which is understandable when you consider the setting and time period. Diversity is not always accurate.

I am a big fan of Lesley Manville (Harlots) and Daniel Mays (Temple). Hopefully, there is more interaction between these two fabulous actors throughout the series.

The show deserves a 7. Get more Magpie Murders recaps here. Support ReelMockery by clicking the link.