Of Magpies and Men by Ode Ray

Synopsis
Two corpses wash ashore in a picturesque Italian village, the violence that put them there is bound to a long-held secret and two strangers living worlds apart with seemingly nothing in common.
Benedict Grant a wealthy Londoner, leading a lonely life.
Marie Boulanger a nurse and single mum, struggling to make ends meet in Marseille.
However, a mother’s illicit revelation will set in motion a chain of events that will reshape their identities, stir poignant family affairs and delve into the by-products of lawless decisions.

With this domestic thriller, discover a captivating and moving story of impossible yearnings, weaving mystery and drama peppered with humour. A tale that will stay with you long after its final page and a twist you won’t see coming.

Review
Of Magpies and Men is the debut novel from Ode Ray and will be published on February 2nd. 2017, the villiage of Manarola, Cinque Terre Italy, a popular tourist resort, whose peace is broken by two dead bodies washing up on the rocks. Eight years earlier,London, Benedict Grant, a rich and successful business man is left a letter from his mother that will change his life. In Marseille Marie Boulanger, a nurse and single mother lives on a trailer camp trying to save up for a better life with her son. As the lives of Benedict and Marie collide, both are set on a new path, of family, love and ultimately danger. This domestic thriller is fast paced, inteligent and utterly compelling.

I’m sure you all know by now that I love all things Italian, so when Ode Ray emailed me about a review for her debut novel I couldn’t resist, and I’m so glad I did. The book is narrated by the main characters of Benedict and Marie, with the occasional chapter from one of the other characters whose back story is relevant to the plot. As characters Benedict and Marie are complete opposites. Benedict had a privileged childhood, being the centre of his mother’s world, and has a high power job. He may be rich but he is lonely, private and not letting any one get close, not even work colleagues. Most interestingly is his denial of his sexuality, he has a desire for a family and can only see that happeneing through a conventional relationship. However, when private investigator Yukinoba comes into his life, along with Marie his perception on life starts to change. What I liked most about Benedicts journey in this book is his change from arrogant, repressed and private to someone warmer, more open to new ideas and to working less and relaxing more. Marie is at the opposite end to the spectrum, she was brought up in an abusive family, a father that constantly put her down and a mother who never protected her. In her teens her parents are arrested and jailed for being linked to arms dealing, and Marie meets Baul, her first love and the father of her son Romain. Ever since that day she has lived with Baul’s family in the trailer park. She barely earns enough to cover her expenses but continues to dream of a different life for her and Romain, in a house with a garden and with cleaner air. As the lives of Benedict and Marie weave together they become stronger and show how important the support of family is in life.

This is a really accomplished first novel from Ode Ray. She is able to capture the atmosphere and essence of the three different locations, London, Marseille and the Manarola, and the individuality of the nararators voices. I really loved the plot structure, starting with the bodies washing up, then going back in time to build a picture of how these events had their roots nine years ago. Manarola is such a quiet town that officer Giandomenico Paoli is brought in from Rome to investigate, and as the plot unfolds we see he has links to one of the other characters. Details are drip fed about the nationality of the bodies, and the forensics so you begin making assumptions as to who they are. But, this plot has so many different layers, and goes in many different directions, that builds up the tension and suspense as the book moves towards its exhilarating conclusion. Through the characters, Ode Ray explores some difficult but important issues, including the effect of air pollution on a young child with asthma, poverty, racial abuse, physical and emotional abuse and sexuality, all of which are handled with undestanding and empathy.

I am really glad that I decided to read and review Of Magpies and Men. This domestic thriller had me gripped and I read it in two sittings. I adored the characters and their ensuing relationships, bringing out the best in each other and realising the imporatnace of family. There was plenty of tension and suspense that built as the plot progressed which kept me guessing until the final page. Add to all this setting of the South of France and the North of Italy, this is a first class read.

I would like to thank Ode Ray for my copy of her book in return for my honest review.