George answers “What about the title? Does it mean something?”

Marta Sroczyńska asked this question about Magpie Murders (Susan Ryeland, #1):

What about the title? Does it mean something?

George There IS one perfectly obvious meaning: The sequence of the story sections in the manuscript, matching the old rhyme (which is quoted) Sorrow, Joy, A …moreThere IS one perfectly obvious meaning: The sequence of the story sections in the manuscript, matching the old rhyme (which is quoted) Sorrow, Joy, A Girl, A Boy, Silver, Gold, with the final chapter A Secret Never to Be Told.

There are also two wordplay meanings, as often with mystery titles: The old term of "venery", "a murder of crows" has also been applied to magpies. And one of the victims is Sir Magnus Pye.

Nevertheless, there ought to be actual magpies; compare the Meg Langslow mysteries!(less)

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Marta Sroczyńska thank you for your pleasant elaborate answer
Apr 19, 2018 01:26PM

George Happy to be of service.
Apr 19, 2018 04:47PM

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