I seem to be on a roll with books that have non-human narrators. After loving [b:Remarkably Bright Creatures|58733693|Remarkably Bright Creatures|Shelby Van Pelt|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1651600548l/58733693.SY75.jpg|90375164] which is narrated by a giant Pacific octopus, I was not at all deterred to discover the narrator of this book is a cheeky magpie named Tama (as in Tamagotchi).

It is set in Central Otago on the south island of New Zealand on a sheep station run by Rob and his wife Marnie. Marnie finds Tama as a helpless chick, fallen from his nest. She nurses him back to health, and he soon becomes a surrogate child for Marnie, who has recently had a miscarriage.

From the get-go, we sense a terrible tension between the couple. The farm is struggling, and when Rob takes comfort from too much booze, his mood darkens and he turns on Marnie. This is not an easy book to read; the domestic violence is truly terrifying, and I feared that Marnie would not survive.

Marnie shares videos and pictures of Tama on social media, and he soon becomes a social media sensation. His ability to mimic human voices gives Rob and Marnie an opportunity to make money through merchandise, tv appearances and fans visiting the farm.

But even as Tama’s fame grows, producing an income-stream for the couple, we can see Rob is not coping, and his moods become darker and more menacing. Tama keeps saying: ‘And I did not trust him and I was right not to trust him’ creating a tension that builds throughout the book, until it reaches its climax at the axeman’s carnival, a woodchopping competition that Rob is determined to win for the tenth year in a row.

I have heard this book being referred to as ‘rural New Zealand gothic’ which I think hits the nail on the head. It’s quite brutal in parts, as farm life surely would be, and if this had been a movie, I would have covered my eyes on several occasions!

Although this was not a comfortable book to read, it is certainly memorable. Chidgey’s previous books have won oodles of awards, and her skill as a storyteller shines brightly in this gothic tale told by an unforgettable magpie named Tama.