Gary Toward delivered a superb presentation of his book at Theale Green School. He engaged both, the students and teachers through his fascinating talk. He also acquainted them with his thrilling expedition of becoming an author. The Magpie is the story of a very sharp and vicious serial killer. His victim is found drowned in the River Wear with a vicious knife wound to his lower back. Detective Constable Frank Bolam is assigned with the duty to solve these murder cases. A few months later Bolam finds another victim killed with the same technique.

Bolam becomes obsessed with this serial killer and he vows to bring him to justice at any cost. He is disappointed by this devastating sadness brought to the victims’ families by this serial killer. These are the times of war and in the quest of finding this murderer, Bolam enlists himself for the Army where he heads for the ditches to track down this cold-blooded murder in the midst of most mechanized slaughter of the men that the world has ever seen.

The author Gary Toward was a teacher for the past 33 years and he taught in 6 different schools also remaining the headteacher of 3. His passion for World War I continued to grow when he visited Ypres with his colleagues. He is a keynote speaker and an educational trainer who has coauthored four successful books. His interests are in sports, mountaineering, football, and cycling and are passionate about equal education for all.