I decided to read this in tandem with listening to Great Expectations on audio and it was an interesting experience. I'm not entirely sure if it enhanced my reading of both books or not, but it made for a very immersive week. 

While the story of Jack Maggs may be inspired by that of Abel Magwitch, it is quite different. So if you were expecting a spin-off, it's really not. 

It begins with Maggs returning to London to seek out his benefactee, Henry Phipps, as he has promised in his letters. However, Phipps is not at home. Instead, Maggs is mistaken for a replacement footman for the household next door, Mr Percy Buckle's residence. He decides to take up the position in order to keep an eye on the Phipp's house and find out where he is. There then ensues a few weeks of aggro misunderstandings, magnet-induced hypnotism and very tense, unnecessary shenanigans. 

Jack's protege, Phipps is vastly different and a much more corrupt version of Pip. The rest of the cast of characters are an extremely odd bunch, which add to the tragi-comic atmosphere of this story. There is a build of tension towards the end where I fully expected someone to die, instead it fizzles out into a weirdly happy ending. 

I've given this 4 stars but I'm still undecided how I really feel about this overall.