The good news is... Atkinson returns to form, 29 Nov 2008
If you need a reminder of why Kate Atkinson is one of the UK's best authors, particularly after her last couple of offerings, this novel ought to do it. 'When Will There Be Good News' is a stronger novel than its two 'Jackson Brodie' predecessors, coming up towards the standard of Atkinson's earlier standalone books.

A page turningly good read, the plot is tighter and cleaner than in 'One Good Turn' and, although there is still too much reliance on coincidence, it isn't as obvious. The character of Reggie, a spirited young nanny, is a breath of fresh air and she carries the story along, gluing together the various threads. Jackson Brodie and Louise Monroe, familiar from former novels, are also featured, but for me Reggie was definitely the star of the show.

The 'detective story' aspects worked better here than in Atkinson's previous Jackson Brodie novels, probably because she has toned down the quirkiness, which doesn't sit well with a crime genre. There are still a couple of interesting twists and it certainly makes a change from the run-of-the-mill crime novel.

Atkinson's writing is always excellent, she's one of those truly great writers that you just want to keep reading. Even putting aside what she has to say, she always says it well, and I caught flashes of 'Behind the Scenes at the Museum' more in this novel than in any of the others.

I would highly recommend this, even if you haven't liked the other 'Jackson Brodie' novels. If Atkinson writes more featuring the detective - which the open ending of this one suggests she will - I won't mind if it's this sort of quality.



Suspension of Disbelief Required!, 26 Nov 2008
If you can suspend your disbelief at the number of coincidences, this is a fantastic pacy read. I have to confess to enjoying it for the characters rather than the plot - Dr. Joanne Hunter in particular intrigued me and I found myself totally convinced by her, perhaps less so by the 16 year old Latin-loving Reggie, who was none the less a very attractive character. For me the plot was almost incidental but other readers would perhaps enjoy it for that alone. I feel it would make a wonderful BBC
serial or one-off film.

Brilliant!, 17 Nov 2008
After reading Case Histories and One Good Turn I was looking forward to this and I was not disappointed.
Such intelligent writing with humour and class.
Thank you for a wonderful week of reading!


A Coincidence Is Just An Explanation Waiting To Happen, 16 Nov 2008
Coincidence as defined by Webster "the occurrence of events that happen at the same time by accident but seem to have some connection." Kate Atkinson is a perfectionist when it comes to coincidence. Her mystery thrillers are made of such. Into each one she weaves a story that grabs us and soon we are ensconced in the telling of the tale.

How to describe the beginning? A full cut madness that results in a family torn apart, one little girl, Joanna survives. She becomes a physician, a caring person with a husband and a baby son. Her Nanny is a young girl named Reggie. Reggie without family except for an outlaw brother, and the family she wants is with Joanna. Jackson Brodie, a private investigator embarking on a train trip to London, after traveling to Edinburgh to ascertain if he has a son. The train runs off its track and after almost bleeding to death he is saved by Reggie. The investigating office is Louise, an old friend to Brody. Louise has also brought news to Joanna. Coincidence? You decide.

One of the most interesting aspects of reading a Kate Atkinson novel is her mission to bring us the reason for living. How and why do we go on after trauma and grief. What do we do when we find the person we are married to may be the wrong one. When our loved ones die how do we go on? How do we know we have found what we need in life?

This is the third novel with Louise and Jackson Brodie as main characters. We know do we not that they are meant for each other? But Kate Atkinson seems to knock off the men in these women's lives. Why is that? Will Jackson Brodie and Louise find true happiness? I think not and that is not just a coincidence!

Highly Recommended. prisrob 11-08-08

One Good Turn: A Novel

Behind the Scenes at the Museum: A Novel



Too depressing, 07 Nov 2008
I gave up reading this after the first few chapters, the dog body count was far too high for me to enjoy it, never mind the human one! I get enough depression and disaster in my own life I don't need to read it here. I usually love Kate Atkinson but every so often she produces a right minger (usually when she's trying too hard - see 'Emotionally Weird')

I hope the next one is more readable.

Case Histories continues a winning streak for Kate Atkinson which began when her impressive novel Behind the Scenes at the Museum won the Whitbread First Novel Award. Since that book, Atkinson has gleaned a keen following of readers who are prepared to follow in the surprising directions the unpredictable author takes us on. And Atkinson--so far--hasn't let us down.

The perfectly judged prose that distinguished Human Croquet is fully in evidence in Case Histories, and a new frisson here comes from the genre-stretching that Atkinson is indulging in. In some ways, this book could almost be seen as a new take on the crime novel (not the first genre one would expect the author to tackle), but the crime elements here Atkinson uses are peripheral. The protagonist here is a former police inspector who now makes a living as a private investigator. Jackson Brodie is making ends meet in a sweaty Cambridge summer and trying to deal with his own failed marriage. But if his life is adrift, perhaps Brodie can justify his existence via his belief that he can do some good for the people he encounters in his job. But he is to find that he will be irrevocably changed by those he is trying to help.

As a vividly created cast of characters surround the beleaguered Brodie, all the novelistic skills that shone in Atkinson's earlier books are fully in play. Those deluded into thinking they've picked up something resembling a standard private eye novel will find something much more rich and strange; Atkinson goes from strength to strength.--Barry Forshaw

The good news is... Atkinson returns to form, 29 Nov 2008
If you need a reminder of why Kate Atkinson is one of the UK's best authors, particularly after her last couple of offerings, this novel ought to do it. 'When Will There Be Good News' is a stronger novel than its two 'Jackson Brodie' predecessors, coming up towards the standard of Atkinson's earlier standalone books.

A page turningly good read, the plot is tighter and cleaner than in 'One Good Turn' and, although there is still too much reliance on coincidence, it isn't as obvious. The character of Reggie, a spirited young nanny, is a breath of fresh air and she carries the story along, gluing together the various threads. Jackson Brodie and Louise Monroe, familiar from former novels, are also featured, but for me Reggie was definitely the star of the show.

The 'detective story' aspects worked better here than in Atkinson's previous Jackson Brodie novels, probably because she has toned down the quirkiness, which doesn't sit well with a crime genre. There are still a couple of interesting twists and it certainly makes a change from the run-of-the-mill crime novel.

Atkinson's writing is always excellent, she's one of those truly great writers that you just want to keep reading. Even putting aside what she has to say, she always says it well, and I caught flashes of 'Behind the Scenes at the Museum' more in this novel than in any of the others.

I would highly recommend this, even if you haven't liked the other 'Jackson Brodie' novels. If Atkinson writes more featuring the detective - which the open ending of this one suggests she will - I won't mind if it's this sort of quality.



Suspension of Disbelief Required!, 26 Nov 2008
If you can suspend your disbelief at the number of coincidences, this is a fantastic pacy read. I have to confess to enjoying it for the characters rather than the plot - Dr. Joanne Hunter in particular intrigued me and I found myself totally convinced by her, perhaps less so by the 16 year old Latin-loving Reggie, who was none the less a very attractive character. For me the plot was almost incidental but other readers would perhaps enjoy it for that alone. I feel it would make a wonderful BBC
serial or one-off film.

Brilliant!, 17 Nov 2008
After reading Case Histories and One Good Turn I was looking forward to this and I was not disappointed.
Such intelligent writing with humour and class.
Thank you for a wonderful week of reading!


A Coincidence Is Just An Explanation Waiting To Happen, 16 Nov 2008
Coincidence as defined by Webster "the occurrence of events that happen at the same time by accident but seem to have some connection." Kate Atkinson is a perfectionist when it comes to coincidence. Her mystery thrillers are made of such. Into each one she weaves a story that grabs us and soon we are ensconced in the telling of the tale.

How to describe the beginning? A full cut madness that results in a family torn apart, one little girl, Joanna survives. She becomes a physician, a caring person with a husband and a baby son. Her Nanny is a young girl named Reggie. Reggie without family except for an outlaw brother, and the family she wants is with Joanna. Jackson Brodie, a private investigator embarking on a train trip to London, after traveling to Edinburgh to ascertain if he has a son. The train runs off its track and after almost bleeding to death he is saved by Reggie. The investigating office is Louise, an old friend to Brody. Louise has also brought news to Joanna. Coincidence? You decide.

One of the most interesting aspects of reading a Kate Atkinson novel is her mission to bring us the reason for living. How and why do we go on after trauma and grief. What do we do when we find the person we are married to may be the wrong one. When our loved ones die how do we go on? How do we know we have found what we need in life?

This is the third novel with Louise and Jackson Brodie as main characters. We know do we not that they are meant for each other? But Kate Atkinson seems to knock off the men in these women's lives. Why is that? Will Jackson Brodie and Louise find true happiness? I think not and that is not just a coincidence!

Highly Recommended. prisrob 11-08-08

One Good Turn: A Novel

Behind the Scenes at the Museum: A Novel



Too depressing, 07 Nov 2008
I gave up reading this after the first few chapters, the dog body count was far too high for me to enjoy it, never mind the human one! I get enough depression and disaster in my own life I don't need to read it here. I usually love Kate Atkinson but every so often she produces a right minger (usually when she's trying too hard - see 'Emotionally Weird')

I hope the next one is more readable.

A writer outside her comfort zone, 04 Oct 2008
Behind the Scenes... yes. Human Croquet... most definitely yes. But as brilliant a writer as Atkinson clearly is on her own territory, a crime writer she ain't. Unbelievable plot that relies almost exclusively on co-incidence, ridiculous and annoying characters and an ending so loose and stupidly unlikely (beyond any degree of suspension of disbelief!) this is almost like a teenager's attempt at a crime novel. Cack-handed, naive and woe-fully out of its depth.

Brilliant, 23 Sep 2008
This is one of those books that you keep in your hand when you get off the tube so that you can read one more paragraph going up the escalator. It is immediately engaging and written extremely well. You care for the characters and the author does a brilliant job of introducing them all well whilst keeping the mystery going so that you can't wait to turn the page. It is also very funny in parts and acutely sad in others. I was worried towards the end that I would be disappointed but I thought the book finished very well and I can't wait to order another from this author.

Wonderful Confusion, 09 Apr 2008
I really enjoyed this book of the lost and found centred around cases taken on by ex-policeman now PI, Brodie. Atkinson takes you into her characters musings on life after death and loss with witty observations. The cases are poignant, sad, inevitable and it is not just Brodie who is confused by the end. Not everything is tied up neatly leading to more confusion. Major and minor characters are rounded and full of life, even the sad ones.


Gripping and superbly written, 25 Mar 2008
Couldn't put this down! A gripping and superbly written novel, combining the excitement and tension of a crime novel with a wonderful literary style. I really enjoyed it and will eagerly await new work by her.
The different strands which make up the plot are so skillfully and cleverly interwoven gradually as the novel progresses. A great read. Have since read 'One Good Turn' and loved that too.

Wonderfully entertaining, 24 Mar 2008
I love Kate Atkinson books, having only recently discovered her other novel, One Good Turn which is the predecessor to Case Histories. I love the way she interweaves comedy and intrigue and I have to say Jackson Brodie is my new hero. Highly recommended.

The good news is... Atkinson returns to form, 29 Nov 2008
If you need a reminder of why Kate Atkinson is one of the UK's best authors, particularly after her last couple of offerings, this novel ought to do it. 'When Will There Be Good News' is a stronger novel than its two 'Jackson Brodie' predecessors, coming up towards the standard of Atkinson's earlier standalone books.

A page turningly good read, the plot is tighter and cleaner than in 'One Good Turn' and, although there is still too much reliance on coincidence, it isn't as obvious. The character of Reggie, a spirited young nanny, is a breath of fresh air and she carries the story along, gluing together the various threads. Jackson Brodie and Louise Monroe, familiar from former novels, are also featured, but for me Reggie was definitely the star of the show.

The 'detective story' aspects worked better here than in Atkinson's previous Jackson Brodie novels, probably because she has toned down the quirkiness, which doesn't sit well with a crime genre. There are still a couple of interesting twists and it certainly makes a change from the run-of-the-mill crime novel.

Atkinson's writing is always excellent, she's one of those truly great writers that you just want to keep reading. Even putting aside what she has to say, she always says it well, and I caught flashes of 'Behind the Scenes at the Museum' more in this novel than in any of the others.

I would highly recommend this, even if you haven't liked the other 'Jackson Brodie' novels. If Atkinson writes more featuring the detective - which the open ending of this one suggests she will - I won't mind if it's this sort of quality.



Suspension of Disbelief Required!, 26 Nov 2008
If you can suspend your disbelief at the number of coincidences, this is a fantastic pacy read. I have to confess to enjoying it for the characters rather than the plot - Dr. Joanne Hunter in particular intrigued me and I found myself totally convinced by her, perhaps less so by the 16 year old Latin-loving Reggie, who was none the less a very attractive character. For me the plot was almost incidental but other readers would perhaps enjoy it for that alone. I feel it would make a wonderful BBC
serial or one-off film.

Brilliant!, 17 Nov 2008
After reading Case Histories and One Good Turn I was looking forward to this and I was not disappointed.
Such intelligent writing with humour and class.
Thank you for a wonderful week of reading!


A Coincidence Is Just An Explanation Waiting To Happen, 16 Nov 2008
Coincidence as defined by Webster "the occurrence of events that happen at the same time by accident but seem to have some connection." Kate Atkinson is a perfectionist when it comes to coincidence. Her mystery thrillers are made of such. Into each one she weaves a story that grabs us and soon we are ensconced in the telling of the tale.

How to describe the beginning? A full cut madness that results in a family torn apart, one little girl, Joanna survives. She becomes a physician, a caring person with a husband and a baby son. Her Nanny is a young girl named Reggie. Reggie without family except for an outlaw brother, and the family she wants is with Joanna. Jackson Brodie, a private investigator embarking on a train trip to London, after traveling to Edinburgh to ascertain if he has a son. The train runs off its track and after almost bleeding to death he is saved by Reggie. The investigating office is Louise, an old friend to Brody. Louise has also brought news to Joanna. Coincidence? You decide.

One of the most interesting aspects of reading a Kate Atkinson novel is her mission to bring us the reason for living. How and why do we go on after trauma and grief. What do we do when we find the person we are married to may be the wrong one. When our loved ones die how do we go on? How do we know we have found what we need in life?

This is the third novel with Louise and Jackson Brodie as main characters. We know do we not that they are meant for each other? But Kate Atkinson seems to knock off the men in these women's lives. Why is that? Will Jackson Brodie and Louise find true happiness? I think not and that is not just a coincidence!

Highly Recommended. prisrob 11-08-08

One Good Turn: A Novel

Behind the Scenes at the Museum: A Novel



Too depressing, 07 Nov 2008
I gave up reading this after the first few chapters, the dog body count was far too high for me to enjoy it, never mind the human one! I get enough depression and disaster in my own life I don't need to read it here. I usually love Kate Atkinson but every so often she produces a right minger (usually when she's trying too hard - see 'Emotionally Weird')

I hope the next one is more readable.

A writer outside her comfort zone, 04 Oct 2008
Behind the Scenes... yes. Human Croquet... most definitely yes. But as brilliant a writer as Atkinson clearly is on her own territory, a crime writer she ain't. Unbelievable plot that relies almost exclusively on co-incidence, ridiculous and annoying characters and an ending so loose and stupidly unlikely (beyond any degree of suspension of disbelief!) this is almost like a teenager's attempt at a crime novel. Cack-handed, naive and woe-fully out of its depth.

Brilliant, 23 Sep 2008
This is one of those books that you keep in your hand when you get off the tube so that you can read one more paragraph going up the escalator. It is immediately engaging and written extremely well. You care for the characters and the author does a brilliant job of introducing them all well whilst keeping the mystery going so that you can't wait to turn the page. It is also very funny in parts and acutely sad in others. I was worried towards the end that I would be disappointed but I thought the book finished very well and I can't wait to order another from this author.

Wonderful Confusion, 09 Apr 2008
I really enjoyed this book of the lost and found centred around cases taken on by ex-policeman now PI, Brodie. Atkinson takes you into her characters musings on life after death and loss with witty observations. The cases are poignant, sad, inevitable and it is not just Brodie who is confused by the end. Not everything is tied up neatly leading to more confusion. Major and minor characters are rounded and full of life, even the sad ones.


Gripping and superbly written, 25 Mar 2008
Couldn't put this down! A gripping and superbly written novel, combining the excitement and tension of a crime novel with a wonderful literary style. I really enjoyed it and will eagerly await new work by her.
The different strands which make up the plot are so skillfully and cleverly interwoven gradually as the novel progresses. A great read. Have since read 'One Good Turn' and loved that too.

Wonderfully entertaining, 24 Mar 2008
I love Kate Atkinson books, having only recently discovered her other novel, One Good Turn which is the predecessor to Case Histories. I love the way she interweaves comedy and intrigue and I have to say Jackson Brodie is my new hero. Highly recommended.

Excellent Sleuthing, Marred by Coincidence, 01 Dec 2008
One Good Turn is a tremendous book, in which top class writing fleshes out an involving and engaging plot. A sequel to Atkinson's impeccable 'Case Histories' Case Histories 'OGT' sees Jackson Brodie becoming embroiled in a complex murder-mystery, after witnessing a violent road rage attack. The story then follows various crimes and misdemeanours through the eyes of Jackson and other witnesses of the incident. As the novel progresses, the many interconnecting strands become increasingly entwined, until they are all tied together and the story reaches it's somewhat over-convenient conclusion.

Atkinson's eye for the minutiae of everyday life and relationships, both romantic and family, is second to none, which in crime writing is something of novelty. The characters in this novel are far beyond the drunken navel-gazers that one associates with most fictional sleuths; the plot of 'One Good Turn' is excellent but this book is about so much more than 'whodunnit'. The world Atkinson paints is rather bleak and is made all the more depressing, by being an accurate portrayal of modern life. There are few writers finer at displaying the futility of modern life.

Where I think 'One Good Turn' loses its fifth star, is in its over-reliance on coincidence. The plot is complicated and draws together nicely, but for me, everything is tied together a little too neatly. One character, who is largely peripheral until the final pages, seems to have an unreasonable amount of information about what's being going on. She gradually drip feeds her knowledge to the other characters with no real explanation of how or why she is able to do so. This is frustrating and considering the deftness of the rest of the novel, clumsy. One reviewer has described the 'OGT' as being full of 'ironic twists of fate', but I felt there were so many of them that 'beset by implausible coincidence' would be a more accurate assessment. Jackson Brodie states that 'A coincidence is just an explanation waiting to happen,' well for me there was altogether too much explaining.

This gripe aside, 'One Good Turn' is an excellent and enjoyable novel. Unlike most novels in the genre where the writing style is normally rather clunky, Atkinson's prose is a joy to read. For me the enjoyment of 'OGT' wasn't found in the destination, but was present in abundance throughout the journey.




Entertaining complications, 21 Nov 2008
This novel has more comings and goings than a French farce, but is an entertaining read, with sobering moments of pathos and drama.

In a series of interlinked scenarios based around the Edinburgh festival, the novel chronicles the life of retired detective Jackson Brodie, Russian call girls, local property developers, a crime writer, his unwelcome (and horribly murdered) stand up comedian guest and a local dog owning hard man involved in a particularly unpleasant road rage incident. So... how do all these characters, and a number of others, come together? Well in an entertaining and structured narrative which will keep you turning the pages while questioning the level of coincidence with a smile.

Recommended good read for those who aren't purists for realism!

What a muddle!, 12 Nov 2008
I was so infuriated by this novel that I had to get out of bed to write this at once, having just finished it. Fragmented, confusing plot; uninteresting two-dimensional characters; odd inconsequential flashbacks; a rushed and unsatisfactory ending; coincidence upon coincidence. What on earth was all the hype about? Have I missed something? I know Kate Atkinson is capable of so much better. What on earth was she thinking of? Altogether, a great disappointment.

Brilliant, highly recommended, 05 Nov 2008
I agree with another reviewer who has questioned how anyone could give this book just one star. I thought it was great, funny in parts, sad, mysterious, tragic with bucket loads of plot twists. I only wish I could write like Kate Atkinson. I could not put this book down.

Bloody brilliant, 16 Oct 2008
How could anyone not have just thoroughly enjoyed this??????

Every time a link was made between the characters I found myself smirking (sometimes snorting)and nodding with enjoyment (nice image?)....especially the final connection - I'd been asking what about Paul Brady all the way through...glad I got my answer.

The book also packs many poignant punches with the (insightful) character behaviours and thoughts. Great caricatures. Love em. So amusing because they are so believable and therefore almost predictable.

Have decided Kate Atkinson is my new imaginary friend. I'll sit her next to Tracey Emin.

The good news is... Atkinson returns to form, 29 Nov 2008
If you need a reminder of why Kate Atkinson is one of the UK's best authors, particularly after her last couple of offerings, this novel ought to do it. 'When Will There Be Good News' is a stronger novel than its two 'Jackson Brodie' predecessors, coming up towards the standard of Atkinson's earlier standalone books.

A page turningly good read, the plot is tighter and cleaner than in 'One Good Turn' and, although there is still too much reliance on coincidence, it isn't as obvious. The character of Reggie, a spirited young nanny, is a breath of fresh air and she carries the story along, gluing together the various threads. Jackson Brodie and Louise Monroe, familiar from former novels, are also featured, but for me Reggie was definitely the star of the show.

The 'detective story' aspects worked better here than in Atkinson's previous Jackson Brodie novels, probably because she has toned down the quirkiness, which doesn't sit well with a crime genre. There are still a couple of interesting twists and it certainly makes a change from the run-of-the-mill crime novel.

Atkinson's writing is always excellent, she's one of those truly great writers that you just want to keep reading. Even putting aside what she has to say, she always says it well, and I caught flashes of 'Behind the Scenes at the Museum' more in this novel than in any of the others.

I would highly recommend this, even if you haven't liked the other 'Jackson Brodie' novels. If Atkinson writes more featuring the detective - which the open ending of this one suggests she will - I won't mind if it's this sort of quality.



Suspension of Disbelief Required!, 26 Nov 2008
If you can suspend your disbelief at the number of coincidences, this is a fantastic pacy read. I have to confess to enjoying it for the characters rather than the plot - Dr. Joanne Hunter in particular intrigued me and I found myself totally convinced by her, perhaps less so by the 16 year old Latin-loving Reggie, who was none the less a very attractive character. For me the plot was almost incidental but other readers would perhaps enjoy it for that alone. I feel it would make a wonderful BBC
serial or one-off film.

Brilliant!, 17 Nov 2008
After reading Case Histories and One Good Turn I was looking forward to this and I was not disappointed.
Such intelligent writing with humour and class.
Thank you for a wonderful week of reading!


A Coincidence Is Just An Explanation Waiting To Happen, 16 Nov 2008
Coincidence as defined by Webster "the occurrence of events that happen at the same time by accident but seem to have some connection." Kate Atkinson is a perfectionist when it comes to coincidence. Her mystery thrillers are made of such. Into each one she weaves a story that grabs us and soon we are ensconced in the telling of the tale.

How to describe the beginning? A full cut madness that results in a family torn apart, one little girl, Joanna survives. She becomes a physician, a caring person with a husband and a baby son. Her Nanny is a young girl named Reggie. Reggie without family except for an outlaw brother, and the family she wants is with Joanna. Jackson Brodie, a private investigator embarking on a train trip to London, after traveling to Edinburgh to ascertain if he has a son. The train runs off its track and after almost bleeding to death he is saved by Reggie. The investigating office is Louise, an old friend to Brody. Louise has also brought news to Joanna. Coincidence? You decide.

One of the most interesting aspects of reading a Kate Atkinson novel is her mission to bring us the reason for living. How and why do we go on after trauma and grief. What do we do when we find the person we are married to may be the wrong one. When our loved ones die how do we go on? How do we know we have found what we need in life?

This is the third novel with Louise and Jackson Brodie as main characters. We know do we not that they are meant for each other? But Kate Atkinson seems to knock off the men in these women's lives. Why is that? Will Jackson Brodie and Louise find true happiness? I think not and that is not just a coincidence!

Highly Recommended. prisrob 11-08-08

One Good Turn: A Novel

Behind the Scenes at the Museum: A Novel



Too depressing, 07 Nov 2008
I gave up reading this after the first few chapters, the dog body count was far too high for me to enjoy it, never mind the human one! I get enough depression and disaster in my own life I don't need to read it here. I usually love Kate Atkinson but every so often she produces a right minger (usually when she's trying too hard - see 'Emotionally Weird')

I hope the next one is more readable.

A writer outside her comfort zone, 04 Oct 2008
Behind the Scenes... yes. Human Croquet... most definitely yes. But as brilliant a writer as Atkinson clearly is on her own territory, a crime writer she ain't. Unbelievable plot that relies almost exclusively on co-incidence, ridiculous and annoying characters and an ending so loose and stupidly unlikely (beyond any degree of suspension of disbelief!) this is almost like a teenager's attempt at a crime novel. Cack-handed, naive and woe-fully out of its depth.

Brilliant, 23 Sep 2008
This is one of those books that you keep in your hand when you get off the tube so that you can read one more paragraph going up the escalator. It is immediately engaging and written extremely well. You care for the characters and the author does a brilliant job of introducing them all well whilst keeping the mystery going so that you can't wait to turn the page. It is also very funny in parts and acutely sad in others. I was worried towards the end that I would be disappointed but I thought the book finished very well and I can't wait to order another from this author.

Wonderful Confusion, 09 Apr 2008
I really enjoyed this book of the lost and found centred around cases taken on by ex-policeman now PI, Brodie. Atkinson takes you into her characters musings on life after death and loss with witty observations. The cases are poignant, sad, inevitable and it is not just Brodie who is confused by the end. Not everything is tied up neatly leading to more confusion. Major and minor characters are rounded and full of life, even the sad ones.


Gripping and superbly written, 25 Mar 2008
Couldn't put this down! A gripping and superbly written novel, combining the excitement and tension of a crime novel with a wonderful literary style. I really enjoyed it and will eagerly await new work by her.
The different strands which make up the plot are so skillfully and cleverly interwoven gradually as the novel progresses. A great read. Have since read 'One Good Turn' and loved that too.

Wonderfully entertaining, 24 Mar 2008
I love Kate Atkinson books, having only recently discovered her other novel, One Good Turn which is the predecessor to Case Histories. I love the way she interweaves comedy and intrigue and I have to say Jackson Brodie is my new hero. Highly recommended.

Excellent Sleuthing, Marred by Coincidence, 01 Dec 2008
One Good Turn is a tremendous book, in which top class writing fleshes out an involving and engaging plot. A sequel to Atkinson's impeccable 'Case Histories' Case Histories 'OGT' sees Jackson Brodie becoming embroiled in a complex murder-mystery, after witnessing a violent road rage attack. The story then follows various crimes and misdemeanours through the eyes of Jackson and other witnesses of the incident. As the novel progresses, the many interconnecting strands become increasingly entwined, until they are all tied together and the story reaches it's somewhat over-convenient conclusion.

Atkinson's eye for the minutiae of everyday life and relationships, both romantic and family, is second to none, which in crime writing is something of novelty. The characters in this novel are far beyond the drunken navel-gazers that one associates with most fictional sleuths; the plot of 'One Good Turn' is excellent but this book is about so much more than 'whodunnit'. The world Atkinson paints is rather bleak and is made all the more depressing, by being an accurate portrayal of modern life. There are few writers finer at displaying the futility of modern life.

Where I think 'One Good Turn' loses its fifth star, is in its over-reliance on coincidence. The plot is complicated and draws together nicely, but for me, everything is tied together a little too neatly. One character, who is largely peripheral until the final pages, seems to have an unreasonable amount of information about what's being going on. She gradually drip feeds her knowledge to the other characters with no real explanation of how or why she is able to do so. This is frustrating and considering the deftness of the rest of the novel, clumsy. One reviewer has described the 'OGT' as being full of 'ironic twists of fate', but I felt there were so many of them that 'beset by implausible coincidence' would be a more accurate assessment. Jackson Brodie states that 'A coincidence is just an explanation waiting to happen,' well for me there was altogether too much explaining.

This gripe aside, 'One Good Turn' is an excellent and enjoyable novel. Unlike most novels in the genre where the writing style is normally rather clunky, Atkinson's prose is a joy to read. For me the enjoyment of 'OGT' wasn't found in the destination, but was present in abundance throughout the journey.




Entertaining complications, 21 Nov 2008
This novel has more comings and goings than a French farce, but is an entertaining read, with sobering moments of pathos and drama.

In a series of interlinked scenarios based around the Edinburgh festival, the novel chronicles the life of retired detective Jackson Brodie, Russian call girls, local property developers, a crime writer, his unwelcome (and horribly murdered) stand up comedian guest and a local dog owning hard man involved in a particularly unpleasant road rage incident. So... how do all these characters, and a number of others, come together? Well in an entertaining and structured narrative which will keep you turning the pages while questioning the level of coincidence with a smile.

Recommended good read for those who aren't purists for realism!

What a muddle!, 12 Nov 2008
I was so infuriated by this novel that I had to get out of bed to write this at once, having just finished it. Fragmented, confusing plot; uninteresting two-dimensional characters; odd inconsequential flashbacks; a rushed and unsatisfactory ending; coincidence upon coincidence. What on earth was all the hype about? Have I missed something? I know Kate Atkinson is capable of so much better. What on earth was she thinking of? Altogether, a great disappointment.

Brilliant, highly recommended, 05 Nov 2008
I agree with another reviewer who has questioned how anyone could give this book just one star. I thought it was great, funny in parts, sad, mysterious, tragic with bucket loads of plot twists. I only wish I could write like Kate Atkinson. I could not put this book down.

Bloody brilliant, 16 Oct 2008
How could anyone not have just thoroughly enjoyed this??????

Every time a link was made between the characters I found myself smirking (sometimes snorting)and nodding with enjoyment (nice image?)....especially the final connection - I'd been asking what about Paul Brady all the way through...glad I got my answer.

The book also packs many poignant punches with the (insightful) character behaviours and thoughts. Great caricatures. Love em. So amusing because they are so believable and therefore almost predictable.

Have decided Kate Atkinson is my new imaginary friend. I'll sit her next to Tracey Emin.


A Book Truly Worth The Whitbread Prize, 15 Oct 2008
I first read this book in 1996 after a lovely friend bought it for me, and I remember thinking what a good book it was. A couple of months ago this book was given to me as `this months book' at my local library reading group - by the bottom of page 1 I was absolutely hooked. I'd only remembered odd bits from over 10 years ago but after reading it a second time I think it will stick with me for a lifetime. It's very well written both in style and grammar and is packed full of all emotions possible. The storyline is written in a `double style', with Ruby (being the main character) being in present time and going back to her grand-parents in war-time. The two timelines meet up, in that the `older generation' are also included in Ruby's younger years. There's so much sadness, humour, regret and secrecy that there's something for everyone in this wonderful story.

I got so much more out of it second time round and would recommend this book to anyone and everyone, it really is a fabulous read.


Highly recommended., 02 Aug 2008
Not many novels begin while the narrator is still in the womb, but "Behind the Scenes at the Museum" is that rare book. It tells the story of Ruby Lennox, right from the very moment of her conception, and the story, too, of her family: her disillusioned mother, Bunty; her two, very different, sisters; and, futher back, her grandparents and great-grandparents.
Atkinson perfectly balances the different narratives - we not only follow Ruby and her sisters through childhood and adolescence, but see Bunty's youthful ideals become tarnished, and empathise with Nell, Bunty's mother, and her family. The tragedies and comedies of the older stories are movingly and simply told; the portraits of women during the First World War, in particular, are well-researched and very revealing.
Throughout the novel, in fact, Atkinson acheives a superlative blend of tragedy and comedy; the poignant moments balanced against the light-heartedness of some of Ruby's stories. Anecdotes like the "World cup wedding" and the "holiday from hell", especially, are brilliantly and wittily told, and Ruby's extended family is populated by perfectly-crafted bizarre characters.
It is at the end of the book, however, where Atkinson's talent really shows. All the pieces of Ruby's life and identity finally slot together: we finally see what really happened to Nell's mother Alice; the end of everybody's stories; and, most, importantly, the central mystery of Ruby's life, revealed so cleverly that you wonder why you hadn't worked it out before. A modern classic.

An amazing first novel , 18 Jan 2008
I read this book about 10 years ago on a friend's recommendation and can remember thinking it was an amazing debut novel at the time. I decided to read it again recently, and had completely forgotten the story and so it was like reading it for the first time. I still think it's a great read and so well written that I still find it hard to believe it was Kate Atkinson's first novel. It's very funny and insightful. The story of Ruby Lennox's life, although sometimes tragic, is told in a very humourous way and it's the type of book that makes you want to carry on reading to the end to find out what happens to everyone as the characters are so well developed and really seem like real people. I would definitely recommend this novel and I think I'll be reading some more of Kate Atkinson's books.

A lovely book, 19 Dec 2007
I have read one Kate Atkinson novel previously and did not find it that grabbing, but this book was recomended to me by many close friends and I loved it!! The story it's self is not a very fast paced one, but the characters are so beautifuly brought to life, that you have to keep reading to find out what happens to them all (there are many characters).

Although the ending was not particularly heart breaking, I found my self having a little sob, as I felt like I'd been with the characters through their heart break, especially Ruby.

I recomend it highly

Like a good old family gossip , 15 Nov 2007
I love this book: the characters are so warm and alive and it's a wonderful evocation of the period (at least I feel like it is, based on my mum's tales of a 50s/60s Yorkshire childhood!). It's like sitting down with several generations of your family with everyone telling stories about their lives, dragging a few skeletons out of their closets along the way. The quirky style and wry humour just add to its charm.

The good news is... Atkinson returns to form, 29 Nov 2008
If you need a reminder of why Kate Atkinson is one of the UK's best authors, particularly after her last couple of offerings, this novel ought to do it. 'When Will There Be Good News' is a stronger novel than its two 'Jackson Brodie' predecessors, coming up towards the standard of Atkinson's earlier standalone books.

A page turningly good read, the plot is tighter and cleaner than in 'One Good Turn' and, although there is still too much reliance on coincidence, it isn't as obvious. The character of Reggie, a spirited young nanny, is a breath of fresh air and she carries the story along, gluing together the various threads. Jackson Brodie and Louise Monroe, familiar from former novels, are also featured, but for me Reggie was definitely the star of the show.

The 'detective story' aspects worked better here than in Atkinson's previous Jackson Brodie novels, probably because she has toned down the quirkiness, which doesn't sit well with a crime genre. There are still a couple of interesting twists and it certainly makes a change from the run-of-the-mill crime novel.

Atkinson's writing is always excellent, she's one of those truly great writers that you just want to keep reading. Even putting aside what she has to say, she always says it well, and I caught flashes of 'Behind the Scenes at the Museum' more in this novel than in any of the others.

I would highly recommend this, even if you haven't liked the other 'Jackson Brodie' novels. If Atkinson writes more featuring the detective - which the open ending of this one suggests she will - I won't mind if it's this sort of quality.



Suspension of Disbelief Required!, 26 Nov 2008
If you can suspend your disbelief at the number of coincidences, this is a fantastic pacy read. I have to confess to enjoying it for the characters rather than the plot - Dr. Joanne Hunter in particular intrigued me and I found myself totally convinced by her, perhaps less so by the 16 year old Latin-loving Reggie, who was none the less a very attractive character. For me the plot was almost incidental but other readers would perhaps enjoy it for that alone. I feel it would make a wonderful BBC
serial or one-off film.

Brilliant!, 17 Nov 2008
After reading Case Histories and One Good Turn I was looking forward to this and I was not disappointed.
Such intelligent writing with humour and class.
Thank you for a wonderful week of reading!


A Coincidence Is Just An Explanation Waiting To Happen, 16 Nov 2008
Coincidence as defined by Webster "the occurrence of events that happen at the same time by accident but seem to have some connection." Kate Atkinson is a perfectionist when it comes to coincidence. Her mystery thrillers are made of such. Into each one she weaves a story that grabs us and soon we are ensconced in the telling of the tale.

How to describe the beginning? A full cut madness that results in a family torn apart, one little girl, Joanna survives. She becomes a physician, a caring person with a husband and a baby son. Her Nanny is a young girl named Reggie. Reggie without family except for an outlaw brother, and the family she wants is with Joanna. Jackson Brodie, a private investigator embarking on a train trip to London, after traveling to Edinburgh to ascertain if he has a son. The train runs off its track and after almost bleeding to death he is saved by Reggie. The investigating office is Louise, an old friend to Brody. Louise has also brought news to Joanna. Coincidence? You decide.

One of the most interesting aspects of reading a Kate Atkinson novel is her mission to bring us the reason for living. How and why do we go on after trauma and grief. What do we do when we find the person we are married to may be the wrong one. When our loved ones die how do we go on? How do we know we have found what we need in life?

This is the third novel with Louise and Jackson Brodie as main characters. We know do we not that they are meant for each other? But Kate Atkinson seems to knock off the men in these women's lives. Why is that? Will Jackson Brodie and Louise find true happiness? I think not and that is not just a coincidence!

Highly Recommended. prisrob 11-08-08

One Good Turn: A Novel

Behind the Scenes at the Museum: A Novel



Too depressing, 07 Nov 2008
I gave up reading this after the first few chapters, the dog body count was far too high for me to enjoy it, never mind the human one! I get enough depression and disaster in my own life I don't need to read it here. I usually love Kate Atkinson but every so often she produces a right minger (usually when she's trying too hard - see 'Emotionally Weird')

I hope the next one is more readable.

A writer outside her comfort zone, 04 Oct 2008
Behind the Scenes... yes. Human Croquet... most definitely yes. But as brilliant a writer as Atkinson clearly is on her own territory, a crime writer she ain't. Unbelievable plot that relies almost exclusively on co-incidence, ridiculous and annoying characters and an ending so loose and stupidly unlikely (beyond any degree of suspension of disbelief!) this is almost like a teenager's attempt at a crime novel. Cack-handed, naive and woe-fully out of its depth.

Brilliant, 23 Sep 2008
This is one of those books that you keep in your hand when you get off the tube so that you can read one more paragraph going up the escalator. It is immediately engaging and written extremely well. You care for the characters and the author does a brilliant job of introducing them all well whilst keeping the mystery going so that you can't wait to turn the page. It is also very funny in parts and acutely sad in others. I was worried towards the end that I would be disappointed but I thought the book finished very well and I can't wait to order another from this author.

Wonderful Confusion, 09 Apr 2008
I really enjoyed this book of the lost and found centred around cases taken on by ex-policeman now PI, Brodie. Atkinson takes you into her characters musings on life after death and loss with witty observations. The cases are poignant, sad, inevitable and it is not just Brodie who is confused by the end. Not everything is tied up neatly leading to more confusion. Major and minor characters are rounded and full of life, even the sad ones.


Gripping and superbly written, 25 Mar 2008
Couldn't put this down! A gripping and superbly written novel, combining the excitement and tension of a crime novel with a wonderful literary style. I really enjoyed it and will eagerly await new work by her.
The different strands which make up the plot are so skillfully and cleverly interwoven gradually as the novel progresses. A great read. Have since read 'One Good Turn' and loved that too.

Wonderfully entertaining, 24 Mar 2008
I love Kate Atkinson books, having only recently discovered her other novel, One Good Turn which is the predecessor to Case Histories. I love the way she interweaves comedy and intrigue and I have to say Jackson Brodie is my new hero. Highly recommended.

Excellent Sleuthing, Marred by Coincidence, 01 Dec 2008
One Good Turn is a tremendous book, in which top class writing fleshes out an involving and engaging plot. A sequel to Atkinson's impeccable 'Case Histories' Case Histories 'OGT' sees Jackson Brodie becoming embroiled in a complex murder-mystery, after witnessing a violent road rage attack. The story then follows various crimes and misdemeanours through the eyes of Jackson and other witnesses of the incident. As the novel progresses, the many interconnecting strands become increasingly entwined, until they are all tied together and the story reaches it's somewhat over-convenient conclusion.

Atkinson's eye for the minutiae of everyday life and relationships, both romantic and family, is second to none, which in crime writing is something of novelty. The characters in this novel are far beyond the drunken navel-gazers that one associates with most fictional sleuths; the plot of 'One Good Turn' is excellent but this book is about so much more than 'whodunnit'. The world Atkinson paints is rather bleak and is made all the more depressing, by being an accurate portrayal of modern life. There are few writers finer at displaying the futility of modern life.

Where I think 'One Good Turn' loses its fifth star, is in its over-reliance on coincidence. The plot is complicated and draws together nicely, but for me, everything is tied together a little too neatly. One character, who is largely peripheral until the final pages, seems to have an unreasonable amount of information about what's being going on. She gradually drip feeds her knowledge to the other characters with no real explanation of how or why she is able to do so. This is frustrating and considering the deftness of the rest of the novel, clumsy. One reviewer has described the 'OGT' as being full of 'ironic twists of fate', but I felt there were so many of them that 'beset by implausible coincidence' would be a more accurate assessment. Jackson Brodie states that 'A coincidence is just an explanation waiting to happen,' well for me there was altogether too much explaining.

This gripe aside, 'One Good Turn' is an excellent and enjoyable novel. Unlike most novels in the genre where the writing style is normally rather clunky, Atkinson's prose is a joy to read. For me the enjoyment of 'OGT' wasn't found in the destination, but was present in abundance throughout the journey.




Entertaining complications, 21 Nov 2008
This novel has more comings and goings than a French farce, but is an entertaining read, with sobering moments of pathos and drama.

In a series of interlinked scenarios based around the Edinburgh festival, the novel chronicles the life of retired detective Jackson Brodie, Russian call girls, local property developers, a crime writer, his unwelcome (and horribly murdered) stand up comedian guest and a local dog owning hard man involved in a particularly unpleasant road rage incident. So... how do all these characters, and a number of others, come together? Well in an entertaining and structured narrative which will keep you turning the pages while questioning the level of coincidence with a smile.

Recommended good read for those who aren't purists for realism!

What a muddle!, 12 Nov 2008
I was so infuriated by this novel that I had to get out of bed to write this at once, having just finished it. Fragmented, confusing plot; uninteresting two-dimensional characters; odd inconsequential flashbacks; a rushed and unsatisfactory ending; coincidence upon coincidence. What on earth was all the hype about? Have I missed something? I know Kate Atkinson is capable of so much better. What on earth was she thinking of? Altogether, a great disappointment.

Brilliant, highly recommended, 05 Nov 2008
I agree with another reviewer who has questioned how anyone could give this book just one star. I thought it was great, funny in parts, sad, mysterious, tragic with bucket loads of plot twists. I only wish I could write like Kate Atkinson. I could not put this book down.

Bloody brilliant, 16 Oct 2008
How could anyone not have just thoroughly enjoyed this??????

Every time a link was made between the characters I found myself smirking (sometimes snorting)and nodding with enjoyment (nice image?)....especially the final connection - I'd been asking what about Paul Brady all the way through...glad I got my answer.

The book also packs many poignant punches with the (insightful) character behaviours and thoughts. Great caricatures. Love em. So amusing because they are so believable and therefore almost predictable.

Have decided Kate Atkinson is my new imaginary friend. I'll sit her next to Tracey Emin.


A Book Truly Worth The Whitbread Prize, 15 Oct 2008
I first read this book in 1996 after a lovely friend bought it for me, and I remember thinking what a good book it was. A couple of months ago this book was given to me as `this months book' at my local library reading group - by the bottom of page 1 I was absolutely hooked. I'd only remembered odd bits from over 10 years ago but after reading it a second time I think it will stick with me for a lifetime. It's very well written both in style and grammar and is packed full of all emotions possible. The storyline is written in a `double style', with Ruby (being the main character) being in present time and going back to her grand-parents in war-time. The two timelines meet up, in that the `older generation' are also included in Ruby's younger years. There's so much sadness, humour, regret and secrecy that there's something for everyone in this wonderful story.

I got so much more out of it second time round and would recommend this book to anyone and everyone, it really is a fabulous read.


Highly recommended., 02 Aug 2008
Not many novels begin while the narrator is still in the womb, but "Behind the Scenes at the Museum" is that rare book. It tells the story of Ruby Lennox, right from the very moment of her conception, and the story, too, of her family: her disillusioned mother, Bunty; her two, very different, sisters; and, futher back, her grandparents and great-grandparents.
Atkinson perfectly balances the different narratives - we not only follow Ruby and her sisters through childhood and adolescence, but see Bunty's youthful ideals become tarnished, and empathise with Nell, Bunty's mother, and her family. The tragedies and comedies of the older stories are movingly and simply told; the portraits of women during the First World War, in particular, are well-researched and very revealing.
Throughout the novel, in fact, Atkinson acheives a superlative blend of tragedy and comedy; the poignant moments balanced against the light-heartedness of some of Ruby's stories. Anecdotes like the "World cup wedding" and the "holiday from hell", especially, are brilliantly and wittily told, and Ruby's extended family is populated by perfectly-crafted bizarre characters.
It is at the end of the book, however, where Atkinson's talent really shows. All the pieces of Ruby's life and identity finally slot together: we finally see what really happened to Nell's mother Alice; the end of everybody's stories; and, most, importantly, the central mystery of Ruby's life, revealed so cleverly that you wonder why you hadn't worked it out before. A modern classic.

An amazing first novel , 18 Jan 2008
I read this book about 10 years ago on a friend's recommendation and can remember thinking it was an amazing debut novel at the time. I decided to read it again recently, and had completely forgotten the story and so it was like reading it for the first time. I still think it's a great read and so well written that I still find it hard to believe it was Kate Atkinson's first novel. It's very funny and insightful. The story of Ruby Lennox's life, although sometimes tragic, is told in a very humourous way and it's the type of book that makes you want to carry on reading to the end to find out what happens to everyone as the characters are so well developed and really seem like real people. I would definitely recommend this novel and I think I'll be reading some more of Kate Atkinson's books.

A lovely book, 19 Dec 2007
I have read one Kate Atkinson novel previously and did not find it that grabbing, but this book was recomended to me by many close friends and I loved it!! The story it's self is not a very fast paced one, but the characters are so beautifuly brought to life, that you have to keep reading to find out what happens to them all (there are many characters).

Although the ending was not particularly heart breaking, I found my self having a little sob, as I felt like I'd been with the characters through their heart break, especially Ruby.

I recomend it highly

Like a good old family gossip , 15 Nov 2007
I love this book: the characters are so warm and alive and it's a wonderful evocation of the period (at least I feel like it is, based on my mum's tales of a 50s/60s Yorkshire childhood!). It's like sitting down with several generations of your family with everyone telling stories about their lives, dragging a few skeletons out of their closets along the way. The quirky style and wry humour just add to its charm.

Fascinating start to the novel but flagged a bit in the middle, 27 May 2008
I enjoyed this book particularly the start and finish, although found that the middle section seemed to drag a little but couldn't really decide the reason.
The location and period setting at the beginning is very unusual for a novel and worked very well in the context of the rest of the book.
I loved that, as the reader, I felt completely inside Isobel's head with all the little thoughts and worries that she has, along with the way that she deals with the time travelling events that seem to happen around her.
Time is an important theme of the book and the jumping between Present and Past throughout the book gives support to Isobel's strange experiences of time travel.
I enjoyed the technique of showing Eliza's speech in italics which had the effect of showing her as a magical, mysterious person.
The tone of the book seems to change in the middle and it became more franctic and "madder". Once I changed my approach to the reading then I enjoyed the ending but I did find the change unsettling at first.

Even The Bard makes an appearance..., 17 Oct 2007
This is one of my all-time favourite novels. With characters I can really relate too and wonderful situations that made me laugh out loud, this book cleverly weaves several alternate worlds together in such a style that you may be left wondering which was the "real" story.

But whether you can work it out or not, you cannot fail to be caught up in a world of time-travel, Shakespeare, magic and a pinch of teen angst from the perspective of Isobel, who has to deal with a missing mother, a crazy step-mum, a brother who communicates with aliens and the constant nagging worry that she herself is going slightly mad. The underlying plot of a missing mother she can barely remember is a serious one that works well alongside the other, strange going-on in Isobel's world and one that will tug at the heart-strings.

'Call me Isobel (it's my name) . . . ', 13 Feb 2007
This book was amazing, and written in such a way that it was very easy to read - succinct, but at the same time embellished, and alternating between the first and third person. The heroine Isobel is a very well-formed misfit teenager - fanciful, innocent and poignant.
the book is full of mystery, some of which the characters themselves never solve - only the readers. It is tragic but embellished with humour, and may have the underlying message that life goes on. there is some very morbid humour ('dark' humour) in it, some of which made me laugh and then feel that it was inappropriate to do so considering what I was reading - this is the author's ploy.
It would be impossible to anticipate the ending, not only what's going to happen but what has happened (as the book alternates between past and present) it is a fusion of teenage life and what adolescents experience, as well as subjects such as death, incest and abuse and murder - all spoken of in an almost casual manner.
I can identify with Isobel - not for the death and drama part, but I can imagine myself saying something that she would say. As an author i was very inspired!
And one more thing. Usually I hate it when a book ends with 'and then I woke up and it was all a dream' - but in this book you can easily see how reality ties with hallucination, and how incidents from the past can be subconciously dredged up.
A very good book. Serious but amusing and fanciful. Would be on my top ten list.

Amazing book, 13 Jun 2004
Human Croquet is about a girl, Isobel Fairfax, who lives with her father who left her when she was eight(?) and then came back, seven years later, Vinny, who's her emotionless and grumpy aunt, her stepmother, Debbie, who's nearly the same age as her, and her alien-obsessed brother. Her mother disappeared little before her father left her and her brother.
Human Croquet is a wonderfully bizarre book, full of twists and fascinating, deep characters. It is confusing in a good way, and when I finished it, I just felt like reading it again to notice every single little detail that, if I'd been more clever, would've maybe given the ending away.
I'll have to start looking for Kate Atkinson's other books

An usual style for a very british novel, 14 Sep 2003
Its hard to describe what this book is about other than a chunk of the life of an individual at a particular place in time. The herione of our tale is a teenage girl filled with self-doubt about herself and her looks with a strange bag of misfit friends, a brother who is obsessed with aliens and bizarre events and who lusts after the best looking boy in town. Her rather strange world is described in very simple language like an old fashioned fairy tale so we hear about her aunt vinny and her cats, the creepy lodger and her parents. The main thread of the book is how the disappearance of her mother haunts both herself and her brother and how they believe this has landed them in the frankly surrealist world they live in. There are also other characters in the pot, the great forest which once dominated the landscape of england and some of the major characters that lead to the creation of the town.

Throughout the book we hear the voice of the girl describing the events around her with an innocent eye, however, these chapters are interspersed with flashbacks during which we discover over time the truth behind all the characters past and present. Her father the ex-war hero, her mother who she sees as a beautiful elusive figure, her step-mother, her grandmother and so on. In doing so we receive a very different view which is far from innocent on the desires and weaknesses of the characters and a world a lot darker, more real and much more dirty than hers.

Some of the book is very funny, and the characterisations told in simple language very interesting but if you're looking for humour be aware that this is a typical english thing, a black comedy with some sad truths. It is a very different book, in its style and approach and certainly grips you with a desire to know the truth behind all the people you meet and I stayed up late at night reading away. Its probably not everyones cup of tea and I'm not sure I'd want to read lots of this type of writing but its unusual, funny and worth the investment for long plane rides and train rides.

Family history and identity are Kate Atkinson's twinned keynote themes. Behind the Scenes at the Museum (winner of the Whitbread Book of the year), had "The Family" at its centre, a sweep of charming, related genes who sauntered through the fin de siècle to the less glamorous 1992. Her second novel, Human Croquet starred the Fairfaxes, all missing mothers, perfumed with nicotine and danger, and strange aunts. Larkin may be right, your parents fuck you up but in Atkinson's novels you have to find out who they are before you can start laying blame.

On the surface, Emotionally Weird follows the trend. Effie and her mother Nora are staying in the decaying family home on a small island off the West coast of Scotland. To keep themselves amused they begin telling stories. Nora's are about their ancestors, in whose veins blood blue as "delphiniums and lupins" flows, and the real identity of Effie's father and mother. Nora's language is like her "sea-change eyes", full of poetry and strange beauty. Effie's tales of life at the University of Dundee and her life with Star Trek obsessed Bob are more prosaic and funny: "I did so hope that Bob was a dress rehearsal, a kind of mock relationship, like a mock exam, to prepare me for the real thing."

The novel becomes troublesome where it follows Effie to a creative writing course at the university. The class is run by Martha: who writes poetry "with impenetrable syntax about a life where nothing happened." The other characters in the novel are pre-occupied with the same need to find meaning through writing. Archetypal detective stories, sword and sorcery fantasy, doctor and nurse romantic scenarios, existential angst and liberal use of ellipses are given free reign. Whilst this self-conscious wordplay is fun for those who enjoy a more literary book, those who simply enjoy a good read may get lost in the jostle of competing language construction.

In this novel, confused paternity is only part of the struggle for identity, the words you use are also defining- you are what you write. Some readers will revel in the Shandy-esque shape of the experimental in this narrative, others may find it's a literary joke taken too far.--Eithne Farry.

The good news is... Atkinson returns to form, 29 Nov 2008
If you need a reminder of why Kate Atkinson is one of the UK's best authors, particularly after her last couple of offerings, this novel ought to do it. 'When Will There Be Good News' is a stronger novel than its two 'Jackson Brodie' predecessors, coming up towards the standard of Atkinson's earlier standalone books.

A page turningly good read, the plot is tighter and cleaner than in 'One Good Turn' and, although there is still too much reliance on coincidence, it isn't as obvious. The character of Reggie, a spirited young nanny, is a breath of fresh air and she carries the story along, gluing together the various threads. Jackson Brodie and Louise Monroe, familiar from former novels, are also featured, but for me Reggie was definitely the star of the show.

The 'detective story' aspects worked better here than in Atkinson's previous Jackson Brodie novels, probably because she has toned down the quirkiness, which doesn't sit well with a crime genre. There are still a couple of interesting twists and it certainly makes a change from the run-of-the-mill crime novel.

Atkinson's writing is always excellent, she's one of those truly great writers that you just want to keep reading. Even putting aside what she has to say, she always says it well, and I caught flashes of 'Behind the Scenes at the Museum' more in this novel than in any of the others.

I would highly recommend this, even if you haven't liked the other 'Jackson Brodie' novels. If Atkinson writes more featuring the detective - which the open ending of this one suggests she will - I won't mind if it's this sort of quality.



Suspension of Disbelief Required!, 26 Nov 2008
If you can suspend your disbelief at the number of coincidences, this is a fantastic pacy read. I have to confess to enjoying it for the characters rather than the plot - Dr. Joanne Hunter in particular intrigued me and I found myself totally convinced by her, perhaps less so by the 16 year old Latin-loving Reggie, who was none the less a very attractive character. For me the plot was almost incidental but other readers would perhaps enjoy it for that alone. I feel it would make a wonderful BBC
serial or one-off film.

Brilliant!, 17 Nov 2008
After reading Case Histories and One Good Turn I was looking forward to this and I was not disappointed.
Such intelligent writing with humour and class.
Thank you for a wonderful week of reading!


A Coincidence Is Just An Explanation Waiting To Happen, 16 Nov 2008
Coincidence as defined by Webster "the occurrence of events that happen at the same time by accident but seem to have some connection." Kate Atkinson is a perfectionist when it comes to coincidence. Her mystery thrillers are made of such. Into each one she weaves a story that grabs us and soon we are ensconced in the telling of the tale.

How to describe the beginning? A full cut madness that results in a family torn apart, one little girl, Joanna survives. She becomes a physician, a caring person with a husband and a baby son. Her Nanny is a young girl named Reggie. Reggie without family except for an outlaw brother, and the family she wants is with Joanna. Jackson Brodie, a private investigator embarking on a train trip to London, after traveling to Edinburgh to ascertain if he has a son. The train runs off its track and after almost bleeding to death he is saved by Reggie. The investigating office is Louise, an old friend to Brody. Louise has also brought news to Joanna. Coincidence? You decide.

One of the most interesting aspects of reading a Kate Atkinson novel is her mission to bring us the reason for living. How and why do we go on after trauma and grief. What do we do when we find the person we are married to may be the wrong one. When our loved ones die how do we go on? How do we know we have found what we need in life?

This is the third novel with Louise and Jackson Brodie as main characters. We know do we not that they are meant for each other? But Kate Atkinson seems to knock off the men in these women's lives. Why is that? Will Jackson Brodie and Louise find true happiness? I think not and that is not just a coincidence!

Highly Recommended. prisrob 11-08-08

One Good Turn: A Novel

Behind the Scenes at the Museum: A Novel



Too depressing, 07 Nov 2008
I gave up reading this after the first few chapters, the dog body count was far too high for me to enjoy it, never mind the human one! I get enough depression and disaster in my own life I don't need to read it here. I usually love Kate Atkinson but every so often she produces a right minger (usually when she's trying too hard - see 'Emotionally Weird')

I hope the next one is more readable.

A writer outside her comfort zone, 04 Oct 2008
Behind the Scenes... yes. Human Croquet... most definitely yes. But as brilliant a writer as Atkinson clearly is on her own territory, a crime writer she ain't. Unbelievable plot that relies almost exclusively on co-incidence, ridiculous and annoying characters and an ending so loose and stupidly unlikely (beyond any degree of suspension of disbelief!) this is almost like a teenager's attempt at a crime novel. Cack-handed, naive and woe-fully out of its depth.

Brilliant, 23 Sep 2008
This is one of those books that you keep in your hand when you get off the tube so that you can read one more paragraph going up the escalator. It is immediately engaging and written extremely well. You care for the characters and the author does a brilliant job of introducing them all well whilst keeping the mystery going so that you can't wait to turn the page. It is also very funny in parts and acutely sad in others. I was worried towards the end that I would be disappointed but I thought the book finished very well and I can't wait to order another from this author.

Wonderful Confusion, 09 Apr 2008
I really enjoyed this book of the lost and found centred around cases taken on by ex-policeman now PI, Brodie. Atkinson takes you into her characters musings on life after death and loss with witty observations. The cases are poignant, sad, inevitable and it is not just Brodie who is confused by the end. Not everything is tied up neatly leading to more confusion. Major and minor characters are rounded and full of life, even the sad ones.


Gripping and superbly written, 25 Mar 2008
Couldn't put this down! A gripping and superbly written novel, combining the excitement and tension of a crime novel with a wonderful literary style. I really enjoyed it and will eagerly await new work by her.
The different strands which make up the plot are so skillfully and cleverly interwoven gradually as the novel progresses. A great read. Have since read 'One Good Turn' and loved that too.

Wonderfully entertaining, 24 Mar 2008
I love Kate Atkinson books, having only recently discovered her other novel, One Good Turn which is the predecessor to Case Histories. I love the way she interweaves comedy and intrigue and I have to say Jackson Brodie is my new hero. Highly recommended.

Excellent Sleuthing, Marred by Coincidence, 01 Dec 2008
One Good Turn is a tremendous book, in which top class writing fleshes out an involving and engaging plot. A sequel to Atkinson's impeccable 'Case Histories' Case Histories 'OGT' sees Jackson Brodie becoming embroiled in a complex murder-mystery, after witnessing a violent road rage attack. The story then follows various crimes and misdemeanours through the eyes of Jackson and other witnesses of the incident. As the novel progresses, the many interconnecting strands become increasingly entwined, until they are all tied together and the story reaches it's somewhat over-convenient conclusion.

Atkinson's eye for the minutiae of everyday life and relationships, both romantic and family, is second to none, which in crime writing is something of novelty. The characters in this novel are far beyond the drunken navel-gazers that one associates with most fictional sleuths; the plot of 'One Good Turn' is excellent but this book is about so much more than 'whodunnit'. The world Atkinson paints is rather bleak and is made all the more depressing, by being an accurate portrayal of modern life. There are few writers finer at displaying the futility of modern life.

Where I think 'One Good Turn' loses its fifth star, is in its over-reliance on coincidence. The plot is complicated and draws together nicely, but for me, everything is tied together a little too neatly. One character, who is largely peripheral until the final pages, seems to have an unreasonable amount of information about what's being going on. She gradually drip feeds her knowledge to the other characters with no real explanation of how or why she is able to do so. This is frustrating and considering the deftness of the rest of the novel, clumsy. One reviewer has described the 'OGT' as being full of 'ironic twists of fate', but I felt there were so many of them that 'beset by implausible coincidence' would be a more accurate assessment. Jackson Brodie states that 'A coincidence is just an explanation waiting to happen,' well for me there was altogether too much explaining.

This gripe aside, 'One Good Turn' is an excellent and enjoyable novel. Unlike most novels in the genre where the writing style is normally rather clunky, Atkinson's prose is a joy to read. For me the enjoyment of 'OGT' wasn't found in the destination, but was present in abundance throughout the journey.




Entertaining complications, 21 Nov 2008
This novel has more comings and goings than a French farce, but is an entertaining read, with sobering moments of pathos and drama.

In a series of interlinked scenarios based around the Edinburgh festival, the novel chronicles the life of retired detective Jackson Brodie, Russian call girls, local property developers, a crime writer, his unwelcome (and horribly murdered) stand up comedian guest and a local dog owning hard man involved in a particularly unpleasant road rage incident. So... how do all these characters, and a number of others, come together? Well in an entertaining and structured narrative which will keep you turning the pages while questioning the level of coincidence with a smile.

Recommended good read for those who aren't purists for realism!

What a muddle!, 12 Nov 2008
I was so infuriated by this novel that I had to get out of bed to write this at once, having just finished it. Fragmented, confusing plot; uninteresting two-dimensional characters; odd inconsequential flashbacks; a rushed and unsatisfactory ending; coincidence upon coincidence. What on earth was all the hype about? Have I missed something? I know Kate Atkinson is capable of so much better. What on earth was she thinking of? Altogether, a great disappointment.

Brilliant, highly recommended, 05 Nov 2008
I agree with another reviewer who has questioned how anyone could give this book just one star. I thought it was great, funny in parts, sad, mysterious, tragic with bucket loads of plot twists. I only wish I could write like Kate Atkinson. I could not put this book down.

Bloody brilliant, 16 Oct 2008
How could anyone not have just thoroughly enjoyed this??????

Every time a link was made between the characters I found myself smirking (sometimes snorting)and nodding with enjoyment (nice image?)....especially the final connection - I'd been asking what about Paul Brady all the way through...glad I got my answer.

The book also packs many poignant punches with the (insightful) character behaviours and thoughts. Great caricatures. Love em. So amusing because they are so believable and therefore almost predictable.

Have decided Kate Atkinson is my new imaginary friend. I'll sit her next to Tracey Emin.


A Book Truly Worth The Whitbread Prize, 15 Oct 2008
I first read this book in 1996 after a lovely friend bought it for me, and I remember thinking what a good book it was. A couple of months ago this book was given to me as `this months book' at my local library reading group - by the bottom of page 1 I was absolutely hooked. I'd only remembered odd bits from over 10 years ago but after reading it a second time I think it will stick with me for a lifetime. It's very well written both in style and grammar and is packed full of all emotions possible. The storyline is written in a `double style', with Ruby (being the main character) being in present time and going back to her grand-parents in war-time. The two timelines meet up, in that the `older generation' are also included in Ruby's younger years. There's so much sadness, humour, regret and secrecy that there's something for everyone in this wonderful story.

I got so much more out of it second time round and would recommend this book to anyone and everyone, it really is a fabulous read.


Highly recommended., 02 Aug 2008
Not many novels begin while the narrator is still in the womb, but "Behind the Scenes at the Museum" is that rare book. It tells the story of Ruby Lennox, right from the very moment of her conception, and the story, too, of her family: her disillusioned mother, Bunty; her two, very different, sisters; and, futher back, her grandparents and great-grandparents.
Atkinson perfectly balances the different narratives - we not only follow Ruby and her sisters through childhood and adolescence, but see Bunty's youthful ideals become tarnished, and empathise with Nell, Bunty's mother, and her family. The tragedies and comedies of the older stories are movingly and simply told; the portraits of women during the First World War, in particular, are well-researched and very revealing.
Throughout the novel, in fact, Atkinson acheives a superlative blend of tragedy and comedy; the poignant moments balanced against the light-heartedness of some of Ruby's stories. Anecdotes like the "World cup wedding" and the "holiday from hell", especially, are brilliantly and wittily told, and Ruby's extended family is populated by perfectly-crafted bizarre characters.
It is at the end of the book, however, where Atkinson's talent really shows. All the pieces of Ruby's life and identity finally slot together: we finally see what really happened to Nell's mother Alice; the end of everybody's stories; and, most, importantly, the central mystery of Ruby's life, revealed so cleverly that you wonder why you hadn't worked it out before. A modern classic.

An amazing first novel , 18 Jan 2008
I read this book about 10 years ago on a friend's recommendation and can remember thinking it was an amazing debut novel at the time. I decided to read it again recently, and had completely forgotten the story and so it was like reading it for the first time. I still think it's a great read and so well written that I still find it hard to believe it was Kate Atkinson's first novel. It's very funny and insightful. The story of Ruby Lennox's life, although sometimes tragic, is told in a very humourous way and it's the type of book that makes you want to carry on reading to the end to find out what happens to everyone as the characters are so well developed and really seem like real people. I would definitely recommend this novel and I think I'll be reading some more of Kate Atkinson's books.

A lovely book, 19 Dec 2007
I have read one Kate Atkinson novel previously and did not find it that grabbing, but this book was recomended to me by many close friends and I loved it!! The story it's self is not a very fast paced one, but the characters are so beautifuly brought to life, that you have to keep reading to find out what happens to them all (there are many characters).

Although the ending was not particularly heart breaking, I found my self having a little sob, as I felt like I'd been with the characters through their heart break, especially Ruby.

I recomend it highly

Like a good old family gossip , 15 Nov 2007
I love this book: the characters are so warm and alive and it's a wonderful evocation of the period (at least I feel like it is, based on my mum's tales of a 50s/60s Yorkshire childhood!). It's like sitting down with several generations of your family with everyone telling stories about their lives, dragging a few skeletons out of their closets along the way. The quirky style and wry humour just add to its charm.

Fascinating start to the novel but flagged a bit in the middle, 27 May 2008
I enjoyed this book particularly the start and finish, although found that the middle section seemed to drag a little but couldn't really decide the reason.
The location and period setting at the beginning is very unusual for a novel and worked very well in the context of the rest of the book.
I loved that, as the reader, I felt completely inside Isobel's head with all the little thoughts and worries that she has, along with the way that she deals with the time travelling events that seem to happen around her.
Time is an important theme of the book and the jumping between Present and Past throughout the book gives support to Isobel's strange experiences of time travel.
I enjoyed the technique of showing Eliza's speech in italics which had the effect of showing her as a magical, mysterious person.
The tone of the book seems to change in the middle and it became more franctic and "madder". Once I changed my approach to the reading then I enjoyed the ending but I did find the change unsettling at first.

Even The Bard makes an appearance..., 17 Oct 2007
This is one of my all-time favourite novels. With characters I can really relate too and wonderful situations that made me laugh out loud, this book cleverly weaves several alternate worlds together in such a style that you may be left wondering which was the "real" story.

But whether you can work it out or not, you cannot fail to be caught up in a world of time-travel, Shakespeare, magic and a pinch of teen angst from the perspective of Isobel, who has to deal with a missing mother, a crazy step-mum, a brother who communicates with aliens and the constant nagging worry that she herself is going slightly mad. The underlying plot of a missing mother she can barely remember is a serious one that works well alongside the other, strange going-on in Isobel's world and one that will tug at the heart-strings.

'Call me Isobel (it's my name) . . . ', 13 Feb 2007
This book was amazing, and written in such a way that it was very easy to read - succinct, but at the same time embellished, and alternating between the first and third person. The heroine Isobel is a very well-formed misfit teenager - fanciful, innocent and poignant.
the book is full of mystery, some of which the characters themselves never solve - only the readers. It is tragic but embellished with humour, and may have the underlying message that life goes on. there is some very morbid humour ('dark' humour) in it, some of which made me laugh and then feel that it was inappropriate to do so considering what I was reading - this is the author's ploy.
It would be impossible to anticipate the ending, not only what's going to happen but what has happened (as the book alternates between past and present) it is a fusion of teenage life and what adolescents experience, as well as subjects such as death, incest and abuse and murder - all spoken of in an almost casual manner.
I can identify with Isobel - not for the death and drama part, but I can imagine myself saying something that she would say. As an author i was very inspired!
And one more thing. Usually I hate it when a book ends with 'and then I woke up and it was all a dream' - but in this book you can easily see how reality ties with hallucination, and how incidents from the past can be subconciously dredged up.
A very good book. Serious but amusing and fanciful. Would be on my top ten list.

Amazing book, 13 Jun 2004
Human Croquet is about a girl, Isobel Fairfax, who lives with her father who left her when she was eight(?) and then came back, seven years later, Vinny, who's her emotionless and grumpy aunt, her stepmother, Debbie, who's nearly the same age as her, and her alien-obsessed brother. Her mother disappeared little before her father left her and her brother.
Human Croquet is a wonderfully bizarre book, full of twists and fascinating, deep characters. It is confusing in a good way, and when I finished it, I just felt like reading it again to notice every single little detail that, if I'd been more clever, would've maybe given the ending away.
I'll have to start looking for Kate Atkinson's other books

An usual style for a very british novel, 14 Sep 2003
Its hard to describe what this book is about other than a chunk of the life of an individual at a particular place in time. The herione of our tale is a teenage girl filled with self-doubt about herself and her looks with a strange bag of misfit friends, a brother who is obsessed with aliens and bizarre events and who lusts after the best looking boy in town. Her rather strange world is described in very simple language like an old fashioned fairy tale so we hear about her aunt vinny and her cats, the creepy lodger and her parents. The main thread of the book is how the disappearance of her mother haunts both herself and her brother and how they believe this has landed them in the frankly surrealist world they live in. There are also other characters in the pot, the great forest which once dominated the landscape of england and some of the major characters that lead to the creation of the town.

Throughout the book we hear the voice of the girl describing the events around her with an innocent eye, however, these chapters are interspersed with flashbacks during which we discover over time the truth behind all the characters past and present. Her father the ex-war hero, her mother who she sees as a beautiful elusive figure, her step-mother, her grandmother and so on. In doing so we receive a very different view which is far from innocent on the desires and weaknesses of the characters and a world a lot darker, more real and much more dirty than hers.

Some of the book is very funny, and the characterisations told in simple language very interesting but if you're looking for humour be aware that this is a typical english thing, a black comedy with some sad truths. It is a very different book, in its style and approach and certainly grips you with a desire to know the truth behind all the people you meet and I stayed up late at night reading away. Its probably not everyones cup of tea and I'm not sure I'd want to read lots of this type of writing but its unusual, funny and worth the investment for long plane rides and train rides.

Bonnie Dundee?, 28 Mar 2008
Dundee is a weird place and this book has discovered the best (perhaps the only) way to write about it. Kate Atkinson catches the tone of the place in the way for example, she presents us with the two old Dundee wifies and her gift for suggesting accent and dialect while not excluding the foreign reader is superb. Dundee was my father's town and to an extent, mine and the book is a bit of a personal nostalgia binge and may indeed overdo as others have said the 'here is a bit of crap creative writing'. But for the playfulness and humour, I found my second reading even better than the first. It is a ghost story and reminds us that all our pasts are made up, our past lives largely imaginary with various versions created to suit different people and different times of our lives. Enjoy.

Was she having us on on?, 04 Oct 2007
This book was so upsetting. I've been working my way backwards through the Kate Atkinson canon. "Case Histories" was really good. "One Good Turn" was the most readable literate book I'd ever read. "Emotionally Weird" was....absolute tosh. It was almost as if she was doing it as some sort of exercise, being deliberately obtuse to see if she could get away with it ("nice troos, emperor..."). The daughter-and-not-mother on the island are oh so dull, and you really don't care whether they exist or not. The student stuff in Dundee is fairly entertaining at times (and a friend who was a student in Dundee loved it), but not particularly imaginative and when the tedious Nora interrupts to point out how tedious everything is, one can only nod in agreement. I seriously considered not finishing this novel to make some sort of point, but couldn't work out what it was or to whom. But then, I suspect the author had a similar position.

Disappointing, 15 Apr 2007
"Nora says that it doesn't matter when you die, that this life is nothing but an illusion." Sadly, this is about as deep as "Emotionally Weird" gets. The book covers themes of family history (as do so very many books published in recent years - there are other themes, for goodness' sake), relationships, writing and storytelling through the eyes or narrative of an English literature student in Dundee in the 1970s. Our narrator, Effie, and her fellow students are following a creative-writing course, and Atkinson includes in the text, for reasons that can really only be padding, exerpts from their monumentally bad efforts, together with numerous digressions and interjections from Nora, ostensibly Effie's mother. The reader will be grateful for the fact that Atkinson has indicated all of these distractions from the main story by using a different typeface for each, making it much easier to skip them.

I enjoyed "Behind the Scenes at the Museum", finding it fresh, warm and humorous. "Human Croquet" and "Emotionally Weird" continue with the themes and ideas of this first novel, but both fail to engage in the same way. "Postmodern" tricks alone do not an interesting novel make.

Unexciting tale of student life has a good ending, 03 Jan 2006
The mystery of a woman's family background is bulked out with rambling tales of student life. It is well-written but unexciting.

Having read "Case Histories", I was disappointed by "Emotionally Weird". The humour, about student life in Dundee in the 70's, was praised by the blurb but seemed contrived. It covered ground already visited by TV's "The Young Ones", and would be familiar to anyone who was a student at that time.

The plot centres on the discussion with the mother about the girl's family background, but the book is extensively pulped out with the trivialities of life at Dundee University. Plot and characterisation take separate tracks: clever or contrived? Other threads appear as stories within stories, having different styles. Does this add anything? Not much apart reinforcing the air of pseudo-intellectualism of a minor university!

In the end the plot is tied up with some flair, with an interesting and stylish ending. Kate Atkinson is good at this, and it saved an otherwise turgid novel from being a waste of time. From my limited reading of this author, try Case Histories first, and if you must read this one, make sure you finish it!

Best Yet, 19 Apr 2003
This is the best offering from Kate Atkinson by far and if you've ever been a student or even just bored out of your mind in a hot stuffy room somewhere you'll love this. In this twisted tale Nora reveals Effie's true parentage (for Effie's mother Nora is in fact a virgin.) The characters in this book are vivid and laugh-out-loud funny and the details even more so. I recently read Emotionally Wierd for the third time and it gets better and better. However if you expect a big finish you may be disapointed but, as far as I'm concerned, the conclusion perfectly mirrors the atmosphere throughout. Some classic gems include the meaning of life, a baby called Proteus and the perfectly observed madness that is predicate logic. Enjoy!

The good news is... Atkinson returns to form, 29 Nov 2008
If you need a reminder of why Kate Atkinson is one of the UK's best authors, particularly after her last couple of offerings, this novel ought to do it. 'When Will There Be Good News' is a stronger novel than its two 'Jackson Brodie' predecessors, coming up towards the standard of Atkinson's earlier standalone books.

A page turningly good rea