Reviews

Case Histories by Kate Atkinson

melissch's review against another edition

3.0

I’m a big fan of Kate’s novels, but this felt pretty standard. I’ll keep you posted if I read any others in the series

cyndireadsbooks's review against another edition

3.0

I feel rather ambivalent about this book. The characters are interesting, the mysteries are interesting, the plot, not so much. I always feel that the use of coincidence in novels is really just a sign of poor storytelling skills. There's just a little too much of that going on here. It's just THIS close but comes across as contrived in the end. I know it's a series and I'll probably check out the next book to see if it improves. More significantly, it's apparently a BBC TV series with Jason Isaacs as Jackson. He really and truly plays the best bad guys (I've never hated a fictional character as much as I did in the Patriot). I am intrigued to see him in this. Maybe a good screenwriter has tightened up the stories.

bethaniekay's review against another edition

4.0

Another great read by Kate Atkinson. Admittedly, at first it was a bit confusing, trying to sort out all of the different characters and their various stories and timelines, but I soon got the hang of it. Atkinson is always very adept at weaving together multiple characters and storylines, and about halfway through the book, it all started to come together in a very clever manner.

My only regret is that I (unknowingly) read these books out of order. A couple years ago, I read "One Good Turn", then a couple months ago, I read "When Will There Be Good News?" ... and now this one. Although these books aren't really a series, there is definitely a chronological order to them, and looking back now, it would have made much more sense had I read this book first, then ".. Good News", then "Good Turn". Oh well, still very enjoyable books -- I love this writer's style and may have to find more like it!

megareads42's review against another edition

3.0

Really wanted to like this one. It had been languishing on my TBR for a while and finally got around to it. I just. Ugh. Too many points of view. Reading it was like a chore. And I kept hoping for a spell-binding ending to pull everything together and make me enjoy it more but it just wasn't there. The mystery around the missing girl was interesting, if a bit unsatisfying. And the mystery around the murdered girl...I didn't find the resolution believable. Also didn't love Jackson Brodie as a main character, so with all the quality reads in this world, I think I feel ok leaving this series behind.

sandysmith's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

A good book concentrating on 3 cold cases and introducing Jackson Brodie, a private investigator looking into them. My favourite characters were Jackson himself and Theo, and I thoroughly disliked the unpleasant Land sisters. But the 3 stories interconnected in a great way. The writing was easy enough, but at times, I didn't like the pacing, finding it in parys quite slow whereas normally I like my crime novels to be un put down able. I also felt it needed further editing. I didn't understand the involvement of his young daughter that he took worth him whilst he was investigating. I struggled with the rating. But I can't have disliked it that much as I've ordered the next book in the series from the library

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Rape, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, and Murder

staceymadams's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

khulud_khamis's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

vwalker3's review against another edition

5.0

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Seemingly separate story lines, told from different perspectives, woven together with beautiful (and often humorous!) prose! Interesting characters and a satisfying conclusion!

kirahaynes's review against another edition

4.0

4.5 stars

Read for book club

Just dumping my book club notes here

- Enjoying the writing
- why doesn’t he move to New Zealand to be with his daughter
- He shouldn’t have been taking marlee to crime related stuff
- I felt so bad for amelia having a crush on Jackson and his povs being negative about her appearance
- Michelle’s/ Caroline’s story felt disconnected
- I would have liked an arrest or some kind of confrontation at the end of the stories
- I thought Jackson sleeping with Shirley and Julie was super unethical
- may continue the series

richard_morrow's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Three grisly crimes from long ago are all brought to the present day when Jackson Brodie is asked to investigate. Brutal descriptions of horrific crimes tied together in what feels like a slightly messy narrative. A novel about strained family relationships and the lengths people will go to.