Reviews with content warning for Child abuse - Case Histories

Oh Kate Atkinson, you let me down this time. I was really looking forward to reading this book. One of my favorite genres (mystery/detective) by an author I have enjoyed in the past (Life After Life, A God in Ruins) - it should have been a home run. But this was a sad little story full of sad, ruined people. There were four case histories, four mysteries to be solved, and our detective, Jackson Brodie, really only "solved" one of them, maybe two. We learn the truth behind all of the cases, but sometimes the truth is revealed only to the reader, not to the characters in the book. The four cases all involve a sudden, catastrophic loss of a loved one. The losses (murders) all happened in the past, so the loved ones left behind have been bereft for a long time. There were a LOT of characters to keep track of, and some of the plot threads don't seem to make sense at first, but eventually everything falls into place. More than a mystery, this book is an exploration of loss, grief, and depression. There are lighter moments within this heavy context, but for me, they weren't enough to elevate the book to the point I could honestly say that I liked it. I did like the main character, Jackson Brodie. He may not have been the sharpest investigator, but he was very much trying to be a good man. He has plenty of flaws, but it's obvious he cares about others, in his own somewhat cynical way, and he really loves his daughter. I liked him well enough that I may try reading the second book in the series, but I'm not in a big hurry to do so.

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sandysmith's review against another edition

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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 parts 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 with 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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