Not enough mystery and suspense

An average light read, I wouldn't know how to compare it to the average Jackson Brodie story, because I haven't read very many. After finishing the book, I couldn't help thinking that it was as if Kate Atkinson herself graded the book/ and series as average crime novels, through her character writer, also her description of the average reader wasn't very flattering either. That was the irony and tragedy of the book. Good imagination, but few of her characters were a bit shallow. Well, if Kate Atkinson feels that it is time for her to write a more serious novel, then I hope she can live up to the challenge, but why undermine this story by sharing the frustration.

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5 people found this helpful

A good read, with some annoying elements!

This was a really good, clever, interwoven story, full of rich characters and many twists and turns. Sometimes Kate Atkinson's habit of wandering off into another story, or adding in a mass of detail, became annoying. But overall better than your average thriller. Stephen Crossley is an excellent narrator, and managed to convey a vast cast of characters clearly and distinctly.

I'll continue to follow Jackson's adventures - and his unfortunate love life!

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9 people found this helpful

Not for me

I couldn't get into this drivel, but it seems to be popular. However, it was well read.

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1 person found this helpful

More than a mystery

Kate Atkinson is such a good writer. This book had gripping moments broken up by great humour - she made each character very real. She is gentle with her people but you get a sense of how bad the 'baddies' are and all the characters are well observed making for some funny comments. The plot swung along well too. I wish I had it ahead of me to listen to still.

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3 people found this helpful

Difficult to follow at times

Not as good as the other Jackson Brodie books, took time to get into the story with all the different characters

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I love Kate Atkinson

There is something gentle and familiar about this story, that makes you feel at home and comfortable but it is also clever, creative and crafted so that you are also entertained and generally left feeling impressed.

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Great book

a great read or listen, and very funny, very Scottish, a pleasure to read.

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Entertaining and ironic

I loved the way the author reflected both upon the characters and the genre.

Some brilliant observation of human behaviour and I particularly resonated with the shy decent character of the writer Martin when "trying to urinate quietly" in the bathroom of the hotel room where events had conspired to force him to share with the character - clearly 'dodgy' who transpired to be a paid assassin. How many of us are over-aware of their existence and worry about how we feel we may impact upon others, whilst we tolerate the behaviour of others without question?

Full of gentle amusing irony which felt to me as much the point of the novel as any possible crime and hunt for perpetrators, by entertaining quirky detectives.

Not many detective/crime novels have you laughing out loud; that has to be an achievement.

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3 people found this helpful

Entertainingly over the top

Good reading, the story is consciously over the top, all for the reader's entertainment. The more improbable, the better. Edinburgh provides a louche backdrop.

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Intricate and intriguing

Story telling at its best: I was absorbed from the first paragraph until the end of this intriguing novel. Each character was brought to life through cleverly woven sub plots and the whole brought together with style and panache. A great read.

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5 people found this helpful