Case Histories: A Novel

The beginning of this novel can be deceptive, but don't stop until you've read at least more than Chapter Three. You'll be rewarded in the end with a great read about separate stories that somehow pull together through Jackson Brodie, her new and continuing to the future, character. Her outlook is sympathetic and unjaded, her characters are entirely interesting, and her stories are completed without the sense of hopelessness so often found in mystery stories.

If murder and sadness can be wonderful,
Ms Atkinson can make it happen...there is
an almost searing love for every character,
and there are a bunchof them, in all conditions
as well as moving across the
English landscape as if she had lived everywhere
for several hundred years...
her prose is limber, agile, fun and surprising...

The book opens with three disparate crimes, separated by time and type: the disappearance of a young girl, the random,brutal murder of a young woman, and the murder of a husband of an overwhelmed young mother. Enter Jackson Brodie, who has left the British police force and is now struggling as a private investigator, getting over a divorce where his former wife has changed from a career woman to a Stepford wife with her new man, working to keep his relationship with his young daughter, and dealing with some dental challenges, including unrequited interest in his dentist. His major client has been a prejudiced former South African who keeps losing one of her many cats until he is brought each of the above cases one by one. The book abounds with sly British humor. We also see Jackson's stiff upper lip, when it becomes clear that someone is trying to kill him. Each case delves into some complex family relationships and how the aftermath of each event has affected them. We slowly see the connections between the cases and how Jackson is able to bring some resolution to each of them. With a few unexpected twists along the way, this was a measured pace mystery that kept my interest throughout. It was an excellent start to the series.

This book was crafty and skillfully written and deserves the praise it has received. Maybe it's me, but I didn't find it as satisfying as I'd hoped. Perhaps the timing or pace was off, because the action didn't flow smoothly but seemed to proceed jerkily, as if the book needed one more rewrite.

Jackson Brodie, Kate Atkinson's new private detective, is accused by one of the many well-drawn and very distinct women in this multiple-case book, as being the "last good man standing". And so he is, as he shuttles around paradisal Cambridge and its oddly leaden environs to help stitch the broken, torn away lives of a pair of middle aged sisters, an grieving rotund barrister, and a lost beggar girl back together again. The stitching is decidedly a patchwork, never the same, with seams and tears and, in the end, the beginnings of tentative smiles.
Each chapter is written from the point of view of a different character, although the steam of thoughts and feelings that gushes forth from each one is stylistically the same. And the time line can be confusing as often the author starts a chapter by skipping ahead, then back-stitches the particulars. The plot twists are creative, lively and satisfying. Jackson loves women, sleeps with several, mothers a few, rescues both women, men and finally, cats, too. Without pulling a gun, wielding a blade, or breaking a neck, Jackson delivers the good and the goods. I will definitely download more of this series.

Fabulous. Really nice change from her literary fics, a literary detective story. Beautifully crafted and constructed. Brodie is a 'hero' of the type that it will be a pleasure to get to know. A lot of interesting cases, spun together in a very clever way. Recommended.

Kate Atkinson manages to weave a masterpiece with many threads -- threads that look, at first, jumbled but which combine to form a work of beauty. Through masterful characterization, place description, almost eccentric vignettes, creative and original plotting, Atkinson gives the reader more than his money's worth. "Case Histories" is not a fast read. Atkinson's style of writing is subtle, even tricky, if you're not careful. But everything comes together in the end. This is a book that is both poignant and delightful. There are a lot of characters, so you might want to start a list to help you remember them as they appear and reappear. All in all, a very satisfying book.

This was my first Atkinson. I was intrigued by the reviews I read about "Life after Life" and discovered she also wrote detective stories with a private eye called Brodie. So I started with the first Brodie and look forward to going on to the others.
It starts with all those case histories, one after the other, and then goes on to bring them up to date. I should have written down who was who and what was what, because by the time I got to the stories much later, I had forgotten. I finished the book and had to start it again to find out. There are a lot of surprises along the way.

Well written modern day novel said in England, great characters (main and supporting). Amazing how she does the alternating characters, as though they're each a separate story and then at the end it comes together.

Very flowing emotional ride. The characters are well built and make you feel love and kindness towards them. There is a little bit to much of a coincidence in the way the plot goes but it is captivating enough for the readers not to mind it at all. I also recommend the British series done by this book. With Jason Isaac as Jackson Brodie. It is really good and is well based on the book.

I liked reading it, writing style was fun to read, but when it was done, I felt like a kid that ate too much cotton candy - it seemed like the happy endings were too sweet and contrived to be real, and too convenient. Like eating the candy, fun while you are eating it but afterwards you feel empty and not full and want something with more substance.

Was reading Karen Slaughter's answer to a question about authors she like and she mentioned this book. I loved it. It was very witty and clever and told all the stories very well. You just nod your head in agreement at the thoughts of her characters. Another to add to my favourite authors list.

Strong stories, sad theme: children and families torn by murders, lives and ed early and families frozen with grief. Despite the tragic themes, the characters are amusing at times. Cleverly constructed and well written.

Kate Atkinson is my new favorite writer. Her detective stories flesh out the main characters very well and the author's insights into human nature and foibles make the stories much more interesting to read.

Ms Atkinson's books came highly recommended and I wasn't disappointed. This book is very different - at least to me - in the way it approaches murder mysteries. A fresh style and lots of surprises for the reader. Off to her next work!

Fine writing, interesting characters, good story lines... I was left a little unfulfilled by the ending.... But it has drawn me onto the next book in the series. Always a treat to find mysteries that meet the test of good writing!

I loved this book so much that I immediately bought all other "Jackson Brodies" and one of the author's novels (and I am sure I will soon buy all that she has written). The plot is gripping, the characters interesting, the writing excellent -- wonderful.

Three interesting mysteries right from the start weaving a story around one another. Slowly they unravel to reveal the answers, though not all of them. Some are lacking in detail and some leave you without closure. A good read, but I find myself left unsatisfied.

Although I read and enjoy every book Atkinson publishes, I have a hard time explaining why I like them. I guess I love a good mystery, and Atkinson's plots and characters are interesting. Not much to say about it though, and no food for thought at the end of the day, so four (not five) stars.

The tying together of the various case histories was an interesting and entertaining approach. The author kept my interest in the characters and what happened to them.

On the negative, way too much sex and profanity. Not an Agatha Christie.

Jackson Brodie is excellent. The stories all tied neatly together, at least for us readers. Perhaps Brodie doesn't get ALL the answers, but we do. There are many lost things in these stories...Olivia, a black cat, Tanya, Laura's killer...and Kate Atkinson ties all the stories together in an extremely believable ( though improbable) fashion. ( a little like Jane Austen...the ending is perfect, what we want, everyone gets what they want). Well if Jane Austen was writing about a homicidal nephew, a psychopathic sister, a perverted father...but then Theo, The other father in the story who hired Brodie to find Laura's killer, could have been in an Austen novel...misguided but kindly.
I had watched the BBC series several years ago and liked it. It holds so very close to the book that at first I thought I'd already read the book, but thankfully it was new. But I don't think the TV series captured the humor in the book ( at least that I remember). Brodie's daughter Marlee being cared for by Russian mobsters on a sheep farm for 3 days while he was unconscious in a hospital because the mobster's girlfriend Kim had given her 5 pounds. It is hard to capture the humor in a single story, but it all builds and you end up loving all the good people in this story, theo, Lilly, Amelia and especially Brodie.

I really like this author and especially like Jackson Brodie...his seems like he could be a real person..He is very interesting with "real human frailties" but keeps on going. Keep it up Kate and thanks for Jackson.

Again, thank you the store for the free sample downloads on Kindle. I downloaded the sample, blew through it and couldn't wait to download the rest of the book. I will definitely look for more books by Kate Atkinson thanks to this great read.

This book is the first in the Jackson Brodie series, which I became addicted to. He is a great character, among many, with true-to-life (unlike some of the situations that the same characters find themselves in) inner conversations that seem familiar yet original. I can't wait for the next in the series.

Atkinson takes what seem like different, unrelated threads and brings them together in a wonderful bow. A great crime mystery, and Jackson Brodie is a unforgettable character. I have read the other three in the series and have the 5th on pre-order.

I read for story. If characters are developed it's a definite plus. If the writing is interesting and gets to the point with an economy of useful words, I'm hooked. I was hooked on this story (stories) and finished it in three days. Then I went out and got "When Will There Be Good News". If your tastes are like mine, you'll enjoy Atkinson.

I just started reading Kate Atkinson's books, and I love her voice and her characters who are all so vividly real that I find myself believing I could simply call them up to chat for a bit. Although this book features a detective and various mysteries, it is definitely not your typical mystery novel.

Because I'm a fan of the Jackson Brodie mysteries on PBS, I decided to read a Jackson Brodie novel. At first I felt disappointed because, as I began to read, I realized that, in at least one of the case histories of the title, I remembered who committed the crime. I was not disappointed for long though, since the book was even better than the series in that Atkinson is such a strong writer. She reveals her characters through first-person voices that are true and very contemporary in their thinking. This kind of revelation can only be hinted at in the series. Brodie himself is a case history unto himself and very complex: angry, funny, and real. In addition to her characterizations, the bonus of the novel is that Atkinson can write a true whodunit, one that has myriad surprises in the telling.