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frannydo's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
wrentheblurry's review against another edition
4.0
This book takes place a couple of years after the end of Atkinson's Case Histories, though only a few characters are carried over. I did not realize this when I picked this book to read from my stash. In fact, I didn't even know I owned Case Histories until my sons coincidentally selected it as my book to read right after this one.
No matter, I am no worse for the wear for not having read them in the order they were written. I did like Case Histories more, though.
What makes a book for me is the quality of the character development. Atkinson shines here. Her writing is exemplary, and One Good Turn is filled with deep, rich character studies. I strongly liked Atkinson's writing style. The chapters rotate among the characters, weaving in and out of their lives. Many story lines and characters become entangled, though I only had a small bit of trouble remembering who was who and what relationship they had with what person. At the back of the book Atkinson responded to a question about "how much planning goes into your interlocking story lines?" She replied "I never plot or diagram anything and I never lose track." Amazing!
Of all the characters, Martin seems to get the most attention here. My favorite was Jackson, and that is one of the reasons I did not rate the title higher. Another is the subject matter. I used to say that mysteries were not my thing, but there are your standard, Agatha Christie style whodunits, and then there are mysteries like One Good Turn, where the reader ponders how characters and plots are interconnected, along with who did what and why. And that's the other reason it didn't score higher--I wasn't as pulled into the main mystery here as I wanted to be.
Still, I am now a fan. I highly look forward to reading more of Atkinson's work!
No matter, I am no worse for the wear for not having read them in the order they were written. I did like Case Histories more, though.
What makes a book for me is the quality of the character development. Atkinson shines here. Her writing is exemplary, and One Good Turn is filled with deep, rich character studies. I strongly liked Atkinson's writing style. The chapters rotate among the characters, weaving in and out of their lives. Many story lines and characters become entangled, though I only had a small bit of trouble remembering who was who and what relationship they had with what person. At the back of the book Atkinson responded to a question about "how much planning goes into your interlocking story lines?" She replied "I never plot or diagram anything and I never lose track." Amazing!
Of all the characters, Martin seems to get the most attention here. My favorite was Jackson, and that is one of the reasons I did not rate the title higher. Another is the subject matter. I used to say that mysteries were not my thing, but there are your standard, Agatha Christie style whodunits, and then there are mysteries like One Good Turn, where the reader ponders how characters and plots are interconnected, along with who did what and why. And that's the other reason it didn't score higher--I wasn't as pulled into the main mystery here as I wanted to be.
Still, I am now a fan. I highly look forward to reading more of Atkinson's work!
heathermb's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
4.0
Source: Audible
I like her and had gotten this on sale at some point. Slowed down the books through Libby to read this one. Overall, liked the book. At some point, was listening at too high of a speed. That was a problem, so I slowed it down and didn’t get as lost. A LOT of characters to track, and brilliant in how it all comes together.
I didn’t realize that it was part of a series…and certainly that it wasn’t the first… so – now I need to figure out if I’m going to go back and read #1 and then keep reading? More things first, probably. Though, with as much as I like her, I might dump some other things on the list for her…
lynx_bookworm's review against another edition
5.0
Jackson Brodie continues to marvel us with his detective stories, in this book, we discover an intrinsecaly woven tale, of a group of people, all connected to one another, all extraordinary in their own way.
bristolreads's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Sexual content, Violence, Gun violence, and Death
shirlee2024's review against another edition
4.0
For more than the first third of the book, I couldn't figure out why I thought I'd wanted to read it. It had great character development and language to that point, but I was wondering when it was going to come back together. The next thing I knew, I found myself hooked and the pieces were starting to fit. With some surprises at the end, I now remember why I really like Kate Atkinson. Her next Jackson Brodie will also go on my Want-to-Read list.
dljmsw's review against another edition
4.0
A bit on the long side for what it is, but engaging to the last page.
chowmeyow's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
stefhyena's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I tried to redeem this book in my own mind and not be swayed by the fact I was really irritated by the last book by the same author I read. I told myself a different genre might be better and my favourite genre is mystery...but about that! There was really no mystery in there. There's an ex cop and a cop and they are both morally grey in a way that is believable but where's the mystery?
Then there are too many coincidences and implausible connections. I tried to read it as a cross between Red Dwarf and Raymond Chandler (partly because Martin's whiny tone reminded me of Rimmer but sort of softened with elements of Lister- which is as bad as it sounds). I tried to see all the gritty negativity as like Philip Marlowe who I used to adore as a depressed teen (I might not like him now come to think of it) but the tone of every single character was whiny rich stereotypical boomer. There was no variety in this at all unless you count the cop who is a middle-class person in the lifestyle of a working class person...only not really because she is the boss and wears power suits. And Tatiana who is a real working class person (both careers) but is a 2 dimensional cartoon Russian spy not a full character (at least Gloria speculates that the Russianness might be fake, someone had to say it but it was sort of pointless to the plot- the fakeness or not). It's quite a long book with so many pointless flights of fancy, I think it's trying to be a psychological type mystery in the vein of PD James. Jackson did remind me somewhat of Dalgleish though I hated him slightly less (but he was still irritating).
There were 2 good twists at the end, both partially predictable but nonetheless very satisfying however both of these could not redeem for me the 500+ pages wading through reactionary whinging about how much better the (imaginary) past was and really annoying heterosexist stuff. On the reactionary ideology I felt that sometimes Atkinson almost managed to be reflexive about it (and start undermining her characters) but there is a basic disrespect for anything post 80s that comes through and we all have a relative with that world view and noone wants to listen to it for 500 pages...please try to at least understand what you are mocking.
Please!
Then there are too many coincidences and implausible connections. I tried to read it as a cross between Red Dwarf and Raymond Chandler (partly because Martin's whiny tone reminded me of Rimmer but sort of softened with elements of Lister- which is as bad as it sounds). I tried to see all the gritty negativity as like Philip Marlowe who I used to adore as a depressed teen (I might not like him now come to think of it) but the tone of every single character was whiny rich stereotypical boomer. There was no variety in this at all unless you count the cop who is a middle-class person in the lifestyle of a working class person...only not really because she is the boss and wears power suits. And Tatiana who is a real working class person (both careers) but is a 2 dimensional cartoon Russian spy not a full character (at least Gloria speculates that the Russianness might be fake, someone had to say it but it was sort of pointless to the plot- the fakeness or not). It's quite a long book with so many pointless flights of fancy, I think it's trying to be a psychological type mystery in the vein of PD James. Jackson did remind me somewhat of Dalgleish though I hated him slightly less (but he was still irritating).
There were 2 good twists at the end, both partially predictable but nonetheless very satisfying however both of these could not redeem for me the 500+ pages wading through reactionary whinging about how much better the (imaginary) past was and really annoying heterosexist stuff. On the reactionary ideology I felt that sometimes Atkinson almost managed to be reflexive about it (and start undermining her characters) but there is a basic disrespect for anything post 80s that comes through and we all have a relative with that world view and noone wants to listen to it for 500 pages...please try to at least understand what you are mocking.
Please!