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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I listened to this, and I was SO disappointed in the audio version. There were sound effects, music ... ugh. Not my kind of audio book. It really interfered with the story for me.
If I read this instead of listening to the audio, I'm sure I would have given it at least 3 stars.
If I read this instead of listening to the audio, I'm sure I would have given it at least 3 stars.
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Jackson Brodie is back with another crime to solve :) I really liked this book. I love how this author writes and is able to incorporate wit and humour into her stories. The fact that she is able to get away with the casual homophobia and the things I mention below and still having me saying I enjoyed the story and can't wait for book 3 says A LOT about her storytelling. And perhaps unfortunately says not so nice things about me :/
Two things bugged me that I can't ignore:
1. the repeated homophobia and need to affirm masculinity serves no purpose. If it was reserved for one character I could understand. But it seems to be used several times. Examples - Archie being "worried" that the way Hamish spoke was effeminate; Louise contemplating how wonderful it would be if Archie was gay and they could go shopping together; Martin being appalled that he was mistaken for being gay; Jackson saying he has nothing against gays, just wishes they wouldn't act sooo gay.
2. And the most inexplicable scene in the book is where Jackson essentially rapes Julia whilst she is sleeping. He knows it is wrong as he explains he has put men away for the same thing. But still does it. Justifying it because Julia wouldn't be bothered, only annoyed she wasn't awake to enjoy it. I know he is flawed, a smartass and scumbug but he is our main man - the one we are rooting for so why make us hate him?? This scene left me both baffled (at the editor for allowing this to be published) and disgusted.
Two things bugged me that I can't ignore:
1. the repeated homophobia and need to affirm masculinity serves no purpose. If it was reserved for one character I could understand. But it seems to be used several times. Examples - Archie being "worried" that the way Hamish spoke was effeminate; Louise contemplating how wonderful it would be if Archie was gay and they could go shopping together; Martin being appalled that he was mistaken for being gay; Jackson saying he has nothing against gays, just wishes they wouldn't act sooo gay.
2. And the most inexplicable scene in the book is where Jackson
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Gun violence, Homophobia, Rape, Murder
Minor: Infidelity, Trafficking, Pregnancy
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A satisfying Jackson Brodie, as usual, though I must admit I got a bit confused with having read a lot of Rebus.
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I'm disappointed in this book, because I liked Case Histories, but I think I'm going to read the next one in this series because so many reviews have indicated that the series gets better after this one weak link. What particularly did I not like about One Good Turn?
1. Too many characters. Not one, not two, but three young Russian female characters, and two of them happen to look nearly identical? And then also, little spoilery And let's not forget that everyone needs to have several friends who may or may not be important to anything. This was not an easy book to follow on audiobook. But I didn't like it enough to go get the paperback and try to map this all out.
2. Jackson wasn't awesome. I would appreciate to like the protagonist. I think I'd have preferred for Nina, the "fictional" protagonist of the Martin / Alex' series of "old lady mysteries" as she seemed like a more compelling character than Jackson in this book. I liked Jackson well enough in the first book, but thought that he was too hung up on his ex-wife, who had clearly moved on. But Jackson, in this incomprehensible "relationship" with Julia, but then obviously more attracted to Louise (not that I blame him, Louise in infinitely more likable than Julia). Jackson having spent the last 2 years apparently in a relationship with Julia makes him fall in my esteem because she's yuck, and it reflects poorly on him that he'd choose to be with her.
3. The lost plot of the missing manuscript. Ok, maybe I missed something. But, with the contract killers running around and confusion of the fringe festival, Martin (who, along with Louise was my favorite character) seemed to have lost all of the copies of his newest novel, and I can't figure out if someone took them all on purpose (his laptop, the disc from his house, and the chip drive that ended up in a doll). Who took them and for what purpose? To deprive the world of the latest in a long line of marginal detective novels? ooooh, the horror. If there was blackmail or revenge involved, that was less than obvious. Martin seemed to be both pivotal and a complete side plot that lead nowhere.
The best part - the fate of the annoying 80s comedian. Here's some Viagra for your Mind. I also liked a spoilery part
I plan to check out the third book, and if it isn't significantly better, I might ditch this series. I will tell you, through no fault of this book, I keep comparing Jackson Brodie to Cormoran Strike (of Cuckoo's Calling fame), and Jackson comes up short. Their back stories are plenty similar, but Cormoran is so much more likable. I do like Kate Atkinson and how she weaves her plots, though, so I'm going to try to stick with this line of books.
1. Too many characters. Not one, not two, but three young Russian female characters, and two of them happen to look nearly identical? And then also, little spoilery
Spoiler
two hitmen, seriously, who get into a fender bender with each other? what the heck.2. Jackson wasn't awesome. I would appreciate to like the protagonist. I think I'd have preferred for Nina, the "fictional" protagonist of the Martin / Alex' series of "old lady mysteries" as she seemed like a more compelling character than Jackson in this book. I liked Jackson well enough in the first book, but thought that he was too hung up on his ex-wife, who had clearly moved on. But Jackson, in this incomprehensible "relationship" with Julia, but then obviously more attracted to Louise (not that I blame him, Louise in infinitely more likable than Julia). Jackson having spent the last 2 years apparently in a relationship with Julia makes him fall in my esteem because she's yuck, and it reflects poorly on him that he'd choose to be with her.
3. The lost plot of the missing manuscript. Ok, maybe I missed something. But, with the contract killers running around and confusion of the fringe festival, Martin (who, along with Louise was my favorite character) seemed to have lost all of the copies of his newest novel, and I can't figure out if someone took them all on purpose (his laptop, the disc from his house, and the chip drive that ended up in a doll). Who took them and for what purpose? To deprive the world of the latest in a long line of marginal detective novels? ooooh, the horror. If there was blackmail or revenge involved, that was less than obvious. Martin seemed to be both pivotal and a complete side plot that lead nowhere.
The best part - the fate of the annoying 80s comedian. Here's some Viagra for your Mind. I also liked a spoilery part
Spoiler
that in the comedian's murder, Martin's watch was destroyed, as it was that watch that contributed to the death of Irena and Martin's huge weight of guilt for the rest of this life.I plan to check out the third book, and if it isn't significantly better, I might ditch this series. I will tell you, through no fault of this book, I keep comparing Jackson Brodie to Cormoran Strike (of Cuckoo's Calling fame), and Jackson comes up short. Their back stories are plenty similar, but Cormoran is so much more likable. I do like Kate Atkinson and how she weaves her plots, though, so I'm going to try to stick with this line of books.
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix