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carduelia_carduelis 's review for:
Case Histories
by Kate Atkinson
It's always a bit of a risk trying out an author's work in one form when you came to know, and love them, in another. The ridiculous and juicy Not the End of the World was my first introduction to Atkinson, so I knew she could write a hook but could she extend that and develop it into a full story?
Well, yes, it turns out that she can.
This was a great book, which is terribly exciting because now I can confidently go pick up another one of her works. Case Histories is Midsomer Murders with a bucketload of character development. I'm not sure if it was a mystery per se because I figured out a bunch of the threads pretty early on. Unfortunately this says more about the plotting than it does about me as I'm regrettably dense when it comes to thrillers and crime novels. I never see the twists coming.
But that's what makes this such a powerful book, I knew what was coming and still enjoyed reading it play out.
What to say of the characters then, since this is, in many ways, a series of detailed character studies? Each feels distinct and has their own voice. Theo, the dad of a long-dead doted daughter, was perhaps the most sympathetic. Julia and Amelia felt very familiar and even the psychopath Michelle was somebody I could recognise.
The only person I wasn't keen on was Jackson, mostly because every now and then he'd spout something about 'being a good man', or 'turning into a woman'. This picked up particularly near the end and I wanted to sit Atkinson down and say, listen Kate - we get it, he's a nice guy. The way his story wrapped up was just a little too cutesy aswell.
It would have been much nicer if Binky had left him a missive to find that black cat of hers rather than a boatload of cash. It was too neat. Also how ideally Amelia's new identity of cat lady turned her into a nudist groupie. People don't change that quickly.
But then Midsomer usually wraps up quite sweetly so I'll give it a pass.
There's isn't much more to say, the hook is good, the follow-up is decent and the writing is top-notch!
Will definitely be picking up more Atkinson in the future.
Well, yes, it turns out that she can.
This was a great book, which is terribly exciting because now I can confidently go pick up another one of her works. Case Histories is Midsomer Murders with a bucketload of character development. I'm not sure if it was a mystery per se because I figured out a bunch of the threads pretty early on. Unfortunately this says more about the plotting than it does about me as I'm regrettably dense when it comes to thrillers and crime novels. I never see the twists coming.
But that's what makes this such a powerful book, I knew what was coming and still enjoyed reading it play out.
What to say of the characters then, since this is, in many ways, a series of detailed character studies? Each feels distinct and has their own voice. Theo, the dad of a long-dead doted daughter, was perhaps the most sympathetic. Julia and Amelia felt very familiar and even the psychopath Michelle was somebody I could recognise.
The only person I wasn't keen on was Jackson, mostly because every now and then he'd spout something about 'being a good man', or 'turning into a woman'. This picked up particularly near the end and I wanted to sit Atkinson down and say, listen Kate - we get it, he's a nice guy. The way his story wrapped up was just a little too cutesy aswell.
Spoiler
It would have been much nicer if Binky had left him a missive to find that black cat of hers rather than a boatload of cash. It was too neat. Also how ideally Amelia's new identity of cat lady turned her into a nudist groupie. People don't change that quickly.
But then Midsomer usually wraps up quite sweetly so I'll give it a pass.
There's isn't much more to say, the hook is good, the follow-up is decent and the writing is top-notch!
Will definitely be picking up more Atkinson in the future.