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A review by katykelly
One Good Turn by Kate Atkinson
4.0
You could read this without knowledge of its predecessor (Case Histories), though it does help to know the backstory to Jackson and Julia a little.
Second in the series, I really liked the first (which I read after seeing the Jason Isaacs TV series), how the plot strand gradually showed connections. Atkinson manages the same trick again and makes each strand interesting.
Starting with a road rage incident there's a shy author, an abrasive comic, a coma-ridden (bent) property mogul, and his wife learning of his indiscretions. As well as some Russian cleaners (potential prostitiutes) and one or two murders.
All are connected by Jackson Brodie, the hugely likeable former detective and army man who seems to be everywhere the police are investigating.
It's very entertaining and concentration is required towards the end as it all hots up and where even Nina Riley, fictional heroine of the shy author's old-fashioned novels narrates briefly.
I listened to this on audiobook and found that format manageable for this type of tale and well narrated. Jackson is a fantastic hero figure, his own life as interesting as the plots around him. I enjoyed Martin (the author's) strand the most of them all, and really like the snippets from the Nina Riley books - spot on pastiche.
My favourite Kate Atkinson is still Life after Life, but I'll look out for the others in this series.
Second in the series, I really liked the first (which I read after seeing the Jason Isaacs TV series), how the plot strand gradually showed connections. Atkinson manages the same trick again and makes each strand interesting.
Starting with a road rage incident there's a shy author, an abrasive comic, a coma-ridden (bent) property mogul, and his wife learning of his indiscretions. As well as some Russian cleaners (potential prostitiutes) and one or two murders.
All are connected by Jackson Brodie, the hugely likeable former detective and army man who seems to be everywhere the police are investigating.
It's very entertaining and concentration is required towards the end as it all hots up and where even Nina Riley, fictional heroine of the shy author's old-fashioned novels narrates briefly.
I listened to this on audiobook and found that format manageable for this type of tale and well narrated. Jackson is a fantastic hero figure, his own life as interesting as the plots around him. I enjoyed Martin (the author's) strand the most of them all, and really like the snippets from the Nina Riley books - spot on pastiche.
My favourite Kate Atkinson is still Life after Life, but I'll look out for the others in this series.