can't wait to read this one!

This intriguing book opens with a series of brief, gripping "case histories," mysterious and unresolved crimes, then shifts our attention to Jackson Brodie, a wonderfully sympathetic private investigator with a personal history that make him particularly undertanding toward some of his clients. Kate Atkinson's compassion for her characters, along with her wry tone and deft plot twists make this a unique and remarkable read.

Thanks so much!! I saw this swapped at bookrelay.com, in an Almost Live Swap, and it looked so interesting I just had to add it to my wishlist! Looking forward to it.

Unbelievably good book! I started out slow--it took me a while to really work my way into the book; I had to just let go and let the mystery happen. Really, for a significant portion of the book I just had no idea what was going on; what was the plot, the theme, the purpose? Once I got going, and coincidences and connections began to make themselves known, I motored through the rest of the book very quickly. Atkinson's style was beautiful, though there was a section toward the middle where she starts using asides and they started to annoy me a bit, but they peter out again as she moves on. I like how each section is told from the perspective of one of the characters; we can only know what they know, what they see. A highly recommended non-genre work, but not for those who like their plot well-defined and laid out for them.

Sending this to morsecode for the Valentine's Exchange at BookObsessed.com.

My final present arrived today with the most beautiful bookmark.
Thanks so much, lizziwhizz! You were a wonderful cupid.

I'm going to be seeing my mom tomorrow (BCer chargoyle) and she requested some books from her personal lending library (me!) so I'm pulling some titles off Mt. TBR that I think she might like. This is one of them.

My daughter (morsecode) loaned me this book, and I'll return it to her when I see her.
I read through the first three "case histories". The first two dealt with tragedies involving beloved children, and the third one was gruesome, too. I just can't read any more of it.

I'm including this in a bag of books that I'm giving to a coworker who is involved in a book drive.