In this ambitious fourth novel from Whitbread winner Atkinson (Behind the Scenes at the Museum), private detective Jackson Brodie—ex-cop, ex-husband and weekend dad—takes on three cases involving past crimes that occurred in and around London. The first case introduces two middle-aged sisters who, after the death of their vile, distant father, look again into the disappearance of their beloved sister Olivia, last seen at three years old, while they were camping under the stars during an oppressive heat wave. A retired lawyer who lives only on the fumes of possible justice next enlists Jackson's aid in solving the brutal killing of his grown daughter 10 years earlier. In the third dog-eared case file, the sibling of an infamous ax-bludgeoner seeks a reunion with her niece, who as a baby was a witness to murder. Jackson's reluctant persistence heats up these cold cases and by happenstance leads him to reassess his own painful history. The humility of the extraordinary, unabashed characters is skillfully revealed with humor and surprise. Atkinson contrasts the inevitable results of family dysfunction with random fate, gracefully weaving the three stories into a denouement that taps into collective wishful thinking and suggests that warmth and safety may be found in the aftermath of blood and abandonment. Atkinson's meaty, satisfying prose will attract many eager readers.


This is Kate Atkinson!

On its way to redhot-brat (January Indecisive)

This sounds like a great read ZZZ. I can't wait to read it. I like stories with lots of twists and turns and guess work to be done. This will be much enjoyed I'm sure. Thank You!

RSVD 4 CDNBLUEROSE

Thanks a bunch for choosing this as my Indecisive's book. It was much enjoyed. There were a few times I had to back track and re-read a passage to keep all the characters straight as there were quite a few of them.
This will be headed out to CdnBlueRose in a couple weeks. I want to finish a couple more of the stack I owe her and will send them all together. :)

This is on it's way to CdnBlueRose, along with a few others I owe from a private trade. I hope you enjoy them. I believe this is the last of them, but as life has been a bit crazy the past few months.... let me know if I missed any.

Received today - thanks much!!!!