"9th April 1975, Leeds: The Bay City Rollers at number one. IRA bombs all over the country. Margaret Thatcher is the new leader of the Conservative Party. At the beginning of the month, in Albuquerque, Bill Gates founds what will become Microsoft........... In the middle of it all, Tracy Waterhouse was only concerned with the hole in one of the toes of her tights. It was growing bigger with every step she took. They were new on this morning as well."
A day like any other for security chief Tracy Waterhouse, until she makes a shocking impulse purchase. That one moment of madness is all it takes for Tracy's humdrum world to be turned upside down, the tedium of everyday life replaced by fear and danger at every turn.
Witnesses to Tracy's outrageous exchange in the Merrion Centre in Leeds are Tilly, an elderly actress teetering on the brink of her own disaster, and Jackson Brodie, who has returned to his home county in search of someone else's roots. All three characters learn that the past is never history and that no good deed goes unpunished.
I am so enjoying this series of books, of which, this is the fourth in the Jackson Brodie series. I always like to read a series of books in order and so have previously read Case Histories, One Good Turn and When Will There Be Good News; all of which have been great reads. Of course, these books would read very well out of order and my need to read books chronologically probably says more about my anally retentive personality than about the books themselves.
I think it must be difficult to keep up the momentum of a series of books but the writing and plot are every bit as good as the earlier novels. In addition to Jackson Brodie I thought Tracy Waterhouse was a really good character. Ms. Atkinson's characters are very easy to engage with and which make this series a real treat to read. I already have the next book, Big Sky, lined up to read.
The narrative changes from the present day to the 1970's seamlessly and between Jackson and Tracy's voices. The voices are distinct and very easy to follow. Having been young during the 1970's (yes, I too, was a Bay City Rollers fan) I enjoyed this little trip down memory lane.
The author is remarkably skilled at mixing mystery and murder interwoven with good humour in a way which feels totally authentic. This series of books are a joy to read and I highly recommend them.
ISBN: 978 0552 772464
Publisher: Black Swan
About the Author:
Kate Atkinson was born in York and now lives in Edinburgh. Her first novel, Behind the Scenes at the Museum, won the Whitbread Book of the Year Award and she has been a critically acclaimed international bestselling author ever since.
She is the author of a collection of short stories, Not the End of the World, and of the critically acclaimed novels Human Croquet, Emotionally Weird, Case Histories and One Good Turn.
Case Histories introduced her readers to Jackson Brodie, former police inspector turned private investigator, and won the Saltire Book of the Year Award and the Prix Westminster.
When Will There Be Good News? was voted Richard and Judy Book Best Read of the Year. After Case Histories and One Good Turn, it was her third novel to feature the former private detective Jackson Brodie, who makes a welcome return in Started Early, Took My Dog.
I am so enjoying this series of books, of which, this is the fourth in the Jackson Brodie series. I always like to read a series of books in order and so have previously read Case Histories, One Good Turn and When Will There Be Good News; all of which have been great reads. Of course, these books would read very well out of order and my need to read books chronologically probably says more about my anally retentive personality than about the books themselves.
I think it must be difficult to keep up the momentum of a series of books but the writing and plot are every bit as good as the earlier novels. In addition to Jackson Brodie I thought Tracy Waterhouse was a really good character. Ms. Atkinson's characters are very easy to engage with and which make this series a real treat to read. I already have the next book, Big Sky, lined up to read.
The narrative changes from the present day to the 1970's seamlessly and between Jackson and Tracy's voices. The voices are distinct and very easy to follow. Having been young during the 1970's (yes, I too, was a Bay City Rollers fan) I enjoyed this little trip down memory lane.
The author is remarkably skilled at mixing mystery and murder interwoven with good humour in a way which feels totally authentic. This series of books are a joy to read and I highly recommend them.
ISBN: 978 0552 772464
Publisher: Black Swan
About the Author:
Kate Atkinson was born in York and now lives in Edinburgh. Her first novel, Behind the Scenes at the Museum, won the Whitbread Book of the Year Award and she has been a critically acclaimed international bestselling author ever since.
She is the author of a collection of short stories, Not the End of the World, and of the critically acclaimed novels Human Croquet, Emotionally Weird, Case Histories and One Good Turn.
Case Histories introduced her readers to Jackson Brodie, former police inspector turned private investigator, and won the Saltire Book of the Year Award and the Prix Westminster.
When Will There Be Good News? was voted Richard and Judy Book Best Read of the Year. After Case Histories and One Good Turn, it was her third novel to feature the former private detective Jackson Brodie, who makes a welcome return in Started Early, Took My Dog.
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