Helpful Score: 3
I read some other reviews of this book and, without fail, the people who said, "I can't stand this book--too many characters and too many plotlines" were also people who said that they didn't finish the book. Let this be a plea to any reader who picks up on of her books--stick with it! Trust me. This woman is one of the best plotters of fiction that I've ever read. By the time you're about 2/3 of the way through the book, I will bet that you won't be able to put it down.
If you haven't read any other reviews of this book yet, be aware that it's a sequel to another Kate Atkinson mystery called "Case Histories." You can certainly read this one without reading Case Histories first, but you'll lose a little bit of background of two of the characters.
Go ahead--take a chance. Try out Kate Atkinson.
If you haven't read any other reviews of this book yet, be aware that it's a sequel to another Kate Atkinson mystery called "Case Histories." You can certainly read this one without reading Case Histories first, but you'll lose a little bit of background of two of the characters.
Go ahead--take a chance. Try out Kate Atkinson.
An entertaining read, much like Case Histories (this is a sequel). The mystery was engaging and the writing good. I like that Atkinson seems to be developing Brodie as a returning character, but his point of view doesn't dominate the narrative. She fleshes out a lot of characters even though they will probably not be series regulars. The extreme interconnectivity/ high number of coincidences in the plot lines was a bit much, but Atkinson seems to recognize that, so it wasn't a real nuisance.
Helpful Score: 2
I loved this book! I remembered much less about it than _Case Histories_ so it really felt like reading it for the first time all over again! Poor Martin - the way things happened to him were... tragically comic. And the way everything fit together! She is such an artist, that Kate Atkinson! I was sad that Julia had to be written out, but I do hope that Jackson Brodie and Louise end up together in the next book - which I am soo excited to read!
Jennifer W. (craftwriternyc) reviewed One Good Turn (Jackson Brodie, Bk 2) on + 11 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Not as good as her first book (Case Histories) but thoroughly enjoyable all the same. A good mystery where the lives of several strangers intersect through a series of otherwise ordinary events.
When what appears to be a minor traffic accident turns violent, a bystander intervenes, and things quickly spiral into a typical Atkinson pottage. This one also features Jackson Brodie, who bumbles from one scene to another as his never terribly believable romance comes unraveled.
Atkinson's characters meander through convoluted landscapes, trailing tendrils of coincidence that really do strain credulity. It's still a tribute to Atkinson, however, that she does keep the pages turning as readers try to winkle it all out before the final paragraph.
Atkinson's characters meander through convoluted landscapes, trailing tendrils of coincidence that really do strain credulity. It's still a tribute to Atkinson, however, that she does keep the pages turning as readers try to winkle it all out before the final paragraph.
i loved Case Histories, so could not wait to read this book. this was good but not great like the first one of the Jackson Brodie series of books was. I enjoyed, it -- just found myself wanting Julia and Jackson to not be together... good read, i love Kate Atkinson's writing.
A little bit disjointed but in the end it all comes together wonderfully.
LOTS of characters, keeping track of them can be tricky. But it is very well written, humorous, and had a good ending. Jackson is a fun character.
This is the second Jackson Brodie book from Kate Atkinson, the first one being Case Histories. The story was good, in fact very good. The way she is able to weave a various number of seemingly unrelated characters into a plausible mystery/plot is exemplary. And I LOVED the ending. It was a gotcha/aha moment. My only complaint about this book is it's editing. There are people or events thrown in that needn't have been in the book at all. The first 100 pages are a bit of a challenge and one may even have to make a list of all the characters to keep everything straight. After 100 pages the book took off for me.
Carol F. (cactusflowerwomen) reviewed One Good Turn (Jackson Brodie, Bk 2) on + 628 more book reviews
Always enjoy this author, tho she confuses me at times. A murder mystery and sprawling character study.
I had read a book review of another author and the reviewer said that Kate Atkinson's books were much better so I decided to add her first three Jackson Brodie books to my wish list on paperbackswap.com. I am reading them in order. I believe I gave Book 1 (Case Histories) three stars--was disappointed that it was more a character study than a mystery. The things I disliked about Book 1 seem to be even worse in this book.
The attraction that Julia (a former client of Jackson's from Book 1) had for Jackson made no sense, in spite of the fact that the author spends a GREAT deal of time writing about what's going on in each character's head. Julia was superficial and self-absorbed and Jackson seemed baffled and dissatisfied with the relationship yet he apparently was too weak-willed to end it.
There were too many convenient coincidences in the story--like faded comic Richard Mott knowing Julia and also temporarily living with author Martin Canning, who was witness to a road rage incident that Jackson had also seen. Then Martin later hired Jackson as a bodyguard. And, then the road rage attacker happened to work for the spouse of another witness.
The paperback version is 418 pages. The book would probably be half as long if the author hadn't felt it necessary to go on and on and on about what each of the characters was thinking. Most of it wasn't that interesting or relevant to the story.
If Book 3 (When Will There Be Good News) isn't any better than the first two of the series, I will probably be done with Jackson Brodie.
The attraction that Julia (a former client of Jackson's from Book 1) had for Jackson made no sense, in spite of the fact that the author spends a GREAT deal of time writing about what's going on in each character's head. Julia was superficial and self-absorbed and Jackson seemed baffled and dissatisfied with the relationship yet he apparently was too weak-willed to end it.
There were too many convenient coincidences in the story--like faded comic Richard Mott knowing Julia and also temporarily living with author Martin Canning, who was witness to a road rage incident that Jackson had also seen. Then Martin later hired Jackson as a bodyguard. And, then the road rage attacker happened to work for the spouse of another witness.
The paperback version is 418 pages. The book would probably be half as long if the author hadn't felt it necessary to go on and on and on about what each of the characters was thinking. Most of it wasn't that interesting or relevant to the story.
If Book 3 (When Will There Be Good News) isn't any better than the first two of the series, I will probably be done with Jackson Brodie.
