Case Histories

Pretty disappointing. With all the rave reviews, and Atkinson's clear talent for character and wit, I thought this would be a better constructed mystery. But it's not. There's really no reason that the mysteries are interconnected the way they are. I don't know why she didn't just focus on the Olivia mystery and expand on that. The other stories seem extraneous, although my favorite character was poor sweet Theo. This kind of writing actually reminds me of the TV show Lost: great premise and setup, beautiful characterizations, ridiculous coincidental plotting, and something very close to a deux ex machina ending.

This is one of those books that sticks with you. So many small character traits and quirks that give them all such depth. It's really something how she's built complex mysteries into and around a very rich set of characters. A novel that's also several mysteries in one. Thankfully our hero Jackson Brodie susses it all out, well mostly anyhow, and the tying up of each bit is quite satisfying.