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Case Histories: A Novel Audiobook
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(3.00) - 25,739 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
The first book in Kate Atkinson's Jackson Brodie Mysteries series, called "The best mystery of the decade" by Stephen King, finds private investigator Jackson Brodie following three seemingly unconnected family mysteries in Edinburg.
Case one: A little girl goes missing in the night.
Case two: A beautiful young office worker falls victim to a maniac's apparently random attack.
Case three: A new mother finds herself trapped in a hell of her own making - with a very needy baby and a very demanding husband - until a fit of rage creates a grisly, bloody escape.
Thirty years after the first incident, as private investigator Jackson Brodie begins investigating all three cases, startling connections and discoveries emerge . . .
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"A well-constructed mystery or set of mysteries told with great panache. The initial chapter involves a family very similar to the one in "Behind the Scenes at the Museum," with extraordinarily neglectful parents and delightful, spirited children, not always kind. The detective, who I gather we will encounter in future novels, is pleasantly flawed as well."
— Jgknobler (4 out of 5 stars)
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“To read it is to enter a hall of mirrors…Part complex family drama, part mystery, it winds up having more depth and vividness than ordinary thrillers and more thrills than ordinary fiction…A wonderfully tricky book.”
— New York Times -
“Her best book yet, an astonishingly complex and moving literary detective story that made me sob but also snort with laughter. It’s the sort of novel you have to start rereading the minute you’ve finished it.”
— Guardian -
“Atkinson here combines a compelling narrative drive with sophisticated psychological portraits and telling detail…Playful humor, an impressive technique, and an offbeat detective with a penchant for weeping are the most obvious pleasures of a page turner that succeeds in being both brainy and thoroughly entertaining.”
— Booklist -
“It’s a rousing triumph, thanks in whole to Atkinson’s boundless sympathy for her funny, pathetic, three-dimensional and fully human creations.”
— Washington Post
Case Histories Listener Reviews
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Ted Greer, 7/30/2024
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" The book starts off well enough with an atmospheric family portrait enduring a palpable heat wave so I thought I was in for a good read. However, after the detailed beginning, I felt like the author took the story away from me by focusing too much on the PI's personal problems/opinions/etc (which he doesn't resolve cuz he's got troubles you know) rather than on his solving of the crimes themselves (which putter along like afterthoughts until they are suddenly wrapped up at the end.) The author had too much going on, not always in the same time frame & even the strength of her character depiction suffered under the divisive narrative. I was about 2/3 thru before I realized how annoyed I was and I finished only for the sake of Olivia's story. It really deserves more like a 2.5 cuz it's not awful, just not nearly as good as it could have been. Atkinson gets a lot of press as a "literary crime writer" but I am underwhelmed. OK, rant over. "
— Marcy, 1/17/2014 -
" When I started this one, I couldn't put it down, because the characters were so well developed in my opinion. But it was filled with WAY too much sexual content and bad language, and that's saying a lot coming from me. "
— Julia, 12/28/2013 -
" I liked the story and the mystery of this book quite a bit. I found it hard to put down and I didn't predict what had happened to those that were killed. However, the writing was a bit confusing and I felt that the author skipped around in an odd manor. Overall a good read. "
— Erica, 11/20/2013 -
" C'est beau, c'est emouvant, c'est dur et ca se lit si vite. "
— Isabelle, 11/3/2013 -
" Very engaging and well done. A bit *too* much coincidence for my taste in the last quarter of the book, but a satisfying read overall. "
— ms.pointy, 11/2/2013 -
" I don't often read mysteries but I had enjoyed the t.v. show based on the book so I thought I would give it a try. The t.v. show was better. The book consists of several intersecting mysteries. They all get resolved in rather unorthodox ways. But the book focused on the lives of the Land sisters more than the mysteries which I found unusual. I guess i'm still not a mystery fan. "
— John, 10/20/2013 -
" I really like all of Kate Atkinson's "Jackson Brody" novels. "
— Patricia, 10/20/2013 -
" Overall way too slow. The plot moves like someone wading through mud. "
— Sarah, 8/29/2013 -
" I thought this one would be a bit more...detective-y. Not the case. There were a lot of backstories but not so much puzzle solving, which is what I expected. I wasn't crazy about the ending. That said, it was an interesting read and I enjoyed the book though I didn't love it. "
— Hanna, 7/28/2013 -
" First impression, quite dark and depressing, but it is growing on me as I read it. At times it is very hard to put down. Liked it well enough. It kept me wanting to listen to the end, but I was neither in love with or hated the ending. "
— Lois, 7/14/2013 -
" Loved her quirky humor & characters. "
— Sally, 1/17/2013 -
" Disturbing in places but a compulsive read. "
— Beccy, 12/7/2012 -
" I love her writing, very witty ! "
— Virginie, 7/25/2012 -
" Solid and engaging, with one hell of an appealing narrator. The platonic ideal of an airport murder mystery, and one I wouldn't mind leaving in the seat pocket for the next person to find. "
— Moira, 7/10/2012 -
" interesting ending...that's all I have to say. "
— Stephanie, 6/16/2012 -
" A bit predictable but interesting and the protagonist is like able in a very human way. "
— Stef, 2/27/2012 -
" Really good stories, much better than the TV series. Jackson Brodie hero! "
— David, 9/29/2011 -
" Bit tedious but end wraps up the three interwoven mysteries nicely "
— Heather, 8/17/2011 -
" Has a character from the other book I'm reading. Just started this so don't know yet if I like it. "
— Dsolove, 5/22/2011 -
" Unexpectedly enjoyed the way the divergent themes cross...and the ending. "
— Karen, 5/21/2011 -
" just couldn't get into it , it just jumped to many times "
— Sue, 5/20/2011 -
" Very quiet and strang...right up my alley! "
— Marcleitson, 5/19/2011 -
" A very odd book, but enjoyable. It starts as 3 separate storied, but they all come together. The main character is a P.I. trying to solve the 3 old cases. His life is a mess, and the people he encounters are quirky to say the least. It moves at a pretty good pace and held my interest. "
— Lisa, 5/18/2011 -
" Well written and intriguing mystery. I couldn't put it down. "
— caitlin, 5/18/2011 -
" love love love Kate Atkinson! I've read all her books at least once or twice and I still reach for them when I want to immerse myself in multiple plot lines with a cast of characters I care about, and plots that run the gamut of human emotion and experience. "
— Jo, 5/16/2011 -
" This is a favorite. Excellent mystery with interesting characters. "
— Christine, 5/13/2011 -
" The author takes three separate cases and weaves them together with the most unlikely of outcomes. The weaving resembles not so much a fine tapestry as the potholder your first grader made for you. "
— Sherie, 5/12/2011 -
" I'll read more in this series. "
— Janet, 5/11/2011 -
" So far this is good. "
— Sharon, 5/10/2011 -
" Good mystery. Woven together very well. "
— Melissa, 5/10/2011 -
" Very good mystery. Liked how it slowly came together. "
— Kelley, 5/9/2011
About Kate Atkinson
Kate Atkinson has written twelve groundbreaking, bestselling books, which have made the New York Times bestsellers list and which have won such awards as the Whitbread Book of the Year prize and the Costa Novel Award. A God in Ruins was adapted into a critically acclaimed television series in 2022. Her bestselling novels featuring former detective Jackson Brodie became the BBC television series Case Histories.
About Susan Jameson
Susan Jameson trained at the Birmingham School of Speech and Drama and has since gone on to appear on stage in A Fool and His Money, You Say Tomatoes, This Happy Breed, and as Vera in Just Between Ourselves. On television she has been seen in Kid in the Corner, Catherine Cookson’s The Girl, Band of Gold, and Circle of Deceit. She also appeared in the film International Velvet.