Barbara M. reviewed on + 152 more book reviews
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.
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