Kate Atkinson won the Whitbread Book of the Year award for her first novel and has also been an internationally bestselling author ever since this success. Her most recent novels include, Case Histories and One Good Turn, both featureformer private detective Jackson Brodie.
When a young Joanna Mason (now Dr Hunter) witnesses a violent and horrific crime back in her childhood she is left a changed person. The crime helped to shape her into the woman she is now who hides quite a lot of her emotion. Now an adult and mother she hires sixteen-year-old Reggie to come and work as her nanny and look after dog Sadie and her young son.
However one day Dr Hunter mysteriously disappears leaving Reggie concerned. Reggie seeks comfort in the beautiful and sweet-natured Sadie but after another day passes and still no sign of Dr Hunter, she alerts friends and acquaintances. Nobody will take the words of this sixteen-year-old seriously and they shrug it off.Who will believe her?
Has Joanna’s family murderer got something to do with her disappearance? He’s recently been released from prison after spending 30 years behind bars. Maybe he has come after her to finish what he started all those years ago?
Reggie plays the part of the hero in this story while Detective Inspector Louise Monroe tries to find clues to a recent disappearance.
There were a few places in this novel where I thought it was all a bit unbelievable to the reader. The train crash was one of those events that seemed unrealistic and too much of a coincidence to be taken seriously.
On a brighter note Atkinson’s observations are acute and wit shines through every chapter. Her characters are developed well with their own interlinking stories. Settings are brought to life with lots of atmosphere and plenty of suspense. This is not necessarily the usual mystery suspense you would read but it has elements that make it clearly a unique novel.
I loved Atkinson’s style of writing combined with her finely tuned wit and insight into how emotion can affect us.
This novel has something for everyone with murder, drama, mystery, sharpness and hidden depths.
A few faults but these are over-shadowed by the brilliance of Atkinson’s way with words and her imagination.
The following review was contributed by:Jessica Roberts:Jessica is a book reviewer for a local newspaper and has reviewed for a national women's magazine too. She has had various articles published in magazines and has now completed her novel. Jessica currently lives in West Yorkshire and enjoys walking in the dales and woodlands as part of her hobby as well as, of course, reviewing books. To read more of Jessica's reviews CLICK HERE
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