When Will There Be Good News?

Kate Atkinson at her very best once again. I read her first three books years ago, she is off the wall and different, but oh so talented. It took me a little while to realise the characters from Case Histories (brilliant!!) were revisited. The narrator is superb, please explore this author, you will not be disappointed, please keep writing Kate, I need to know more about Jackson Brodie.

I find that Kate Atkinson's books can either be excellent or disappointing - this book definitely falls into the first category. I forgot to take my iPod on holiday, and had to try reverting to reading to stop myself going mad; the only book shop I had access to had this as one of its few offerings. Unfortunately, due to a deteriorating illness, I just could not get past the first few chapters, but the book had ensnared me and as soon as I got home I just had to download it. I listened to the whole book in only two or three days and it totally renewed my faith in the author's tales. The book itself weaves several disparate lives together in a way that could've come across as forced, but didn't in the slightest. The ending, where everybody's life finally comes together, was excellently written, apart from one tiny element that I still don't quite understand despite several 'readings' of the book. I shan't spoil the denouement for those who haven't yet read this marvellous book, but if anyone can explain how the firearm ends up where it does, please let me know. I cannot recommend this book enough.

I throughly enjoyed this book, Kate Atkinson is a great and interesting writer. However the narrator had the most dreadful Scottish accents The Scots all sounded surprised and rather whiney. Otherwise I would have given this book 5 stars.

Story takes a long while to get going and didn't start to grip me until about three quarters of the way through when it started coming together. The characters werent easy to understand but worst of all was the narration. Steven Crossley sounds like he's reading to a child and his women's voices reminded me of the "I'm a laaaiideeee" sketches from Little Britain. Made it difficult to enjoy. I would suggest reading the actual book rather than listening to this recording.

Also he pronounced one of the main character's name wrong the whole way through the book!

This is not an average crime novel. Kate Atkinson specialises in character development, and there are some wild co-incidences! I've listened to all of the 'Case Histories' quartet now, in the wrong order, and loved all of them, particularly this one (the third) and Started Early, Took my Dog (the fourth, and latest). I love the wit of the observations, the pace of the story, the rapid twists and turns of the tale. While the narration of this is not as fine as Nicholas Bell's on Started Early, Took my Dog, I found the voice friendly enough, though I do agree with a previous reviewer that the Scottish accents are all over the place. geographically, and scarcely credible. If you can put that gripe to one side, you'll enjoy the white-knuckle ride of Jackson and Reggie's adventures in Edinburgh and the North of England.

The third Jackson Brodie story, and I was so pleased to find it unabridged. Jackson Brodie is a fascinating character, and I love reading each book, discovering more layers in his history. Kate Atkinson is a wonderful writer who weaves a compelling, page turning story populated by great characters. I love the connections and the looping coincidences (or should that be "explanations waiting to happen"??). Just like real life, but masterfully told. My only teeny tiny gripe was the slight 'Mrs Doubtfire' element of the narration at times.

The usual great Atkinson! Story twists & turns intriguingly with the lovely crazy Reggie at the centre.

Brilliant, great to meet up with the characters of her previous books. Same good quality twists and turns. Hope to see a new one appearing soon.

Really enjoyable read/listen - lots going on, some of which is quite unbelievable. The ending is a little rushed and disappointing.

I was very disappointed with this book, as I found just too many unbelievable coincidences throughout this book, it just wasn?t in anyway credible.