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Big Sky

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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

Jackson Brodie has relocated to a quiet seaside village in North Yorkshire, in the occasional company of his recalcitrant teenage son Nathan and ageing Labrador Dido, both at the discretion of his former partner Julia. It's a picturesque setting, but there's something darker lurking behind the scenes.

Jackson's current job, gathering proof of an unfaithful husband for his suspicious wife, seems straightforward, but a chance encounter with a desperate man on a crumbling cliff leads him into a sinister network-and back into the path of someone from his past. Old secrets and new lies intersect in this breathtaking new literary crime novel, both sharply funny and achingly sad, by one of the most dazzling and surprising writers at work today.

'The stand-out read of the summer. It's a masterclass in brilliant writing and whether you've read the earlier books in the series or not, you'll enjoy it.' Independent

'Like all good detectives, he is a hero for men and women alike.' The Times

'Laced with Atkinson's sharp, dry humour, and one of the joys of the Brodie novels has always been that they are so funny.' Observer

© Kate Atkinson 2019 (P) Penguin Audio 2019

 Cosy Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Mystery Private Investigators Small Town & Rural Traditional Detectives Funny Marriage Witty Fiction Suspense

Critic reviews

The main plot...is dark and disturbing, but Atkinson brings wry comic touches to the story as she both playfully inhabits and deftly subverts the crime genre.
Big Sky is laced with Atkinson’s sharp, dry humour, and one of the joys of the Brodie novels has always been that they are so funny.
Atkinson weaves a magically absorbing world full of crossed paths and coincidences. Her sublime turn of phrase, impeccable gallows humour, beautifully drawn characters and complex plotting make for a fabulously entertaining and moving book. It can be enjoyed as either a standalone mystery or a very welcome reunion with an old friend.
A masterclass in what can be done with crime fiction, brilliantly using the form to expose what Atkinson bleakly describes as 'one more battle in the war against women'.
Atkinson’s new mystery hits all the right notes
Atkinson brings back her much-loved PI Jackson Brodie for a tightly plotted tale...the real mystery here is the human heart, with Atkinson serving up an acute and believable look at the state of Britain today.
I romped through it: as ever, the plotting is clever and complex, it’s full of the dry wit Atkinson is so good at and it’s an absorbing mystery.
There's a lot going on here, all of it rendered with Atkinson's vastly enjoyable nonchalance...Atkinson tells a great story, toys with expectations, deceives by omission, blows smoke and also writes like she's your favourite friend. Thank goodness the long Jackson Brodie hiatus is over.
Atkinson throws in many entertaining diversions, and a fair few juicy red herrings… an exuberant, entertaining read…Atkinson’s work is always playful, and there’s a brisk, jaunty tone to Big Sky and much dry observational comedy.
The brilliance of Big Sky lies in its broad range of memorable characters, each with their own intriguing backstory.....sharp humour,sparkling prose and acute psychological insight.
All stars
Most relevant
Another brilliant life on a larger scale romp with the marvellous Mr Brodie. And the big bonus is that Jason Isaacs reads it.

Welcome back Jackson Brodie

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Whilst the subject of the book was difficult- abused children, sex trafficking- the subject was dealt robustly by Jackson. Jason Isaacs is the perfect Jackson. The only problem I have is that Kate Atkinson assumes that we remember all the characters she has introduced over the years -15? They are dropped into the narrative and we are supposed to remember their back story. Kate has written the Jackson Brodie books as light relief from her more worthy novels. She has probably got a crib sheet we don’t. Did, however, enjoy the book and look forward to the next Jackson Brodie book hopefully with a personae dramatis.

Brilliant Narration

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a good story although not as good as her previous books. well read which made it enjoyable to listen to. I did find it a bit predictable in places but well worth a read/listen.. Would recommend.

good story

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Really enjoyed the latest installment on Jackson Brodie from Kate Atkinson.
The older books weren't very fresh, but many of the references and characters brought them flooding back.

Absolutely loved it

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Kate Atkinson really brings the characters to life and I really want to hear more books read by Jason Isaacs. love everyone of Kate Atkinson's books but they always leave me feeling very sad

really enjoyed the character building

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