Case Histories

by Kate Atkinson
Case Histories cover
Good Books rating 4.17
Crime, Mystery, Thriller/Suspense
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Paperback • £9.99
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Technical
  • ID: 8877
  • Added: 2025-12-22
  • Updated: 2025-12-30
  • ISBN: 9780552777551
  • Publisher: Random House
  • Published: 2011-01-01
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

In the midst of an unusually hot summer in Cambridge, Jackson Brodie, a former police inspector turned private investigator, finds himself surrounded by death, intrigue, and misfortune. As he attempts to unravel three disparate case histories, he begins to realize that despite their apparent diversity, everything is interconnected. The novel delves into the complexities of human behavior and the intricate web of connections that bind people together. With a backdrop of a sweltering summer, the story unfolds in a manner that keeps readers on the edge of their seats, eager to uncover the truth behind each case.

Reviews
Books on the 747 · 2023-11-24
great 4.50

The book is a great introduction to Kate Atkinson's writing style, with a mix of engaging cases and well-developed characters. The tone is both gripping and thoughtful, making it a satisfying read.

This reviewer found 'Case Histories' to be a fantastic first experience with Kate Atkinson's work. They appreciated the way Atkinson weaves together multiple cases, creating a rich tapestry of stories that keep the reader engaged. The characters are well-developed, and the tone is both gripping and thoughtful, making it a satisfying read. The reviewer particularly enjoyed the way Atkinson balances suspense with deeper emotional and moral themes, creating a book that is both entertaining and thought-provoking.

Quick quotes

    Overall though, Case Histories was a great book and as this is my first read from Kate Atkinson, I enjoyed discovering her tone and writing.

    The cases are well-developed and the characters are compelling.

    Atkinson's writing is both gripping and thoughtful.

Girl with her Head in a Book · 2023-01-22
engaging 4.00

The cases are poignant and deeply haunting, and Brodie is a charismatic and compelling fictional detective. The book is a great introduction to Kate Atkinson's writing style.

This reviewer found 'Case Histories' to be a deeply engaging read, with cases that are poignant and deeply haunting. They particularly appreciated the character of Jackson Brodie, describing him as a charismatic and compelling fictional detective. The reviewer also noted that the book is a great introduction to Kate Atkinson's writing style, with a mix of engaging cases and well-developed characters. The tone is both gripping and thoughtful, making it a satisfying read.

Quick quotes

    The cases are poignant and deeply haunting.

    And Brodie is a charismatic and compelling fictional detective.

    The book is a great introduction to Kate Atkinson's writing style.

The Guardian · 2004-10-01
memorable 4.00

The book is not all sunshine and happy endings, but it rests on a strong and well-constructed moral foundation. The cases are poignant and deeply haunting, making it a memorable read.

This reviewer acknowledges that 'Case Histories' is not a book filled with sunshine and trite happy endings. Instead, it is a novel that rests on a strong and well-constructed moral foundation. The cases are poignant and deeply haunting, and the reviewer found them to be memorable. The book's civilised, funny, and life-affirming tone makes it a hugely enjoyable read. The reviewer appreciates the honesty and depth in Atkinson's writing, which sets it apart from other crime fiction.

Quick quotes

    Of course, Case Histories is not all sunshine and trite happy endings, but this is a book that rests on a strong and well-constructed moral foundation.

    The cases are poignant and deeply haunting.

    Nor is the book; instead it is civilised, funny, life-affirming and hugely enjoyable.

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