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    Case Histories: A Novel
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    Case Histories: A Novel
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    Case Histories: A Novel
    Audiobook10 hours

    Case Histories: A Novel

    Written by Kate Atkinson

    Narrated by Susan Jameson

    4/5

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    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    Case one: A little girl goes missing in the night.

    Case two: A beautiful young office worker falls victim to a maniac's apparently random attack.

    Case three: A new mother finds herself trapped in a hell of her own making - with a very needy baby and a very demanding husband - until a fit of rage creates a grisly, bloody escape.

    Thirty years after the first incident, as private investigator Jackson Brodie begins investigating all three cases, startling connections and discoveries emerge . . .
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHachette Audio
    Release dateSep 1, 2008
    ISBN9781600245015
    Unavailable
    Case Histories: A Novel
    Author

    Kate Atkinson

    Kate Atkinson is the author of a short-story collection, Not the End of the World, and critically acclaimed novels including Life After Life, Human Croquet, Case Histories and One Good Turn. She lives in Edinburgh, UK.

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    Reviews for Case Histories

    4/5

    2,743 ratings196 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Awesome. Next time I will not simultaneously try to read and watch a mystery series, and I might keep case and character notes on an index card. Not sure if it was the overlapping timeline and multiple plots, or the fact I watched the series and was distracted, but I kept having to refresh who was who each chapter.
      Otherwise, the book was great fun, and each case was interesting. You get a lot of depth of emotion, and character development than in the BBC series.
    • 4/5
      The youngest daughter in a family of four vanishes one night. A wife overwhelmed with her new baby rages at her husband, who is dead before the day is through. The daughter of an obese lawyer is murdered on her first day of work at her father's firm. A ninety-year-old widow is missing some of her cats. These are merely some of the mysteries Jackson Brodie, unhappily divorced private eye with a beloved 8-year-old daughter, must solve. Atkinson weaves the fates of her cast of characters as skillfully as an expert quiltmaker, and sprinkles the narrative with a patchwork of colorful lesser characters, all of them expertly embodied. You know these souls as well as you know your own friends (whose mysteries will always bewilder you).

    • 4/5
      Read this after watching the BBC series w/Jason Isaacs (yum), a perfect Jackson Brodie (P.I. once a soldier, then a copper). One of those where both the novel AND the show are good, and I understand the relatively minor changes they made for the screenplay.
      Set in Cambridge (show set in Edinburgh)it is a series of unfinished/cold cases that intertwine as Jackson is hired on to investigate.
      Not forced. My only difficulty was keeping the names of past characters straight - not much to complain about.
      Looking forward to more of the series - both book and BBS/PBS.
    • 3/5
      In Atkinson's inaugural novel in the Jackson Brodie series, the reader is introduced to the eponymous hero, former soldier and police detective, and now a private investigator. In this novel, Brodie is hired to investigate three apparently unrelated cases which occurred in Manchester, England. The first involved the disappearance of a 3-year-old, the youngest, and favorite, of four girls. The second involved the random and seemingly motiveless killing of a solicitor's daughter. The final case involves Brodie locating a daughter that was placed with another family after her mother murdered her husband with an ax. Each one has its challenges with each case not appearing to be what once first assumed. The characters in this novel are so well fleshed out, it is no wonder that the BBC filmed this book as the first of a three part series. After reading the book I'm eager to watch the series and to see how it translated to film.
    • 5/5
      Another absorbing read by Kate Atkinson, consisting of a series of long-ago crimes which slowly intertwine around private eye Jackson Brodie. I don't want to give too much away at all, but will just say I was thoroughly enthralled and once again had a hard time putting it down for much of any reason at all. Well worth a read.
    • 4/5
      #7 of the 10 novels of Kate Atkinson. I've been reading them in the wrong order -- 8, 1, 2, 7, 10, 9, 5 -- but the order doesn't matter. They all work standalone and, indeed, things change from book to book anyway. This is the first of the Jackson Brodie detective stories and I think the later ones are better. Only because the final resolution of this one seemed a bit unsatisfactory and mechanical. Still, she's a fabulous writer. Every page is worthwhile.
    • 3/5
      Liked the writing style - a bit ADHD! Will read more.
    • 5/5
      This was such a wonderfully enveloping story. I got lost in it and I couldn't put it down. I read it right after I finished writing my thesis and graduated and it was the perfect transition to a more relaxed existence...
      As far as the story goes: Atkinson is a beautiful writer. Very lyrical and wry, shocking and funny. This story broke my heart and amused me all at once. She's fantastic. I can't wait to read the sequel!
    • 4/5
      Second book by Atkinson and I see a pattern in her writing. Several characters with interwoven stories.
    • 5/5
      I really loved this book. It kept me guessing all the way through and the way everything came together at the end was great.
    • 3/5
      This book was a fine escape, and I felt the character development was excellent. Particularly the characters of Jackson and Amelia I felt were well fleshed out, and I truly cared about what happened to them. I think the moment I realized that Atkinson had made a likable character in Jackson was when he found out his 8-year old daughter was being moved to New Zealand; I distinctly remember being angry for Jackson at the seeming callousness of his ex-wife.

      With that said, the plot could have used a bit of work in my opinion. In none of the three cases did Jackson really do all that much to solve the crime. In Olivia's case, he essentially did what should have been done 34 years earlier: interview the family and push when he had to. Now clearly the discovery of Blue Mouse (Olivia's stuffed animal) changed the equation from when the case was investigated earlier, but Jackson didn't have to do much to find out what happened to Olivia. Similarly, in Laura's case, all he did was interview a friend of Laura's, which led him to another interview, followed by another until there you have it, the killer. And in Caroline/Michelle/Shirley/Tanya's case, he did absolutely nothing. I understand that this book was not intended to be simply another mystery novel, and I can certainly appreciate that, but a little more, ahem, mystery would have been excellent.

      But this book was quite enjoyable merely because of the characters. The dynamic between Julia and Amelia was captured perfectly, and the "dance" between Jackson and Julia was interesting as well. For a book that I more or less just picked up on the fly, I was happy to have lost myself in it for a few weeks.
    • 4/5
      Three cold cases are solved in this deceptively simple novel. Very upsetting stuff, but well-written with some sympathetic characters. Surprised by twists.
    • 4/5

      What a joy it is to not only discover an author I haven't read before, but to read a book which I did not want to put down! That is the effect that this novel had on me. As a long-time reader of crime fiction, it is also a joy to read such a literate and character-driven mystery, which does not fit neatly into any particular crime fiction sub-genre. While crimes are committed and a detective is there to solve them, neither the crimes themselves nor their resolution are what makes the novel live and breathe.

      For me, this is primarily a novel about relationships: in particular the relationships between siblings and those between parents and children. Atkinson describes warm, loving relationships, relationships made brittle by loss and fear, and relationships destroyed by time and circumstance. The theme of "lost girls" is explicitly raised and reiterated within the narrative: a much loved youngest sister is missing, an adored daughter is murdered, another daughter is lost. These are the seemingly random but ultimately inter-connected cases investigated (or not) by Atkinson's detective protagonist, Jackson Brodie. However, Brodie does not stand apart from the victims: his relationship with his daughter and his siblings are woven into and become part of the overall story arc.

      There is so much I love about this novel. The characters themselves are wonderfully brought to life. The narrative technique, with its shifts in point of view and time, its folding back on itself as parts of the story intersect with other parts is clever, but not annoyingly so. While the narrative does rely on coincidence, in the context of this novel that felt okay. Actually, not just okay, but right, because all readers have experienced random coincidences which come from nowhere and yet profoundly affect their lives. The language is clear and crisp. There is suspense (I wouldn't have read the novel in two sittings had this not been the case!) and there is emotion. I laughed and I cried and from time to time I even gasped. As a reader I can't really ask for much more than that.

      If this novel is an example of the general calibre of Kate Atkinson's writing, then I'm really looking forward to reading more. Highly recommended for readers who like character-driven narratives and who don't need their crime fiction to slot neatly into a particular genre.


    • 4/5
      Smart, warm, dark, and incredibly satisfying, CASE HISTORIES is a wonderful read. Kate Atkinson, like the parents she writes about, clearly prefers some of her children (characters) to others, which leads to story lines of varying interest, but she's a master of character-building. I'll definitely go back for more.
    • 3/5
      It was very enjoyable with a few twists at the end which were not too hard to see coming.
    • 4/5
      What I learned: Apparently, I now read any book that's been blurbed by Stephen King. And I hardly ever like his books. Huh.

      My review: I recommend this book to people all of the time at the bookstore where I work and it's usually responded to positively. It's an intriguing mystery that doesn't feel stupid. Wouldn't you buy a book from me on a glowing recommendation like that?

      *edit* In retrospect I like this book more and more. It's a smart mystery amidst a sea of dull and formulaic bestsellers, transcending the genre to become something truly memorable as a book and not just a throwaway bathtub puzzle (I mostly read mysteries in the bath and the two are forever entwined for me). The intertwining case histories meld together perfectly to create an utterly satisfying ending. It's been a year and countless people have bought it on my word and not a one has complained--it's a winner, for sure.
    • 4/5
      A terrific book that I've now managed to read twice. Again, great writing and wonderful characters are slightly put off by unlikely coincidences.
    • 4/5
      (3.5 stars) I'd been wanting to read a Kate Atkinson for quite some time, & despite having nearly all of her novels on my shelf, I'd yet to read one. So I finally grabbed up this one on audio & gave it a go. I enjoyed this first selection in the Jackson Brodie series, although perhaps not as much as I'd expected to, given the hype & good reviews I'd read. Part mystery, part quirky, it provided entertainment and suspense enough to keep me reading. I did find the transitions a little rough though, with Atkinson flipping back & forth in time & between characters rather suddenly. I found myself having to stop & gather my thoughts to sort out what exactly was going on. But aside from that, this was an enjoyable read & I'll continue in the series, having already begun "One Good Turn". I'm also kind of excited to see that the BBC has produced a TV program based on the Jackson Brodie series, so once I've caught up in my reading, I'll be sure to catch those on the screen.
    • 4/5
      I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Had previously read another book by the same author and that was OK, this was much better. In some ways there are threads of the story that are a bit unbelievable but there were plenty of twists and turns in the plot.
    • 3/5
      The ending is pat -- so neat and tidy. But she writes great characters, their inner monologues are fantastic. Quite enjoyable, but not a brain stretcher in the least.
    • 4/5
      Jackson Brodie attracts all the weird cases. He's not sure why but he's got more than his fair share at the moment. He feels like he's Lost and Found, rather than a private detective, and he seems to be doing badly on the finding part. He's searching for a little girl who disappeared 20 some years ago, a killer who killed a teenager some 10 years ago, a missing niece (daughter of an ax murderer), not to mention the cats.He's got more than his fair share of personal problems too. He dreams about retiring to France. He also dreams about his dead sister.A different sort of mystery story, with seemingly unrelated stories told separately, and in personal detail, which eventually sort of come together. Some he solves, others he never understands.I liked how deeply we get to see into the victim's minds and lives. A very different approach when told from their POV.
    • 4/5
      This was my first read by Kate Atkinson and I was expecting quite a lot as this novel was long-listed for the Orange Prize for fiction in 2005."Case Histories" did not disappoint me! The uniquely told story begins with three seemingly unrelated cold cases... We are then introduced to Jackson Brodie, a PI with several flaws. I loved Brodie's character ~ who to me, was gritty, real, sad, and encouraging all at once.I heard another LT'er describe Atkinson's ability at depicting family dynamics as impressive. I would agree... many of the characters and the family relationships are dysfunctional and complex. There were two characters I wanted to hear less of, but as the story progressed Atkinson's winding of the plots became clear.I will definitely be reading more Atkinson in the future. I would recommend this one for fans of literary fiction and/or mysteries.
    • 5/5
      A very affecting read. By no means just a story of crime solving. The murders, three of them, are carefully placed in the context of the relationships of the people involved, as is the complex way the solutions are revealed through the inter-connectedness of the various characters. Much more layered than simply a tale of the dogged sleuth at work.
    • 4/5
      Case Histories is a cleverly written book, which keeps you intrigued to the end. It is mainly about the relationships between the various characters in unrelated murders, disappearances and deaths. The one person linked to all cases is PI Jackson Brodie, ex-policeman, ex-husband and father who dreams of a better life in France. The characters in each of the case histories and Jackson himself, are all damaged as a result of their early life and experiences in mostly difficult and unloving families. Jackson is hired to investigate each case, whilst at the same time he is struggling with his own family tragedies. Ultimately, most questions are answered, but not as the reader would have suspected. I found ithe story a bit depressing because of the lack of respect and love generated by the characters and their self absorbsion. It was however a good read.
    • 2/5
      I really wanted to like this story, but I had a very hard time getting into it. There were too many characters & plots bouncing around.
    • 2/5
      Kate Atkinson has a good command of the English language. Except portions of the book stray into territory that remind me of a time that I read the first ten pages of a Janet Evanovich novel - read "chick lit." Except there are so many storylines that I could not find a climax. Was there one? It felt like I was transported from a huge build-up directly to the resolution - rather like the empty feeling after eating high-fructose corn syrup. This novel was a good diversion but it excludes the part for which I read novels: a cohesive story.
    • 4/5
      I found this novel hard to put down, which was what I desperately needed right now!Jackson Brody is a private investigator that has been approached by three different people looking for his help to bring to a close three quite old events. Two sisters are looking to Brody helplessly to solve the thirty-four year old disappearance of their baby sister; a father is in need of closure after the ten year past murder of his favorite daughter; a woman wants help finding a missing person twenty-five years after her sister murdered her husband. I loved the way Atkinson wove these very different families and stories and brought Brody's own history into the story. I ended up guessing the ending in only one of the three stories and I was quite intrigued by the ending. I will be picking up the rest of this series at some point
    • 3/5
      I looove Jackson Brodie - what a wonderful protagonist! If you are a reader who loves fully-fleshed out characters, you will really enjoy Mr. Brodie as well as the Land sisters.The beginning of the book was a bit slow because it alternated between all of the different cases. Finally, after the first 5 or so chapters it started to pique my interest and keep me engaged. Still, I kept thinking to myself "how on earth are all of these mysteries going to get solved by the end of the book?" But Atkinson manages to solve them all and the ending is full of twists! I guessed one of the conclusions, but the others totally took me by surprise.I had really high expectations for Case Histories and the novel didn't quite live up to them. But, I still enjoyed the story and I'll definitely be reading the next book in this series to decide if I want to continue with the Jackson Brodie novels.
    • 2/5
      Pearl Ruled: CASE HISTORIES by KATE ATKINSONRating: 2* of five (p102)First of the hugely popular Jackson Brodie series of mysteries set in Scotland, this book comes super-positively blurbed by Stephen King, recommended by site royalty, and could not possibly have left me more flat, uninterested, and even impatient."The rain's easing off," he said, and Caroline said, "Yes, I think it is." He stood up and escorted her outside. The dogs had been asleep and now made a great performance of welcoming Caroline's appearance, although she knew they couldn't care less really."Good-bye, then," John Burton said and shook her hand again. She felt a little flutter, something long dormant coming back to life. He climbed on his bike and cycled off,turning once to wave, an action that made him wobble ridiculously. She stood and watched him moving away from her, ignoring the overexcited dogs. She was in love. Just like that. How totally, utterly insane."And that, laddies and gentlewomen, is where I said sayonara cookie monster. It's okay writing. The rubbish about the dogs is ridiculous, but the wave, the wobble, and the swoon are pretty good. But this is as good as it's gotten in 102pp. This is as much a wowee toledo as Uncle Pervy here has received.Your story or your storytelling has to wow me more than this by p102, and as neither has, onto the scrap-heap of history with you. *briskly dusts hands*
    • 5/5
      This book rates 5-stars because it's a page-turner that kept me up late at night. Ms. Atkinson is skillful at creating characters and weaving their stories together. It truly is a small world. And her use of language is fun and contemporary. I'll definitely look for her other books! Many thanks to my Secret Santa for sending me this book!