A new Jackson Brodie novel is always a cause for joy and celebration and this is no exception. Kate Atkinson's wonderful trademark combination of internal voice and external conversation is there, Jackson Brodie is his usual wonderful self (complete with his internal Court of Women), familiar characters make a return. The plot is fun, a sort of semi-pastiche of Downton/ closed house murder tropes and - as usual - you won't put it down but be disappointed when it ends. A joy from start to finish.

I am a Jackson Brodie fan for life and this book hit all my pleasure centers. Kate Atkinson is so good at the literary mystery, and it was a delight to be reunited with Jackson, Reggie, and some other cameos, as well as to meet some new characters (Lady Milton was my favorite). It is accessible for new readers but fans of the series will also be well served, I think.

For those who’ve yet to read Atkinson’s crime series or watch Jason Isacc’s brilliant portrayal of Jackson Brodie in the BBC’s adaptations, he’s an ex-policeman turned private investigator with a fondness for dogs, a deep suspicion of the middle classes and a sense of justice which doesn’t balk at the summary kind. This latest episode sees him investigating the theft of a painting with a distinctly cloudy provenance, caught up in a country house murder mystery weekend in the middle of a blizzard and teaming up again with Reggie, his reluctant chief inspector ally.

Atkinson seems to have had a lot of fun writing this one. The aristocracy are satisfyingly skewered although there’s a wee bit of sympathy elicited for Lady Milton, dim, fonder of her Labradors than her children - and with reason – but good in a crisis. There are fewer of the usual Jackson tropes this time around: dogs are present, but Jackson doesn’t find himself in charge of one, he’s still troubled by his sister’s unsolved murder but there are fewer references to it and not so many women need rescuing. There’s lots of farcical humour to enjoy, and the bracketed wry asides in characters’ inner monologues are as amusing as ever. The plot plays out nicely with nods to Agatha Christie but although I enjoyed it very much, I found this one less satisfying that previous Brodie novels; I can’t quite put my finger on why.

Another wonderful Jackson Brodie book, I am almost sad I have finished it already. Kate Atkinson is marvelous depicting the quirky yet very human characters with all their flaws, irritabilities, and other people's voices inside their heads commenting on what is going on.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book.