Thoroughly enjoyable plot with several strands, which all culminate in a country house murder mystery weekend. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys good mysteries, especially as well-written as this. Jackson Brodie is hired to find a missing painting with a suspect provenance that disappeared along with a carer. This leads to other similar cases of vanishing masterpieces. Is there a connection? You must read it!

With thanks to NetGalley and Transworld Digital for an ARC.

Kate Atkinson is the master (mistress?) of the inner dialogue and writes with a quiet wit which sings from every page. I love Jackson Brodie ( what’s not to love?) and this romp through the minefields of art theft, upper-class entitlement and comfy crime novels is a joy from start to finish. A book you can’t stop reading but never want to finish! A masterpiece,

I’ve not read any of this series of Jackson Brodie books by Kate Atkinson before, but I’m a big fan of her other writing.so requested it when I saw it was on NetGalley uk

The death from the title when it comes is quite as shock totally unexpected , rather incongruous with the general theme is the book, which feels rather like a Agatha Christie flippant and fun
The way that the fictitious murder mystery intertwines with the real stories is amusing and the ending is suitably mad cap
Kate Atkinson is a fabulous author, and you know when you really want her books that you’re in for a fun read this book was exactly that.

I regally copy on Natalie , UK. The book is published in the UK on. 29th of August 2024 by random house, UK Transworld publishers.
This review will appear on NetGalley, UK, Goodreads and my book, blog, bionicsarahs books.wordpress.com after publication it will also appear on Amazon, UK

It is such a joy to back in Jackson Brodie’s world, teaming up again with Reggie Chase, and not just in their world of crime-solving but in their heads. Their inner thoughts and comments on the people they meet, and particularly on each other, are so much fun. Reggie has a constant nagging voice in her head, that of ‘know-it-all’ Brodie, and Brodie has his ‘Court of Women, Judge Julia, his ex, presiding’ commenting on his every word and deed. The author’s sly wit and observation shine throughout.

The author has fun, too, with faded aristocracy, bickering families and high jinks in the art world. The ‘Makepeace Players’ are a hoot - a theatrical outfit trying to put on a murder mystery event with an ever-decreasing cast, so absorbed in their own company that they are largely oblivious to the real murders and mayhem going on around them.

I don’t think it would be necessary to have read the previous Jackson Brodie novels to enjoy this one, but newcomers would be sure to want to get their hands on the earlier ones as soon as they finished it. Highly recommended.

With thanks to Doubleday via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an ARC.

When will there be good news? Well, here's some to start with: Kate Atkinson has long been one of our wittiest and most readable novelists and she's back on winning form in this, her latest book which is out this summer. By my reckoning this is Atkinson's thirteenth novel overall (since 1995's excellent Behind The Scenes At The Museum) and her sixth book to feature her hero, detective favourite, Jackson Brodie (yes, he's back too !) On this evidence, Atkinson's storytelling skills which here incorporate a missing painting storyline, a host of entertaining and interesting characters and a clever send-up of traditional Agatha Christie-style murder mysteries are as sharp as ever..
In short, purchase, read and enjoy.

A new Kate Atkinson book is always an event- the last two years we've had the Shrines of Gaiety ( Period 1920s Drama) and Normal Rule Don't Apply ( Short Stories) - both superb.

Now is the return of Jackson Brodie- the sixth in the private investigator/crime series - Death at the Sign of the Rook- always a delight!
From start to finish, this is a wonderfully fast paced, comedic, thought-provoking, eclectic crime read.

Jackson Brodie- "a mess, a tsunami that would have defeated Marie Kondo" - returns in his own inimitable style - his world weary cynicism as sharp as a knife and humour that is so, so wry. This is crime fiction but not in the traditional sense- this is a literary novel that just happens to feature a crime/s within the plot. Jackson is reunited with DC Reggie Chase - the counterplay between them is wonderful but done with a hidden respect.

Kate Atkinson's fantastical imagination is second to none and the descriptions of the minutiae within people's lives is what makes her books pure joy. Every foible or eccentricity is laid bare ( from prayer groups, to the world of white sofas,, undertakers, confused vicars, a truly quirky Lady of the manor and drama groups- nothing is safe from her exacting eye for details) The inner thoughts of characters- major and minor- are exposed with such vividness that it's impossible not to laugh outlaid on occasions.

The plot evolves around the theft of two stolen works of art and the inhabitants and locals of the Burton make peace estate. the dying aristocracy is lampooned beautifully. There is also a clear nod to the cosy crime world of fiction and this also comes under the microscope/dissection of Kate Atkinson with a clear sense of irony.

A cast of unforgettable characters and the actions/interactions of Brodie and Chase make for Death at he Sign of the Rook an unforgettable read.
A triumph from start to finish-once started I couldn't put it down - thank you Kate Atkinson- an absolute winner .

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.