I know Kate Atkinson is brilliant so I’m going to have to take the blame for not liking this book. Maybe I just didn’t try hard enough to keep all the many characters in my head or perhaps the time shift was just a step too far for me. Whatever the reason I was totally lost somewhere around the half way mark.

Another cleverly plotted novel from Kate Atkinson, this time involving fine art theft, a crumbling stately home and a murder mystery party. There are a lot of characters to keep track of, one of whom goes by several names, so the reader does need to concentrate a bit (Don't read it when you're tired!!). That being said, it is another triumph and has made me want to go back and re-read all of the Jackson Brodie books. As always, highly recommended.

I really enjoyed this novel, even though there were a lot of characters and scenarios involved, so you have to concentrate at times . I found the middle of the book slowed down a bit, but the writing was both whimsical and also comedic at times - another great book from Kate Atkinson. Thoroughly recommended.

It's been a while since I read a Jackson Brodie story so it was lovely to catch up with him. This is absolutely delightful, silly in places, a gentle humour running all the way through and a great cast of characters.

Lovely to revisit Jackson Brody but I did find the story a bit confusing at first. Very many characters and different strands of the story which eventually married up. The story began to turn into a farce towards the end BUT the humour - and there was much to laugh out loud about - made this an entertaining book. There were some very interesting characters whose stories were intriguing - well written.
Three and a half stars for me.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Kate Atkinson/Random House UK for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

What can I say except that Kate Atkinson has done it again. This novel feels like an homage to Agatha Christie, just with Jackson Brodie at the helm! Sharp, funny, wonderful.

I absolutely love the Jackson Brodie novels, so of course I was incredibly excited to get to read and review Kate Atkinson’s latest release, Death at the Sign of the Rook.

I soon realised this is quite a different novel from the others in the series. The mystery element rather takes a back seat, I felt. Jackson is called to investigate a missing painting, but for me this aspect of the story didn’t really interest me much so I didn’t hugely care about the progress for Jackson there. This is unusual for me as I would normally find myself drawn in the most by any element of mystery in a plot, but in this novel, the array of characters provided more entertainment than the mystery.

We‘re following a strange mix of people, many of whom seem to be plucked straight out of a golden age crime novel - Kate Atkinson is definitely nodding to this genre heavily, with the incredibly wealthy old lady, a vicar, a housekeeper who may or may not be who she says she is, and the jaded Detective Jackson Brodie himself. I enjoyed the references to other writers too, which popped up throughout the novel.

There’s also a lot of humour in this novel - much more than previous books in the series. The focus is on the interactions between the characters but because there are so many characters I lost track of who was who quite a lot which meant the middle section of the book dragged on for me. So it didn't end up being my favourite Jackson Brodie novel, because the standard is so high, but an enjoyable, entertaining read all the same.

Still, it's a fresh, different kind of release in this series and die-hard fans of the Jackson Brodie books are bound to enjoy it!

Another satisfying read from Kate Atkinson .
Jackson Brodie is asked to look for a missing painting , and missing paintings is a thread throughout the book.
There’s murder mystery and a sprinkling of a Downton Abbey added into the mix .
I really enjoy reading the escapades that Jackson Brodie finds himself in and the character of Reggie is a likeable and believable one too .
The story is peppered with humour and I love the way that Atkinson pulls all the threads together .
A funny and intelligent read !
Looking forward to Brodie’s next case .
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers.

Another fantastic read from Kate Atkinson. Like many, she is my go-to author, and I am never disappointed. This was a change of style, but it hit the mark and was a very satisfying read. Following Jackson Brodie is a joy, and looking forward to the next instalment


With many thanks to Netgalley and Doubleday for the ARC

I absolutely adored this book.. Firstly, I should let you know that I have not read any of the previous Jackson Brodie novels (I know, I'm ashamed of myself). 

It is a cosy mystery with characters that suggest your typical Cluedo characters, who are more complex than that.  I loved hearing the stories develop from different perspectives, the way time did a wee bit of jumping about, the variety of relationships. Plus, there were parts that were so funny!  What a joyful mixed bag of a book.

The denoument could only happen in fiction as observed by some of the characters from the book, but it was a proper page turning, engaging, entertaining conclusion.

I'm definitely going back to the beginning of Jackson's story, but I would recommend this book to people who haven't dabbled yet.  This is my 3rd Kate Atkinson, and she is a chameleon of a writer.  Each book has been completely different but equally compelling and well written.  I can't wait to see what I choose next.

Lots of humour, lots of Jackson Brodie and a clever inventive mystery with a none too subtle nod to the "Country House Murder" genre. Fans of Jackson Brodie will enjoy this book in the series, but it is a good place to start for anyone who has not read any of the series so far. There is a clever plot and the book is a real page turner - though with laughs.

Kate Atkinson is one of my go-to authors and it was Jackson Brodie who introduced me to her in Case Studies. In an interview with Waterstones she said she never thinks of herself as a crime writer. I don’t think of her as a crime writer. I think of her as a writer of literary fiction, and in the Jackson Brodie series, literary fiction which features a detective. Her writing is of the highest calibre and her characters are a work of art.

Brodie fans have waited many years for his return and I was just happy to be back in his company again. He’s older, now a grandfather but he’s still our Brodie. The novel starts off with several threads. Brodie is on the hunt for missing art. Simon is a vicar who has lost his faith; Ben has lost his leg and Lady Milton has lost her companion. We know that their stories will converge somewhere …

I am always 100% confident that Poirot, or Sherlock or Miss Marple will solve the case. I don’t think I’d put a bet on Brodie solving it - he’s solved enough cases to be in employment but he inhabits a messy world - personal and professional - his techniques are slightly less honed; he cuts corners and breaks rules. There’s an edginess which adds to the tension but also some gorgeous humour. He had me in stitches when he visits a funeral parlour incognito and is asked his name - Patrick Padgett ‘He was improvising. He should have rehearsed his role. It sounded like it belonged in a tongue-twister.’ And there’s some gorgeous and oh so funny interactions between Brodie and Reggie, his reluctant police contact.

This is book 6 of the series and it’s like a school reunion with names familar names popping up all, and I am feeling the pull to go back to the start and read them all again.

With many thanks to Netgalley and Doubleday for my copy of this wonderful read.

"In Ben's opinion, if you spent too long trying to look on the bright side you eventually became dazzled and couldn't see anything properly at all."

Private detective Jackson Brodie is investigating the disappearance of a Renaissance painting of unknown value or origin, following the death of an old woman. Her children are accusing her carer, who has since disappeared. Several years ago his former colleague, DC Reggie Chase investigated the theft of the aristocratic Milton family's last remaining valuable painting, ostensibly by their housekeeper. Could the two thefts be connected?

At the same time, Lady Milton's son is determined to keep their crumbling manor going, first by turning part of it into a hotel, and then, by hosting a murder mystery evening, Agatha Christie-style. But as a snowstorm hits the area, Jackson and Chase find themselves unwittingly drawn into the game which descends into a comedy of errors, and soon, fact and fiction become intertwined, as a murderous convict escapes a prison nearby.

This is by far the most fun Jackson Brodie mystery I have read. There are multiple viewpoints ranging from Jackson and Reggie's to Lady Milton's, the local vicar, and a retired army officer, an archetypal cast for a classic whodunit. Each character is a delight in their own way.

The writing is sharp, incisive and searingly witty. I found myself chuckling several times at the satirical elements of the story with the author taking the classic crime genre and turning it on its head. I think this would make for a brilliant piece of theatre.

A delight.

Well, Jackson Brodie is back with a bang. What a wonderful read. A thoroughly enjoyable conundrum you will enjoy solving alongside Jackson.
Brodie is taxed with finding a thief who walked away with a painting under the noses of the two new owners .These are recently berevied brother and sister who seem to care little about their dead mother and more about keeping the painting theft secret. Brodie is clearly suspicious of their motives and his consequent research leads him to a run down country house with the pre requisent dysfunctional family in residence. The local community contain a brilliant cast of characters ranging from a disillusioned cleric with no voice, a reovering army veteran and an ecentric dowager with a penchant for shotguns. They each play a part in solving the thefts . Throw in an escaped dangerous convict and a master of disguise and you have a fantastic retelling of a classic country house mystery. . Atkinson's prose is wonderful and her characters brilliant. Another triumph which will leave you smiling.

Gripping - both in terms of the story arc and the storytelling.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The subject - art theft - was carefully covered, not an overwhelm of detail but sufficient to understand the complexity of the crime, and the various drivers.
The characters were beautifully fleshed out, with their private thoughts and public actions combining to create a whole, rounded, recognisable person. I need to go back and find the earlier books in the series, to get a better grip on backstories, but this really isn't necessary to really enjoy this story, which stands alone, peopled with quirky, entertaining, some pathetic, some nasty, some sad, some grasping, some wonderful, characters. Little vignettes that lift us away from the main story arc don't contribute to the end tale, but have value of their own.
I absolutely recommend.

4.5 of 5 stars
https://lynns-books.com/2024/08/21/review-death-at-the-sign-of-the-rook-by-kate-atkinson/
My Five Word TL:DR Review: Fantastic Characters meet Murder Mystery

Kate Atkinson is an author that I really like, I haven’t actually read all her Brodie books but did read the first few pre blogging and enjoyed them and so couldn’t resist the description for this one.

This story brings to us a range of quirky and eccentric characters, a murder that takes place in a manor house whilst the lord of the manor is actually holding a murder mystery party.

There is some set up for this before we get to the murdering and sleuthing that takes place in and around the grounds of Burton Makepeace. The story brings to us Jackson Brodie, an ex-cop turned private detective. He’s taken a case about a stolen painting. At the same time another case comes to his attention which seems to share very similar traits. Could this be the same person. Basically, Brodie enlists the help of a former colleague – who you could call his sidekick as he is usually one step ahead and the two start searching for clues.

Now, firstly, picking this up I thought we would fairly soon be ensconced at the cumbling manor house with a storm keeping the residents and guests hostage. However, this isn’t quite the case, there is some detective work that takes place before hand and also an introduction to a number of the more standout characters This is in no way a criticism as Atkinson is an absolute wonder at drawing her characters and giving you some fantastic favourites to plump for. And, any patience you exercise beforehand will be well rewarded as the scenes at Burton Makepeace are so good. There’s an almost comedic element to certain scenes and that coupled with the ever so quintessential British eccentricity of some of the characters makes this a really engaging read.

To be honest I don’t really want to say too much because of spoilers and the desire not to ruin the read for others.

What I will say is the writing is wonderful. The pacing takes a little time to pick up but I think it’s worth the wait and the characters are really good.

I have to give a little shout out to the Dowager who absolutely stole the show for me. Brodie and DC Reggie Chase make a fantastic team and you know that you’re enjoying a book when you seriously start to worry about any harm coming to the main characters. Fortunately this is quite a cosy read although it wouldn’t be a murder mystery without any bodies now would it?

I had such a good time with this. A murder mystery. A positively Christie style guest list, the vicar, the Dowager, the Army Major, a pack of invited guests expecting a thrilling evening of murder mystery shenanigans, little expecting that a real murder has actually taken place, and a detective and his sidekick arriving to the party just in the nick of time. Did I mention that there’s an escaped criminal on the loose and an intense storm that gives the proceedings a locked room feel? Well, there you go then.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

Death at the Sign of The Rook is Kate Atkinson at her best! I loved this book which had a really playful feel about it. There is more than a hint of Agatha Christie about it with a crumbling stately home, eccentric aristocrats, missing art-works, a crazed criminal on the loose, a vicar who has lost the power of speech and a group of actors putting on a murder mystery weekend. Of course, there’s a snow storm whirling around too so everyone is snowed in and there’s a real closed door feel to the book.

Although there are many serious themes tackled in the book such as grief, loss and post-traumatic stress disorder, there’s always that lightness of touch which I feel is a trademark of Atkinson’s writing. . She has achieved that balance of dark and light so well in this novel.

I loved meeting Reggie again who first appeared in Blue Sky with her side-kick Ronnie. I said at the time I’d love to read more about these two and although Ronnie gets a brief mention, this is Reggie’s time to shine. I hope that she features in any future Jackson Brodie novels and Kate Atkinson did hint that she did have more plans for Jackson.

This a very clever book with many different characters and storylines which are all intricately linked together. It did take me a wee while to get the various characters straight in my head but once I did, I really appreciated what a cleverly constructed book this is. I realise that I have barely mentioned Jackson but he is of course, integral to the book and reading about him feels like catching up with an old friend again.

Death at the Sign of the Rook is fast-paced, fun and hugely entertaining. It feels like an affectionate nod to the Golden Age of crime writing and is an excellent addition to the Jackson Brodie series and indeed to Kate Atkinson’s body of work.

A country house, a snowstorm, and a cast of characters including a vicar, an Army major, a Dowager, a detective, and his sidekick. It sounds like a rather dull cliche but this is Kate Atkinson so of course it isn't.
As well as the wonderful array of characters, this story is fast-paced, humorous, and entertaining, with witty observations that highlight Atkinson's skill at detailing the fascinating minutiae of people's lives.
I love Kate Atkinson's work, and this book does not disappoint.
With thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for an ARC.

The opportunity to read a new Kate Atkinson/Jackson Brodie novel was too good to pass up. I managed to squeeze it into my August read and review list and am glad I did.

To begin with, this is nothing like the previous Jackson Brodie stories and , yes, it did seem a little slow to start with. It opens with a gathering of individuals (including Jackson), in the library of a large house, reminiscent of a scene from an Agatha Christie novel. We then catch up with him interviewing two new clients, in the house of their recently deceased mother, where a painting has been stolen.

Gradually we are introduced to a collection of other characters and given a quite detailed background for each. I assumed such detail meant they would become quite important to the plot, and of course they do. They are the individuals who become trapped during a snow storm with Brodie and DC Reggie Chase, when they end up at Burton Makepeace as part of their investigation, which happens to coincide with the weekend a murder/mystery is being held there. In anyone else’s hands this could easily have become boring, but Kate Atkinson injects such clever observation and humour into these ‘biographies’ that it not only makes for amusing reading, it gives more depth to each character. These bios are interspersed with Jackson’s progress on the case in hand, and coupled with his own amusing ponderings. He is reunited with Chase, who is working on a similar case and when they all get together things get even more interesting.

It's a delightful read – humour, mystery, murder…it has everything to keep a reader fully entertained and I can highly recommend it..

My thanks to Penguin Random House, the author and Netgalley for an ARC of Death at the Sign of the Rook in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve read quite a lot of Kate Atkinson books but never any of her Jackson Brodie novels. That didn’t seem to matter too much, though I’m sure there were probably details of his character that I missed as a result.

I really enjoyed this book and I suspect I’ll read more of the Jackson Brodie novels as a result. The plotting was good and I enjoyed the multiple points of view. There were lots of red herrings and a pleasingly complete ending. It’s also very funny and well observed.

As others have said, I suspect there was probably one pov too many. Some of them didn’t seem to serve much purpose.