When Will There Be Good News?
A Novel
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4.1 • 485 Ratings
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
The third installment in Kate Atkinson's wildly beloved series of Jackson Brodie Mysteries: a complex tale of murder, coincidence, and connected lives.
On a hot summer day, Joanna Mason's family slowly wanders home along a country lane. A moment later, Joanna's life is changed forever...
On a dark night thirty years later, ex-detective Jackson Brodie finds himself on a train that is both crowded and late. Lost in his thoughts, he suddenly hears a shocking sound...
At the end of a long day, 16-year-old Reggie is looking forward to watching a little TV. Then a terrifying noise shatters her peaceful evening. Luckily, Reggie makes it a point to be prepared for an emergency...
These three lives come together in unexpected and deeply thrilling ways in the latest novel from Kate Atkinson, the critically acclaimed author who Harlan Coben calls "an absolute must-read."
"As a reader, I was charmed. As a novelist, I was staggered by Kate Atkinson's narrative wizardry." -- Stephen King
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In Atkinson's stellar third novel to feature ex-cop turned PI Jackson Brodie (after One Good Turn), unrelated characters and plot lines collide with momentous results. On a country road, six-year-old Joanna Mason is the only survivor of a knife attack that leaves her mother and two siblings dead. Thirty years later, after boarding the wrong train in Yorkshire, Brodie is almost killed when the train crashes. He's saved by 16-year-old Regina "Reggie" Chase, the nanny of Dr. Joanna Hunter, n e Mason. In the chaos following the crash, Brodie ends up with the wallet of Andrew Decker, the recently released man convicted of murdering the Mason family. Enter DCI Louise Monroe, Brodie's former love interest, who's tracking Decker because of a recent case involving a similar family and crime. When Dr. Hunter disappears, Reggie is convinced she's been kidnapped and enlists the reluctant Brodie to track her down. A lesser author would buckle under so many story lines, but Atkinson juggles them brilliantly, simultaneously tying up loose ends from Turn and opening new doors for further Brodie misadventures.
Customer Reviews
Engaging
When Will There Be Good News? is the third novel in Kate Atkinson’s acclaimed Jackson Brodie series. Set in and around Edinburgh, the book masterfully intertwines multiple storylines and characters, delivering a suspenseful and emotionally resonant narrative that stands out within the modern crime genre.
The novel opens with a harrowing crime: six-year-old Joanna Mason is the sole survivor when her family is brutally murdered in the countryside. Thirty years later, Joanna—now Dr. Hunter—appears to have moved on, but the past resurfaces as her family’s killer is about to be released from prison. The plot weaves together the lives of:
• Jackson Brodie, the ex-detective whose personal and professional lives are in flux.
• Louise Monroe, a police detective with her own complicated relationships.
• Reggie, a resourceful and endearing sixteen-year-old orphan working as a nanny for Dr. Hunter.
The story is propelled by a series of coincidences and unexpected events, including a dramatic train crash that brings the characters together and sets off a chain of investigations into disappearances and possible crimes.
Atkinson’s strength lies in her ability to craft vivid, flawed, and wholly believable characters. Reggie, in particular, is widely celebrated as one of the most memorable and plucky protagonists in recent fiction—her resilience and intelligence make her the emotional heart of the novel. Jackson Brodie and Louise Monroe, both returning from previous books, are portrayed with depth and nuance, their lives intersecting in ways that feel both surprising and inevitable.
The novel explores themes of trauma, survival, regret, and the enduring impact of past choices—particularly in matters of love and family. Atkinson’s writing is often described as effortless and enchanting, blending suspense, dark humor, and poignant observations. The narrative is rich with coincidence, but Atkinson uses these moments to illuminate character motivations and to drive the plot in unexpected directions.
When Will There Be Good News? is a standout crime novel that transcends genre conventions through its compelling characters, intricate narrative, and emotional intelligence. It is best enjoyed as part of the Jackson Brodie series, but its central mysteries and character arcs are strong enough to engage new readers as well. Highly recommended for those who appreciate literary crime fiction with heart and complexity
When will there be good news
Excellent read
Good read
Some was a bit hard for me to translate, give my lack of understanding of the culture & geography, but it was a great story with solid characters.