One Good Turn
A Novel
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4.0 • 410 Ratings
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- $2.99
Publisher Description
A beautiful summer day turns violent when a crowd witnesses a sudden act of extreme road rage where a tap on a fender triggers a nearly homicidal attack, leading one of the bystanders—Jackson Brodie, ex-cop, ex-private detective, new millionaire—to take on the case.
The event thrusts Jackson into the orbit of the wife of an unscrupulous real estate tycoon, a washed-up comedian, a successful crime novelist, a mysterious Russian woman, and a female police detective. Each of them hiding a secret, each looking for love or money or redemption or escape, they all play a role in driving Jackson out of retirement and into the middle of several mysteries that intersect in one sinister scheme.
Kate Atkinson "writes such fluid, sparkling prose that an ingenious plot almost seems too much to ask, but we get it anyway," writes Laura Miller for Salon. With a keen eye for the excesses of modern life, a warm understanding of the frailties of the human heart, and a genius for plots that turn and twist, Atkinson has written a novel that delights and surprises from the first page to the last.
Customer Reviews
Tortuous
Kate Atkinson’s One Good Turn, the second book in the Jackson Brodie series, is a masterful blend of crime, humor, and intricate storytelling. Set during the vibrant Edinburgh Festival, the novel begins with a shocking road rage incident that spirals into a web of interconnected lives, including ex-detective Jackson Brodie, a meek crime writer, and a disillusioned housewife. Atkinson’s richly drawn characters and sharp wit shine as she explores themes of greed, secrets, and human frailty. Although the characters are well developed, following them is like driving a car with a broken suspension on a bumpy country road. It was difficult to keep track of all the characters despite their rich development. While the plot relies on coincidences, its clever twists and emotional depth make it a compelling and satisfying read.
Keeps you thinking
The complexity keeps you enthralled in the converging storyline!
A lot of work
For very little pay. The story is slow and detailed so the suspense gets lost. She is a good writer just not a good storyteller.