When Will There Be Good News? (Jackson Brodie Series #3)

Great Literary Thriller

Joanna Hunter, witness to a horrendous crime when she was six, is living a quiet, well-ordered life, until a killer is released from jail. 'When Will There Be Good News' revolves around this central story, but if you think this is an ordinary crime novel, think again! This is the third book in the Jackson Brodie series and when Jackson is around things never go as expected. He is an ex-cop turned private investigator who never really means to do the right thing, but can't seem to stop himself. And doing the right thing, for Jackson, somehow always lands him in hot water. I was pleased to see that Louise, a detective with a heart of gold and emotions of steel, is back. She always gives Jackson a run for his money! I was absolutely charmed by Reggie, mother's helper to Joanna, Sadie, Joanna's loyal (and huge) dog, and by Joanna herself. I can't wait to see if any of them are back in the next book! I listened to the audio version of 'When Will There Be Good News' and Ellen Archer's (2007 Audie Award winner) lovely accent and beautiful characterizations add even more depth to this already fantastic book. A fast paced, intelligent, complex plot, deliciously flawed characters, and truly evil villains make this book a must read!

10 out of 11 people found this review helpful.

Don't miss this book!

The blurb of When Will There Be Good News? piqued my interest, but the first few pages had me hooked.

The novel opens to a scene of violence and loss and gives us six-year-old Joanna Mason's third person account of the day that she lost her family. Somehow, despite the details of the day and Joanna's youth, we get a sense of the woman that she becomes. Admirable, strong, courageous, and simpatico.

The other women characters are similarly compelling and parts of the story is told in the third person but from their points of view. There's Reggie who seems to be stalked by death. Brilliant, she did well academically at the horrible posh school where she'd been awarded a scholarship. But socially, the school was a disaster for Reggie. When freed from her mother's watchful eye, Reggie trades school for two jobs and private tutoring of sorts. Reggie's favorite place is at Dr. Hunter's home, with the baby, Dr. Hunter and the dog. Clean, full of light, warm and welcoming, it is where Reggie feels most useful and at home.

The organized, well-read, caring, and efficient Dr. Hunter seems a strange match with her dodgy husband in the "entertainment business". But while Reggie and Detective Chief Inspector Louise Monroe may shake their heads, love is a strange business. When you're among those that Dr. Hunter loves, you bask in the warmth of her affection. She'll phone to speak to baby and to the dog. Accomplished but not vain, Dr. Hunter is an "all rounder" - an athlete, musician, gifted doctor, cherished mother, wife, and friend. Her judgement in all things, excepting her husband, seems unimpeachable.

Through the character and point of view of Detective Chief Inspector Louise Monroe, the book moves towards the tradition of the British detective novels. Centered on work to the detriment of her marriage and social life, DCI Monroe reminds us that When Will There Be Good News? is a detective thriller and mystery. As DCI Monroe and Reggie work to piece together the mystery of Dr. Hunter's disappearance, the tension rises and leads us to a satisfying end.

I thoroughly enjoyed When Will There Be Good News? I laughed, cried, couldn't put it down. If you like detective novels, give it a try. This book is great for a long trip, a cold afternoon or whenever you're looking for a fully satisfying read! Plus, it comes out in paperback on Jan. 10. I'm so glad to have discovered Kate Atkinson.

Publisher: Back Bay Books; Reprint edition (January 11, 2010), 416 pages.
ISBN-10: 0316012831
Review copy provided by the publish

4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Good Mystery

This is my first Kate Atkinson book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I liked her writing style and her ability to make you care about the characters (at least the main ones). I do agree with some of the other reviewers in that there were too many extraneous characters. This book is best read in a short period of time. If you put it down for a day or two you can kind of lose track of who is who.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Acceptable but not outstanding.

The story line is a tad convoluted and slow...but readable. The 16 year old nanny...Reggie...often brought "Pippa" of Robert Brownings' "Pippa Passes" to mind...but that didn't improve my critique. The book filled some reading time before my next stack of literary accomplishments arrived. I wouldn't read it again but that's a very personal opinion. To me...it was a humdrum novel.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Childhood Mystery Returns

Read the first twelve pages of When Will There Be Good News? By Kate Atkinson, and I predict that you will continue reading to the last page. The story begins with a tale of childhood and an explosion of violence, and continues years later, as the present intersects with the past.
Sixteen year old Reggie steals the show with her charm, wit and courage ; Jackson Brodie, Detective Inspector Louise Monroe, and Dr. Joanna Hunter have key roles to play, and charm of their own.
Several stories interweave and the reader needs to pay attention. David Needler is a violent husband, Neil Hunter a cypher of a husband, and Andrew Decker a madman, all with key roles to play.
Sadie the dog plays her part, as does Reggie¿s criminal brother Billie, and her eccentric tutor and friend Ms. MacDonald. All in all, a satisfying and well written novel.
The charismatic Jackson Brodie starred in two earlier novels, and now I am drawn to read her other books.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Another good read by Kate

Kate has a unique style. I've enjoyed the Jackson Brodie series. Better have a tablet reader,unless you can remember a bunch of names!
Keep writing,Kate. Thank you for the entertainment.

A Student's Persective When WIll There Be Goods was an interesti

A Student's Persective
When WIll There Be Goods was an interesting mystery, but do to the fact that I do not like mysteries that much this book did not make a huge impression on me. A little girl witnesses a murder...ok. I believe that I could not credit this book in a mannerally way do to the fact that i do not like mysteries and that i read this book before the other two not knowing it was a serious. This book has it's main audience of thrill seeking "don't know what will happen" type of audience, but that is just not me. It wasn't a horrible book, but not a book that makes me want to read it again like many others that i have read.

The one good thing about this book is...

...the fact that I know now not to buy anything else by this author. I get that it is British, so it felt at times like trying to do a crossword puzzle, trying to figure out what words meant. A few of the characters I liked, so really was determined to finish and unravel the mystery. The story had its ups and downs. I wish there was someone I knew who'd read it to ask about some characters I can't quite piece together...parts of the book were so, so confusing, and who likes to be left with unanswered questions after investing time in reading hundreds of pages. 2 thumbs down. :0(

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Surprised

It was a very, very good book.

Rivetting!

This is a real page-turner. The characters are well-developed, and the story is very compelling. I have read other books by this author and really enjoy her writing style, but I liked this book much better than Case Histories. The character of Reggie Chase is great. Very enjoyable!

Interesting and Witty

One of my favorites by this author.

I would recommend this highly.

I love Kate Atkinson's books, especially the Jackson Brodie Series.
Her style of writing is offbeat, irreverent at times and mesmerizing.
Jackson's character is one reader's can identify with, especially women. These books are more than good mysteries, they are good literature. One of the main characters,Reggie,the Scottish teenage nanny, makes you want to know someone like her. At times the writing from her perspective reminds me of the young characters in Martha Grimes early stories,funny, yet wise and serious beyond their years.

Witty and poignant

It is british for heavens sake. U have to like that. It is all abt introspection and chance intersections.

Disappointing

I am a fan of Kate Atkinson and her writing style but this book didn't work for me. Unlike her other books, the characters in this one didn't grab me. I didn't find Joanna Mason's adult character believable, particularly when compared to the child she was at the start of the story. I found Reggie's character a little bland and it took forever to lead to why she even mattered so much.

Overall, there were too many characters doing different things that we were only given snippets of. There were a lot of words but not much going on. When things did happen, it was all sadness. I skimmed over some parts and wondered where the detail was for others. For me, the entire mood of the story was melancholy disarray.

slow going

I was very disappointed in this book. The title intrigued me and I was really looking forward to a good read. The storyline really dragged along and though I tried to stay with it for over 150 pages, i just could not finish. I hate to move a book into the archives that I have not finished, but other books on my list were 'calling me' to get to them. I gave up on this book and regret buying it. Don't waste you time or money.

Couldn't get past page 50

I started this book months ago and read the first few chapters but am not interested at all. It is hard to follow. Still debating whether or not I will try it again.

Good read

New author for me. Did not know what to expect. Really liked it.

LOVED, LOVED, LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!!

WHAT A TREAT!!! I READ THIS BOOK IN ONE DAY AS i WAS SO ENGROSSED AND ENTERTAINED. I LOVED EACH OF THE VERY UNIQUE AND INTERESTING CHARACTERS! HOPE THE AUTHOR HAS A NEW CREATION TO RELEASE SOON! JOANNA

good read

good book

Fascinating from start to finish

One of the best mysteries of the past few years and a great Nookbook deal.If you like British mysteries and characters you can like and even admire,you can't go wrong here.