• When Will There Be Good News?

  • A Novel
  • By: Kate Atkinson
  • Narrated by: Ellen Archer
  • Length: 11 hrs and 18 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (1,536 ratings)

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When Will There Be Good News?  By  cover art

When Will There Be Good News?

By: Kate Atkinson
Narrated by: Ellen Archer
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Publisher's summary

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 30 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".

©2008 Kate Atkinson (P)2008 Hachette Audio

What listeners say about When Will There Be Good News?

Average customer ratings
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  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

My favorite Kate Atkinson yet

I've loved all of her books, but I've never fallen in love with her characters like I did in this one, especially Reggie. The ending was especially satisfying. As to the narrator's accent, I can appreciate those who are natives of the British Isles finding her accents irritating (I'm from New Orleans and readers who commit brutalities against those accents are maddening.) Non-Brits will surely enjoy Archer's narration, as I definitely did.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Shame about the narrator

I havent finished this book yet, but it is very engaging and enjoyable and I recommend atkinson fans download it asap HOWEVER that said - whilst the narrator is great when speaking in standard english, I can honestly say that she does the worst Scottish accent I have ever heard in my life - it is driving me nuts- am I the only person who has picked up on this!!!!! I'm sorry but dont people pick up on this when they interview for the narration job !

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Best one yet

I'm reading them in order, so can't speak to the later ones, but this is the best yet. Same beautiful writing, same fascinating women, same unmoored Brodie. Even more loose ends to fly together from all directions. And the narration is perfect. A real treat.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Such a loooonnnngggg book

Way too long. Pages and pages of boring backstory. This book would have better cut in half

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Love this writer

Atkinson starts with a mishmash of people's lives and slowly weaves them together. This book is simply enjoyable, start to end.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I love the Jackson Brodie books but...

Sadly, this one is hard to listen to because of the dreadful narration. There are so many narrators with excellent Scots accents I can’t understand why they would use Ellen Archer who sounds as though she’s choking on her own tongue!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Another awesome story from Kate Atkinson

Humor great characters triumph and females another wonderful book by Kate Atkinson Give it a listen you won’t be sorry

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Not my favorite Kate Atkinson

Kinda disappointing being that it is a Kate Atkinson novel. The writing is good, but the plot is just too convoluted: too many killers on the loose, too many victims of violence. It is true to its title; there is good news at the end, but, boy, I was exhausted by that time. Had it been any other author I might have given up half way through.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved this.

I felt like this just kept getting better and better and The end was the perfect finish.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Worst narrator ever!!!

This narrator is really bad at accents. First, they’re wrong. And second, they’re inconsistent - she switches mid sentence. I suspect even her main BBC accent for the main text isn’t her natural accent.

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