One Good Turn

I had picked up "Case Histories" last week and was absolutely mesmerized by not just the characters and mystery, but by her fluid writing and timeshifting narrative. While it was interesting to catch up with the characters from that story, this didn't nearly have the character development or cohesive storyline of the first novel, but that could be due to this only being available in the dreaded abridged format. The narrator is not nearly good as Susan Jameson, but he does a decent job (even if his default accent sounds like someone british trying to do a vaguely American accent, even though there are no American characters in the book.

I did not notice that this was abridged when I downloaded it. Having just finished listening to Atkinson's wonderfully vibrant Case Histories, I couldn't believe how dull the characters in this book were and how flat the story. Then I noticed the word "abridged." I checked out the full length book on CD from my local library, downloaded it and listened. You want to know how they cut an almost 11 hour story down to 5? They take out all character development. You know, the stuff that make you care about the characters? Their history, the things that allow you to become emotionally engaged...This is a great story and the narration, both the abridged and unabridged, are spot on.

I won't be fooled again. Avoid the abridged version like the plague.

Kate Atkinson is a wonderful writer and I've listened to all her other books. But this abridgement eliminates the richness of the writing, leaving behind only a fast-forward series of plot elements. Not worth the money.

Kate Atkinson never lets you down. Such clever writing, sometimes sad and tender and other times gets your heart pounding. The BBC television series that went with Case Histories is awesome too.

Listening during my commute, I found the story absorbing and the narration good. My only criticism is of the use of music between one section and the next. Neither the deft storytelling nor the effective narration needed the music, which I found mildly annoying.

I have listened to all of her other books (which I really liked) and this one was a disappointment. Story not as good and didn't really care for the narration. And hated the awful music tracks added to the beginning and ending of every chapter.

Starts slow, but the story picks up as the book goes on