Big Sky

By: Kate Atkinson

Narrated by: Jason Isaacs

Length: 11 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's Summary

Iconoclastic Detective Jackson Brodie returns in a triumphant new novel about secrets, sex, and lies. 

Jackson Brodie has relocated to a quiet seaside village, in the occasional company of his recalcitrant teenage son and an aging Labrador, both at the discretion of his ex-partner Julia. It's picturesque, but there's something darker lurking behind the scenes.

Jackson's current job, gathering proof of an unfaithful husband for his suspicious wife, is fairly standard-issue, but a chance encounter with a desperate man on a crumbling cliff leads him into a sinister network - and back across the path of his old friend Reggie. 

Old secrets and new lies intersect in this breathtaking novel by one of the most dazzling and surprising writers at work today.

©2019 Kate Atkinson (P)2019 Hachette Audio

Critic Reviews

"Narrator Jason Isaacs (who starred in the 'Case Histories' TV series) is the perfect match for this multifaceted story. His confident and polished delivery allows both the wit in the writing and the tension of the plot to come together. His accents sound authentic, and he creates believable characters, including young females of different nationalities." (AudioFile Magazine)

"Ms. Atkinson writes passages that simply have to be read twice, once when you first travel through the book and then later, when you want to see just how she tricked you.... Ms. Atkinson remains a wonderful stylist and Grade A schemer.... She was never confined to the crime genre, has written in assorted other modes and excels at them all. Whatever she goes on to write, she leaves Jackson Brodie at a suspenseful and pivotal moment. Future installments are well worth waiting for." (Janet Maslin, New York Times) 

Well Done!

I almost passed on this novel, having read some underwhelming reviews. If I’m not mistaken, there’s been quite a gap between novels so I had forgotten details of the characters. Kate Atkinson writes some of the most amusing language of any author I read. I found myself laughing out loud throughout. I suppose some of the naysayers just wanted to get to the meat of the mystery. I suspect said naysayers simply don’t have a sense of humor!

Flawless

Wonderful! The only improvement? Too long a hiatus between Jackson Brodie novels. I dreaded it being over; I kept reassuring myself that I could always start re-listening again immediately. It can certainly be read as a stand-alone, and yet the references to earlier Brodie works does lead me to want to want re-read those first, out of a nostalgic longing. Such amazing writing! So many important issues painted so clearly. And Atkinson so successfully portrays enough of the inner thoughts of the characters that it gives the reader sufficient flavor of the internal world of so many of the players , innocent and not so innocent. And the reader did a just-right fantastic job.

Welcome back, Jackson Brody.

I love the character. I love the writing. The subtleties of humor were hard to appreciate in the audio format. I also bought the Kindle version so I could enjoy this book to the maximum.

Highly Entertaining, Wonderfully Narrated

This book is fun, fun, fun. Fast-paced story-telling, zippy dialogue, colourful characters and a rollicking plot keep one entertained. And Jason Isaacs is simply marvellous.

Oddly Unsatisfying

I have read all the other Brodie books at least twice and was eager to read this next book. The writing in this book is brilliant, equal to the previous four but I am unsatisfied with the plot(s) and pseudo resolutions. The book feels a bit tired and Brodie's wheel spinning with life---especially with women---is almost boring.

Engaging read

Kate Atkinson is a marvelous author with a gift for language and a profound insight into human nature.
In this story full of characters, she explores the meaning of human existence , through the lives of these characters; some good, some bad and some just trying to make it through to the end.
You often will not know where she is going with the story, but please keep with it. You will be richly rewarded; as the story develops you will see that all the “coincidences “ come together at the end with a few unexpected twists.

Entertaining But Flawed

I've enjoyed the Jackson Brodie character but this book asks us to accept massive coincidences as reasonable. The mystery is resolved far too conveniently. That said, the reader is excellent and I enjoyed the author's descriptions of Whidby and environs.

Horrible

I have been fmdriving about four hours and CANNOT tell you what the HELL this book is about!! I feel like all I have done is listen to my father in law ramble on incessantly (it’s all he does) next to me in the car! I’m ready to rip my face off. Deleting

Stay with it

I had a hard time keeping up through chapter 8 with all the names and such. The book takes off after that. Glad I stuck it out.

Jackson is Back!’

I love all Kate Atkinson boons, but I’m particularly fond of the Jackson Brodie series. I found myself laughing out loud often despite the grim crimes in the background of it. The book is not about the crime as much as about the nature of people. I didn’t want it to end.