Case Histories

A Novel

By: Kate Atkinson

Narrated by: Susan Jameson

Length: 10 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

Case One: A little girl goes missing in the night.

Case Two: A beautiful young office worker falls victim to a maniac's apparently random attack.

Case Three: A new mother finds herself trapped in a hell of her own making - with a very needy baby and a very demanding husband - until a fit of rage creates a grisly, bloody escape.

Thirty years after the first incident, as private detective Jackson Brodie begins investigating all three cases, startling connections and discoveries emerge.

©2004 Kate Atkinson (P)2005 BBC Audiobooks Ltd.

captivating story

i loved this book. i was fascinated by the stories and the structure of the novel, watching the characters and their stories unfold. when it ended, i so wanted it not to be over. the narration was excellent. lots of characters, but she managed to imbue them with enough individuality that a listener can easily follow. i'm looking for other works by this novelist for my library.

Structure That Drew Me In

Ms. Atkinson's writing is silky smooth constantly going down little lanes full of character details. I was totally drawn in to this book which is full of tension. The biggest tension is between the smooth, slow pace of the sentences and the feeling something big is just around the corner. When that big thing comes, it really isn't as big as the details of the characters' lives. For some readers, this is a let down; for me, this is an honest approach, very grounded, very real. I can't wait for more of Kate's voice.

One of the best audiobooks I've heard

I am always slightly puzzled by the mixed reviews on various books, and realize that everyone has different tastes. Having said that. however, I am a loss to understand why this book did not captivate everyone who read it. As other reviewers have stated, the structure of the book is ingenious. The characters are fascinating, and the ending has some surprises. Jackson Brody is not a typical hero, and the people who populate the book are eccentric and unpredictable. The narrator was flawless, and I was disappointed to discover that she only narrates one other Kate Atkinson book, and that only five of her books are even available on audio. One of them (the next book in this series) is only available in an abridged form. I've already bought the book in print form (well, actually for my Kindle - so Amazon gets my money in either case) and will hope for more Kate Atkinson books on audio, hopefully read by Susan Jameson.

Entertaining and well written

I had reservations about the way the book was structured at first but the author does a good job at tying it all together and delivering an interesting story overall. It was a little slow in parts but in general this is a good read.

Interesting Case Histories

I enjoyed the various mysteries and the way they were presented. The characters and their stories were well developed and interesting. I listened to this on audio and thought it was well narrated.

Beautiful writing and engaging stories

This was my first Kate Atkinson book and I enjoyed her style of writing very much.

As you probably know, the books consists of 3 stories/crimes that after 30 years, are being investigated by PI Brody as he looks into a possible connection between all of them.

The start of the book felt a little difficult to follow up but by the 2nd story the author starts putting all the pieces together and I found the conclusion satisfying, although perhaps the journey was more enjoyable than the destination.
I am not typically a reader that grumbles a lot about the ending of books so very rarely this is an issue for me, but I can see how the wrapping of Case Stories might not satisfy many readers.

Susan Jameson was a wonderful narrator and a perfect fit in my opinion for this audiobook.
I am not sure that I've heard more books narrated by her but I'll make sure to look up her name for others in the future.

Case Histories it's sort of a complex read but I found the writing beautiful & compelling so if you are into literary mysteries this might be a good option for you.

I am adding the other 3 books on the series to my long list of books to read/listen in 2015!!

Great fun read

What made the experience of listening to Case Histories the most enjoyable?

The author has a technique of telling the story then letting the characters tell the REAL story that is refreshing and entertaining.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Case Histories?

Learning the truth about the father of the four girls was a sad unexpected twist.

Have you listened to any of Susan Jameson’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This was my first listen to Susan Jameson. She is an excellent reader.

Excellent narrator elevates mystery

The narrator did an amazing job with a diverse group of characters, and she gave the story an even stronger emotional punch.

The structure of the plot and most of the characters were interesting, and the book dug into hard topics like parenthood, grief, and the impossibility of "closure." The two knocks I have on the story are that the third case history was treated like an afterthought (especially the sister), and the resolution of all of the mysteries at the end was kind of disconnected from everything that had come before. Overall a better literary novel than a tight mystery/detective story, but worth the short listen.

Intriguing

The stories were woven together like rich vines. I didn't want to press pause. The reader was so well suited.

All good but narrator

I liked the story a great deal, but the readers voice really grated after a while!