Started Early, Took My Dog

A Novel

By: Kate Atkinson

Narrated by: Graeme Malcolm

Length: 12 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

Waterhouse leads a quiet, ordered life as a retired police detective - a life that takes a surprising turn when she encounters Kelly Cross, a habitual offender, dragging a young child through town. Both appear miserable and better off without each other - or so decides Tracy, in a snap decision that surprises herself as much as Kelly.

Suddenly burdened with a small child, Tracy soon learns her parental inexperience is actually the least of her problems, as much larger ones loom for her and her young charge.

Meanwhile, Jackson Brodie, the beloved detective of novels such as Case Histories, is embarking on a different sort of rescue - that of an abused dog. Dog in tow, Jackson is about to learn, along with Tracy, that no good deed goes unpunished.

©2010 Kate Atkinson (P)2011 Hachette Audio

Pay Attention--and Stick With It

The title of this book has a whimsical sound to it--kind of like a fun romp through the day with the pup. In fact, it is a story about normal lives that sometimes take tragic turns that make it impossible to go back no matter how much they might want to.

Don't get me wrong, though. Overall this was not a sad or depressing tale--but it could have been were it not for the expert subtle handling of each character by Kate Atkinson and the superb narration by Graeme Malcolm. Sometimes I actually laughed out loud.

I note other reviews that indicate "couldn't finish" or "hard to follow" and I agree this could be the case if you don't make an effort to pay attention early on. It gets much easier to put things together as it progresses--and you will be rewarded with some rich dialogue if you hang in there.

Sure there are a lot of people to keep straight--a Tracy, Tilly, Courtney, Jackson, another Jackson, Linda, Kitty, etc. They each have a role to play and are crucial to the outcome. If you liked this author's other works, I think you will like this one. Even though the detective has appeared in previous books, this is not really a series which must be read from the first. It might help, but not necessary.

Thoroughly enjoyed and recommended!

Dog Saves Man

Abused child and dog rescued. Good people win. Loved the book. However, I've listened to many books narrated by Graeme Malcolm, and just wish he wouldn't sing song so much.

Not her best, but still...

This took a while to get into but once Jackson Brodie appeared I was hooked. The story is okay, but I don't read Kate Atkinson for that. She slays me with her dry wit and keen observations of the fragile webs we weave as we move through a very gray moral landscape.

Could listen to this again and again

There's nothing more delicious than Graeme Malcolm reading this novel, especially when character Tracy Waterhouse is in the scene. I am stunned by the humanity that Atkinson and Malcolm together create -- with her amazing writing and Malcolm's ability to capture every nuance of meaning. The plot is complex, but it's the individual moments that are so rich.

good book--droning narrator

It makes me terribly sad to give a Jackson Brodie novel by Kate Atkinson less than 5 stars, but the narrator nearly ruined it for me. His voice did not change for any of the characters, nor did his pitch or inflection ever vary from a near monotone. I gave up listening and went to my local bookstore to buy the hard copy, which was wonderful (although not as good as When Will There Be Good News? or One Good Turn). I can't imagine why the publisher went with a narrator other than Ellen Archer, who read WWTBGN. She was spectacular. Graeme Malcolm wasn't. Kate Atkinson does lovely plot twists and I really like what she has been doing with Jackson and his delayed cultural growth--reading poetry, going to museums, attending the theatre. I did miss the tension between Jackson and Louise, so I am hoping that the end of this book is not just a tease.

Listened in spite of the narrator

Kate Atkinson writes excellent stories with well developed characters, quirks, random twists and passages with always an intriguing tale. Love her books. The narrator here made it difficult to understand with my having to go back numerous times to clearly get the message. Annoying. Still a good story and good listen.

Completely absorbing story, outstanding narration

Kate Atkinson does it again. She zooms in on the minor daily irritations characters endure, or the mini-catastrophes they fight, in a semi-stream of consciousness style. When I first read her books, I was puzzled why so many, apparently completely unrelated people, had the most minute attention given to episodes in their lives. But as I continued to read, or listen, as in this case—all eventually becomes clear, but the connections still astonished me. Her writing is completely absorbing. More than once, I sat in my driveway, listening to that one last bit. Graeme Malcolm’s narration is masterful. I saw this novel unfold as much as I heard it—and much credit goes to him for his performance.

A bit dark

I liked the other books better as this one was a dark tale that made me sad. I felt sorry for so many of the characters except the dog and Courtney. However, being a fan of Kate’s writing and a fan of Jackson Brody, I’ll continue reading.

for the want of a nail ...

There aren't many books I would care to listen to again, but long before it was over - I knew I'd want to hear it again.

The stories of the characters are unraveled and re-woven with subtle twists that allow you to be come a secret witness to events and inside participant to the story!

The narrator's voice was perfect pairing to the author's tone of understated humor & intelligence in the story telling.

Kudos to Tilly! I will miss her the most.

Good not great

This is a good beach read, a book in between other great books to slow down but entertain the brain, or just one because you like interweaving tales. I haven't recommended it to a lot of friends which is the telling sentiment, but it still put a smile on my face.