Should I read the Jackson Brodie books

[GrandChampionBestinDungeonPrincessDonut]

I read the latest Jackson Brodie book Death at the Sign of the Rook recently but I have not read any of the others.

I thought it was well written but a bit strange it was not what I expected from a detective story and I wondered if this was typical for a Jackson Brodie book.

The first half was very slow, there are a lot of characters and we spend time with each one individually getting to know them, being told their whole life story and following them around a bit. About halfway through the book changes completely and from that point it becomes a farce with lots more characters introduced, several of the characters floundering about in a snowstorm and stumbling across each other and then more floundering around in a country house.
The case that Jackson was investigating felt like a side plot, it was uninteresting and hardly and time was spent on it and he resolved it by happening to stumble across the criminal who explained it all to him but it made no sense why the criminal was even there (keeping it vague to avoid spoilers).

But the writing was good, Jackson and his friend in the police were my favourite characters and I am considering reading the others.
Is this book typical of the Jackson Brodie books or do you spend more time with him in the other books in the series. Also do they have more satisfying detective stories in them? Should I read them considering that I am not really a fan of this one?

I haven't read that one yet but have read the others and enjoyed them.

The first one is excellent (Case Histories). It's more literary fiction than your usual thriller. I think I read two more but they weren't as good. She's a lovely writer, though, so they are always going to be different from the usual crime fiction standard.

I like KA's novels, though the last one ('Shrines of Gaiety) was a disappointment. Loved 'Life After Life', have you read it? Don't think anything could ever measure up to that.

Could never make much headway with Jackson Brodie books, they do seem rambly and disjointed.

I thought the latest Jackson Brodie one was awful, but I suspect I will enjoy it more when I re-read.

The others are great.

I love the Jackson Brodie novels. I would definitely start at the beginning and read them in order.

They are really enjoyable in my opinion. They are literature than just crime novels, so if that would be your expectation then I would recalibrate.

I'd read them in order.

Also read life after life and a god in ruins

Personally I enjoyed shrines of gaiety and transcription although not her strongest

Did not enjoy big sky as I didn't remember everything about her last million books.

I love Kate Atkinson and can only recommend reading more of her.

I'm about to finish reading 'When Will There Be Good News' and I've found it quite hard going. There's a tremendous amount of backstory (until about the half way point) and some of the characters are tropes.

My kid studied it for A Level and I picked it up after she finished with it. In many respects I can understand why it's studied; it's one of those 'big' books with a lot of detail and a lot to sink your teeth into. Unfortunately, it's just not for me.

She's one of my favourite authors and I've met her in real life, she's lovely!

Death at the Sign of the Rook is not typical of the series. I personally enjoyed the others far more.

Life After Life is absolutely outstanding.

I love Behind The Scenes at The Museum. I have read all her other books and the Jackson Brodie books. I must admit I have been disappointed with her later books - you are right 'at the Sign of the Rook' is an odd book and I couldn't get on with 'Shrines of Gaiety'. I loved 'When will there be Good News'. She's a lovely writer just start at the beginning.

@GrandChampionBestinDungeonPrincessDonut Read Life After Life and then and only then A God in Ruins. I was distraught at the end of that.

I really like the idea of someone becoming an amazingly successful writer after failing their PhD...best revenge!

I have read all of the Jackson Brodie books and loved them. I read in order, I would say the last one was the weakest.
I am a huge Kate Atkinson fan.

MASSIVE Kate Atkinson fan here.

In my opinion, the best and not to be missed are:
-Life after Life
-Behind the Scenes at the Museum
-Case Histories
-Emotionally Weird
-Human Croquet (very under-rated)
-Not the End of the World (short stories)
-Big Sky

Really didn’t enjoy A God in Ruins, which surprised me. A couple of the Jackson Brodie books also run a little eccentric with over-dramatic plot twists, but I read the above over and over again as I just love them.

I also read Death at the Sign of the Rook without having read the others and was similarly discombobulated. Have now read most of the others and really enjoyed them - I love the slow unfold and all the back stories. Hoping Datsotr will be even better when I reread in order!

Normal Rules Don’t Apply (short stories) is good too.

I loved Human Croquet. Must read it again. Think Shakespeare and Elizabeth I feature in it if I remember rightly?

Yes, I love them and re-read theme every few years. You really need to read them in order as there is a lot of back-story. Death at the Sign of the Rook is by far the weakest IMO. I like When Will There Be Good News the best.

Yes I’m going to re read too

Shakespeare! It’s such a beautifully atmospheric book with the Elizabethan and ancient forest vibes. The characters are so well-written and vibrant. It’s not for everyone but a lovely one to just get sucked into.

I agree. Last Jackson Brodie was quite weak compared to the others but I have enjoyed reading them, especially the first 3.

I loved the earlier books especially Behind the scenes. Loved Life after life but didn't like God in Ruins. The latest one I have read is Transcription and thought that was very weak, just rambled on pointlessly with lots of plot holes. Enjoyed the first Jackson Brodie the later ones less so.

I didn’t even bother reading Transcription as I’d seen the poor reviews and didn’t want to be disappointed with it. The subject matter isn’t my cup of tea anyway. Glad I didn’t miss out.

They’re actually really good if you read them in order. The most recent one was very silly, I think maybe she’s getting a bit bored of them now!

Oh no I’ve got the latest one and was going to read it next! I have enjoyed the others but agree they can be rambly and slow