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?

Agree about Transcription.. got half way through and gave up

I love the Jackson Brodie books, starting with Case Histories, but this last is the weakest.

The TV series is fantastic. Case Histories, and covers the first 3 books. I think I am in love with JB.

The two most recent in this series dreadful, I didn’t enjoy them at all, but read in chronological order the earlier books are so enjoyable, they’re sharp and clever.

Jason Isaac’s was perfectly cast but otherwise the tv adaptation butchered the books

Jason was perfect as Jackson.

I was disappointed with Transcription as the end seemed to come completely out of the blue. I did read it very quickly though as it was in someone else's apartment where I was staying.

I was gutted at the end of God in Ruins because I became so invested in the main character, who was in Life After Life, and the horrible way his daughter treated him in GiR. Then the end ...

Yes maybe I was swept away by JI.

But I thought the tv series did a good job of exploring JB’s character and morals. It was a drama with a setting of crime, rather than a detective series.

I enjoyed Transcription.

And loved God In Ruins but found it hard to forgive KA, one of my favourite writers, for the ending!

I’ve loved Kate Atkinson for years but I’m struggling to maintain interest in reading Death at the Sign of the Rook - it’s too disjointed and Jackson Brodie is a minor character rather than the main investigator. There isn’t enough character development and I don’t care about any of them. You should definitely read the other JB books.

I actually gave up on Shrines of Gaiety 😢

Life After Life is an incredible novel!

Shrines of Gaiety seemed formulaic and reminded me of another book or TV series but can’t think what. Life after Life was stunning. I read the book and have listened in audiobooks, it is a masterpiece.

The latest one wasn't the best of the series, and you do sort of need to have read the others to understand some of the side characters from Jackson's past. I went back to Case Histories after reading the latest because I couldn't remember who everyone was.

They are not your typical detective novel so you might be disappointed if that's what you are looking for, but I am a big Kate Atkinson fan so have read them all and loved them over the years.

Another long-time Kate Atkinson fan here, and very pleased to see others enjoyed Human Croquet, it’s one of my favourites and IMHO often overlooked.
Jackson Brodie series definitely needs starting from the first book (haven’t read the latest one), and please persevere with Transcription!
The one I’ve enjoyed least (won’t say disliked, the writing is so good even if the story didn’t grab me ) was Emotionally Weird.

Jackson Brodie is an excellent detective series but you do really need to read them in order. The Rook is highly stylised (I think based on old country house murder genre?) and the relationship between Jackson and Reggie doesn't make sense out of context. I love Reggie! The previous books in the series are more traditional and are all cracking good reads.

I usually listen rather than read but got infuriated with the mispronounciation of Niamh in the audiobooks.

Btw I'd highly recommend listening to Kate Atkinson on Desert Island Discs (BBC Sounds), she's lovely, funny and interesting.

IMO Life After Life is one of the best books ever written.

Same re audiobooks I find myself yelling "Niamh!" at them.

I would say yes they're some of the best books I've read . Case Histories, When will there be Good News, Big Sky stand out.

I really enjoyed Shrines of Gaiety

Also Life after Life and Behind the Scenes

Not read The Rook yet.

Human Croquet is my absolute favourite! Loved it so much more than Behind the Scenes.

I gave up halfway through, it didn’t grab me at all, very disappointing.

@EachFallenRobin - thanks for the Desert Island Discs tip , I’ve got it primed and ready to enjoy with my post-lunch cuppa!

I didn't like Emotionally Weird.

@EachFallenRobin - greatly enjoyed listening to that , thank you so much!
What a lovely woman she is, so interesting to hear more about her growing up and all the influences on her writing.
Thinking the very different characters of her parents - not to mention “The Shop” (!) -feature hugely in Behind the Scenes at the Museum in particular.

A God in Ruins reduced me to tears when I read it. Brilliant book.

I felt similar, I had loved the earlier books, but this one had a very different feel. I enjoyed some of the writing, but got a bit bored in parts, whereas I had been gripped by the others. I wondered if it might be better on a re-read.

@yiayoula I'm so pleased you enjoyed it, it made me really wish she was my friend! When I'm between audiobooks I trawl back through Desert Island Discs episodes and generally find the author ones to be most interesting. Loved Jackie Kay and Ann Cleeves too.

@EachFallenRobin - I’ll check them out, thank you . I like Ann Cleeves books, not so fond of the tv series though .