She gets you wrapped up in the characters and their choices. The pace is standard Atkinson, it starts scattered and slow, but steadily builds. In the end, they all converge into an extremely climatic scene, but you have to trust Atkinson to get you there. All three have a connection to "lost" children, but their deeper connection, beyond being in the same place at the same time in the novel's opening, is slowly revealed over the course of the novel. Atkinson spends time describing the same scene at a British shopping mall from all three of their perspectives. At the book's beginning we are introduced to our 3 main windows into the story, overweight, middle aged spinster/retired police officer Tracy, aging actress Tilly, and Jackson. The plot is dependent on the characters here. Reading the poem first, will put you in the right frame of mind for the novel. Parts of the poem are reproduced at the novel's end, but the tone and subject of the poem are echoed in Atkinson's book. I should also mention that the titles refers to this Emily Dickinson poem. For the record, I think When Will There Be Good News? is the best of the 4, but SETMD is very good. We decided that you could easily enjoy this book for its own merits, but if you really liked it, you would want to go back and re-read the others in order. Our fearless leader, Kathy, and I were discussing whether or not you need to read the series in order. If you don't love Jackson in all of his confused, grumpy, depressed, but clearly trying to be a better person and a better father to his now 2 kids, glory, you will not enjoy these books. Looking back, SETMD also has the same set-up and style as all the Brodie novels: missing girls, multiple storylines, with one told as flashbacks, with a slow convergence of these plot threads over the course of the book. Like the first 4, SETMD can be loosely described as a crime novel, but it is more nuanced than that. Started Early, Took My Dog (herein SETMD) is the latest Atkinson book featuring Jackson Brodie.
I can sit back and relax when I read an Atkinson book because I trust that she will lead me in the right direction.
What I love about her is that she writes complex, layered stories, but always manages to bring every last thread back together in a smart, interesting, and satisfactory way.
No matter what she writes, I know I will enjoy it. Kate Atkinson is one of my personal sure bet authors.
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