As we all know, two or more people can experience the exact same thing, yet their interpretation of it can be separated by the length of an Olympic size swimming pool – or more. There are small time shifts throughout, and where this could have been a distraction in the hands of a less accomplished writer, Kate Atkinson utilizes this to give us added perspective. Subsequent chapters are narrated by Jackson Brodie himself as well as some of the people we met in the case histories. This gave a backdrop to the story that was cleverly done – it was so visceral and real from the start. Cleverly, Kate Atkinson drew me in immediately by having each case study narrated by people directly involved. There is a chapter dedicated to each case history, but they were not written from Jackson Brodie’s notes. Now, at the age of 45, he is a private investigator – and suddenly he has 3 cases to solve. Professionally, he was in the army, then he joined the police force. Jackson Brodie had a rough personal life in ways that are gradually revealed throughout this novel. This novel, the first of the series, is indeed about ‘case histories’.

I have read three of her other novels, and as I said in one of my reviews, if I could be an author, I would want to be Kate Atkinson – or, at the very least, be able to write with her vast toolbox of skills and imagination. I wasn’t sure what to expect from Kate Atkinson’s Jackson Brodie series.

Case Histories by Kate Atkinson