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Death at the Sign of the Rook

The addictive #1 Sunday Times Bestseller

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Death at the Sign of the Rook

By: Kate Atkinson
Narrated by: Jason Isaacs
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THE #1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

Welcome to Rook Hall. The stage is set. The players are ready. By night’s end, a murderer will be revealed.

Ex-detective Jackson Brodie is staving off a bad case of midlife malaise when he is called to a sleepy Yorkshire town, and the seemingly tedious matter of a stolen painting. But one theft leads to another, including the disappearance of a valuable Turner from Burton Makepeace, home to Lady Milton and her family. Once a magnificent country house, Burton Makepeace has now partially been converted into a hotel, hosting Murder Mystery weekends.

As paying guests, a vicar, an ex-army officer, impecunious aristocrats, and old friends converge, we are treated a fiendishly clever mystery; one that pays homage to the masters of the genre—from Agatha Christie to Dorothy Sayers.

Brilliantly inventive, with all of Atkinson’s signature wit, wordplay and narrative brio, Death at the Sign of the Rook may be Jackson Brodie’s most outrageous and memorable case yet.

'How delicious to have Jackson Brodie back, this time in a story that starts off in Agatha Christie's world but soon becomes a landscape that could only have been crafted from the pen of the incomparable Kate Atkinson' Ian Rankin

'Christie would be proud . . . I defy you not to snort with laughter as the novel progresses to its farcical denouement. Atkinson is brilliant' Observer

'Sharp, droll and knowing as ever, Atkinson has huge fun with the set-up; the supporting cast is terrific, and the rueful Brodie, ever more mindful of the passing years, feels like an old friend.' Guardian

©2024 Kate Atkinson (P)2024 Penguin Audio

 Genre Fiction Mystery Private Investigators
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Critics' reviews

How delicious to have Jackson Brodie back, this time in a story that starts off in Agatha Christie's world but soon becomes a landscape that could only have been crafted from the pen of the incomparable Kate Atkinson.
Inventive, funny, gripping, lovely to be back with Jackson Brodie - I loved it!
Delicious character studies . . . fine writing, wit, originality and eccentricity – even as it induces a warm glow
Sharp, droll and knowing as ever, Atkinson has huge fun with the set-up; the supporting cast is terrific, and the rueful Brodie, ever more mindful of the passing years, feels like an old friend.
Christie would be proud . . . This stands alone as a crime novel, but it is better enjoyed having read the previous books in the Brodie series. And why wouldn’t you – they are all a delight. I defy you not to snort with laughter as the novel progresses to its farcical denouement. Atkinson is brilliant.
Superior writing and a highly entertaining read.
[A] delirious crime caper . . . Atkinson has tremendous fun manoeuvring her motley cast together for a climactic murder mystery weekend
Another brilliant addition to her impressive oeuvre, Atkinson masterfully blends intricate plotting with rich character development, delivering a mystery that is both intellectually stimulating and emotionally engaging
The set-up is a delight, paying homage to traditional Agatha Christie-style murder mysteries . . . the characters are well-drawn, their stories unfolding alongside each other until gradually the strands unite, keeping the reader guessing how they will ultimately tie together . . . A great read.
A testament to Atkinson's versatility and mastery of the crime genre . . . pays a heartfelt homage to the golden age of detective fiction while offering a fresh, invigorating take on the classic murder mystery . . . a captivating escape into a world where every puzzle piece fits seamlessly into a perfectly choreographed mystery.
All stars
Most relevant
Listen to this book, it is rare to find such a beautifully written book, bringing characters to life with whimsy and wit.

Vivid characters woven into a beautifully written story, masterfully performed

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As a fan of the Jackson Brodie series, I eagerly immersed myself into the latest instalment. I have to admit it took a while to get into the swing of the story - it seemed very scattered at first, and we were placed inside the heads of disparate characters where their thoughts ran riot and continually interrupted themselves.
However, once the scene was set, the plot - where seemingly random coincidences converge into breakneck action in a mixture of crime/ farce/ thriller/ slapdash comedy - was fast paced, clever and amusing. The narrator was excellent

Rambling start but great finish

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Kate Atkinson is one of my favourite authors. I've read all her books, and she has yet to write something I don't like. I've been looking forward to this new one - no. 6 in the Jackson Brodie series - for quite a while. If you don't know Jackson, this is not a good place to get to know him. Without knowing his backstory you won't understand his relationship with Reggie, and the various women's voices in Jackson's head will only confuse you. Start with "Case Histories" instead. It's the first in the series and quite excellent!

It would be almost impossible to summarize the plot of "Death at the Sign of the Rook". It's like Atkinson had vague storylines for two entirely different books and just threw them together. The result is a rather odd mix of vintage Brodie and an old-fashioned mystery reminiscent of Dorothy Sayers with characters straight out of Cluedo. If you're looking for suspense, look somewhere else. If meanderings bother you, this book is not for you. If - like me - you've known and loved Jackson for 20 years, you'll probably be delighted with this weird gem of a book. It's rather silly and a bit pointless, but it's pretty original. And after all these years diving into a Jackson Brodie novel feels a lot like coming home. It's not the best in the series, but I enjoyed it a lot.

The narrator's very good. Apparently he played Brodie in the TV adaptation. I don't know the TV show, but his voice is certainly a good fit for our hero. He's about the right age, too.

Jackson Brodie goes Cluedo

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