One Good Turn: (Jackson Brodie)

I couldn't get on with this book at all!. I found the style of writing so intensely annoying I put the book down after not even getting a quarter of the way through! In my opinion it is a typically 'butterfly mind' piece of writing. eg " While was at home last Thursday - I know it was Thursday because that's when the Newsletter is delivered by the lady in the red coat - it's a very distinctive redcoat which came from the Cancer Research Shop which is on the corner of Smith Street where the market sets up each Monday with my favourite cheese stall".......etc

This is the second book in the Jackson Brodie series, and although not essential you should read Case Histories (the first Jackson Brodie novel) before reading this as there are references in this book that don't make sense unless you do. Anyway I really liked this book,. It is similar to the structure of the first novel with several plot lines all running at the same time with Jackson getting involved but again not really as a detective solving things but as a central character linking the plot lines. It was complicated and a bit frustrating at times because the plot lines seemed to be going off at tangents and only coming together rather abruptly near the end what made up for that was the humour that was introduced which was a bit of a change from the first novel .

Just purchased and read this for the second time and have read all the Jackson Brodie series twice now. This one, set in Edinburgh, is like all the others with interlocking plots and characters. I'm still not convinced I have fully grasped this one with its over reliance on lost phones and data sticks and Jackson always seems to exhibit an unconvincing ambivalence when he is threatened in any way. It is a book you tend to read quickly as you want to know what is going to happen next which is the mark of a good book. This can be read as a standalone novel but is better read in sequence.

I usually love finding a crime/thriller author with a back catalogue that I can relish having a stack of books to enjoy. Having read thr first Jackson Brodie (Case Histories) I was delighted as it was a great book. So I ordered the next few Jackson Brodie books. However, having now read the second one (One Good Turn) I'm sorry I got them. This author goes off on tangents, pages long, that bear no resemblance to the plot. And why are there so many tasteless references to animal cruelty which really spoilt it for me.

Really enjoyed Case Histories and loved how all the various threads of the story cleverly pulled together, so wanted to read on with second Jackson Brodie book in series. However, where Case Histories was a real page-turner, I found this book a bit of a slog. Found myself skim reading A lot, and even reading ahead in the hope that something more stimulating was coming up. The worst part for me was the character Martin’s musings about an imagined, alternate life where he is married, popular etc.....These imaginary ramblings literally go on for pages and pages !! Great if you want to get off to sleep.Does third book in series get back to form for the author or do I give up at this stage?