Case Histories / Kate Atkinson / 310 pages

I haven't read any Jackson Brodie books and naturally felt compelled to start out with the first title. Jackson is a private detective in Cambridge England who is called upon to solve three cold cases. Each case involves seriously eccentric and sometimes pycho characters. Jackson himself is a dark character struggling with his own losses (reminded me of Harry Bosch). Somehow the author manages to resolve the cases and weave together the cases & characters in a satisfying conclusion. This is not action driven plot...but pyschological studies of the characters. The book was actually sort of depressing. Well-written but not sure when I'll try another.