The Number One bestseller. Jackson Brodie returns in this brilliantly clever take on the classic country house murder mystery; a homage to writers such as Agatha Christie
THE #1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
THE NEW JACKSON BRODIE NOVEL, FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF SHRINES OF GAIETY
'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
*****
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.
****
'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
'Delicious character studies... fine writing, wit, originality and eccentricity - even as it induces a warm glow' Telegraph
'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.' Glamour
'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.' PA Media
'Superior writing...a highly entertaining read' Grazia
Kate Atkinson, Sunday Times bestseller, August 2024
About the AuthorKate Atkinson is one of the world’s foremost novelists. She won the Costa Book of the Year prize with her first novel,
Behind the Scenes at the Museum. Her three critically lauded and prizewinning novels set around World War II are
Life After Life, A God in Ruins (both winners of the Costa Novel Award), and
Transcription. She was appointed MBE for services to literature in 2011. Her bestselling literary crime novels featuring former detective Jackson Brodie,
Case Histories, One Good Turn, When Will There Be Good News? and
Started Early, Took My Dog became a BBC television series starring Jason Isaacs. Jackson Brodie returns in her new novel
Big Sky.
Industry 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.
- Ian Rankin
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.
- Observer
Delicious character studies . . . fine writing, wit, originality and eccentricity – even as it induces a warm glow
- Telegraph
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
- Glamour
[A] delirious crime caper . . . Atkinson has tremendous fun manoeuvring her motley cast together for a climactic murder mystery weekend
- Mail on Sunday
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
