Author:Nevil Shute
When Peter Moran picks up a man on the roadside while driving through a bitter rainy night on the South Downs, he embarks upon an adventure that will lead him into treasonous international plots, flying adventures and tests of both his bravery and his loyalty.
Any book by Nevil Shute is a delight
—— PunchThat shattering, unaffected, literary style of his is masterly
—— H.E. BatesThere is a quality of golden light that hangs over his books. That comes, I think, from his sense of order and from his own vast, undemonstrative solicitude
—— John Ezard , GuardianRendell’s eerier capacity to comprehend disturbed criminal minds continues to astonish
—— The TimesThere are quite a few Ruth Rendells: the doyenne of the traditional English detective novel; the queen of the psychological thriller; the celebrated author of the literary thriller
—— Mail on SundayThe best woman crime writer since Sayers, Christie, Allingham and Marsh
—— Edmund Crispin, Sunday TimesShot through with sharp, black humour, and introducing a loveable hero in Brodie, this is storytelling that satisfies at every level
—— Marie Claire (Book of the Month)Atkinson is very good indeed... more satisfying than many detective novels. Everyone who picks it up will feel compelled to follow it through to the last page
—— GuardianBrilliantly playful, witty and original... massive and consistent talent for comedy
—— The ScotsmanIntriguing and affecting... she has also created a compelling central chracter in world-weary private investigator Jackson Brodie, who is determined to bring justice to all the lives that lie fractured around him
—— Red (Book of the Month)Civilised, funny, life-affirming and hugely enjoyable
—— Literary ReviewBrilliantly detailed and unexpectedly funny
—— MirrorPerceptive and engaging
—— IndependentMurder, mystery and Atkinson's skill make for an atmospheric and moving story
—— EveFunny, furious fourth novel rumbustiously drives a path through the genre of detective fiction, demolishing its careful, forensic summation of human behaviour and replacing them with bloody, believable, vigorous tales
—— Rachel CuskVivid, multifaceted... Case Histories manages to be such an ultimately joyful novel.. I found myself captivated throughout by the vivacity and big-hearted humour... skilled juxtaposition
—— WBQNot just the best novel I have read this year...but the best mystery of the decade. There are actually four mysteries, nesting like Russian dolls, and when they begin to fit together, I defy any reader not to feel a combination of delight and amazement. Case Histories is the literary equivalent of a triple axel. I read it once for pleasure and then again just to see how it was done. This is the kind of book you shove in people's faces, saying 'You gotta read this!
—— Entertainment WeeklySo well-written...Everyone who picks it up will feel compelled to follow it through to the last page.
—— GuardianHer best book yet...a tragi-comedy for our times.'
—— Katie Owen, Sunday Telegraph'A greedy feast of a story by a masterful author ... Will stay with you for a long time after you have finished reading it. '
—— Daily Express'Civilised, funny, life-affirming and hugely enjoyable. I can't recall reading crime fiction quite like this before- honest, ironic, and cheerfully unselfconscious. I urge you to share my surprise and delight.'
—— Philip Oakes, Literary ReviewOne of the most brilliantly playful, witty and original writers we have.
—— Scotsman'At heart a comic novelist, who explores the relationship between comedy and crime... In Case Histories, these skills have found their literary home.'
—— Heather O’Donoghue, Times Literary Supplement'Sharp humour, together with a number of unexpected twists, make this a typically pacey and intelligent read.'
—— Daily MailNot just the best novel I have read this year...but the best mystery of the decade. There are actually four mysteries, nesting like Russian dolls, and when they begin to fit together, I defy any reader not to feel a combination of delight and amazement. Case Histories is the literary equivalent of a triple axel. I read it once for pleasure and then again just to see how it was done. This is the mind of book you shove in people's faces, saying 'You gotta read this!'
—— Stephen King, Entertainment Weekly