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The
New York Times The Times Online Time Out London The Guardian The Program, Australia Independent Online TWBookmark.com Kirkus Reviews Library Journal Publishers Weekly High suspense and rattling
pace…charged with adrenalin and a spry humour. An extraordinary tapestry
that is both hilarious, poignant and unexpected…Atkinson at her
peak: full of wit, surprises and humanity. Not to be missed. One story nests within
another, like the set of Russian dolls that Martin owns…Kate
Atkinson has that priceless Ancient Mariner ability that keeps the
reader turning the pages. Atkinson, while having
fun with the murder-mystery genre, slyly slips us a muted tragedy. An intriguing labyrinthine
mystery with a Dickensian cast of misfits and murderers... compelling. Atkinson is frequently
very funny…while the tone stays light, the plot continues to
darken….manages to be that rarest of things – a good literary
novel and a cracking holiday read. Delivers everything a good
book should have. It's a fantastic detective story and a wonderful
piece of writing…has taken the crime genre to another level. A sublime treat for fans
of Atkinson…a proper literary thriller…Addictive. Such a joy that Kate Atkinson
has produced another flawless, upbeat mystery after her success with
Case Histories. While Kate Atkinson could
give a masterclass on creating believable and intriguing characters,
she also knows more than a thing or two about plotting…another
class act. Kate Atkinson is an absolute
must read. I love everything she writes. It doesn’t really
matter in which genre Atkinson chooses to write. Her subject is always
the irrecoverable loss of love and how best to continue living once
you have glumly recognised that “That was what the world was
like, things improved but they didn’t get better.” Her gift
is in presenting this unnerving and subversive philosophy as a dazzling
form of entertainment. Does what it says on the
cover – there’s murder and a lot of jollity. Whatever she does is done
to the highest of literary standards. She has produced an engrossing,
enjoyable, complex novel packed with intriguing characters, vividly
imagined scenes and a compelling plot. |