Death at the Sign of the Rook
Published on 27. February 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
384 pages
978-1-80499-452-8 (ISBN)
Description
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
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
Reviews / Votes
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 * Inventive, funny, gripping, lovely to be back with Jackson Brodie - I loved it! * Kate Mosse, number one bestselling author of The Ghost Ship * Delicious character studies . . . fine writing, wit, originality and eccentricity - even as it induces a warm glow * Telegraph * 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 * 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 * Superior writing and a highly entertaining read. * Grazia * [A] delirious crime caper . . . Atkinson has tremendous fun manoeuvring her motley cast together for a climactic murder mystery weekend * Mail on Sunday * 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 * A testament to Atkinson's versatility and mastery of the crime genre . . . pays a heartfelt homage to the golden age of detective fiction while offering a fresh, invigorating take on the classic murder mystery . . . a captivating escape into a world where every puzzle piece fits seamlessly into a perfectly choreographed mystery. * nb. Magazine *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Transworld Publishers Ltd
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 196 mm
Width: 127 mm
Thickness: 32 mm
Weight
268 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-80499-452-8 (9781804994528)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
08/2024
Transworld Digital
€8.99
Available for download
Person
KATE ATKINSON is one of the world's foremost novelists. She won the Whitbread Book of the Year prize with her first novel, Behind the Scenes at the Museum. Life After Life, an acclaimed BBC TV series, won several prizes including the Costa Novel Award, as did A God in Ruins. Two further historical novels - Transcription and Shrines of Gaiety - were also Sunday Times bestsellers. She has published two critically acclaimed collections of short stories: Not the End of the World and Normal Rules Don't Apply.
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 later returned in the novel Big Sky and the most recent, Death at the Sign of the Rook, was a number one bestseller.
Kate Atkinson was awarded an MBE in 2011 and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
For information about Kate's books, including her Jackson Brodie series, visit www.kateatkinson.co.uk
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 later returned in the novel Big Sky and the most recent, Death at the Sign of the Rook, was a number one bestseller.
Kate Atkinson was awarded an MBE in 2011 and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
For information about Kate's books, including her Jackson Brodie series, visit www.kateatkinson.co.uk