Big Sky

By: Kate Atkinson

Narrated by: Jason Isaacs

Brought to you by Penguin.

Jackson Brodie has relocated to a quiet seaside village in North Yorkshire, in the occasional company of his recalcitrant teenage son Nathan and ageing Labrador Dido, both at the discretion of his former partner Julia. It's a picturesque setting, but there's something darker lurking behind the scenes.

Jackson's current job, gathering proof of an unfaithful husband for his suspicious wife, seems straightforward, but a chance encounter with a desperate man on a crumbling cliff leads him into a sinister network-and back into the path of someone from his past. Old secrets and new lies intersect in this breathtaking new literary crime novel, both sharply funny and achingly sad, by one of the most dazzling and surprising writers at work today.

'The stand-out read of the summer. It's a masterclass in brilliant writing and whether you've read the earlier books in the series or not, you'll enjoy it.' Independent

'Like all good detectives, he is a hero for men and women alike.' The Times

'Laced with Atkinson's sharp, dry humour, and one of the joys of the Brodie novels has always been that they are so funny.' Observer

© Kate Atkinson 2019 (P) Penguin Audio 2019

Critic reviews

The main plot...is dark and disturbing, but Atkinson brings wry comic touches to the story as she both playfully inhabits and deftly subverts the crime genre.

Big Sky is laced with Atkinson’s sharp, dry humour, and one of the joys of the Brodie novels has always been that they are so funny.

Atkinson weaves a magically absorbing world full of crossed paths and coincidences. Her sublime turn of phrase, impeccable gallows humour, beautifully drawn characters and complex plotting make for a fabulously entertaining and moving book. It can be enjoyed as either a standalone mystery or a very welcome reunion with an old friend.

A masterclass in what can be done with crime fiction, brilliantly using the form to expose what Atkinson bleakly describes as 'one more battle in the war against women'.

Atkinson’s new mystery hits all the right notes

Atkinson brings back her much-loved PI Jackson Brodie for a tightly plotted tale...the real mystery here is the human heart, with Atkinson serving up an acute and believable look at the state of Britain today.

I romped through it: as ever, the plotting is clever and complex, it’s full of the dry wit Atkinson is so good at and it’s an absorbing mystery.

There's a lot going on here, all of it rendered with Atkinson's vastly enjoyable nonchalance...Atkinson tells a great story, toys with expectations, deceives by omission, blows smoke and also writes like she's your favourite friend. Thank goodness the long Jackson Brodie hiatus is over.

Atkinson throws in many entertaining diversions, and a fair few juicy red herrings… an exuberant, entertaining read…Atkinson’s work is always playful, and there’s a brisk, jaunty tone to Big Sky and much dry observational comedy.

The brilliance of Big Sky lies in its broad range of memorable characters, each with their own intriguing backstory.....sharp humour,sparkling prose and acute psychological insight.

Absorbing and entertaining

Another great read from Kate Atkinson with wonderful narration. Some lovely touches of humour throughout lightened the mood. Highly recommended.

Lots going on!

There are so many story lines coming together in this book, that I was a bit confused for the first third of it. The story goes back and forth on itself depending on which character the narrator is portraying. Once I figured out the who and what, I really enjoyed it! There is a level of sardonic humour that I loved, and the little twists and turns held my interest. I'd probably give this a 3.5 if I could, but it is more of a 4 than a 3,

Jackson Brodie: my favourite protagonist

But I can only give this (so far) final instalment 4 out of 5 stars because he's aging too fast. And as he ages he becomes more curmudgeonly and less ... less inspired, I suppose.
Or maybe inspirational.
Jason Isaacs is utterly marvellous at reading these books. I'm perfectly sure he's marvellous at reading anything at all; and to be able to actually see him as Brodie in the BBC's series would make me happy forever. But who knows if the Australian Broadcasting Corp. will buy it ?!
Kate Atkinson follows her Brodie style in Big Sky, I'm happy to say; but Brodie himself is less the frontman and more a member of the cast. I do understand that she does all this deliberately; and that she is writing him out of her life before he becomes another Peter Wimsey - although her works are already far, far more than Sayers'.
Basically, I haven't enjoyed a character this much for as long as I can remember. Sean Duffy is probably my previous favourite, but has been usurped in the queue.

So disappointed.

I have listened to other Kate Atkinson books and expected so much from this series. I found it flat and unengagaging. Even Jason Isaacs' narration could not save it. The main protagonist of the series made no impact whatsoever and seemed periferal to the story. I forced myself to play it to the end only because I spent so much money on buying the book.

feels like Ms Atkinson is stuck in a groove in this story

Ms Atkinson's trademarks- a complex story with disparate characters narrating in stream of consciousness as their lives are drawn together by the plot- grew wearisome for me. The storyline took forever to develop and I could often feel my interest waning. The dénouement was tense and exciting, though having every last loose end tied up in the finale was a little too pat for my taste. Overall I was disappointed because I am a big fan of Ms Atkinson and Jackson Brodie.