When will there be good news? By Kate Atkinson

[Merilyn]

I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book as it has had so many great reviews and having never read any Kate Atkinson novels was keen to discover what everyone was raving about. Unfortunately I was sorely disappointed and wonder whether her other books are any better. After the terrible murder of her mother and young siblings Joanna is left with only her father to raise her. Despite this harrowing experience she goes on to become a successful doctor and loving mother. We are then introduced to various other characters, ex-policeman Jackson Brodie, orphan Reggie and police woman Louise, and in turn learn about their depressing and unfullfilled lives. Eventually these lives converge through a number of, what I thought were ridiculous coincidences. Whilst Kate Atkinson writes well and makes some good observations there are far to many narratives going on and I found myself not really caring much about the characters and their endless struggles to overcome adversity. I might be the only one to think so but I really didn't like this book!