One Good Turn by Kate Atkinson.
February 6, 2008 by rkutler
“Having won a wide following for her first crime novel…Case Histories, Atkinson sends Det. Jackson Brodie to Edinburgh while girlfriend Julia performs in a Fringe Festival play. When incognito thug “Paul Bradley” is rear-ended by a Honda driver who gets out and bashes Bradley unconscious with a baseball bat, the now-retired Jackson is a reluctant witness. Other bystanders include crime novelist Martin Canning, a valiant milquetoast who saves Bradley’s life, and tart-tongued Gloria Hatter, who’s plotting to end her 39-year marriage to a shady real estate developer. Jackson walks away from the incident, but keeps running into trouble, including a corpse, the Honda man and sexy, tight-lipped inspector Louise Monroe. Everyone’s burdened by a secret infidelity, unprofessional behavior, murder adding depth and many diversions…crackling one-liners, spot-on set pieces and full-blooded cameos help make this another absorbing character study.” - Publishers Weekly
