'When Will There Be Good News' by Kate Atkinson - Book Review

Kate Atkinson is the best-selling and critically-praised author of literary thrillers Case Histories and One Good Turn. Her latest book, When Will There Be Good News?, revisits the same characters and offers the same precise, insightful writing combined with a heart-stopping thriller plotline. Kate Atkinson is one of the best writers out there, and When Will There Be Good News? should not be missed.

When Will There Be Good News? is a literary thriller of a novel that starts out slowly and introspectively but relentlessly builds to an unpredictable and satisfying conclusion. Along the way, Kate Atkinson’s work achieves what few other thrillers can manage—complex, captivating characters, lyrical and precise writing, and truly inventive plotlines.

Jackson Brodie and Louise Monroe, characters from Atkinson’s previous novels, Case Histories and One Good Turn, reappear in When Will There Be Good News?. Having read those previous books is not a prerequisite to enjoying the new book, though. And new characters include Reggie Chase, a 16-year-old girl entangled in events far more serious than the average teenager confronts, but who approaches them with enthusiasm and curiosity. Dr. Joanna Hunter is a doctor and a mother who has the same self-protective instincts as Reggie.

All the characters are bound together by their own losses; each character might be asking herself the question in the novel’s title. Despite all the loss, though, Atkinson’s book never feels mirthless or self-serious. It is profound but suspenseful, and a thoroughly enjoyable read. Anyone who appreciates good writing and a good story should get their hands on When Will There Be Good News?