Saturday, November 5, 2011

Case Histories: a Novel

I came across Case Histories through Masterpiece Theater. I am really enjoying the TV program and couldn't wait to read the book that the program is based on.

Private investigator Jackson Brodie has 3 cases to solve. He is an interesting detective -- a former police officer with authority issues and a childhood tragedy that still haunts him. He relates to his clients' pain and can't say no to cases that he should turn down. He does not solve mysteries through forensics and is not terribly concerned with legalities; he simply wants to get answers to help his clients. What the clients choose to do with the answers is entirely up to them.  

The cases are told  from the clients' perspectives as well as Brodie's. The narrative hops from client to client and jumps back and forth through time until slowly the various pieces come together and the answers are revealed.

I think I was expecting the novel's narrative to mirror the TV show and have a linear time line (with certain key flashbacks). It took a bit for me to adjust to the storytelling, but it was enjoyable read.

-Natalie