Watermark Books and Cafe

"Started Early, Took My Dog" by Kate Atkinson (Reagan Arthur, ISBN 9780316066730, $24.99) 

Imagine, in a moment of impulse, offering cash to an abusive mother for her small, scraggly snot-nosed child. The mother grabs the 3000 pounds sterling, leaves the child and, as she darts away, says, “her name is Courtney.” So begins “Started Early, Took my Dog” the fourth in the series by Kate Atkinson featuring former private detective Jackson Brodie. 

Tracy Waterhouse finds her tedious and lonely life suddenly turned upside down by her unconventional purchase. Jackson Brodie, who is on an ongoing quest to avenge his sister’s needless death, and Tilly, an aging actress whose character in a TV series is going to die at the end of this season, witness this change. This lively, if awkward, cast will encounter more than any of them bargained for when the past comes fully into the present to reveal dark secrets and hidden motivations. 

With Atkinson’s pitch-perfect blend of snarky Scottish phrasing and the heroic endeavors of her flawed characters, we empathize with the pettiness and humanity of each them. Atkinson gives enough background on Brodie that new readers will learn quickly to follow his tracks, but she doesn’t dwell on it so as to bore diehard fans. I skipped the third Jackson Brodie book when number two didn’t measure up to the brilliant debut, “Case Histories”. I’ll be going back now to see what I missed. 

Review by Sarah Bagby