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Content snapshot
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Violence
A lot
A graphically depicted family murder opens the novel; further violence throughout including a train crash and threats to multiple characters
Language
Some
Some strong language in the British crime fiction register
Sexual Content
Barely any
Minimal sexual content
Substance Use
Barely any
Some drinking as background detail
Emotional Intensity
A lot
The psychological aftermath of surviving extreme violence, the long shadow of trauma, and the novel's structural complexity create a demanding and unsettling reading experience
What this book is about
The third Jackson Brodie novel weaves multiple storylines: a woman who survived a childhood massacre, a teenage girl left to care for a baby, and Brodie himself — presumed dead after a train crash. Atkinson's literary crime fiction is distinguished by its emotional intelligence and structural ambition, and this is among her most accomplished works. Violence is present throughout, including a brutal opening that depicts the murder of a family in front of a young child. Demanding and rewarding in equal measure.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Graphic murder of family including children at novel's opening
Long-term trauma and its effects
Reader Verification
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