Case Histories

Pretty disappointing. With all the rave reviews, and Atkinson's clear talent for character and wit, I thought this would be a better constructed mystery. But it's not. There's really no reason that the mysteries are interconnected the way they are. I don't know why she didn't just focus on the Olivia mystery and expand on that. The other stories seem extraneous, although my favorite character was poor sweet Theo. This kind of writing actually reminds me of the TV show Lost: great premise and setup, beautiful characterizations, ridiculous coincidental plotting, and something very close to a deux ex machina ending.