Having enjoyed all the Jackson Brodie books in the past, I was thrilled to see this, his latest investigation, released last month. And when I had a copy of the book, the sense of anticipation meant that I waited for the perfect moment to settle down with it and start reading the first page. But, for me, it took a while to get into the story proper.

We're introduced to a setting which is very much of the world of the golden age of crime and Agatha Christie. A group of people are looking forward to a murder mystery party in a grand country house, which is now a hotel.

All the characters are described in great detail and it takes a little while to work out what is going on in their lives, and how it will involve Jackson Brodie. Interwoven with their stories is an update on the employment of the great detective. 

He is in Yorkshire and his latest job is investigating the disappearance of a painting. One theft leads to another and he eventually finds himself in Burton Makepeace, and the location of the murder mystery party.

It's an intricately plotted book with dense characterisation, but I have to confess that the storyline where Jackson and his fellow detectives appear is what most interested and entertained me. So sometimes I felt he didn't have as big a part to play as I would have liked. But it's good to read a Kate Atkinson again!