Death at the Sign of the Rook

Atkinson’s delicious sixth Jackson Brodie novel (following Big Sky) finds Yorkshire PI Brodie and Detective Constable Reggie Chase confronted with all the tropes that Agatha Christie fans could wish for—a series of perplexing art thefts, an epic snowstorm, a body at the foot of the stairs, a grand but declining country estate, a murderer loose on the moors, and a murder-mystery weekend. Actor Jason Isaacs narrates with aplomb, presenting grumpy but lovable Jackson’s attempts to uncover the perpetrator as he navigates a cast of vibrantly embodied characters, including his disagreeable employers, Ian and Hazel Padgett; a troupe of delightfully over-the-top actors; an army major who finds a new lease on life; a vicar who’s lost his faith (and later, his ability to speak); and a mysterious hired companion. Though listeners may need time to adjust to the dazzling array of characters as they track the myriad juicy clues, Isaacs’s spot-on accents, distinct character portraits, and steady pacing keep the novel on track.