When Will There Be Good News? Kate Atkinson. Tension never seems to subside & the nightmare lives on.

                         When Will There Be Good News?

Atkinson is good on the dramatic openings. Just as you get started reading the first few pages then terror strikes. She doesn't give you time to grab your breath before you are plunged into hell then the story moves on in time but the tragic and violent past always resurfaces when you least expect it. Ghoulish and gory, full of gritty realism, the kind of things you read about in the papers every day. The attraction is in the perversity of the action. In spite of the horror throughout and there are some moments of respite, but only a few, it is exhilarating. The tension never seems to subside and the nightmare lives on. Reggie ( Regina) Chase represents the bravest and most resilient of them all. Her mother drowns, her brother is a criminal who would even sacrifice his sister's life. She saves the life of Jackson Brodie, a complete stranger and plays the little detective when her mistress disappears with the baby. She takes everything in her stride.
The description of the train crash was superb. Jackson narrated at this point when the train turned on its side and the passengers were flung all over. He had a near-death experience which seemed real and Atkinson gives you a glimpse of the after-life. You don't think that Jackson will make it. The suspense ensures you will remain captivated.
Needles has been terrorising his family and Detective Chief Inspector Louise Monroe is on the case. She is strong and tough like Reggie dealing with criminals who are terrorising their families. She is a pivotal character in that she has contact with each one intimately and she is human, extremely professional but insecure in her personal life and extremely unhappy.
All the main characters are united in that they have witnessed violence, murder and suicides. In spite of all this violence, hatred and psychopathic tendencies there are moments of pure unadulterated love. It's a stark reminder that life is short and that the young are vulnerable.
Copyright 2012. Permission to use this article must be obtained from the author.

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