Death at the Sign of the Rook

A painting is stolen from a home in a Yorkshire village. Former detective Jackson Brodie visited the home and learned that the painting belonged to an elderly lady who recently died. After her death the painting and the woman who was looking after her both disappeared. He then heard of the theft of another painting at Burton Makepeace. A staff member also disappeared from the house at the same time that the painting disappeared.

Part of the Burton Makepeace manor had been turned into a hotel, Rook Hall, and a Murder Mystery Weekend had been organised for paying guests. A prisoner had also escaped from the local gaol. It was the middle of winter and the guests were snowed in. Jackson Brodie and DC Reggie Chase found themselves at the manor attempting to solve the case.

Death at the Sign of the Rook by Kate Atkinson is an amusing crime novel that pays homage to the crime novels of Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers. The story does meander from chapter to chapter and there are lots of characters to keep track of, however I found it a light, entertaining book to read.