One Good Turn: A Novel

Kate Atkinson
Back Bay Books (2007)
ISBN 9780316012829
Reviewed by Leslie Granier for Reader Views (2/08)


“One Good Turn” begins with a horrible incident.  A man is involved in a car accident, but the other party involved, instead of checking to see if he is injured, pulls out a baseball bat and starts beating him in the head.  One man intervenes by throwing his laptop at the aggressor and soon finds himself in the midst of danger.  Several other witnesses do not come forward for various reasons.  As the tales of these witnesses and bystanders begin to be told, the reader learns how their stories are intertwined, thus providing incredible insight into the jumbled webs of their lives.

I find this book moves a little slowly for the first few chapters because new characters are constantly being introduced.  However, once the connections between the characters begin to unfold, the action progresses at an extremely rapid pace, right up to the final sentence.  The numerous plot twists made it difficult for me to put the book down.  The characters, many of whom were quite quirky, provide some humor but, more importantly, they represent the qualities of the state of the world today -- including greed, fear, and unwillingness to get involved.  It was interesting to see how people with such different backgrounds and character traits could all be important players in one grand adventure.  I loved how the story seemed to go full circle. It was great to see all of the pieces as they fell into place.

All readers who like action and fast-paced novels should read this book.  It was fun trying to figure out what could possibly happen next.  Reading groups will appreciate the guide provided at the end of the book.  It consists of thought-provoking questions that will promote interesting conversation and analysis.  After pondering some of the questions, I saw many of the characters in a different light.

“One Good Turn” is a book that keeps the reader involved and anticipating where the plot will head.  It is definitely a page turner and should be read by anyone who loves a good book with intriguing characters.  Just be sure you have plenty of free time before you start because you will have difficulty taking a break.

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