Case Histories

In a word:fabulous. Compelling, not to miss a word of dialog. The story line evolves from a loosely woven beginning to a tight ending. Enticed one wonders where it will go in the end. The acting brings you into the heart and soul of the characters, who have lives and emotions that inter connect and create a richness not found in the usual mystery genre. If you are pining for a who done it go to Sherlock or Perot. Jackson Brodie is superbly acted, a romantic,wounded hero who knows life has its price and he is not afraid of it. He rescues and restores justice for his clients,he is an admirable, and often suffering hero. Suffering humanizes him and we all can identify with his pain. The theme of father figure and the need to protect are strong motivations for the character. Sophisticated and refreshing for this genre. I want more. This is the new school, old school mystery is predictable and tiresome. We want sexy guys, with real life stories, love and lust thrown in the mix, the Victorian thing is over.

This series is one I highly recommend for those who like the style of a modern British mystery. The character of Jackson Brodie, played by Jason Isaacs, gives the series a tenacious detective scarred by a troubled past. Brodie's past comes out in a series of flashbacks that drive him to jump into ice cold water hoping to save a life or make that final push when finishing a run. Family deaths, divorce and his love for daughter Marlee keep him well-grounded and not lacking in compassion. Brodie is spurred by a strong desire to help people as well as bring wrongdoers to heel. He doesn't talk much but listens carefully. He is smart and is quick to make shrewd observations and deductions. His cases range from finding the truth behind a long-cold case to repeatedly hunting down the beloved cat of an elderly pet lover who never pays her bills. It's hard not to like him but his ex-wife, former boss and secretary are all too eager to point out his faults. His impulses result from a soft heart and an impatience to help, putting him in hard luck situations. Daughter Marlee is his real love and spending time with her is his main satisfaction in life. He and Marlee practise French together or drive off to a convent where he investigates one of the nuns. Amanda Abbington plays his former boss with a soft spot for him and one can sense the two might become a couple. I guess we can only imagine. The series ran for nine episodes and one can see that the Brodie character might have worn thin if the story continued and never came to grips with the issues that defined his life. No matter. The series is still great viewing for the nine episodes that are on tap.

Jason Brodie is a private investigator whose goal in life is to bring closure to lives on hold. His own sad past is the springboard from which he throws himself - sometimes reluctantly - into the problem of others.

Like many heroes of modern literature, Brodie is a flawed character whose personal failings never cease to amaze him: a failed marriage from which came a child he adores; an ambiguous friendship with a feisty female police inspector that could be going somewhere or nowhere;and a private detective business groaning under the weight of his inability to take on lucrative jobs rather than exercises in humanitarian kindness where the paycheck isn't always bankable and his carping secretary is only too willing to let him know.

It's ingenious the way Kate Atkinson's narrative sees apparently disconnected stories seamlessly interweave and overlap. Jason Isaacs is just right as the tough, selfless, good-hearted Brodie and each of the six episodes is filled with excellent acting and direction. 9/10

Yes, stories tie together with a number of coincidences, but they make it work. Fast moving, excellent characters and truly surprising twists and turns. I was HOOKED from the first episode...

Jason Isaacs stars as detective Jackson Brodie in "Case Histories," which is a miniseries filmed in Edinburgh. Brodie works on several cases at once. This episode concerned a child who disappeared 30 years earlier, a young woman who was murdered years earlier, a woman engaged to be married attempting to find her niece, plus he's helping a paranoid old woman who never pays him. And her nephew is after him to stop. Divorced, Brodie often takes his daughter on cases when he has visitations, and she's quick to tell her mother, "Dad beat up a man," and things of that nature when she gets home.

The series is based on books by Kate Allison. The stories are dark and brooding amidst the glorious scenery of Edinburgh - absolutely spectacular cinematography. The stories intertwine and have more than a few twists. In short, "Case Histories" makes for very absorbing viewing.

Jackson Brodie is a likable character in the hands of Jason Isaacs - he's handsome, adventurous, and really tries to help his clients. He has sadness, too -- his brother was killed, and the case has never been solved. Everyone has secrets on "Case Histories." The acting is very good, but Millie Innes who plays Brodie's daughter is irresistible, a beautiful child as well as a good actress. What sets Brodie apart a bit from some other detectives is the human touch. He's a man of great humanity, and he brings this to his cases. Highly recommended.