Kate Atkinson is an excellent mystery writer, one who recognizes the importance of creating believable and wonderful characters who can lie at the heart of her stories. And the voices she gives them! I love how she makes everyone leap off the page, how they all sound so distinct and real and HERE. It's a real gift to be able to bring such people to life, yet also tell a compelling story with an interesting plot. Most authors with such a gift end up writing "literary" works that showcase their own art, but Atkinson also tells a story. In my view, that makes her even better.