The third Jackson Brodie novel is a fairly good read, but not nearly as gripping as its predecessors, Case Histories and One Good Turn. The multiple characters and their stories don’t tie together with Ms. Atkinson’s customary sharpness — at least one seems pointless — and Brodie’s own dilemma takes such a ridiculous turn as to lose all credibility. As much as I loved and championed the two previous books, I was disappointed by this one. It felt more like the conclusion of a contract than the latest installment of Scotland’s most brilliant mystery series since Rankin & Rebus.