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38 Phonebox Magazine | January 2026To begin with we are reintroduced to Jackson Brodie who has been hired to investigate a stolen painting, a seemingly trivial matter until other similar thefts are discovered, a common factor being a young woman employed as a companion to the elderly owner, one who disappeared at the same time as the theft. Her fi nal post was with Lady Milton of Burton Makepeace Hall from where she had disappeared with a valuable Turner.Meanwhile Kate Atkinson introduces the other characters, including Ben who left the army after losing his leg in an explosion, the Revd Simon Smallbone, the local vicar who loses his voice through stress and Reggie, now serving with the police force. Reviewed by Thelma ShackladyDeath at the Sign of the Rook by Kate AtkinsonKate Atkinson%u2019s latest novel, a Sunday Times bestseller, takes its title from the Murder Mystery weekend held in Rook Hall hotel, carved out of Burton Makepeace Hall as a moneymaking venture. It is this event which takes up the fi nal chapters of the book as, one by one, the characters make their way to the Hall/ hotel as a refuge from the snowstorm.As each of them is described and fi tted into the plot we are aware of the author%u2019s light touch and subtle humour which permeates the novel.Although the book is described as a %u2019Jackson Brodie novel%u2019 and Brodie is involved throughout, it stands by itself without any need for prior knowledge of other books in the series. It is a clever and amusing book unlike conventional crime novels, although with the customary twists and turns we are accustomed to expect. It pokes fun at the %u2018Murder Mystery%u2019 tradition and the script is apparently lifted from an author called Nancy Styles, who herself bears an uncanny likeness to Agatha Christie!BookshopTel: 01234 714592 | Stanley Court, OlneyBOOK REVIEWI thoroughly enjoyed reading this latest book by a clever and well known author and recommend it to those who prefer their crime to be less realistic and bloodcurdling, but amusing and thought provoking. It is a good read for a chilly January day!01908 510342Castlethorpe First SchoolVILLAGE SCHOOLS FEDERATIONCastlethorpeFirst School01908 510342Newton Blossomville CE SchoolNorth CrawleyCE SchoolSheringtonCE SchoolDiscover more about these hidden gems for yourself. Use the contact details below to arrange a private visit and experience first-hand what makes our schools so special.01234 881294 01234 391282 01908 218247We welcome applications from the villages, Olney and surrounding areas.Stoke GoldingtonCE School01908 551253%u2022 Wraparound care%u2022 Exciting opportunities for children in all the schools to come together%u2022 High teacher/pupil ratio%u2022 Personalised learning in local village settings%u2022 Nurturing approach providing a %u2018home-from-home%u2019 environment%u2022 Weekly forest schoolTake a look at our website at www.thevillageschoolsfederation.co.uk