I could argue that the plot of One Good Turn involves too many intersections; even her characters seem to find the connections mind boggling at times. Perhaps it's a result of moving the story a little more toward the mystery genre than general fiction. Such arguing, however, would be pointless. The pieces are all in place, integrated into a compelling story that continually twists and builds to its final scenes. It's interesting to think about it as a story worked backwards, unraveling how all the characters in a mass scheme became involved in the first place. Then it seems less coincidence than explanation.
One Good Turn is a successful melting pot of clever intrigue, melodic language, and masterful storytelling. You'll definitely want to read it if you enjoyed Case Histories. If you haven't yet read that book, I recommend doing so first. You won't be lost in One Good Turn without it, but you might find some spoilers regarding events in Case Histories. And, frankly, both books are too good to pass up.
