Case Histories by Kate Atkinson (Black Swan 2004)

With leafy, erudite Cambridge as the backdrop, Jackson Brodie, a private detective and 'weekend' father is approached by a seemingly unconnected group of people to solve several 'cold cases' dating back to the early 70's. Two violent murders and a missing child are embroidered into an intricate tapestry of flashbacks including a window into Brodie's own tragic past. Kate Atkinson presents each 'case' as a series of bite size notes and asides and allows us to follow Brodie as he unravels them, more often than not with his sugar-hyped four year old daughter in tow. Be prepared to attempt everyday tasks one-handed - this is a book you will not be able to put down until the very last page.