Questions About Case Histories (Jackson Brodie, #1)

by Kate Atkinson

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Elizabeth K.

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Lane

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what happened to oliviaand sylvia land exactly?

Alex It’s a little unclear what happened exactly. Sylvia was being molested by Victor; her dissociative behaviors and preoccupation with religion were eith…moreIt’s a little unclear what happened exactly. Sylvia was being molested by Victor; her dissociative behaviors and preoccupation with religion were either coping mechanisms against the abuse or perhaps even the beginning of schizophrenia (which has genetic causes but can be triggered/worsened by environmental stressors). It seems like Sylvia accidentally smothered Olivia to keep her quiet when they went to Mrs. Rain’s garden, but then Sylvia thinks about how now that she’s dead, Olivia will never be able to be a victim of Victor’s abuse, so it’s entirely possible she meant to kill Olivia out of a misguided mercy (again, it’s already implied that Sylvia has understandably been psychologically damaged by her father’s abuse and may even have begun to experience psychosis). Sylvia then enters an extreme convent where she isn’t permitted to leave ever, which seems like a self-imposed prison for what she did. (less)

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Sam No, Brodie solved two outright - the woman he interviewed about it recognized the golf sweater and told him it belonged to the neighbor.

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Mlepp Howell and Jackson were in the army together and they are best friends. Howell appears fairly early in the book, like Nicola, and then is not mentione…moreHowell and Jackson were in the army together and they are best friends. Howell appears fairly early in the book, like Nicola, and then is not mentioned again until later.(less)

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