Sunday, April 11, 2021

Book Review: Jackaby by William Ritter

Title: Jackaby
Author: William Ritter
Series/Standalone: Jackaby Series (Book #1)
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Historical Fiction, Mystery
Pages: 299
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Year Published: 2014
Format: Paperback Copy (Own It)
First Line: "It was later January, and New England wore a fresh coat of snow as I stepped along the gangplank to the shore."

"Miss Rook, I am not an occultist,' Jackaby said. 'I have a gift that allows me to see the truth where others see the illusion-- and there are many illusions. All the world's a stage, as they say, and I seem to have the only seat in the house with a  view behind the curtains.'

Newly arrived in New Fiddleham, New England, 1892, and in need of a job, Abigail Rook meets R.F Jackaby, an investigator of the unexplained with a keen eye for the extraordinary-- including the ability to see supernatural beings. Abigail has a gift for noticing ordinary but important details, which makes her perfect for the position of Jackaby's assistant. On her first day, Abigail finds herself in the midst of a thrilling case: A serial killer is on the loose. The police are convinced it's an ordinary villain, but Jackaby is certain it's a nonhuman creature, whose existence the police-- with the exception of a handsome young detective named Chalie Cane-- deny.

Doctor Who meets Sherlock in William Ritter's debut novel, which features a detective of the paranormal as seen through the eyes of his adventurous and intelligent assistant in a tale brimming with cheeky humor and a dose of macabre."

My Rating: 4/5

My friend and I started a book club a while back and this is our pick for April and what a fun pick it was. I would say that this book is more about the fantastical elements and the antics of Jackaby, rather than the mystery. I was so intrigued by the characters and finding out more about them, that the mystery wasn't as consuming as it could be. I am looking forward to reading more about the characters in the following books. I will say that there was a moment of uncertainty for me at the end of the novel, but it was resolved quickly (thank goodness for that).

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

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