I’m unsure if this is a standalone or a series, but I’m really hoping it’s a series, as I would love to see more of these characters. It was a cleverly written fun, easy read with a great sense of humor. Rounding out the rest of the quirky and enjoyable cast are Jenny the ghost, Douglas the duck, and Charlie the cop. While he was very present throughout the story, I almost wish there was still more of him. Jackaby is a fun and enjoyable character and every scene with him was humorous. Abigail was likable and relatable and at times girly, but in a realistic and un-annoying way. And not only a female POV, but a YA female POV.

I can’t recall the last book I’ve read where a male author gives a female 1st person POV. The story is told through Abigail’s 1st person POV and I was impressed with how well Ritter pulled it off.

While a couple of the twists were a little predictable, it was still a fun and surprisingly humorous journey. The story follows Jackaby and Abigail as they investigate a serial murderer and Jackaby introduces Abigail to the supernatural elements in the world she’s always been missing. Strong stomach preferred…Do not stare at the frog,” and a new partnership is formed. She answers an ad for Jackaby’s assistant, “ Must be literate and possess a keen intellect and open mind. Abigail Rook has run away from home looking for adventure, but finds herself in New Fiddleham looking for work. He’s a quirky detective with a gift of observing the supernatural. This was such a fun, odd book! I loved the characters and the witty dialogue.Īs the synopsis suggests, Jackaby is a bit of a mix of Sherlock and Doctor Who. I received a copy of this title from NetGalley. 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 Charlie Cane–deny.ĭoctor 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 the macabre. On her first day, Abigail finds herself in the midst of a thrilling case: A serial killer is on the loose. Abigail has a gift for noticing ordinary but important details, which makes her perfect for the position of Jackaby’s assistant.

Jackaby, an investigator of the unexplained with a keen eye for the extraordinary–including the ability to see supernatural beings. Newly arrived in New Fiddleham, New England, 1892, and in need of a job, Abigail Rook meets R.

Jackaby book