Jackaby
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4.2 • 43 Ratings
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- $8.99
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
“Sherlock Holmes crossed with Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” —Chicago Tribune
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 the foul deeds are the work of the kind of creature whose very existence the local authorities--with the exception of a handsome young detective named Charlie Cane--seem adamant to deny.
“The rich world of this debut demands sequels.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“We honestly couldn’t put it down.” —Nerdist.com
“Toss together an alternate 19th-century New England city, a strong tradition of Sherlockian pastiche, and one seriously ugly hat, and this lighthearted and assured debut emerges, all action and quirk.” —Publishers Weekly
• A Top Ten Fall ’14 Kids’ Indie Next Pick
• A 2014 Kirkus Reviews Best Book for Young Adults
• A 2015 YALSA Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults Title
• A 2015 Pacific Northwest Book Award Winner
• A 2015–2016 Georgia Peach Award Nominee
• A Junior Library Guild Selection
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Toss together an alternate 19th-century New England city, a strong tradition of Sherlockian pastiche, and one seriously ugly hat, and this lighthearted and assured debut emerges, all action and quirk. In the best Doyle tradition, the first-person narrator is pragmatic yet na ve Abigail Rook, native of Britain and seeker of adventure. Thwarted in Ukraine, she catches ship for the U.S. and lands in New Fiddleham, penniless and with few employable skills. This matters not to R.F. Jackaby, the peculiar stranger with the awful hat, who is more interested in the kobold (household spirit) Abigail has unknowingly picked up on her travels. Jackaby is a detective in need of an unflappable assistant literally, as his last one "is temporarily waterfowl." Abigail's keen eye for detail and complete ignorance of the paranormal make her observations invaluable to him, and she's soon caught up in the eccentric mayhem that is Jackaby's workaday world. Ritter is also capable of tenderness and pathos, as his description of a suffering banshee demonstrates, leaving room for development in any future cases Abigail may chronicle. Ages 12 up.
Customer Reviews
The best book
This is truly the best book I’ve had the pleasure of reading, it is as thrilling as it is comical. A beautiful mixture.
Great first book
What amazing read. Very new for me and I love it. I took my time reading this book to really give it justice. This book has a lot of mixed reviews. And I want to give a chance. Glad I did. Can’t wait for the novella. The characters are amazing funny and it was almost like seeing a movie in my head. The writing style I thought is good kept me reading and turning pages.
About book: Set in the 1800’s where a young girl name Abigail Rook is supposed be going school. Instead she wants a adventure. Abigail takes a ship to a small town looking for work. When she saw a posting for assistant job.
And she meets strange detective named Mr. Jackaby who sees and hears things that others/ normal people can’t not. They embark on a crazy case that ends up in twists and turns. Amazing story and wow. What a page turner.
I Love This Book!!😆💙Jackaby Forever
Best storyline of my whole 2017 reads. Besides Inkheart, this is one of my most favorite books. An unsuspecting foreigner, and magical detective, a ghostly mentor and a helpful policeman all come together in this beautiful world of a novel. Rated 5 1/2 stars!! (Out of 5) William Ritter is truly amazing. Keep up the good work, sir!