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Newly arrived in 1892 New England, Abigail Rook becomes assistant to R.F. Jackaby, an investigator of the unexplained with the ability to see supernatural beings, and she helps him delve into a case of serial murder which, Jackaby is convinced, is due to a nonhuman creature.Tags
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Book one in a terrific YA series that combines a Victorian sensibility and setting to a New England town rife with mysterious deaths, supernatural creatures and other unexplained mayhem. Luckily, paranormal private investigator R. F. Jackaby and his pragmatic new assistant, Miss Abigail Rook, are there to set things right. However, as Miss Rook so deftly observes, Mr. Jackaby is every bit as confounding as the mysteries they are trying to solve. His house, for instance, will have readers in awe. There's the former homeowner who cheerfully haunts the residence, the former assistant who's now a duck, and the grassy knoll, complete with pond, that resides in the attic. With gems like these being dropped into the storyline, the mysterious show more murders are almost secondary.
Recommend this series to readers who are drawn to character-driven plot lines and verbal sparring. Much comparison has been made to a supernatural Sherlock Holmes, but I see a lot of stylistic similarities to Jonathan Stroud's Lockwood and Co. books and would definitely recommend both series to the same reader. Like the Lockwood books, Jackaby's characters reveal more of themselves and their history as the series progresses, and the supernatural elements eventually build toward a larger conspiracy. No romance between the two leads, who learn to respect each other's talents. An historical, supernatural mystery with comic elements, endearing characters, and good pacing, Jackaby just gets better with each book. JF show less
Recommend this series to readers who are drawn to character-driven plot lines and verbal sparring. Much comparison has been made to a supernatural Sherlock Holmes, but I see a lot of stylistic similarities to Jonathan Stroud's Lockwood and Co. books and would definitely recommend both series to the same reader. Like the Lockwood books, Jackaby's characters reveal more of themselves and their history as the series progresses, and the supernatural elements eventually build toward a larger conspiracy. No romance between the two leads, who learn to respect each other's talents. An historical, supernatural mystery with comic elements, endearing characters, and good pacing, Jackaby just gets better with each book. JF show less
R.F. Jackaby is almost certainly a character of mish-mashed components from Sherlock Holmes (particularly Benedict Cumberbatch's incarnation), the Doctor (particularly the 11th incarnation, played by Matt Smith, although with a scarf borrowed from Tom Baker's Doctor), and possibly a dash of the Mad Hatter and Rupert Giles from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" thrown in here and there. Abigail Rook is another character with a hodgepodge of elements borrowed from other characters as well. This can have a polarizing effect: some will tend to hate the Frankensteinization (I made that up, ironically) of beloved characters from other books/movies/TV shows, whereas others will love them dearly for it. In this case, I am one of the latter.
The show more marketers definitely pushed the idea that this book was "Sherlock" meets "Doctor Who" and to an extent, it kind-of is. But this story goes beyond that, dipping into old fairy tales and folklore to create a fantastic sort of murder mystery, not unlike something one might find in an Edgar Allan Poe story. And, I might add, the dialogue is quick and clever, and the story itself veers fluidly from comical to horrific and then back again.
I'm not saying that this book wasn't without flaws, and certainly at times it almost smacked of fanfiction, but I still really, really enjoyed it. I look forward to read more from this series, and I will certainly be recommending it to anyone else who has an interest in either fantasy, mystery, or especially both. show less
The show more marketers definitely pushed the idea that this book was "Sherlock" meets "Doctor Who" and to an extent, it kind-of is. But this story goes beyond that, dipping into old fairy tales and folklore to create a fantastic sort of murder mystery, not unlike something one might find in an Edgar Allan Poe story. And, I might add, the dialogue is quick and clever, and the story itself veers fluidly from comical to horrific and then back again.
I'm not saying that this book wasn't without flaws, and certainly at times it almost smacked of fanfiction, but I still really, really enjoyed it. I look forward to read more from this series, and I will certainly be recommending it to anyone else who has an interest in either fantasy, mystery, or especially both. show less
When Abigail Rook gets off the boat in New Fiddleham in 1892, her primary goal is to find a job. Through a strange set of circumstances she ends up as an assistant to the strange detective, R.F. Jackaby. While Jackaby's skills remind Abigail of some fictional detectives, his powers of perception encompass things much further outside the normal as he is capable of seeing the creatures that others relegate to legend and myth. When a body is found murdered, Jackaby's special detecting skills are required and Abigail is thrilled to finally be involved in a real adventure. But adventures are far more dangerous in real life than they are in books.
I want to sing the praises of this book everywhere. First of all, look at that gorgeous cover. show more Appreciate its beauty. Then rejoice because the book inside lives up to that cover. With two fantastically well-drawn central characters in Abigail and Jackaby and a plot that pulls you along without ever feeling that it's breakneck, the book is enjoyable from beginning to end. While Jackaby obviously has hints of Sherlock Holmes about him, he is in no way a lesser version as his powers of perception lie in being able to see supernatural creatures invisible to all other human eyes. Abigail provides excellent first-person narrative as she follows Jackaby and very quickly asserts herself. This is a girl who will not take your 19th century misogyny. The plot of the novel is enjoyable with an excellent mystery and sparks of humour along the way. A fantastic read that I highly recommend to everyone who likes books. show less
I want to sing the praises of this book everywhere. First of all, look at that gorgeous cover. show more Appreciate its beauty. Then rejoice because the book inside lives up to that cover. With two fantastically well-drawn central characters in Abigail and Jackaby and a plot that pulls you along without ever feeling that it's breakneck, the book is enjoyable from beginning to end. While Jackaby obviously has hints of Sherlock Holmes about him, he is in no way a lesser version as his powers of perception lie in being able to see supernatural creatures invisible to all other human eyes. Abigail provides excellent first-person narrative as she follows Jackaby and very quickly asserts herself. This is a girl who will not take your 19th century misogyny. The plot of the novel is enjoyable with an excellent mystery and sparks of humour along the way. A fantastic read that I highly recommend to everyone who likes books. show less
A book described as Doctor Who meets Sherlock?! Yes, please!
However...
When I started reading Jackaby, I was immediately annoyed. This wasn't just a book written in the same flavor of "Doctor Who meets Sherlock", it is quite clearly the Doctor written as Sherlock. In my mind, Jackaby is so clearly Four written as if he were taking a turn at being Sherlock; it even seems like this could be a lost adventure of the Doctor. He even has his own female companion in Abigail Rook (the Watson to Jackaby's Sherlock). The more I read, the more difficulty I had divorcing myself from this idea. After a couple of chapters, I put the book down, not sure that I would finish it.
However...
Two days later I picked it up again, and immediately found myself show more annoyed all over again. Yet, I kept reading, and suddenly I found myself at the end of the book and being disappointed that I didn't have more to read! Somewhere along the way, Ritter completely won me over on his characters and story. I still think this could be reworked with very little difficulty into an adventure for the Doctor, but I thoroughly enjoyed it all the same. Eventually I no longer found myself comparing Jackaby to the Sherlock Doctor, and found myself reading him as himself; he developed his own distinct voice and look in my head.
As for the story, this is definitely a whodunit with a supernatural twist. Jackaby has the fortunate (unfortunate) ability to see things and creatures that others can not, and as such offers his services to the police to help solve crimes that fall outside the realm of the normal. Newly arrived in the new world, Abigail Rook is in search of a job, and when she answers an advert for an assistant position with Jackaby, he doesn't know what she's set herself up for. Jackaby takes her with him as he goes to investigate a murder, and in contrast to his ability to see the extraordinary, Abigail notices seemingly ordinary and mundane things, yet Jackaby finds these details important. From here, we are offered a fun and rollicking adventure as Jackaby and Abigail try to unravel the mystery of the killer before he kills again.
When all is said and done, I want a sequel. I want more Jackaby, more Abigail, more of their banter. If you are a fan of Doctor Who or Sherlock, do yourself a favor and pick up Jackaby. I hope you'll be as pleasantly surprised as I was. show less
However...
When I started reading Jackaby, I was immediately annoyed. This wasn't just a book written in the same flavor of "Doctor Who meets Sherlock", it is quite clearly the Doctor written as Sherlock. In my mind, Jackaby is so clearly Four written as if he were taking a turn at being Sherlock; it even seems like this could be a lost adventure of the Doctor. He even has his own female companion in Abigail Rook (the Watson to Jackaby's Sherlock). The more I read, the more difficulty I had divorcing myself from this idea. After a couple of chapters, I put the book down, not sure that I would finish it.
However...
Two days later I picked it up again, and immediately found myself show more annoyed all over again. Yet, I kept reading, and suddenly I found myself at the end of the book and being disappointed that I didn't have more to read! Somewhere along the way, Ritter completely won me over on his characters and story. I still think this could be reworked with very little difficulty into an adventure for the Doctor, but I thoroughly enjoyed it all the same. Eventually I no longer found myself comparing Jackaby to the Sherlock Doctor, and found myself reading him as himself; he developed his own distinct voice and look in my head.
As for the story, this is definitely a whodunit with a supernatural twist. Jackaby has the fortunate (unfortunate) ability to see things and creatures that others can not, and as such offers his services to the police to help solve crimes that fall outside the realm of the normal. Newly arrived in the new world, Abigail Rook is in search of a job, and when she answers an advert for an assistant position with Jackaby, he doesn't know what she's set herself up for. Jackaby takes her with him as he goes to investigate a murder, and in contrast to his ability to see the extraordinary, Abigail notices seemingly ordinary and mundane things, yet Jackaby finds these details important. From here, we are offered a fun and rollicking adventure as Jackaby and Abigail try to unravel the mystery of the killer before he kills again.
When all is said and done, I want a sequel. I want more Jackaby, more Abigail, more of their banter. If you are a fan of Doctor Who or Sherlock, do yourself a favor and pick up Jackaby. I hope you'll be as pleasantly surprised as I was. show less
In any partnership story, its success hinges on the appeal of both partners. Thankfully, Jackaby has two wonderful characters and even better minor characters that make the story thoroughly entertaining and fun. Abigail is the woman ahead of her times, making her own way through the world seeking adventure and excitement. She stumbles into Jackaby upon her first few hours in town, and the story takes off from there. Jackaby is every bit as quirky, disorganized, and distant as one would imagine when compared to Sherlock or Doctor Who, but there is a softer side that quickly shines through the gruff exterior. Together, the two balance each other. Abigail brings Jackaby back to reality, and Jackaby in turn allows Abigail to use her show more imagination and sense of adventure in ways she never imagined.
The eclectic cast of characters includes a resident ghost who takes Abigail under her wing and provides the nurturing she did not realize she missed, a former assistant turned duck who also resides in the house and attends to Jackaby’s records and case files. There is also the local witch-type figure, whose grasp on reality is tentative at best but whose earnestness is never in doubt, as well as the local police chief who refuses to believe in the supernatural but begrudgingly admits that Jackaby has a way of solving the unsolvable. It is very Sherlockian, but it is not so much a rip-off as it is a tongue-in-cheek homage to the very popular series and beloved characters.
While the story takes place in 1892, New Fiddleham and its inhabitants have a much more aged quality about them that makes it easy for readers to imagine the story occurring in 1792 rather than during the Industrial Revolution. Mentions of telegrams are off-putting because the town feels much so much older. However, the attitudes are anything but Puritanical but more befitting of the times. No one looks askance at a young unchaperoned woman wandering the streets alone at night or at a young woman looking for work. It is refreshing to see Abigail’s independence embraced by her small circle of friends.
Jackaby is a thoroughly enjoyable, rollicking adventure, with tongue firmly in cheek as Abigail and Jackaby attend to the various supernatural crimes around the little town. Abigail is spunky and delightfully anti-status quo, while Jackaby has an insouciance about him that is quite charming. Together, they make a unique but entertaining duo, and one can only hope theirs is a partnership of which readers will see a lot more adventures. show less
The eclectic cast of characters includes a resident ghost who takes Abigail under her wing and provides the nurturing she did not realize she missed, a former assistant turned duck who also resides in the house and attends to Jackaby’s records and case files. There is also the local witch-type figure, whose grasp on reality is tentative at best but whose earnestness is never in doubt, as well as the local police chief who refuses to believe in the supernatural but begrudgingly admits that Jackaby has a way of solving the unsolvable. It is very Sherlockian, but it is not so much a rip-off as it is a tongue-in-cheek homage to the very popular series and beloved characters.
While the story takes place in 1892, New Fiddleham and its inhabitants have a much more aged quality about them that makes it easy for readers to imagine the story occurring in 1792 rather than during the Industrial Revolution. Mentions of telegrams are off-putting because the town feels much so much older. However, the attitudes are anything but Puritanical but more befitting of the times. No one looks askance at a young unchaperoned woman wandering the streets alone at night or at a young woman looking for work. It is refreshing to see Abigail’s independence embraced by her small circle of friends.
Jackaby is a thoroughly enjoyable, rollicking adventure, with tongue firmly in cheek as Abigail and Jackaby attend to the various supernatural crimes around the little town. Abigail is spunky and delightfully anti-status quo, while Jackaby has an insouciance about him that is quite charming. Together, they make a unique but entertaining duo, and one can only hope theirs is a partnership of which readers will see a lot more adventures. show less
This detective novel set in 1892 in a fictional city in New England openly acknowledges that it is a Sherlock Holmes pastiche in the opening pages. Even "Sherlock Holmes with fantastical and supernatural elements" has been done before, but Jackaby remains fresh and entertaining. The title character is an investigator who can see evidence of the paranormal. The story is narrated by Abigail Rook, a young woman seeking adventure who steps off the ship at New Fiddleham and quickly becomes Jackaby's assistant embroiled in solving a series of grisly murders.
The narration wisely stays with Abigail as we see Jackaby slowly become a warmer character, but still retaining an air of mystery. The story has a lot of humor mixed with moments of show more horror, although nothing overly terrifying. It's a fun story and I will seek out other installments in the series.
Favorite Passages:
“Monsters are easy, Miss Rook. They’re monsters. But a monster in a suit? That’s basically just a wicked man, and a wicked man is a more dangerous thing by far.”
This makes them dreaded creatures, feared and hated by any who hear them, a treatment far disparate from the honor and appreciation they used to receive for their mourning services. Banshees themselves are not dangerous, though, just burdened with the task of expressing pain and loss.
That the battles are usually in her head does not lessen the bravery of it. The hardest ones always are.
Happiness is bliss–but ignorance is anesthetic. show less
The narration wisely stays with Abigail as we see Jackaby slowly become a warmer character, but still retaining an air of mystery. The story has a lot of humor mixed with moments of show more horror, although nothing overly terrifying. It's a fun story and I will seek out other installments in the series.
Favorite Passages:
“Monsters are easy, Miss Rook. They’re monsters. But a monster in a suit? That’s basically just a wicked man, and a wicked man is a more dangerous thing by far.”
This makes them dreaded creatures, feared and hated by any who hear them, a treatment far disparate from the honor and appreciation they used to receive for their mourning services. Banshees themselves are not dangerous, though, just burdened with the task of expressing pain and loss.
That the battles are usually in her head does not lessen the bravery of it. The hardest ones always are.
Happiness is bliss–but ignorance is anesthetic. show less
I loved this book. From the first line until the last, it was wonderful, whimsical, and exactly the kind of book that I love to read!
Jackaby is a marvelous character, and Miss Abigail Rook is the perfect foil. Tired of her rigid 19th century life in which well bred British girls never seem to be allowed to go out and experience life. Abigail decides to take matters in her own hands. Without her parents knowledge she leaves her boarding school and sets out to find some adventure, eventually making her way to New England and, in her search for work, R.F. Jackaby, who is advertising for an assistant to help him in his detective work. A young Sherlock Holmes type with a sharp mind, an eye for detail, and a vast knowledge of the show more supernatural, Jackaby intrigues Abigail from the very start and she is quickly pulled along into an investigation of a series of gruesome murders that leave a strong sense of something inhuman as the perpetrator. A wailing banshee is their only clue to the next victim in a string of brutal killings that leave such odd clues, that even the cynical police detective in charge doesn't know what to make of them. What he does know is that he finds Jackaby strange, annoying, and too often right in his deductions.
Aside from a wonderfully good supernatural mystery that kept me guessing until the very end, and then still surprised me, Ritter has created such a visual and delightful world. His description of the pond in Jackaby's house...the way it ripples and how the shadows on the ceiling create an atmosphere of serenity made me wish I too could dip my toes into the water and feed Douglas bits of bread while watching reflections of the ripples on the ceiling. The resident ghost who becomes a friend, the duck who no longer wants to be a man, preferring, it seems, to remaining a duck, and a frog that no one should stare at if they know what's good for them... it all combines to make a world so richly detailed and vibrant that I had no problem seeing it all inside my head.
The writing is well paced and a good mixture of humour and pathos. The character are well drawn and a good match for each other, with Abigail being plucky and brave, and noticing the mundane details that help pull everything together. It all felt very well balanced and the historical setting and language made it all that much more enjoyable.
Can't wait to start the sequel, which I just purchased yesterday! show less
Jackaby is a marvelous character, and Miss Abigail Rook is the perfect foil. Tired of her rigid 19th century life in which well bred British girls never seem to be allowed to go out and experience life. Abigail decides to take matters in her own hands. Without her parents knowledge she leaves her boarding school and sets out to find some adventure, eventually making her way to New England and, in her search for work, R.F. Jackaby, who is advertising for an assistant to help him in his detective work. A young Sherlock Holmes type with a sharp mind, an eye for detail, and a vast knowledge of the show more supernatural, Jackaby intrigues Abigail from the very start and she is quickly pulled along into an investigation of a series of gruesome murders that leave a strong sense of something inhuman as the perpetrator. A wailing banshee is their only clue to the next victim in a string of brutal killings that leave such odd clues, that even the cynical police detective in charge doesn't know what to make of them. What he does know is that he finds Jackaby strange, annoying, and too often right in his deductions.
Aside from a wonderfully good supernatural mystery that kept me guessing until the very end, and then still surprised me, Ritter has created such a visual and delightful world. His description of the pond in Jackaby's house...the way it ripples and how the shadows on the ceiling create an atmosphere of serenity made me wish I too could dip my toes into the water and feed Douglas bits of bread while watching reflections of the ripples on the ceiling. The resident ghost who becomes a friend, the duck who no longer wants to be a man, preferring, it seems, to remaining a duck, and a frog that no one should stare at if they know what's good for them... it all combines to make a world so richly detailed and vibrant that I had no problem seeing it all inside my head.
The writing is well paced and a good mixture of humour and pathos. The character are well drawn and a good match for each other, with Abigail being plucky and brave, and noticing the mundane details that help pull everything together. It all felt very well balanced and the historical setting and language made it all that much more enjoyable.
Can't wait to start the sequel, which I just purchased yesterday! show less
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My favorite genre is historical fantasy mystery (say that 3 times fast...) which is very hard to find so when I saw how popular this book was among my Goodreads friends I had to try it myself. I was afraid it would be full of poorly executed Sherlockian tropes and have a predictable plot but it surprised me. It is everything I hoped for in a historical fantasy mystery and more.
Jackaby is the show more American version of Sherlock Holmes. The similarities are uncanny but one huge difference is that Jackaby is a seer and uses his ability as a paranormal detective. I think Sherlock would be outraged by the idea that there are cases that can not be explained through hard science and deduction. But Jackaby sees what even the great Sherlock Holmes can't and passionately works to solve every case that crosses his path.
I love that the supernatural beings/creatures are not even close to the typical tropes you find in most paranormal/fantasy books. You can't help but love the ghost living at the Jackaby residence who acts as though she isn't dead and Jackaby's previous assistant that was accidentally turned into a duck.
The description of Jackaby's townhouse/office is fascinating. A frog living in a terrarium in the foyer that explodes a noxious gas if you make eye contact. The kitchen that isn't a kitchen is a science laboratory. The mysterious library packed with antique books and the magical pond on the 3rd floor that is always cheerful make me want to jump in the pages and explore.
I rarely give books 5 stars. It has to be something that was just so consuming and entertaining that I was hurt when it ended. This is one of those books, I just can't say enough good about it. Jackaby is clean enough for young-adults, my teenage nerdy self would've been in heaven reading this year's ago. I'll be readinf the second book soon! Happy reading! 📚 show less
Jackaby is the show more American version of Sherlock Holmes. The similarities are uncanny but one huge difference is that Jackaby is a seer and uses his ability as a paranormal detective. I think Sherlock would be outraged by the idea that there are cases that can not be explained through hard science and deduction. But Jackaby sees what even the great Sherlock Holmes can't and passionately works to solve every case that crosses his path.
I love that the supernatural beings/creatures are not even close to the typical tropes you find in most paranormal/fantasy books. You can't help but love the ghost living at the Jackaby residence who acts as though she isn't dead and Jackaby's previous assistant that was accidentally turned into a duck.
The description of Jackaby's townhouse/office is fascinating. A frog living in a terrarium in the foyer that explodes a noxious gas if you make eye contact. The kitchen that isn't a kitchen is a science laboratory. The mysterious library packed with antique books and the magical pond on the 3rd floor that is always cheerful make me want to jump in the pages and explore.
I rarely give books 5 stars. It has to be something that was just so consuming and entertaining that I was hurt when it ended. This is one of those books, I just can't say enough good about it. Jackaby is clean enough for young-adults, my teenage nerdy self would've been in heaven reading this year's ago. I'll be readinf the second book soon! Happy reading! 📚 show less
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Awards
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Jackaby
- Original publication date
- 2014
- People/Characters
- Abigail Rook; R. F. Jackaby; Charlie Cane
- Dedication
- For Jack, who makes me want to create impossible things, and for Kat, who convinces me I can and insists that I do.
- First words
- It was late January, and New England wore a fresh coat of snow as I stepped along the gangplank to the shore.
- Quotations
- Three stories tall with, perhaps, room for a small attic, the building was busy with gables and ornate trim. With no apparent consideration for either form or functioin, the architect seemed to have included coumns, arches, a... (show all)nd carved festoons wherever space was available in whatever style was handy. Balustrades and cornice windows peeked out from a variety of angles, some of whic seemed uncertain to which floor they belonged. Despite all of the mismatched chaos of its design, the bilding coalesced into something that seemed, somehow, right. No two elements of the property belonged together, but taken as a whole, not a thing stood out of place. (p. 19)
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)"Get your coat, Miss Rook. There's adventure to be had!"
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)I completely understand. - Original language
- English
- Canonical DDC/MDS
- 813.6
- Canonical LCC
- PZ7.R516
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- Reviews
- 140
- Rating
- (3.80)
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- 5 — Czech, English, French, German, Portuguese
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- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 19
- ASINs
- 6