My rating:2 of 5 stars
Received: borrowed
Publication Date: September 16th, 2014
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Point of View: 1st Person & Female
Genres & Themes: Young Adult, Historical , Mystery, Paranormal
BLURB:
“Miss Rook, I am not an occultist,” Jackaby said. “I have a gift that allows me to see 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 curtain.”
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 Charlie 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 the macabre.
REVIEW:
What a let down this book was.
I was so bored. And it had to do with the story, not the writing or Jackaby himself. He was great. Strange and not always understandable, but different and fascinating. Not the sort of character we encounter in every read.
His eyes looked like they could be a hundred lifetimes old, but he bore an otherwise young countenance and had a fervent energy about him.
That’s my Sherlock Jackaby! I wonder if I was the only one calling him Jackabbey or Jackbaby here and there. Especially when reading fast. My mind just processed those names instead of his real one and that…pretty often.
So, really, he wasn’t the problem. It’s the dull mystery case that literally put me to sleep. I was alternating my read of this book with Scarlet because I really didn’t want to leave Jackaby half unread due to boredom. Who knows, maybe the sequel’s mystery will blow me away and, by DNFing, I would lose my chance to be impressed. Plus, I loved that detective!
‘‘I think you must be a bit confused,’’ he said. ‘‘But don’t feel bad—it’s a common state. Most people are.’’
I’ve included in this review some Jackaby quotes because he was wonderfully showing a great sense of humour (often without meaning to) and was a character worth knowing about. And I understand the author’s choice of not making him a main one – I absolutely do – but, sincerely, our Abigail was just so…dull and insipid. She did ‘‘participate’’ in the story and have her place in it and a certain mild role during scenes, but I barely noticed her and often forgot that she was even there. Usually, characters such as Abigail can be interesting because some can allow you to simply push them aside and (mentally) take their own place in the book, like it happened to me with Ana from Fifty Shades of Grey and Kelsey from Tiger’s Curse. But not Abigail. I couldn’t do that with her, but that may be because it didn’t interest me at all to help solve that boring case. It might all have been more intriguing – and I can’t believe I’m saying this – if there were no paranormal elements. There, I said it. I think they confused me more than anything else, since the world-building was barely explained. I usually can’t get enough of ‘‘paranormal’’ as theme, but, in this context, the story was better without it, in my opinion.
‘‘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.’’
Another problem I had with this book is that we didn’t know much about any of the characters. I mean, I adored Jackaby’s personality and the way he interacted with others and spoke, but I did wish to also know some personal information about him. In the next book, perhaps?
So, for that – for Jackaby – I’ll keep on reading this series, disappointment or not.
PS. There was no romance! Another thing that the sequel might include…Let’s hope.
Drat! Another one I was excited about bites the dust 😦 Love your gif though!
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Aww sorry, girl! Thank you though! 😀
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Awww I didn’t know Jackaby was about Sherlock (or a retelling? based off?) But yeah, that sucks that the actual mystery wasn’t as good 😛
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Hmm, inspired of I would say. 😛 Myeah, hope book two is better!!
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Your’s isn’t the first negative review I have seen for this one. I don’t think I will be reading it.
Thanks so much for the honest review hon!
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I’ve seen them around too, but also a lot of praising! It might be a love or hate one, you know. 😛 But Jackaby was truly great. ❤ Thank you!!
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Awwww sorry you were bored, hun! I was so looking forward to this one too… Haha these quotes do sound quite funny 😉 Lovely review <33
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Yesss, Jackaby seriously rocks! Just the MC that meh and the mystery. It was boring overall yeah…Thank you ❤
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I’m curious about this one! In fact, when it first came out, I read the first chapter or so and THEN FORGOT TO FINISH IT. So obviously it a) bored me or b) I’m just horrible with remembering things LOL It sucks that it wasn’t for you though, love! But hey, fab review, girly! ❤
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hahaha, happens to me too! Normally I’ve either bored like you or I fall asleep and then don’t have the motivation to finish the book in question. Thank you!!
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I’ve wanted to read this for awhile. I mean, that cover is stunning. He’s got a girl in his brain!!!
& those quotes at least sound fantastic. Maybe this book will be one of those investments in time. Like you have to read this one in order to get to some greatness in the following books. Any who, great reviewwww. Also, I will totally call him Jackbaby. That’s happening now. Thanks for that.
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I love that cover too!! hahah, that’s true! Did not see it like that before.
Yeah, maybe you’re right! Maybe the next book will be 3 star-worthy and the next one 4… Thank you!! LOL, welcome 😉
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Eeep! I maybe should have skipped your review until I finished this book, but I couldn’t resist. My bestie gave me a signed copy of this book and I reeeeeaaallly want to love it, but I had to put it aside for now because I was so bored with it! Glad to know it wasn’t just me. I am hoping that it was just a temporary mood, though. I’ll pick it back up soon and hope to love it.
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Signed copy? WOOT, thay’s awesome! Because the author DID create Jackaby, whom I love!! I really hope it will be just a temporary mood for you ❤
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I’m really sorry that it wasn’t that good and that you were bored with the story… Not a good thing at all. I hope your next book is better.
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Thank you, Melly!! Yeah, the mystery was so looong and uninteresting.
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Aww. Too bad this didn’t work for you. I admit that I was bored too when I read this one. I’m surprised I finished it 😛
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LOL! Well, I thought about DNFing it but then Jackaby was looking at me with puppy eyes so I could not lol.
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I’ve had this on my TBR, but I don’t know. I’m sorry it was such a bore for you. Those quotes are so ridiculous, they’re hilarious lol. I might as well read it to just make fun of it. (But I’m nice..soo..heheheh). 😛 Great review!
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LOOOOOL. It is true that Jackaby was a little ridiculous some times or just absurd but, hey, so original!! Thank you!!
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How awesome is that animation? That is all.
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hahah, I love it too ❤
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I am intrigued by this book. I’ve heard that it’s good on audio, so maybe I’ll give that a try.
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Oh, you have to tell me what Jackaby’s voice sounds like 😉
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Oh, so sorry you didn’t like this one, hun. I loved it, but I totally see where you’re coming from.
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Thank you, Marianne! 🙂
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Oh no! The cover looks gorgeous, it’s such a pity the book isn’t as good as it looks
Great review though! Love your blog 🙂
I just posted my first review and there’s more on the way! I’d love it if you checked it out. 😀
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I’m so sorry you didn’t like it 😦 I was thinking about picking this up 😦
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