Title: Jackaby
Author: William Ritter
Synopsis from Goodreads:
“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.
Five Line Book Review:
I picked up this book because I loved the idea of a paranormal Sherlock Holmes, however it took me quite a while to really get invested in this book, and I think that was because this felt more like watching a TV series than a movie. As a reader you get a pretty decent idea of the characters and who they were, Jackaby being the easiest since we all know Holmes pretty well, but I didn't really feel like I really knew any of them. Jackaby's character was my favorite because while he did echo all the parts of Sherlock everyone loves, he was very much his own character exibiting a bit more compassion and personably attributes that Holmes lacked. I enjoyed the diversity of characters and the legends/theories/stories presented; they made the discovery of 'who-did-it' more enjoyable, though I had figured it out a bout 3/4ths of the way in. I believe that people who enjoy Sherlock Holmes, and (in my opinion a better comparison than Dr. Who) the TV Series Grimm, this book (series) will have a lot of appeal.
Rated: PG
Genre: Fiction - Mystery
Rating: 4 Stars
