Audio: Jackaby Review

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Word to the Wise: It is a bit dark. Not graphic. Just dark. There is magical elements, so if that is not your jam, you're gonna want to pass. Also, I did the audio version.

What's the Skinny: Jackaby written by William Ritter is a Sherlock Holmes spin with mystical creatures. I honestly, as I am writing this, still do not know how to come to a solid conclusion about the book. The story starts out with expedition gone wrong leader Abigail Rook seeking a job as she has run out of money. She stumbles upon an advertisement in the paper of Jackaby looking for an assistant.
The book progresses with Abigail working the case with Jackaby. There's ghosts, werewolves, dead people, and things that only Jackaby can see. Jackaby is every bit the odd Sherlock Holmes type character, while Abigail is the levelheaded Watson. If you like mystery will an element of old school monsters then you might like this book.

What I disliked about the book: It was long. Like hella long. Like longest train victory points long. The page count itself isnt big (not like Les Miserables) but it just seemed that the story dragged out. The story was mostly resolved and then my husband and I still had an hour left in the book (a whole. freaking. hour). Also, if you think that the main characters in this book have good chemistry, you are absolutely correct. But be on the alert, there is no romance component to this book between Jackaby and Abigail. In fact, the love interest that Abigail finds herself with, I found to be quite boring. But my husband pointed out that Jackaby is more like Sherlock Holmes meets Jack Sparrow.

Overall, the book wasn't bad but I most likely will not be continuing with the story as there are three more books.

*cues Hans Zimmer Sherlock Holmes music*

If You Read the Back of Books:
“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

Amazon Link