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31 July 2015

#BookBeginnings & #Friday56 & A Ramble - William Ritter's Jackaby

It's Friday again so it's time for Friday56 at Freda's Voice & Book Beginnings at Rose City Reader!

The Book Beginnings rules are to share the first few sentences & initial thoughts while the Friday56 is to share a blurb from the 56th page or 56% mark.

I just completed William Ritter's ever-so-amazing Jackaby. I had thought that I had read it before since I meant to SO many times and had read so much about it that, in my head, I already loved it ... but when I got "back" into it before this past Teaser Tuesday post, I realized that it really was all in my head. I'm sure Jackaby would appreciate that.
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Set in 1892, Jackaby has been described as a cross between Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Who ... although I would nix the Doctor Who bit and say it's more Sherlockian and either Supernatural or Grimm with more than a tad Harry Potter thrown in for good measure (it is, after all, a "young adult" novel). Even Abigail, the narrator and female lead, compares Jackaby to Sherlock Holmes (in an implied kind of way, at least). 

 

There's quite a bit of paranormal/magical awesomeness going on along with a good ol' Victorian-times murder mystery but the "all of time and space" deal that goes along with my beloved Doctor just isn't there (in the first book, anyway ... and I think I'll be disappointed if it crops up in the second). 

I ramble.... but....

I. Love. This. Book.

The spunk of Abigail ... the awesomeness of the home/office (and the other inhabitants) ... the humor. Oh, and so much humor there is! I'm quite glad that the same handful of regulars ride the bus with me into work most nights because I let out quite a hoot a couple of nights ago and it may have been awkward among strangers who haven't just come to expect such things from me.

And the actual mystery storyline? Well, I had quite a bit of the bits figured out but, being Jackaby, there had to be some twists tossed in that I didn't quite see coming and I love him (and William Ritter) for them.

And I love Abigail (so much so that I've said it twice). 

And Charlie.

And the old lady who fishes for the bridge troll.

And the duck.

And even Chief Inspector Marlowe.

Most of all, I love how the whack-doodle-ness of it all actually fits together.



Beastly Bones is the second in the series and will be out September 22nd. I'll be curling up under a cozy blanket with it before then, though, thanks yet again to NetGalley.


10 comments:

Anne@HeadFullofBooks said...

You had me at Dr. Who. I must look for this book. Thanks for the wonderful recommendation.

I hope you will visit and comment on my post My Friday Quotes

Kathy Martin said...

This does sound good. I like historical mysteries. his week I am spotlighting Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Mary Wingate - a cozy mystery. Happy reading!

Unknown said...

Sounds interesting. I'll give it a try.

Nicole said...

Sounds interesting and now I am wondering how their conversation ends. Happy Friday!
Here is my Friday 56:
http://missdothacker.blogspot.com/2015/07/the-spiritglass-charade.html

Katherine P said...

I really want to read this one but I'm glad to know going in that's more Supernatural than Doctor Who. It still sounds good but I think I'd be a little disappointed if I was expecting Doctor Who-ish and didn't get it.

Lauren Stoolfire said...

Jackaby was awesome! I can't wait for the sequel!

Check out my Friday 56 (With Book Beginnings) and The Harry Potter Tag.

Sandra Nachlinger said...

Sounds like a great plot filled with unforgettable characters. The opening really drew me in.

My Friday post features The Reluctant Midwife.

Unknown said...

I have this on my kindle and forgot about it. Now, I'm excited about it again and will be reading it!

Here's my 56 - http://fuonlyknew.com/2015/07/31/the-friday-56-71-night-and-day/

fredamans said...

I commented on your Instagram post. This story sounds pretty intense. My kind of book!
Happy weekend!

Elizabeth said...

ENJOY!! Not for me, though. :)

Elizabeth
Silver's Reviews
My Book Beginnings

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