Elizabeth Webster and the Court of Uncommon Pleas

Elizabeth Webster #1

by William Lashner

Welcome to Elizabeth Webster's world, where the common laws of middle school torment her days . . . and the uncommon laws of an even weirder realm govern her nights.

Elizabeth Webster is happy to stay under the radar (and under her bangs) until middle school is dead and gone. But when star swimmer Henry Harrison asks Elizabeth to tutor him in math, it's not linear equations Henry really needs help with-it's a flower-scented, poodle-skirt-wearing, head-tossing ghost who's calling out Elizabeth's name.

But why Elizabeth? Could it have something to do with her missing lawyer father? Maybe. Probably. If only she could find him. In her search, Elizabeth discovers more than she is looking for: a grandfather she never knew, a startling legacy, and the secret family law firm, Webster & Son, Attorneys for the Damned.


Elizabeth and her friends soon land in court, where demons and ghosts take the witness stand and a red-eyed judge with a ratty white wig hands out sentences like sandwiches. Will Elizabeth's father arrive in time to save Henry Harrison-and is Henry the one who really needs saving?


Set in the historic streets of Philadelphia, this riveting middle-grade mystery from New York Times best-selling author William Lashner will have readers banging their gavels and calling for more from the incomparable Elizabeth Webster.

Genres: Middle Grade, Mystery, Fantasy, Paranormal, Ghosts, Fiction, Supernatural

320 pages, Hardcover

First published October 15, 2019

About the author

William Lashner is a former criminal prosecutor with the Department of Justice in Washington D.C. and a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. His novels have been published world-wide and have been nominated for two Shamus Awards, a Gumshoe Award, an Edgar Award, and been selected as an Editor’s Choice in the New York Times Book Review. When he was a kid his favorite books were The Count of Monte Cristo and any comic with the Batman on the cover.

Under the pseudonym Tyler Knox he wrote the noir novel, Kockroach.

Series:
* Victor Carl Mystery

Reviews

[Belles Middle Grade Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book! Wowwwww! BLOWN.AWAY. I fell in love with this writing, the dialogue/banter, the INCREDIBLE characters, this PHENOMENAL alternate world, & just every imaginative detail! Just the fact that there are laws, lawyers, a judge, a courtroom,etc. for Otherworld/Paranormal disputes/events is just a phenomenal idea for a story period. The Court of Uncommon Pleas?!?! Love it! The Judge in here?? Brilliant. Actually, all the details the author put into the courtroom & everything about it, plus everything else we see & learn along the way, is ALL utterly genius, creative, & so imaginative. This would make such a superbly entertaining tv show. The writing style is amazing. Not only the incredible humor, banter, & just overall dialogue of our characters, but ALL of the writing, including the general narrative. I read these so fast. I fell in love in this 1st book. Incredible characters, relatable issues & underlying messages as well, plus incredible story/world building & character development/growth. These kids make the best team, & I loved the pace of everything, all the family secrets, the spooky goodness, & Elizabeth is just my kinda girl. Loved her. & Barnabas?! Not only is he such an intriguing character, with a FASCINATING backstory-but he has my whole heart lol Loved him so much. HIGHLY recommend! BEAUTIFUL cover by Karl Kwasny as well.💜

[Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

"He's in love with a ghost. How's that going to work out well?"

This book reminded me how much fun middle-grades can be even though I am in my twenties!

SUMMARY
Elizabeth Webster has always felt like she never truly belonged, like there was more to her purpose.
When the most popular boy at schools asks her for tutoring, she is annoyed but agrees. However, she soon learns that Henry lured her for other reasons ... there is a ghost haunting his bedroom and she is moaning Elizabeth's name?!
As Elizabeth tries to help Henry with the aid of her best friend Natalie, she uncovers the truth about her absentee father. He is an lawyer at Webster & Son, Attorney's for the Damned. Quickly dragged into the family business and dropped into a court room full of demons, monsters, and a red-eyed judge, Elizabeth begins to wonder if she is really supposed to be a part of this dangerous Other World.


REVIEW
This is the first middle-grade I have read since the Percy Jackson series and it was so much fun! It has really reignited my desire to find and read new middle-grades!

I will admit that the story is strange, but it is because of that that I couldn't stop reading it! The idea of there being mortal lawyers who specifically help out creatures from The Other Side is so much fun! I kind of hope that it gets even creepier with the subsequent books.

I personally don't have much to say when it comes to reviewing middle-grade, mostly because I am not the target audience. However, I still had a blast with this book and the hilarious cast of characters.

Lizzie is an MG protagonist that I haven't seen before, and she was very refreshing to read about. I love how she truly felt her age and how real her familial relationships were portrayed. All of the actions and decisions that Lizzie made seemed true to her character, and I enjoyed seeing the growth that occurred in this first installment. There are a lot of good messages woven into this story about finding oneself and friendship that I think really added to this otherwise fun and cookey adventure.

Even though there is legal terminology thrown into the book, it was explained in a way that I think middle-graders will be able to grasp the basic concept. I will admit that the ghost being a succubus was a litter discerning as a young adult reading this book, however I think that it was still handled appropriately.

I am invested in learning more about this world and cannot wait to pick up the second book next year!

*ARC received at Book Expo 2019 for an honest review*

[Satomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I happened to click “Buy now with 1-click” while I was searching for a fun horror book. I thought this cover looked a bit like horror. It ended up like a mixture of fantasy/ghost story/mystery for young kids. I felt the same vibe as Harry Potter and Nevermore.

I’m not the target age for this book, but for young ones this might be a fun book read.

[Completely Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun read! Highly recommend for fans of the movie Beetlejuice or for fans of City of Ghosts by V.E. Schwab.

[Karen Parisot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Middle schooler and math whiz Elizabeth Webster has always flown under the radar, often hiding behind her hair. When out of the blue the most popular kid in school and the star athlete sits down at her lunch table one day, it comes as a total shock when he asks for her help. Henry tells her he’s struggling in math and asks her to tutor him. Reluctantly Elizabeth agrees, but as she approaches his creepy house for their first tutoring session she begins to have second thoughts. It turns out it was all a ruse, and Henry desperately needs her help in ridding his house of a ghost who keeps moaning Elizabeth’s name.
This is Mr. Lashner’s first foray into fiction for young readers and he has crafted a winner. Elizabeth is a somewhat reluctant heroine, so it’s good she has a close group of friends on her side to help her. Each of them brings a different strength to the table. I like that there is some math and legal terminology in the story. No harm in getting a little education while enjoying a fun read. A great group of characters, loads of humor, and a lively plot make for a genuine page turner. A great read for all middle graders who enjoy fantasy and mystery stories. I hope to read more about Webster & Spawn, Attorneys for the Damned, Elizabeth Webster, Esq. in the future.

[Leo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an intresting middle grade mystery and ghost story. It was engaging and I liked the audiobook. Thought it was well done and just enough excitement and drama to keep the story going. However I didn't fully fell in love with the story but a good book nevertheless

[Allison Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Law & Order meets Nancy Drew meets Ghostbusters! Or something like that. Elizabeth Webster, Lizzie, is a snarky, antisocial, math-loving loser at her school, until the day the drop-dead gorgeous swim star sits at her lunch table, inviting her to tutor him in math at his house. Little does Lizzie know that the real reason for the invitation is that he's got a ghost problem. A mysterious girl-ghost is creeping out his family, mesmerizing the jock... and calling out Elizabeth Webster's name. Turns out Lizzie's got a family connection to the other side: her dad's side of the family runs a law firm for the dead, cursed, and otherwise paranormal-ly distressed - "Attorneys for the Damned," their business cards read. As she learns the ropes of the family business, legalese, and demon courtroom procedures, she also learns that there is more to the story regarding her classmate's haunting, and it has something to do with her long-missing father... A fun, creepy middle-school read.

[Stephanie Roxane · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received this book from Disney Book Group and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

4.5/5

This book was great! I read most of it in one sitting, which honestly speaks volumes about how good it was since I find ebooks in general really hard to get through.

The story about Elizabeth and discovering her family history, and needing to help save a ghost was so much fun. It was honestly such a refreshingly cute and enjoyable read that I think kids will absolutely love, and adults could really love as well.

Quite a bit happened in the book, but it never felt like too much. And watching Elizabeth and her friends try and solve the mystery was just so much fun. Absolutely recommend if you enjoy middle grade, or for children.

[Kassyreadsalot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Elizabeth Webster and the uncommon Pleas

Author: William Lashner

Synopsis: Welcome to Elizabeth Webster's world, where the common laws of middle school torment her days . . . and the uncommon laws of an even weirder realm govern her nights.

Elizabeth Webster is happy to stay under the radar (and under her bangs) until middle school is dead and gone. But when star swimmer Henry Harrison asks Elizabeth to tutor him in math, it's not linear equations Henry really needs help with-it's a flower-scented, poodle-skirt-wearing, head-tossing ghost who's calling out Elizabeth's name.

But why Elizabeth? Could it have something to do with her missing lawyer father? Maybe. Probably. If only she could find him. In her search, Elizabeth discovers more than she is looking for: a grandfather she never knew, a startling legacy, and the secret family law firm, Webster & Son, Attorneys for the Damned.


Elizabeth and her friends soon land in court, where demons and ghosts take the witness stand and a red-eyed judge with a ratty white wig hands out sentences like sandwiches. Will Elizabeth's father arrive in time to save Henry Harrison-and is Henry the one who really needs saving?

Review: WOW! This was so much better than I was anticipating! The world was so intriguing and I loved Elizabeth as the main character! She was so sarcastic and didn’t care about popularity or trying to fit in! I loved her relationship with her step father that despite the fact that he’s not biologically hers he loves her like his own and adopted her! It was so reaching and heartwarming to read about! I loved her friendship with her best friend! I loved how as I was reading this it truly felt like a middle grade and the characters acted their age! There was legal terminology used but easy for anyone to understand! I would love to continue reading this series!

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great middle school read! The concept was very interesting with a description of the legal system that is told in an intriguing and compelling fashion. I will definitely be recommending it!

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book my younger self would have loved and as an adult I enjoyed. I definitely want more in this world.

[Mariah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elizabeth Webster hasn't seen her father in years. Her mother got majority custody after the divorce and her father only pops up marginally. She learns why after a new friend enlists her help in ousting a ghost from his home: He's secretly a lawyer to the dearly departed. Elizabeth finds herself following in his footsteps with interesting results.

What captured my attention the most when reading Court of Uncommon Pleas was how well fleshed out the characters were. All of the necessary players felt rounded out. The dialogue was funny in a natural way. Chemistry sparked between everyone - I really bought that the cast cared about one another.

The lore was equally as investing. It was absurd in many ways, but it was all a matter of perspective. I love a universe that can be totally off the wall yet remain consistent to its own logic.

The mystery is intriguing. I figured out what was going on only after I had most of the pieces altogether which made it very exciting to read through. Not knowing where the story is going isn't all that common for me as an adult reading middle grade. I don't expect to be surprised so I am especially tickled pink when I am.

My only grievance is Elizabeth's mother who I actively disliked for most of the book.

She lied to Elizabeth 'for her own good' her entire life about why her father wasn't around. She spoke negatively about him directly to Elizabeth in an attempt to misalign his reputation in her eyes. She also specifically would try to weaponize Elizabeth's current familial ties to manipulate her into prioritizing them over her father. Plenty of children have a parent with a dangerous job and there was no indication that Elizabeth was ever in any danger from the court or the undead so I had no idea why she wanted to hide his profession from her other than her own desire to keep the two apart. Especially when it was causing Elizabeth so much internal distress about her identity.

Worse yet it made her a massive hypocrite since it's highly implied that her father used his expertise to save her from her own ghostly situation when the two first met.

She might have had perfectly sound reasons for her choices, but there was never a point when she explained in detail so she just seemed selfish and nasty. You're expected to simply give her the benefit of the doubt. I am not Elizabeth here. Warbling cries about safety will not work on me. I do not have the emotional tie that would make me have faith in her regardless of how the situation looks. I need proof.

I would have preferred exploring it in this first book versus teasing it for the next one as it was crucial to her and Elizabeth's relationship development. As it stands it totally soured me on a character I am clearly meant to have empathy for. Walking back this level of parental failure is going to be extremely difficult already. Making me wait isn't going to help her case.

To be clear I don't think kids will take it that seriously or that it is bad to a degree that's harmful, but it certainly noticeable if you're paying attention so I'm mentioning it anyway. Really it's more frustrating than anything.

The ending left more to be desired, again because of the choice not to clarify what the deal was with her mother. I also think there should have been a heart to heart between Elizabeth and her father to cap off her arc. Elizabeth spent so much time chasing a shadow. Let's see how the reality compares to the dream.

Bottom line, I had a good time. I would read the sequel in general and I will read the sequel eventually.

[M.L. Little · Rating 5 out of 5]

#kidlitexchange #partner: Elizabeth Webster and the Court of Uncommon Pleas by William Lashner and @disneybooks. Releases October 15, 2019.
————————-
Elizabeth Webster comes from a long line of lawyers, but finds herself in a new world when she discovers her long-lost father was, in fact, a lawyer for the other side—a place of ghosts, demons, and the undead. When her friend Henry is haunted by a ghost, Elizabeth (and her fantastically enjoyable friend Natalie) head out on a journey to find her father and sue the ghost in the Court of the Damned—solving a long-buried mystery along the way.
The ending of this book is marvelous and heartwarming and I truly never solved the mystery. It kept me guessing. With the original, relatable characters and slight cliffhanger, I can see a whole series following this book.
I liked this book way more than I expected to. It is gloriously sarcastic, funny, snarky, detailed, and engaging. The plot was fantastic, moving at a pace I couldn’t stop reading. I’m not into afterlife or ghosts, so that’s a big deal. I really did love this one. I’m glad for the opportunity to read it.
You can read it, too, on October 15th! Thank you @kidlitexchange for a review copy of the book—all opinions are my own.

[Beth Gea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tiene una buena premisa y intenta crear un mundo interesante... pero se queda a medio camino. Los personajes no evolucionan demasiado y no se explica nada del pasado de los padres porque.... pues porque quieren vender más libros.

En cuanto al primer misterio, el de Henry y su fantasma, pintaba bien hasta que su resolución no tiene ningún sentido: ¿cómo es posible que si a Beatrice la mató la serpiente, el cuerpo se encontrase decapitado en el río, y la cabeza esté METIDA EN UNA BOLSA? ¿Quién la decapitó? ¿Quién la llevó hasta el río? ¿Quién metió la cabeza en una bolsa? En fin, que si se hubiera resuelto bien esto, me hubieran dado ganas de leer el resto de libros, pero pues meh.

La serie de The Trials of Morrigan Crow es muchísimo mejor, con personajes y un universo mejor construído.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elizabeth Webster comes from a family of lawyers, only the family law firm's specialty are some pretty unusual clients. Let's just say they aren't the type of people you and I know, or for that matter, they aren't even people. But Elizabeth is unaware of her heritage until she gets an unusual request from a classmate to help him deal with a ghost who has been haunting his house.

Fun and well-written, this new series is a going to be a great one to recommend for middle schoolers.

[Heather Penner · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF.

Such a fun premise!
But tired stereotypes about school life and two-dimensional characters made this book difficult. I gave up at the halfway point.

[Sharon Tyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elizabeth Webster and the Court of Uncommon Pleas by William Lashner is a middle grade novel currently scheduled for release on October 15 2019. Elizabeth Webster is happy to stay under the radar (and under her bangs) until middle school is dead and gone. But when star swimmer Henry Harrison asks Elizabeth to tutor him in math, it's not linear equations Henry really needs help with-it's a flower-scented, poodle-skirt-wearing, head-tossing ghost who's calling out Elizabeth's name. But why Elizabeth? Could it have something to do with her missing lawyer father? Maybe. Probably. If only she could find him. In her search, Elizabeth discovers more than she is looking for: a grandfather she never knew, a startling legacy, and the secret family law firm, Webster & Son, Attorneys for the Damned. Elizabeth and her friends soon land in court, where demons and ghosts take the witness stand and a red-eyed judge with a ratty white wig hands out sentences like sandwiches. Will Elizabeth's father arrive in time to save Henry Harrison-and is Henry the one who really needs saving?

Elizabeth Webster and the Court of Uncommon Pleas has a wonderful premise and I greatly enjoyed the character building. I liked Elizabeth, she had the blend of spunk and vulnerabilities that rang true for a middle school girl. Her family and friends were nicely rounded with much more depth than I usually see in novels for this age group. I liked the relationship between Elizabeth and Natalie, and how two girls celebrated their differences while keeping their friendship. I also enjoyed the relationship Elizabeth had with her mom and step father- that they clearly cared about her and let her be herself and express herself was wonderful. I was glad to see that there was some humor, and plenty of odd visuals sprinkled through the story. Although I have to admit that I sometimes found myself skimming some of the descriptions so that I could get back to the plot and action a little quicker. I liked the variety of twists and turns in the story- solving the mystery surrounding Beatrice's death, finding Elizabeth's father, and so on. I liked that it was not a simply solution, but at the same time it really felt like a long read. It also felt like it was clearly a set up for a series, and while I am intrigued by the secrets Elizabeth's mom might be keeping, I am not sure that all the build up was enough to really hook me. It was a good read, it just did not capture my attention the way I expected something with this blend of coming of age, mystery, and supernatural secrets to.

Elizabeth Webster and the Court of Uncommon Pleas is a a novel that the upper elementary and middle school set will enjoy. I liked the premise and the execution- but it was a book that I could easily put down when I needed to.

[Genevieve · Rating 5 out of 5]

@kidlitexchange #partner thank you to author #williamlashner and publisher @disneybookgroup for sharing a review copy of Elizabeth Webster and the Court or Uncommon Pleas with #kidlitexchange. All opinions are my own. This book will be released on October 15!

I’m going to be honest and say that it was hard for me to get into this book at first! I don’t usually read supernatural stories, and truth be told, I got a little scared when, within the first couple of chapters, a ghost appears to the main character, Elizabeth Webster. Supernatural and scary stories are not genres I pick up willingly. But Elizabeth captured my heart with her wit, sarcasm, and humor, and I was hooked!

Battling middle school and ghosts isn’t what Elizabeth Webster has in mind as she starts the school year, but after a visit in the lunchroom from popular swimmer Henry Harrison (gasp!), her world is turned upside down. For reasons unknown, a ghost who is haunting Henry has asked him to enlist Elizabeth’s help. Soon, Elizabeth is caught up in a world she never knew existed, but always felt a part of. Maybe she can help this ghost, and figure out the secrets in her own life. Why did her father leave her family? What is her mother hiding? Why does her grandfather head up a law firm called Webster and Son, Attorneys for the Damned? (cue scary music here!).

I loved that Elizabeth Webster has all the hallmarks of a strong heroine and protagonist. She doubts herself at various points in the story, but realizes that it is she who must save a ghost girl, her new friend Henry Harrison, a boy, and her father. She is as real as middle schoolers come- witty, sarcastic, and brave, with a little self-doubt mixed in, because #middleschool. The story was scary for me at times, mostly because the author’s imagery and descriptive language was so vivid (which was a great thing!). There were also so many twists and turns and revelations throughout the plot that kept me guessing, but it wasn’t confusing in any way. I kept expecting a pretty straightforward storyline, but the author pleasantly surprised me with character development (for minor characters too) and backstory details that lent themselves perfectly for context. And, the book ended on a cliffhanger! Now I need to read the next book! I hope there is a sequel.

I am definitely pre-ordering this book for my classroom library! My students have been asking me for some more “scary” books, and this will come out just in time for Halloween. I’m so glad I took a chance and read something outside of my comfort zone, and can’t wait to get back into Elizabeth’s vivid and exciting world. Do yourself a favor and read it too!

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

With the debut of Marvel's latest series on Disney+, She Hulk, I thought there might be some interest in law-oriented middle grade stories, and this fits the bill, perfectly!

It's also great for October, as it features ghosts and other paranormal ghoulies and it's a little bit spooky and kinda creepy, but not terribly.

Elizabeth Webster's step-father is an attorney, and so is her father, but she has no idea of her family heritage on the Webster, or her father's, side.

And she tends to be a bit…argumentative, shall we say? In a good way, though. A nerdy, book-ish way.

All she knows is she hasn't seen her dad in forever, years, in fact, and no one seems to know where he went after his last case. Her mom doesn't want Elizabeth to have anything to do with her father or the Websters. Period.

A star athlete at school, Henry Harrison, asks Elizabeth to tutor him. Elizabeth quickly learns he's haunted – by a beautiful ghost who whispered Elizabeth's name to Henry, which is why he really asked Elizabeth to tutor him. He wants her to get rid of the ghost, make her stop haunting him.

Elizabeth has no idea how to do that, but she tracks down her grandfather in an abandoned-to-all-except-the-damned building. He's the sole remaining member of the Webster family law firm, Webster & Son, Attorneys for the Damned. The lawfirm's name strikes Elizabeth as extremely sexist, but at least her grandfather tells her how to start the legal proceedings to evict the ghost from Henry's house.

That's right, there's a legal court for these paranormal disputes. An otherworldly court, one with judges, rules and procedures, precedents and case law. It's called The Court of Uncommon Pleas. And her father disappeared while on a case for it. One involving a demon, a very nasty, very litigious demon.

Once the ghost kisses Henry, he's besotted, totally against his will. Elizabeth must see Henry's ghost's eviction through to the end to free him and save her father from the demon's clutches, or it could be the end of the Webster law firm. Forever.

This book is well-written, and there's a lot of legal concepts (habeas corpus is the main one in this first book) that get explained and explored, without dumbing them down for young readers. Any reader who loves the law, or wants to learn more about it, will enjoy this!

Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?

Visit my blog, The Fabric of Words, for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this review on Got Fiction? Book Blog

This was a book my 9 year old and I have been reading. She DNF'd the book, I continued on with it.
It's fine. It's got a neat premise.

At lunch, geeky, quiet Elizabeth Webster is sitting near her couple friends when the most popular boy in school sits with her. He tells her that he needs help with math.

She agrees and goes to his house where he tells her she's actually there because has a ghost in his house and he needs her help. She is shocked by the fact he lied to get her to his house, the fact he just told her he had a ghost problem and expected her to take that in stride, and the fact that he expects her to help.

He says the ghost said her name, so here he is, finding her, and asking for help. Then the ghost appears. Lizzie is so freaked out she runs out of the house and tumbles down a hill. But Henry followed.

So she nopes out of there real quick and Henry persists. Finally she decides she needs to find her absentee father since he's a lawyer. Her stepdad is a lawyer too, but Lizzie's father is a "lawyer for the damned," whatever that means.

If you've ever seen Beetlejuice, imagine that waiting room in the afterlife. That's exactly how I pictured the waiting room in Webster and Son.

The good news is that her grandfather is there and willing to help. The bad news is that she has to serve the ghost eviction papers. The law clerk Barnabas helps with that, and next thing you know, Lizzie is doing her best to help Henry. Except...she still hasn't seen her father.

The story is unique, creative, and has the potential for a good series, but it definitely drags, and the middle school falls victim to every teen/tween stereotype possible.

The ending was intriguing and left room for sequels, I want to know more about her mother, and the deal the Websters made with the devil.

This is definitely a middle grade novel. My rule of thumb is to look at the characters' ages. They're primarily 6th graders here, but I would say this book could be for younger audiences too, as long as you don't mind them reading about ghosts, deals with Ol' Scratch himself, and a succubus.

***We borrowed this book from the library

[Katherine Paschal · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Reviews can be found at https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/

Elizabeth is content to keep her head down, have her one friend Natalie, be good at math and be boring. But when the most popular boy at school, Henry, singles her out to tutor him in math, Elizabeth can't get out of it. But what Elizabeth doesn't know, is that Henry does not want her for tutoring but because the ghost haunting him said her name. Elizabeth is now involved in the paranormal somehow, a mystery that may have something to do with her and she needs to get to the bottom of this.

I almost never read Middle Grade books but when I saw Elizabeth Webster and the Court of Uncommon Pleas I knew I had to read the book because it sounded so different and interesting and the creepy factor of the story goes well with Halloween coming up and my desire to read scary books. I am so glad that I took a shot on something new and out of my normal comfort zone since I found this to be really entertaining. I need to add more Middle Grade reads to my life since the pacing was perfect, with a nice fast plot and quick chapters that made the story very approachable. The characters were fun, even if at times seemed much older than the seventh grade they were in, but full of the right amount of drama. Add in the fact that a ghost can be sued and this is a fun mystery read.

The story wrapped up nicely with a cute conclusion that totally brought loner Elizabeth out of her shell and gave her friends she never expected and a goal for the future. I am completely satisfied with the ending and how the mystery of the story was solved, but that being said, I really hope that there will be another book in the series where Elizabeth can practice her lawyer skills for those of the supernatural leaning with her random assortment of friends!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this title.

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Author: William Lashner

Book Series: Standalone at the moment

Rating: 5/5

Publication Date: October 15, 2019

Recommended Age: 10+ (some violence, some scary moments)

Genre: MG Fantasy

Publisher: Disney Press

Synopsis: Welcome to Elizabeth Webster's world, where the common laws of middle school torment her days . . . and the uncommon laws of an even weirder realm govern her nights.

Elizabeth Webster is happy to stay under the radar (and under her bangs) until middle school is dead and gone. But when star swimmer Henry Harrison asks Elizabeth to tutor him in math, it's not linear equations Henry really needs help with-it's a flower-scented, poodle-skirt-wearing, head-tossing ghost who's calling out Elizabeth's name.

But why Elizabeth? Could it have something to do with her missing lawyer father? Maybe. Probably. If only she could find him. In her search, Elizabeth discovers more than she is looking for: a grandfather she never knew, a startling legacy, and the secret family law firm, Webster & Son, Attorneys for the Damned.


Elizabeth and her friends soon land in court, where demons and ghosts take the witness stand and a red-eyed judge with a ratty white wig hands out sentences like sandwiches. Will Elizabeth's father arrive in time to save Henry Harrison-and is Henry the one who really needs saving?


Review: Oh my goodness I loved this book! I loved how intelligent it was, but how it simplified things for younger children. Not saying that children are dumb, but this book does have some legal terms and math terms and it was great to see how they can be incorporated into a MG book and how it can teach kids early on these terms. The book is interesting from beginning to end and the characters are wonderful and well developed.

My only complaint is that the pacing was slow in places but it quickly picked up in a lot more. The ending feels a bit rushed as well to me.

Verdict: A wonderful book! Highly recommend!

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plot
When a popular 8th grader approaches Elizabeth Webster, her whole world changes. Henry Harrison tricked Elizabeth into tutoring him, but when he takes her to his bedroom he shows her something crazy: a ghost!

The ghost seems fine at first, with her poodle skirt and floral scent, but then her skin peels off and she throws her head at Elizabeth. It's too much to take in, and Elizabeth takes off. Later, she is encouraged by her friend Natalie to help Henry with his ghost [but her friend has ulterior romantic motives]. From that point, Elizabeth and Natalie are often joined at lunch by Henry, as the rest of the cafeteria wonders what's happened with the world.

It turns out the ghost keeps asking for a Webster, so Elizabeth grudgingly gives in and works the case. As it turns out, Elizabeth is a descendant of Daniel Webster. [A lawyer from a famous story called The Devil and Daniel Webster.] Will Elizabeth take her place in her missing father's lawfirm, Webster & Son: Attorneys for the Damned?

Review
This was an enjoyable listen, and I vaguely recalled The Devil and Daniel Webster from lit classes. Using the supernatural aspect from Daniel Webster added into the boring world Elizabeth wanted to live. Of course, the boy who needs their help is the hot popular old boy, but at least he was nice to the other students--especially the Frayden twins.

The mild humor, especially from the weird Frayden twins, was a nice addition to the book:
The Frayden twins in their plaid shirts, trays held just below their chins so they wouldn't spill, approached our table like frogs approaching the Sun King, bowing and scraping.
"Mr. Harrison, sir," said Charlie. "Could we possibly join you for our afternoon repast in the empty seats to your right?"
Page 242-243 in the paperback edition.

Sadly, I probably won't finish this series, as my library system doesn't have the next two audiobooks, but it is something I will recommend to my students.

[Carrie]

Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book - all opinions are my own.

Elizabeth Webster is a fairly average American teenager. She lives with her mother, stepfather, and younger stepbrother, loathes going to middle school, and wonders when she'll get to see her father again.

She resists all attempts to get her involved in anything that might draw attention to her, but when popular athlete Henry Harrison walks right up to her in the cafeteria and asks her to tutor him in math, all eyes are on her.

When she arrives at Henry's house, she discovers that he doesn't need help with math, he needs help with a ghost who is haunting him. The ghost asks Elizabeth to save her, and that sets Elizabeth, Henry, and their friend Natalie on the path to figure out what that means.

But the ghost's problems are competing with Elizabeth's desire to know more about her father. She decides to search through personal papers in her mother's home office and finds a letter of apology from her father to her mother, and with it, a business card that reads Webster & Son, Attorneys for the Damned.

She and Natalie go to address on the card and find that her grandfather is running a law firm right in the same town and has been waiting for her to come and take her place in the firm.

As Elizabeth, Henry, and Natalie dive deeper into the mystery of the murder of Beatrice Long, they discover that solving Beatrice's case leads them closer to finding Elizabeth's missing father.

This book has suspense, adventure, a bit of romance, and, if your middle grader loves the unearthly, it's got an abundance of that.

The ending leaves the reader with lots of unanswered questions, providing the perfect set up for a second book.

[Alba Arango · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mystery and a bit of paranormal fun.

Middle-school math whiz Elizabeth Webster is shocked when the school’s star athlete Henry Harrison asks her to tutor him in math. But, when she shows up at his house, she discovers the real reason he wants her there…a ghost is haunting his house and it is calling her name! Soon, Elizabeth and her friends become embroiled in a web of strange family secrets, otherworldly characters, and a courtroom where demons and ghosts are called as witnesses. And, amidst all of this, they must solve a decades-old mystery to help the ghost so she can finally rest in peace.

What I liked: great and unique characters. All of the side characters from Elizabeth’s best friend to her mother to the courtroom’s judge were entertaining and fun. The mystery was woven well into the story and was not so obvious that the reader knew what happened before the end. The reader gets to go along with Elizabeth as she discovers the truth about her family and her own destiny.

What I did not like: I found the beginning a bit slow. I also am not sold on the narrator (Elizabeth) saying over and over, at the beginning, how if she only knew what was about to happen, she wouldn’t have gone, etc. However, the last half of the book was incredibly interesting as the kids begin to actually solve the mystery. But then at the very end, the author threw in a scene that left Elizabeth with a number of questions that I suppose will be answered in the next book, but I found that a bit annoying and unsatisfying for the reader.

3.5 out of 5 stars

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was received as an ARC from Disney Book Group - Disney-Hyperion in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

I loved this book from beginning to end. Such a cool concept that was well executed. This will be perfect for the Gothic wallflower teen that has a special gift and when the star swimmer needs your help, you get a message that your father's lawfirm is in danger and the star swimmer is at risk and needs your help! I also loved that through their adventure, they grow to know each other and find out that maybe things aren't what they seem and something completely outside the box was going on all along and then things take a new twist and the end is something that we least expect. A wonderful book that I know our young readers will be very pleased with and it will be highly popular at our library.

We will consider adding this title to our JFiction collection at the library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

[Andrea Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elizabeth Webster and the Court of Uncommon Pleas is a fabulous story with fantastic characters, a thrilling storyline, marvelous mystery, and a wonderful ending. There is lots of great banter between the characters and a healthy level of sass which just makes this tale that much more fun.
The story beautifully explores the theme of family using a blended family model as well as multiple generations to demonstrate the strength of love. The moments I cherished most in fact, were those with Elizabeth and her grandfather. He is such a character and I personally am looking forward to getting to know him better in the sequel.
The cherry on the top though was the amazing Bettlejuice vibes I was getting from reading this book! And henny? Anything to do with Bettlejuice and I'm there!
A fabulous work with a bright future, Elizabeth Webster and the Court of Uncommon Pleas is one to recommend!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great MG fantasy! I loooooved our MC, Lizzie, and watching her navigate the horror that is Junior High. When swimming superstar Henry Harrison asks Lizzie with some help involving a ghost that goes by the name of Beatrice Long, Lizzie finds herself on a journey of discovery. Between discovering that ghosts are real, her dad is actually a lawyer to the damned, and Henry Harrison is not all who he appears to me be, Lizzie is in for a ride of a lifetime.

I really enjoyed all the characters in this (Natalie is soo funny) and the dialogue was so snarky and witty! The pace of the book moved so smoothly I zoomed through this pretty fast! You’ve got mystery, ghosts being sued, twists and turns, CReePy, and an ending that will leave you hanging! This had fun spooks and was just an all around read that’s going to be perfect for Halloween time. I give this 5 out of 5 stars.

[Sofia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

Mannn, this book was so fun!!

Elizabeth Webster is a normal middle schooler, or so she thinks. One day, Henry Harrison, the star swimmer, asks her to tutor him in math. Though suspicious, she agrees. What follows is a dark and wild ride full of humor, ghosts, monsters and the scariest of thing of them all: the law! I suggest going into this book semi blind, so you can feel excited about all of the twist and turns.

The characters were pretty standard, but likable. Elizabeth is kind of a brat, but she does acknowledge this. She grows into her own. Her friends are not very memorable. However, the law firm and court scenes are incredible! They are easily the best part. I could not flip the pages fast enough! There are tidbits of the law sewn into the story, but I can assure you, they are far from boring!

This book was imaginative, fast paced, and unique. As a horror lover, this book delighted me. It went very dark at some points. The blend of history and mythology didn't make me feel like I was reading a middle grade. The kids are young, and the reader can sense in the story. This book not juvenile at all. I would suggest this book for ages all across the board. It does not end on a cliff hanger, but ends in a way that the reader knows there is a second book. Man, I am thrilled!

Kudos to William Lashner. I can't wait for the second book! I also can't wait for a reread of this one! I recommend this for horror lovers, middle grade readers, readers looking for something different, and anyone looking for a memorable read!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lizzie isn’t your typical seventh grader. Her dad is a supernatural lawyer for the damned, but she hasn’t seen him in a long time. When Henry Harrison, the new guy, moves into the notorious creepy house, the two become friends. Then the ghost haunting his house and keeping him up at night asks for Lizzie by name. Soon they find themselves pulled into the supernatural realm. Their adventures lead Lizzie to find that she is destined to inherit her father’s firm. Could Henry’s ghost have something to do with her father? What does all of this involve Lizzie and where is her father? The engaging, humorous plot has many twists and turns. The characters are affable and humorous. Fans of HECK and the Prosper Redding series will want to pick this one up.