Ghostly Echoes: A Jackaby Novel

Jackaby #3

by William Ritter

Jenny Cavanaugh, the ghostly landlord of 826 Augur Lane, has enlisted the services of her detective-agency tenants to solve a decade-old murder--her own. Abigail Rook and her eccentric employer, R. F. Jackaby, dive into the cold case, starting with a search for Jenny’s fiancé, who went missing the night she died. But when a new, gruesome murder closely mirrors the events of ten years prior, Abigail and Jackaby realize that Jenny’s case isn’t so cold after all, and her killer may be far more dangerous than they suspected.

Fantasy and folklore mix with mad science as Abigail’s race to unravel the mystery leads her across the cold cobblestones of nineteenth-century New England, down to the mythical underworld, and deep into her colleagues’ grim histories to battle the most deadly foe she has ever faced.

Genres: Fantasy, Mystery, Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Paranormal, Historical, Fiction

352 pages, Paperback

First published August 23, 2016

About the author

WILLIAM RITTER is an Oregon educator and author of the New York Times bestselling Jackaby series. He is the proud father of the two bravest boys in the Wild Wood, and husband to the indomitable Queen of the Deep Dark.

Reviews

[Drew · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know what happened to this series. I absolutely loved the first book, Jackaby, which was a mystery mixed with historical fiction and paranormal. It was delightfully unlike anything I'd read before and I added it to my favorites shelf. But sadly, with each new installment, this series has slowly lost its appeal.

1) The humor is all gone. I thought Jackaby was absolutely hilarious. The main characters were an odd pair of detectives, one a strong young woman, Abigail, the other an eccentric seer, Jackaby. I could hardly turn a page without cracking up from their witty banter. But in Ghostly Echoes, the attempts at jokes felt childish.

2) I was sad to see the descent of Jackaby's character. The charming, clever detective in the first book has transformed into a bumbling idiot. He misses obvious clues Abigail sees right away and doesn't seem to be good for anything besides his ability to see into the parnormal world. He is ignorant to nearly everything in the human world. At one point Abigail mentions Picasso, and Jackaby responds with, "What's a Picasso?" It made me want to facepalm.

3) I didn't appreciate the out-of-place political insertion. There was a quick slip of a (modern) political viewpoint that had absolutely nothing to do with the plot. Ritter is 100% entitled to his own opinion, but why not make a blog post about his political views rather than trying to coyly slip it into a book where it was completely out of context?

I've actually noticed a lot of authors doing this recently, and it annoys me to no end. Imagine if I wrote a fantasy book and in the middle of the characters going on a quest, they suddenly came across a kind old man who recited Bible verses and told them how much Jesus loved them. Everyone would know I was a Christian trying to shove my beliefs on others. It would be so out of place and annoy anyone reading it who thought they were getting a fantasy that had nothing to do with religion. That's how I felt with Ghostly Echoes.

4) The plots are getting more ridiculous. I wasn't a fan of the plot in Beastly Bones, which followed Jackaby and Abigail investigating missing dinosaur bones *yawn* but this one didn't even feel like any effort had been put into it. It was another predictable mystery involving a ghost who was murdered ten years ago.

Along with the plot, the paranormal elements became so unrealistic it was laughable. I wanted to believe in the magic of the fantasy world, but the rules didn't make any sense. After venturing to the Underworld, Abigail (who is fully mortal) suddenly leaves her body behind to search for a dead guy… um, sure, why not?

I'm so disappointed with how this series has progressed. I don't think I'll read any further than Ghostly Echoes and try to remember the first book for what it was: a heartwarming, funny, unique debut. Ritter dragged out one good idea far too long.

[Lauren Stoolfire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I lucked out and won a copy of Ghostly Echoes (Jackaby #3) through the Goodreads Giveaway Program! Thanks very much!

Jenny Cavanaugh, the ghost who calls 926 Auger Lane home alongside Detective R.F. Jackaby and his assistant Abigail Rook, has finally made the decision to enlist her lodgers to investigate a ten year old case - her own murder. To begin, they'll have to start by searching for Howard Carson, Jenny's fiancé, who disappeared on the same night that she was murdered. However, Jackaby and Miss Rook realize that Jenny's case isn't so cold after all, when they get called in to investigate a new murder that closely mirrors the circumstances of Jenny's own death, and it looks like the killer may be much more dangerous than they would have expected.

William Ritter's Jackaby series has quickly become a favorite series and this third installment is absolutely wonderful. In fact, this darkest novel of the three is actually my favorite of the three, and I'm dying for the next book! In this one, we get to revisit some favorite characters, learn more about the main trio's past and watch them continue to grow, a fascinating mystery that reveals much while bringing up more pressing questions, and plenty of supernatural action with just the right dose of humor. There are so many things to like about this novel because it truly has a little something for everyone. It's historical fiction, a mystery, and a fantasy, plus it features an intriguing new LGBTQ character. There are plenty of supernatural creatures, some of which you might be more familiar with than others. I'm also pleased to see that it also delves into both Irish and Greek mythology in some stunning ways.

As brilliant as the author is a crafting the world of New Fiddleham and its surroundings, he is best at creating and developing his cast of characters. Jackaby, Abigail, and Jenny are some of the most memorable and entertaining characters I've had the chance to get to know in awhile and they each have their own moments to shine in this newest installment - and each have come a long way over the course of the series. That being said each has endlessly quotable dialog - banter equally balancing sass, snark, and humor. Unfortunately, I won't be quoting any here since there may very well be changes between now and its final release on August 23rd.

Overall, Ghostly Echoes (Jackaby #3) by William Ritter is easily one of my favorite reads of 2016. If you haven't started this awesome series yet, I can't recommend it enough, especially if you are a fan of Sherlock, Doctor Who, Supernatural, and Grimm. I absolutely can't wait until the release of the fourth novel in Ritter's Jackaby series!




This review is also on my blog.

[Magdalena aka A Bookaholic Swede · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think that the Jackaby series is one of the best YA series ever! And, I'm not a big fan of YA. It's just not a genre I read much from. But Jackaby is a brilliant series and the latest book, Ghostly Echoes is just like the previous two books absolutely great. I like that this book finally deals with the Jenny Cavanaugh mystery, something I have been waiting for since the first book. I like how in each book you learn more about the characters and the strange creatures in it that most people don't know about. Unlike Jackaby that has the ability to see them, and here we finally get an explanation for it. How his "gift" came to be.

I loved reading this book. I find the characters are beautifully written with depth and the story is imaginative. And, I also love how funny and thrilling it is to read. If I had to recommend one YA series to someone that wanted something adventures and funny would I chose this one. It's a great book and I can't wait to see what the future have in store for jackable, Abigail, and Jenny.

I want to thank Algonquin for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!

[mith · Rating 4 out of 5]

"My brick. My house. My whole wide world." She slid through the demolished wall. "My turn."

I'm under the impression that this is not the last book in the series. And, for that, I am severely happy.
As the third instalment in the Jackaby series, I have to say this book came a long way. While still maintaining that light mystery story, it also seemed significantly darker. I expected everything to be tied up and finish with a flare--because, when it comes to Jackaby and Abigail, a flare is all they're acquainted with--but it didn't end at all. But, however, a lot of the things built up from the first novel was finely put together here. And now it's more than simple red caps and even dragons.
You're literally introduced to an entire new world here.
Ritter combined not only the supernatural before, but now it's goes a bit beyond that. I won't reveal anything, because, duh, spoilers! But, rest assured, it's still as enthralling and hilarious as ever.
And although things have taken a turn for the worse, as things tend to, the camaraderie between Abigail and Jackaby still remains one of my favourite relationships. I love his eccentricity and I love her sense of humour. I love how they work together. And I love the side characters. Ritter gives each one a unique back story, and finding out more about each character was interesting. (You get two for the price of one, here, people. Interesting is a weak word).
With that, I have to say this was yet another brilliant read. (I won't lie, I was almost scared it wouldn't be, seeing as how I haven't enjoyed a lot of sequels lately, but no need to worry for this series). I can easily say this is, and will remain, one of my favourite series.
-----
THAT
COVER
IS THE MOST
BEAUTIFUL THING I HAVE SEEN
LOOK AT IT
IT'S SO PRETTY OMG
------
OMG OMG OMG OMG
AUGUST!!! i'm so excited ohmygod
that title is SO pretty, i can't wait to see the cover

[Stacee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have loved the uniqueness of this series and these characters from the beginning and I was thrilled to get another installment with them.

It was exciting to get Jenny's story and see her history. Of course there are more things revealed and more bad guys and more more more. The ending is satisfying to a point, but if this is the last book, I will be irritated because there is a great set up for a book 4.

Overall, a quick and fun read. I think I could read these characters forever.

**Huge thanks to Algonquin Young Readers for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review**

[Constantine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Young Adult + Historical + Fantasy + Mystery

William Ritter's "Jackaby" series continues with "Ghostly Echoes," which is the third novel in the series. In this part, Abigail Rook and R.F. Jackaby have to figure out who killed Jenny Cavanaugh, the ghost who lives in the house at 926 Augur Lane. Due to the fact that Jenny Cavanaugh's fiancé vanished the night she was murdered, he is a crucial witness in the investigation.

This installment was an improvement over the one that came before it. But despite my best efforts, I can't say that the whole experience of reading the book was as immersive as I had hoped. This is also the longest book in the series, but fortunately, it seemed like it was moving along at a faster pace than the one before it. Even though the plot deals with some darker themes, the novel is made more entertaining by the characters, notably R.F. Jackaby and Abigail Rook. They also inject a sense of humor into the narrative.

[Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darker than the first two books, and also more tightly plotted. I had rather suspected that Ritter largely made these up as he went along, but the sudden coherence of characters and plot points from previous stories indicates that he in fact had a larger arc in mind all along.

Time to find out a lot about the ghost and a little about the secretive detective.

***

Personal milestone: this was the two-thousandth book added to my fantasy shelf. Of course, that isn't counting all the fantasy I read and forgot as a kid, but whatever.

[Sara (Freadom Library) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I GOT AN E-ARC *sobbing tears of joy*

I JUST LOVE THIS SERIES SO MUCH!

This review was originally posted at https://freadomlibrary.wordpress.com/

Critically
Plot – 4.5 out of 5 stars
This series just keeps getting better and better. The plot of this book is action packed and fast paced. There’s still so much mystery to be uncovered and the whole book has this giant feeling of suspense and heaviness which wasn’t present in the previous books. Yet it still keeps its entertainment factor and I loved the theme of friendship and the small aspects of diversity that are mixed in. This one built up a lot for what may happen in the next book, which we don’t know anything about yet but I need it!

Writing Style – 4 out of 5 stars
This is the section where I’ve complained about the most for this series. It was a bit of a struggle to get into in the first two books but now that I’m onto the third, it’s so easily to just jump right into its rhythm. It’s definitely improved from the precious book. Just like the plot, the writing style is a lot darker though it still has its funny moments and maintains it’s historical accuracy. It’s meaningful and detailed and descriptive and I’ve enjoyed it.

Characters – 5 out of 5 stars
I LOVE THESE CHARACTERS! In this one we get more of an inside look into a character that’s been around since the start of it all. We’ve known Jenny since the beginning of this series but this is the book where we really get to know her personality and we see her grow, as much as a ghost can though. She’s determined and smart. She had a very tragic passing and she’s hopeful that she’ll be able to find out the truth behind what happened in the last days of her life. But her development throughout the book is amazing and she’s so powerful and fierce! I just love her. Abigail is still one of my favorite characters in this series, she’s still the narrator but it feels like she kind of takes a back seat in this book. However, I love how open and caring and protective she is. She’s so intelligent and cunning and observant, she’s a great heroine. And of course, last but not least, there’s the ever lovely and eccentric Jackaby. It was really interesting to see more of his past and how he came into his gift. It hurt my heart a little but it was good to see a more vulnerable and deep side of him. He’s still his quirky self but he’s just as determined as his female companions to help Jenny out. I also wanted to quickly mention the presence of a minor transgender side character because I loved her! She was only in a few pages but her presence was thick and her words were heavy and I hope to see more of her.

Emotionally
With every book in this series, I just continue to fall in love with the characters more and more. It’s one of my favorite series!

The plot is intricate. We pick up right where we left off in the last book. The resident ghost of the series, Jenny is determined to find out more about her death and Jackaby and Abby are just as determined to help her. With their search, they find things that are a lot more sinister and a lot bigger and more complex than they ever imagined they could be. When I started this series, I thought the books were going to be all about different specific mysteries and the first two were a bit like that, but going into this one, all these specific details and different aspects from the previous books to this one came together to create a continuous plot line that blew me away because I didn’t see it coming at all. There were so many small connections between events, characters and plots points that converged to create this new threat and new purpose that will continue to drive the rest of the series. The plot is just as action packed and exciting as the first two books but the atmosphere and the tone were a lot darker. We find out a lot of truths about the past, some painful and heartbreaking. We also travel to different distinct places and things get super sketchy and intense. The paranormal elements were kicked up a notch and there were still so many different twists and turns. I loved the new additions of diversity into the plot.

Each book has a focus on a specific character however subtle it may be. The first was all about Jackaby and learning more about his personality. The second was more about Abigail and how she adjusted to her new life. And this third book is all about Jenny and finding out what happened those last few days toward the end of her mortal life. She’s finding her inner strength and her power and her confidence. It’s so inspirational and powerful. It made me like her so much more than I already did. I’m glad she finally got the answers she needed but she’s still around so there has to be more to do.

Jackaby was so sweet in this book. He’s such a good friend to Jenny and he’s still his very special, wacky self. But we got to see more of his past and how he became the person he is. It was great to see more depth and vulnerability with his character specially since he’s always so serious. Abby is my fave. I just love her, not only because of her personality and her awesome narration but because I feel like she’s the heroine in this series. She’s so determined and more powerful than she believes. She’s so caring and accepting and I really hope she gets some romance in her life soon because she deserves it. We get to see some of the older side characters come back in this book and that was really fun but we also meet some new people that spiced up the story line. I was really happy to see some diversity in the form of a transgender character, who for now doesn’t really have a central part in the series but who I hope will show up more often in the next books and however many follow after it.

Overall, I’m a huge freaking fan of this series. This book is entertaining, action packed and fast paced. The plot is a combination of snippets of the last few books that connect to create this build up for the rest of the story in the series. It gets dark and intense and a bit heartbreaking but it just made me fall in love with the characters even more. I’m so in love with them and how much they constantly grow and how many different sides to them there are. They’re a huge band of misfits and it’s super fun to see them interact. I can’t wait to see what the rest of the series has in store!

[Veronique · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*

The great thing about series when done well is that there is a certain familiarity that eases you into the story and this third instalment was the best so far. Jackaby and Abigail finally start working on Jenny’s case, in what turns out to be a thrilling plot. Additionally, seemingly random elements that appeared in the previous two books, start merging together into the picture of a huge threat! Can’t wait for the final episode!

[ʚ Aileen ɞ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't want this series to end 😭 Review to come!

[Paige Bookdragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating: 3.7 stars


I have to admit I kinda forgot what happened in this book. It's not because it's not memorable but because I have read at least 7 books more after this and you have to understand, my memory in the first place is not that good.

Ghostly Echoes is the 3rd book in the Jackaby series and no, you can't read it as a standalone. You have to read the 2 previous books before picking this one up. There will be some spoilers and new characters in the book that will leave you confuse if you decide to read this without reading book 1 or 2.

As much as I enjoy this series, book one is still the best, followed by this one and the the 2nd book would be the least favorite book ( in my opinion).

There will be a fourth book (or maybe 5th, I hope) because Ghostly Echoes is the turning point of the series. William Ritter gave us some shocking revelations that I think gave the series a somber tone. I'm looking forward to the next book and hopefully, we can learn more about Jackaby himself in the next one.

[Katie Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loooooved the first book of this trilogy, but unfortunately didn't love the others as much. :/

[Anna lost in stories *A* · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is definitely a series, where you have to read each installments in order, cause we follow around the same group of characters and with each book we uncover new informations and connections that you won’t fully understand unless you have all the knowledge from previous books :) so if you are interested in reading about a supernatural Sherlock Holmes type of a detective this is a series for you :) I loved all stories in it so far :) in this third one, we learn even more about certain characters and how things are connected to one another, but because I don’t want to spoil you anything, even if you haven’t read the first book, I won’t get into any more details… I am even more curious now to see how the story will end and am planning to pick up the last installment soon :)

XOXO

A

[Alex (The Scribe Owl) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Come see this review and more at my blog, The Scribe Owl!

Jackaby: ★★★☆☆
Beastly Bones: ★★★☆☆
Ghostly Echoes: ★★★★☆
The Dire King: ★★★★☆

Hands down this is my favorite book in the series. Jackaby is my second favorite, but this one definitely beats it. We start to see the plot undercurrents from the rest of the series consolidate into what the plot for the fourth and final book will be, and I'm living for it!

I think my favorite part was that this book got darker. The first two books were quirky and fun mysteries, allowing time for character development and relationships. Now they all know and trust each other, allowing for harder challenges and darker mystery.

As always with William Ritter's books, the writing is top-notch excellent! The figurative language is always so well done without being over the top and it definitely shows, not tells. The Mr. Jackaby wisdom is just as perfect as always; I just can not find a flaw in the writing.

It is the ugliest aspect of human nature that we fear what is most different from ourselves with such violent contempt

We also got so much new character development! We learned about Mr. Jackaby's past, which was so intriguing, I can't wait for more on that note in the next book! We also got to see a lot more of Jenny which is always a plus for me. I do wish that there was more of Jackaby, he's my favorite character! Don't get me wrong, Miss Rook is a great MC, but Mr. Jackaby is the fan-favorite.

In conclusion, this was a fantastic book! It's obviously just meant to be used as a bridge book for the final book in the series, but it didn't have any middle book syndrome of set-up book boredom. All in all, very satisfying read! I can't wait for the last one!

[Greyson | Use Your Words · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jackaby: ★★★★
The Map: ★★★★
Beastly Bones: ★★★★★
Ghostly Echoes: ★★★★★
The Dire King: ★★★★
—

You keep sacrificing young maidens until you’ve burned through them all but the monster will still be there, will still be waiting, will still be a monster. I’ve ceased appeasing monsters.

I discovered the Jackaby series on Goodreads I think earlier this year. Marketed as a supernatural Sherlock, I was sold, despite having never read or watched anything Sherlock related. I'm very good at knowing what I'd be into, but I'm even better at procrastinating those things because depression. (I've since watched BBC's Sherlock and OH MY GOD WAS I FUCKING RIGHT.)
I flew through the first two books and loved every second of it, now after a little break and getting my wish granted on NetGalley for the fourth book in the series, I thought it was time to read Ghostly Echoes and find out more about my favourite ghost, Jenny Cavanaugh.

The last decade has seen a murder haunt the residents of 926 Augur Lane and in order to solve it, R. F. Jackaby and Abigail Rook are enlisted to investigate by Jenny Cavanaugh, the aforementioned murder victim. Jenny has been a ghost since her untimely death and has never known what exactly happened to her or her M.I.A fiancé; has never been ready to find out. But she's ready now.
At the same time, Jackaby's and Miss Rook's services have been requested by the commissioner and mayor of New Fiddlehamn. They need the detective team to investigate a series of disappearances and gruesome murders. As both cases progress it becomes clear that they are deeply intertwined and Jackaby and Rook find themselves on a hunt that twists the supernatural and science worlds together, risking their lives more than ever before in their quest to bring justice to their friend Jenny's murder and find out what happened to her dearly beloved fiancé.

One of the things I love most about the Jackaby series is the incredible insight that William Ritter passes onto his readers through Jackaby and sometimes even Miss Rook. For example;
“Are you afraid?”
“Constantly,” he said. “It’s the reason I’m still alive. Fear keeps us sharp. Listen to your fear.”

“Miss Lee is really a boy, isn't she? Underneath?” He slowed and the came to a stop and looked me square in the eyes. “That’s up to her to decide, I suppose, but it’s not what I saw. Underneath, she was herself— as are we all. Lydia Lee is as much a lady as you or Jenny or anyone. I imagine the midwife or attending doctor had another opinion on the matter, but it only goes to show what doctors really know.”
“Shouldn’t a doctor be able to tell at least that much?” Jackaby’s expression clouded darkly. I have a great respect for the medical profession, Miss Rook,” he said soberly, “but it is not for doctors to tell us who we are.”
Ritter has a way of explaining the things that are so very wrong with our society and why they are so wrong. He challenges what is and isn't weird, different or normal, what is good or bad. He teaches us that just because you don't understand, doesn't make it wrong.

“Questions are good,” Jackaby said. “Questions are to the clever mind as coal is to the stoker. I will worry more when we run out of them.”

Jackaby is just so precious. He's this great mix of Benedict Cumberbatch's Sherlock and Eddie Redmayne's Newt Schamander. He's blunt, doesn't mince words, forgets the rules of social politeness, has zero tolerance for intolerance and prejudice and has a heart of gold. He's incredibly intelligent and intuitive. He challenges the thoughts and opinions of those around him. He's just very good at what he does, and he doesn't do it for the money or recognition, he does it because he has the tools to, because no one else does and because he does truly care.
Jackaby holds a special place in my heart and always will. He is a sweet baby angel, I will fight you on this.

“Look, I don’t know that I fully understand her, either, but that doesn’t matter. I don’t need to understand someone to respect them. I think she’s very brave.”
“How is she brave?”
“How?” I considered. “There are lots of people out there who are terribly hateful. She could avoid a whole lot of trouble and dress and act as they want her to, but she chooses to be herself. That’s brave. Also— the last time we met she stopped Jackaby from hurting the men who hurt her. They might have killed her. Kindness is an act of bravery, I think, just as hatred is an act of fear. I’m sure you can appreciate that not all strength is muscle, Mr Finstern. She has a strong spirit, and I believe she is very brave about the way she chooses to use it.”

Abigail Rook is the perfect balance to Jackaby, she sees the mundane things that Jackaby tends to miss while being focused on the supernatural. She's sharp and curious. Always wanting to understand and happily soaking up all the information on offer. She's very aware that she's smart, she never sells herself short, she's aware of her worth but she's not arrogant either and is humble when proven wrong. Like Jackaby she has a heart of gold, she's so incredibly sweet and gentle. she'll do whatever she needs to help her friends even if it means putting herself in harm's way. She'll risk her life without a second thought if it could save her friends and that's a trait to admire.

“You’re nothing but a ripple in my wake, you worthless trash. I made you!”
“You didn’t make me,” Jenny said gently. “I made myself, and I will continue to make myself forever after. What you did to me? That made you. It made you a murderer and it made you a monster. They buried the girl you killed, Morwen. I’m the spirit you couldn’t kill. You have no power over me.”

Jenny is the lively ghost that has resided at 926 Augur Lane for over ten years, though she wasn't always a ghost. Jenny has always been so very kind and accepting, hell she's had to deal with Jackaby renovated and destroy her house on a regular basis. The banter between her and Jackaby has always been a favourite of mine. They bounce off each other naturally as is to be expected between an odd man and his ghost housemate. Jenny has always been strong, even as a ghost but in Ghostly Echoes, she really shines. From fighting to remember her past, at the risk of her future, to confronting her killer and still finding the kindness to spare them, Jenny shows that brute force isn't always the only strength someone can have, and isn't always the kind of strength to be used in a situation. But the newly developed ghost abilities sure do help.
I really connected with Jenny while I read her above quote. There was so much truth in it. People often forget that the way they treat you doesn't just affect who you are, but it affects who they are too.

Spending my life as a disappointment proved to be an instructional childhood, though. I learned a great deal about power, Detective. I learned a great deal about how to control it, about how to make it, and about how to take it.

I really fucking hated Finstern, I did. I didn't trust him as soon as he was found in the woods, especially when it was discovered that he was experimenting on animals. I don't care how much it helps progress science I don't like animals being tested on.
But I've also got to admire his pure will to survive and chase his vision. And I do actually understand him. Being a disappointment from a young age, never being good enough, it can greatly affect your life from then on. You either give up trying or you stop at nothing to reach your goals. Finstern is the latter. Life has shat on him and he's still dedicated his life to science and trying to improve the world... but also mostly so he can gain power. He's a problematic character, but I still can't help but get where he's coming from and feel bad for him.
Bonus quote: “You can be certain that it’s nothing good.” Finstern shrugged, his green eyes flickering from the glass on the floor to the fluttering shade. “Good. Bad. Subjective.”

“Just be careful.”
“Don't go down the wrong streets, you mean?”
“Yes, exactly.”
“You’re a sweet girl,” she said in a kind tone that made me feel less sweet and more woefully naive. “But open up those pretty eyes. For me, they’re all the wrong streets.” Her voice broke just a little and she swallowed and straightened, pushing past the moment by force of will. “I don’t want to be careful, Miss Abigail. I want to be Lydia Lee.”

Aaaahhhhh, I love Lydia Lee. She's a fucking badass honestly. In today's society, it's still really brave to be exactly who you are, especially if it doesn't align with the gender the world assigns you. But we have come leaps and bounds since the nineteenth century. I can't imagine how much more dangerous it would have been to do the same things back then. And yet here Lydia is, being herself in all her kick-ass glory. She even stops Jackaby from harming the men who hurt her, who probably were going to kill her. There's something to be said for someone who chooses kindness towards those who have shown her nothing but cruelty. Every time she popped up in the story I was just so happy. We could all take a lesson from Lydia Lee.

Ghostly Echoes was a well executed third installment. It was well written, fast paced and fun. Most importantly it kept to the heart of the Jackaby series and gave us a few lessons along the way.

“You will remember that monsters pick on the weak and the harmless because it is the monsters who are afraid.” He held the final stone in his fingers and stepped to the edge of the bubbling pool. “And they are right to be afraid.”

___
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[Phee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good just like the previous two.
I’m not going to go into the plot as that will take me into spoiler territory, which is somewhere I don’t like to go in my reviews.

It was really nice to see the characters grow. I feel like Abigail gets stronger with every book and I love seeing her triumph. We get a few questions answered in this one, we finally find out the truth behind what happened to Jenny. A couple of Jackaby’s many secrets were revealed as well, though I do think there are plenty of things we don’t know about him. The side characters were great as always and the humour was spot on.
There was a quite a bit of reference to myths that I found very interesting. Especially the ones regarding the underworld, and the folktales are great too. I really like how these books deal with the supernatural and that no matter how strange Jackaby’s abilities as the Seer seem, they are believable in some way. Even if he does sound insane telling people how their aura tastes.
This one took a much darker turn than the previous books and I will say that it is easy to forget that these are YA. The murders are quite grisly and grim and the character ages mean that it doesn’t ‘feel’ like YA. It feels mature and serious even if the subject matter can seem a little far fetched.

These are great fun to read. Very easy going and dare I say effortless. I have no trouble getting through them in one or two sittings and I find myself wondering how everything is going to come together in the next one.

[Rachael (RedRchlReads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars!

Another fantastic book in the Jackaby series, in Ghostly Echoes we finally get to learn more about Jenny and her case. Again, the characters are all fantastic, including all the new ones that we get to meet and those returning from the previous books. And I really enjoyed following the larger story that finally begins to piece together in this book.

Though there are a few slower moments throughout this installment, it does pick up again and provides much needed information and setup for the finale of the series. Some people have called out the fantastical nature of the second half of the book, and it does go even further off the beaten path than the previous two did, but I loved it! The peek into the seelie/unseelie world (and beyond) was just what I was hoping for, and I can't wait to see what happens next!

I only have one more book to read and, while I'm curious about how the series will end, I'm more sad to say goodbye to the fantastic characters. These books are quick and enthralling reads, that are almost impossible to put down. I have very limited reading time these days, what with having a newborn in the house, but somehow I've managed to complete all of these books in just a few days each. I'll continue to recommend these books to everyone who may show even the slightest inkling of interest!

[Aneta Bak · Rating 5 out of 5]

“It is the ugliest aspect of human nature that we fear what is most different from ourselves with such violent contempt.”

This series just keeps getting better and better. Ghostly Echoes has been my favourite book in this series so far.

Ten years ago, Abigail was murdered. Now there are similar murders occurring, and Jackaby and Abigail might finally have a shot at figuring out who truly murdered Jenny and what happened to her fiancé.

I really liked Abigail in the first book, she really grew on me in the second book and now she has become one of my favourite characters. Her character development has been absolutely fantastic. She has gone from a scared girl who stays back, to a strong woman that dives right into the action. The part in the book where Abigail volunteers to do something very dangerous, I had to put the book down for a second because I was so proud of this girl. She's not afraid to do what has to be done, she's comfortable with who she is and she's so outgoing. I honestly love her.

Jackaby is still the crazy goofball that surprises you one minute, and makes you laugh the next. His character doesn't go through much character development, but that is perfectly fine because he doesn't need to change. He's the character that makes you laugh during a serious moment and confuses you at one point but shows you the light the next scene. He is absolutely fantastic.

The plot-line of this story is so much more interesting than the other two books. I think it might be because its not as out there as the first two books were, and its much closer to the characters we've gotten to know. This book felt a little more serious compared to the silliness in the first two books, but it was so very well written that I absolutely loved the change.

I can't wait to read the next book. We get a little hint about it at the end of this book and I'm dying to read it already.

Overall, I highly recommend this series to all fantasy and YA lovers. I guarantee you will fall in love with at least one of the characters in this book.

Happy Reading,
Aneta

[Brittany S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't love the writing as much as I did the second book. I thought from Jackaby to Beastly Bones had really grown in writing style but there were a lot of overused words in Ghostly Echoes that was bothersome and a few places where the action slipped a bit and I had to look back to catch up and make sure I hadn't missed anything.

The story did progress rather well though!! I love where this overall series arc is going and I always appreciate being able to look back and see what had been planned from book one that the reader didn't always know.

I'm also really glad that we got to know more about Jenny, her past, and her role at Augur Lane.

Looking forward to book four!!

Review as posted on The Book Addict's Guide 3/17/17: GHOSTLY ECHOES was a bit different all together with one of the main characters being involved in the mystery instead of someone from the outside. I really loved how much more personal the mystery became — to Jackaby and Abigail as well as the reader — and where the whole series went! Things really escalated in this book and I really appreciated how so many things came full circle here.

The friendships in this book were stepped up even more and I love how much tighter this group got! The different elements in this mystery were also top notch and I think this was my favorite book of the series!

[Christine PNW · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is apparently one more of these Jackaby books to come, however Ghostly Echoes finally gets down to business with Jenny Cavanaugh’s story, and, as I expected all along, it is a remarkable tale.

There’s definitely something rotten in the state of New Fiddleham.

This series in general has really given me a Newt Scamander vibe – in fact, if they were looking to cast Jackaby, Eddie Redmayne wouldn’t be a bad choice for the role. It’s probably hardest to review this installment in the series because more than any of the other three, this book felt like half of the story. The story has become much darker, and we are beginning to understand that there is a game afoot that Jackaby is only beginning to understand. We get a lot of backstory on both Jackaby and Jenny, which is important to a full understanding of the events of all of the preceding books as well as this one.

There are blind alleys a plenty, but there are also reveals. I can’t wait to see how William Ritter wraps up this delicious, delightful series!

[Taz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, Ritter has finally done it; he finally got me to rate a Jackaby novel 5 stars. ;)

I really love this series, and I'm sad that I only have one book left. I'm not going to buy the next one until it comes out in paperback, though, so I won't have to say goodbye to Jackaby and Co. for at least a year..

Anyway, this story was just as gripping and entertaining as the other two, and I really enjoyed getting to learn more about Jenny. The characters have definitely grown into a strange sort of family, and I love picturing them all in the house on Augur Lane, going over clues for their cases.

I'm sort of scared for the last book though? So maybe it's a good thing I'll have a bit of a wait before I read it.. Seems like it will lower the stakes some, maybe.

I seriously hope that we get to learn more about Jackaby in the last book, because I have so many questions! Until then..

5 stars!

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding Jenny's Murderer

Ghostly Echoes: A Jackaby Novel by William Ritter is book three in the series. In this book Jackaby finally is getting around to working on Jenny's case, she was murdered ten years prior. Jenny is the ghost in the house and their friend. There is soooo much that happens in here. I don't want to give anything away but it is all unpredictable and amazing! New bad guys that are truly evil! Great story!

[Misty · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️...what a delightful story!! It was nice to finally find out how Jenny died. And we also got a bit of information about Jackaby!!! Looking forward to the next book!!!

[Kayla Silverss · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a great installment in the series, the supernatural elements in this story are some of the best that I've read about in YA books.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, that was . . . interesting. And also creepy. And . . . yeah. I think I shall just get on with the good and bad and hopefully by the end of that I'll have sorted out my thoughts.

The Good:
-The Characters, as always. Jackaby, Abigail, and Jenny are all wonderful as ever. The new characters we meet, well, they tend towards the creepy at times, but there's some in there who seem friendly enough. And Charlie reappeared, much to my surprise, towards the end of the book, which made me quite happy.
-The plot intensifies. Ritter raised the stakes a bit in Beastly Bones, but that's nothing compared to what he does here. The consequences of this case get continually higher and higher, until by the end of the book- well, I can't say now. Spoilers! But suffice it to say that it's more than just a few people or even a town at risk now.
-Jenny does stuff. Ok, she already did stuff. But she does more stuff now. It's rather awesome.
-Much more actual mythology. Don't get me wrong- I loved the way Ritter blended real myths with his own creations in the last couple books. But it's also nice to know about the creatures that the characters are dealing with. Just saying.
-The humor. Dark as this story can get at times, there's still quite a bit to smile at here- mostly in the way of quips from one character or another, but also because Jackaby is still Jackaby and nothing if not eccentric.

The Bad:
-Creepiness intensifies. And I do mean intensifies, every bit as much as the plot does. Vampires, the titular echoes, occasional possession, the Other Side . . . yeah. It's not half as bad as the Lockwood and Co. series generally is, but still, this would make a rather good Halloween read.
-There's one bit- a minor bit, but significant enough- that was just . . . unnecessary, in my opinion, and I think it mostly exists for the sake of Political Correctness or something to that effect, but suffice it to say that I was not particularly pleased it was there. I'm quite grateful as well that it wasn't more significant. Spoilers, for those who wish them: Partway through the first quarter of the book, Jackaby and Abigail rescue a woman . . . who, we discover, seems to be transgender, despite the fact that I'm pretty sure that wasn't a thing during the late 19th century. Jackaby then makes a mildly moralizing comment or two about how doctors can't tell a person who they are, and Abigail later picks up a similar thread in a second meeting with the person in question. On the whole, not terribly significant, but still bothersome, particularly as it caught me off-guard.

On the whole, Ghostly Echoes was an enjoyable and exciting book that provided answers to many questions while raising new ones and increasing the stakes to previously unreached levels. While a few certain elements did prevent me from giving it a full five stars, it was still an excellent continuation of the Jackaby series.

[Stefani Sloma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ghostly Echoes was one of the top books I was hoping to get at BEA. I LOVED Jackaby and Beastly Bones, and I could not wait to dive back into New Fiddleham with these characters. I was not disappointed.

I absolutely adore these characters and this world so so much. Everything about these books is just…charming. But I think the best part of Ghostly Echoes is that it’s a bit darker than the other two books in the series so far.

The third book in the Jackaby series focuses a lot on Jenny Cavanaugh, the ghostly owner and resident of 926 Augur Lane, and finding out what happened to her all those years ago. She becomes a huge player in this books, and I loved seeing her strong spirit (no pun intended) and attitude. The way that Jenny’s murder, and all of the characters’ pasts play into and connect to the plot really helps you feel drawn into this one.

And, as always, I loved Abigail’s personality and drive. I especially enjoyed learning more about Jackaby’s past, and I’m excited to see more of that in the fourth book – thank goodness for book four!

It’s kind of hard to review this one without any spoilers, especially because it’s book three in the series, so I’ll just say that I could talk about how much I love this series all day, and you should probably just go ahead and read them all.

The bottom line: This is a quick, fun read full of adventure, folklore, mythology, people and creatures, ghosts and possession. Ghostly Echoes –might– have been my favorite Jackaby book, but we’ll have to wait for book four to be sure.

You can read this review and more on my blog, Caught Read Handed.

[Colleen Houck]

I loved heading into another mystery with Jackaby and his assistant. This time they are headed to the underworld with the help of Charon. We finally get to see what happened to our resident ghost. I totally hear David Tennant in my head as I read these. If you're a Doctor Who fan, you need to pick up these books!

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this! It's been a while since I read book two and I was a bit worried that I wouldn't enjoy this book as much but I definitely did. This series continues to be a bunch of fun and very readable.

I completely forgot just how much I enjoy these characters! I've said this before but the eccentric older mentor can be a really annoying figure for me but I just love the way Jackaby is characterized. One aspect of this series that I continue to love is Abigail being wrong about things, or at least ignorant, and Jackaby teaching her something. I think too often in YA, the main character is always the one teaching everyone else how to be a good person and I find that it can come off as lecturing. In this case, it really seems like character development and I love that. Abigail in this book is still great and I really like her but my favorite character is still definitely Charlie. I forgot how much I love him, I honestly think he's one of my favorite characters of all time. If I had one complaint it's that there wasn't enough Charlie. He's such a lovely character and such a breath of fresh air in the world of egotistic love interests in YA.

The plot of this book was a little less interesting to me than the last book, but I can tell that we're setting some stuff up for the last book of this series so I thought that some more set up was fine. I didn't find the mystery to be super surprising but I don't really think that was the main point. I liked that we got some good character development for Jenny and we got to learn more about Jackaby's past. To me, those were the most interesting aspects of this book and really gave me more appreciation for these characters.

I'm excited to read the last book but I'm actually sad that this series is ending. I think I might pick up Ritter's other series despite the fact that I don't really read middle grade. I just love the way he writes and I feel like this series is underrated, so if you're think about trying this series, I think you should.

[Sebastian · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read the first chapters of William Ritter’s young adult fantasy novel „Jackaby“ almost two years ago I soon realized that this was about to become a new favorite series of mine. I’ve always been a sucker for historical crime fiction especially when it’s set in the late 19th century and if you also give me a weird detective that feels like a quirky character played by Johnny Depp and taken from a witty Tim Burton movie (seriously, can someone please persuade those two into adapting the book series for the big screen?) then you can be almost 100% sure that I would love it – and Mr. R.F. Jackaby, the detective with a special focus on investigating unexplained phenomena, is only one part of a cast of amazing characters that turn these books into a hell of a lot of fun. Just as much as Sherlock Holmes wouldn’t be the same without his congenial and loyal colleague Dr. John Watson, Jackaby needs a partner that he can rely on – and who is able to bring him to reason when he’s at risk of getting lost in the chaos that is both in his head and in his office: Abigail Rook, an adventurous young woman who left her family in Great Britain behind and came to New England to follow in her father’s footsteps and become an explorer – and eventually ended up with the quirky detective.

Who killed Jackaby’s ghostly landlady?

While I already had plenty of fun reading „Jackaby“ and the sequel „Beastly Bones“ and loved both the setting and the great characters I still had the feeling that something was missing, something that would take the series to the next level and make it more than „just“ a highly entertaining crime series for young readers – and apparently William Ritter has been able to read my mind because „Ghostly Echoes“, the third installment in the Jackaby series, is exactly the book I’ve been wishing for. If we go back to the second book in this series we remember that the main case got solved but that it still left us hanging in the air with quite a few unanswered questions, questions that mostly involved Jenny Cavanaugh, the ghostly landlady of 926 Augur Lane where Jackaby runs his unusual detective business. As we all know, Jenny’s life has found a very unpleasant ending years ago but the case of her murder has never been solved (yet) and is still a very sensitive topic that upsets the ghost every time it’s brought up – but Abigail is now determined to finally solve this cold case and give Jenny closure so that she might be able to move on and no longer has to live as a prisoner in her own home that is bound to that place by the terrors of her past.

Dark times are coming…

„Ghostly Echoes“ therefore almost exactly picks up where „Beastly Bones“ ended and it soon becomes clear that this third book will be by far the darkest one in this series. We see Jenny Cavanaugh suffering from serious mental attacks and we experience New Fiddleham not just as a vivid town with fantastical creatures (the way Jackaby likes to see it as he explains to Abigail in one of my favorite scenes in this book while strolling through the streets) but also as a place where dark and violent things lurk in the shadows and where evil forces pull the strings behind the scenes. I really loved this new atmosphere because it felt as if the series has been growing up since the first book and is no longer just the amusing young adult story but a serious piece of crime fiction. Yes, there’s still the hilarious bantering going on between Jackaby and Abigail but many of the entertaining dialogues had to make way for conversations with more depth and sincerity since the stakes are much higher in this new case and our beloved characters are in some serious danger.

A big step forward in character development

But it’s not just the darker atmosphere and the hazardous investigation that make the Jackaby series take the next step, it’s also the character development that gives „Ghostly Echoes“ more complexity than the first two books. R.F. Jackaby still remains a mysterious person (which is good, because otherwise the character might lose a lot of its fascination), but William Ritter gives us more insights into the detective’s past and into what made him become the person that he is now and this is where you will realize that Jackaby is way more than just a weird man with odd clothes and strange beliefs. „Ghostly Echoes“ also lets Jenny Cavanaugh evolve from being a filler character and some nice decoration for Jackaby’s house in Augur Lane and gives her not only more attention but also an interesting background story that comes with more depth for her character. And despite a bigger focus on Jackaby and Jenny there’s still enough room for Abigail to play an important role in this story as well and to show that she’s more than just a simple assistant that does the filing for her employer. Ritter does a great job at giving every character the attention that it deserves and „Ghostly Echoes“ even provides a little unexpected reunion that will have fans of this series beam with joy.

The best book in the Jackaby series so far

For all those reasons mentioned above „Ghostly Echoes“ easily became my favorite book in this series. Don’t get me wrong, I already loved „Jackaby“ and „Beastly Bones“ but this third book gave me this special something that I’ve still been waiting for and took the series to the next level by becoming darker and more mature and giving the characters and the whole universe that William Ritter has created more depth. There’s still room for improvement by maybe giving the story some more twists and even more suspense and working on the relationship between Jackaby and Abigail (and I don’t even mean in a romantic way) but seeing the latest development of this series felt very satisfying for me because Ritter definitely keeps steering it in the right direction. If you’re already a fan of the quirky detective and his witty partner then there’s no way you’re not going to like this book and if you’re not than „Ghostly Echoes“ is another proof that you’re missing out on a really great fantasy mystery book series.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love the Jackaby series!! This is probably my favorite one in the series thus far!