Nathaniel Wolfe and the Bodysnatchers

Nathaniel Wolfe #2

by Brian Keaney

Nathaniel Wolfe, who has been living quietly with his grandfather in the countryside, is summoned back to London where he must first make a terrifying journey to the Other Side in the second book in the series Nathaniel and his grandfather made their way along the little path that wove erratically through the graves. Then suddenly, the moon emerged from behind the clouds and the churchyard was illuminated almost as brightly as by day. Three men were standing beside a newly-dug pile of earth. Two of them were hauling up a coffin with ropes while the third held a lantern over the grave. ‘Stop that this instant!’ Nathaniel’s grandad declared. The three men turned and looked at him. The one who was holding the lantern put it down on the ground. After that, everything happened in slow-motion. The body snatcher’s finger squeezed the trigger of the pistol. There was a noise that seemed as loud as thunder to Nathaniel and a flash of gunpowder . . . Bodies are being dug up all over London. A solicitor's clerk in London is being haunted by the ghost of an old man who holds out a ring on the palm of his hand. A six year-old girl holds conversations with an invisible companion. What's the connection between these events? It's a mystery that only Nathaniel Wolfe can solve—with a little help from his friends, of course. Packed with atmosphere and full of powerfully drawn characters, the new Nathaniel Wolfe story is chilling, exciting, and enormously entertaining.

Genres: Ghosts

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Brian writes novels for adults, young adults and children. HIs latest novel for adults is The Alphabet of Heart's Desire (Holland House Books), based on an incident in the life of the nineteenth century writer and opium addict, Thomas De Quincey

Reviews

[Morvling Bookink · Rating 2 out of 5]

I probs would have loved this when I was like 9 coz it was actually considerably gory, I mean not really but to small people yes.

I only read this coz I'm obsessed with the Radiohead songs Bodysnatchers at the moment.

[Mania · Rating 4 out of 5]

Co mogę poradzić na to, że mam słabość do XIX w.?


Ocena: 3,5

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read Nathaniel Wolfe and the Bodysnatchers by Brian Keaney without reading the previous Nathaniel Wolfe book (The Haunting of Nathaniel Wolfe) but that really doesn’t impact this book at all as it tells you all you need to know and only references the previous book when it really needs to for information or character purposes.

Nathaniel Wolfe lives in Victorian England, he grew up on the grimy, grubby and violent streets of London and now he is called back there.
Nathaniel can communicate with the dead – the ghosts there of that is – and a gentleman needs his help for he is being haunted by the ghost of a man and is terrified. At first Nath refuses to help – for his Grandfather is recovering from being shot and will not leave his side but soon the ghost visits both Nath and his Grandfather – clearly desperate for some help in the land of the living.
And so Nath sets off to London, meeting up with characters from the previous book (all is explained). Slowly tries to figure out who the ghost is and what he is so desperate to try and communicate.
Of course it’s not that simple – his journey takes him to some of the most dangerous places in London – the makeshift home for the sick and dying poor, opium dens and to places of his childhood he’s rather forget. Nethertheless, there is much more going on than he first thought and it’s not long before the real nastiness of the whole affair reveals itself.

I did enjoy reading this book but it’s not such a page turner as it lacks any serious twists. The characters are likeable but not very deep. The setting is much left to your imagination and own knowledge of Victorian London.
However there has been a lot of research been put into the character of London at the time – the opium dens, the disease, the violence and the rife bodysnatching – this is really it’s best feature as it’s educational and really opens up the plots intensity.

An enjoyable read – young readers would enjoy it but a lacking a lot for older readers.

[riven · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 🌟 — nie ukrywam, ze zastanawialam sie nad daniem pięciu gwiazdek. pomimo tego, że jest to ksiazka zdecydowanie dla nieco młodszego czytelnika niz ja, to jednak dalej świetnie się bawilam i niezwykle podobał mi się pomysł na tą część. relacja Nathaniela z Lily oraz Sophie jest przeurocza, a pomysł na ich wroga w tej książce był świetny i kompletnie inny niż w poprzedniej części. Jedyne co to żałuję, że tak mało uwagi poświęciliśmy samym złodziejom.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book and the series as a whole. It is geared for younger readers,but older folks would like it too. Great mood with the book set in Victorian England. Nathaniel can see ghosts and that's just scratching the surface. Quite the ride.