Challenge Corner discussion

“Miss Rook, I am not an occultist,” Jackaby said. “I have a gift that allows me to see truth where others see the illusion--and there are many illusions. All the world’s a stage, as they say, and I seem to have the only seat in the house with a view behind the curtain.”

Newly arrived in New Fiddleham, New England, 1892, and in need of a job, Abigail Rook meets R. F. Jackaby, an investigator of the unexplained with a keen eye for the extraordinary--including the ability to see supernatural beings. Abigail has a gift for noticing ordinary but important details, which makes her perfect for the position of Jackaby’s assistant. On her first day, Abigail finds herself in the midst of a thrilling case: A serial killer is on the loose. The police are convinced it’s an ordinary villain, but Jackaby is certain it’s a nonhuman creature, whose existence the police--with the exception of a handsome young detective named Charlie Cane--deny.

Doctor Who meets Sherlock in William Ritter’s debut novel, which features a detective of the paranormal as seen through the eyes of his adventurous and intelligent assistant in a tale brimming with cheeky humor and a dose of the macabre.

Ch. 8 (view spoiler)[ Well Jackaby is certainly a character! He reminds of a cross between the Mad Hatter, Dr. Who (particularly Matt Smith version) and Sherlock Holmes (Benedict version). I absolutely love the narrator of the audiobook--she reminds me a ton of Audrey Rose! I'm not a fan of Marlowe-he's quite an ass. But Cane seems nice, and maybe he and Rook can get to know each other ;) (hide spoiler)]

Ch. 16 (view spoiler)[ Ooooo so we have our first ghost! Jenny :D She seems nice enough and maybe she can be friends with Rook. I really love the atmosphere of this whole story. I wonder who could've been responsible for the murder and now they have that banshee to deal with to. Hmmm fascinating. Glad Jackaby is letting Abigail stay. (hide spoiler)]

Ch. 23 (view spoiler)[ Hmm I wonder if it could be Charlie or Marlowe?? I'm not sure. I don't really like the commissioner either. I so wasn't surprised when Marlowe arrested Jackaby and Rook. He's the kind of guy to put people in jail because he doesn't like them. I'm sad the banshee was murdered. How the hell are they going to stop the culprit? What is the culprit!? (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[ Wow so Charlie is some sort of shapeshifter dog! And the commissioner was a damn redcap! I was so worried for Abigail, I'm glad she wasn't hurt too much. Marlowe almost fucking ruined everything of course. I still have hope for Rook and Charlie-I hope they exchange all of the letters! (hide spoiler)]

Ch. 10 (view spoiler)[ Those cat/shapeshifters are very interesting and creepy. I wonder what's up with Jenny?? Why is she acting so strange all the sudden? I wonder what this case is that Marlowe would come to Jackaby for. And I hope we see Charlie again! I miss him and I still totally ship him with Abby. (hide spoiler)]

Ch. 13 What's up with this chapter always being omitted? Is it because Jackaby is superstitious or did something happen we're not allowed to know about??

Ch. 18 (view spoiler)[ Dinosaur bones omg!! This is so fascinating! I'm loving the story. I don't like Mr. Lamb-he's quite an asshole ugh. I wonder what happened to the other bone? I'm so excited Charlie is in the story again!! It's so cute how Abigail is trying to protect him from Hudson. Owen seems pretty nice and he's totally geeky I'm a fan. (hide spoiler)]

Ch. 25 (view spoiler)[ Holy crap the bones are from a dragon!?! That's so damn crazy! Why is there another dragon roaming the area too?? I hope Hudson doesn't try to hurt Charlie because of what he is- that would be horrible! I love the addition of Nellie, she's funny and sassy! I'm so curious as to how everything will turn out with a dragon roaming around. (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[ Wow! That ending was crazy! The dragon exploded from the flint inside it. It ate so many people too omfg. And what the hell was Hudson thinking, stealing one of those kittens and feeding it a dragon bone, ugh. He's so lucky he didn't die. I love how Abbie kissed Charlie at the end. And Jenny's case is going to be next omg!! (hide spoiler)]

Ch. 7 (view spoiler)[ What an interesting start to the case! I think Abbie will find out quite a lot if her and Jenny keep practicing the possession. Also I love how Jackaby came to the defense of the trans woman! He is precious and I love him. I hope Lydia will show up later in the story again! I wonder if Bunhamm is responsible for all the deaths in a way? And Pavel is such a creepy dude ugh (hide spoiler)]

Ch. 14 (view spoiler)[ Huh so Pavel is a vampire. And he admitted to murdering those people? Doesn't seem right to have answers so quickly. I think there's something else going on. It will be interesting to find out. My brain is not sure what to think of everything. I really loved the story about Eleanor and I wish she hadn't been trapped in an asylum, poor girl didn't deserve that. Poor jackaby too. I wonder what that vision of the creature at the end of the hallway has to do with anything? (hide spoiler)]

Ch. 21 (view spoiler)[ Hmm something is up with Abigail and it seems to be related to Jenny possessing her. So glad Jenny was able to keep a leash on Pavel. I wonder if he's dead, I'd be okay with that. The mystery of these benefactors seems to only be getting larger and more dangerous. Finstern is a weird dude. CHARLIE CAME BACK I LOVE HIM (hide spoiler)]

Ch. 28 (view spoiler)[ Wow I didn't expect there to be an afterlife journey in this but I am loving it!! Also, I hope we'll find out what Eleanor meant about the creature with red eyes, maybe not this book but the next one? I was so glad to see Nellie and those riddles to enter were fun!! I can't wait to see what else Abigail will find out! (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[ Wow this was amazing! I loved seeing Hades even if it was at a distance. And this business with the Dire Council sounds so sinister I'm crazy intrigued. I'm glad they captured Morwen and I loved seeing Jenny all empowered. This was so good omg (hide spoiler)]

Ch. 7 I'm super tired but this is pretty good so far! (view spoiler)[ I'm loving the fae involvement in this! I think King Arawn is kinda dumb, but I get why he's being that way. I don't want the Dire King to be real, but seems like he is. Mayor Spade is being ridiculous, but I loved everything Jackaby said to him. It was just marvelous. AND I NEED CHARLIE TO PROPOSE TO ABBIE AND SHE MUST SAY YES OMG I WANT THAT TO HAPPEN. Jackaby being jealous of that was the cherry on top. I laughed so hard! (hide spoiler)]

Ch. 14 (view spoiler)[ What the heck, where's the sword!? I'm not really a fan of Charlie's sister. I hope she's not horrible like this the whole time. I love the supernatural team Jackaby is building tho, this is awesome!! I hope they find the shield. Also I'm worried about Jackaby after what Hatun said (hide spoiler)]

Ch. 21 (view spoiler)[ I wonder if Jackaby and Abigail have met this Tilde fae? I feel like we might have. I knew Pavel was a damn liar, but Jackaby fucking got him, didn't he. Ugh but then that necromancer came and almost ruined everything. So glad Virgule and Serif were there to help out. And damn Abbie is becoming a badass leader. I hope Jenny is okay since Pavel ripped her necklace. (hide spoiler)]

Finished! (view spoiler)[ HOLY SHIT I THOUGHT CHARLIE WAS DEAD FOR SURE I LOVE THAT LITTLE TWAIN--even if it was a shit for the rest of the book. Man Alina really had me fooled at the end, I thought she was betraying them once again. And I think Abigail will be amazing as a Seer. I almost cried and threw my book when Jackaby died. Like fuck. JACKABY AND JENNY ARE ADORABLE THO (hide spoiler)]