YA Buddy Readers' 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.

Jackaby (Jackaby #1) by William Ritter will be our first Group Buddy Read for December 2014.

Please read at your own pace, and hide any spoilers ☺ You are welcome to join at any time during the month ☺

Happy Reading Everybody!

So, I started this one. The pretty cover draw me in ^^.

Chapter 1-5
(view spoiler)[So far Jackaby is an interesting character and I like Abigail as well. She's a strong female lead, in the sense that she doesn't swing an axe, but she knows what she wants and does fight for it. Very inspiring.
Now, about the fact that the murder was not done by a human... hmmm, I see some paranormal in this book? ^^
(hide spoiler)]

chapter four - (view spoiler)[I like Jackaby! What the heck is all this talk about brownies and nymphs though? Intrigued! (hide spoiler)]

@Rachel, this seems to be a paranormal story. I also missed that part :P .

Tessa wrote: "@Rachel, this seems to be a paranormal story. I also missed that part :P ."

I try not to read the blurb before going into a book - I don't like getting spoilt - but I honestly just thought this was a mystery book! A pleasant surprise to find out otherwise. I am really excited for this.

I try not to read the blurb before going into a book - I don't like getting spoilt

Just to show how bad some blurbs are out there. Yes, I do the same. I've had some unpleasant experiences.

but I honestly just thought this was a mystery book!

It is, with a hint of something new ^^.

Chapter 6-10
(view spoiler)[
"one who can see the ordinary is extraordinary indeed"

Jackaby is an odd character indeed. And the house is haunted, lol. XD (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 12
(view spoiler)[Metal legs, dressed in a suit.... could it be the inspector? Just a hunch. Would explain why he would want to stay that close to the case and arrest someone right away. (hide spoiler)]

Starting now. :)

up to chapter 7 (view spoiler)[ okay so far, boring me a little bit. I wasn't expecting the paranormal element either. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 5 - (view spoiler)[ I'm not loving it, but it's alright. I didn't expect the paranormal element either. (hide spoiler)]

chapter 11 (view spoiler)[ can't say the talk about paving stones was particularly interesting. (hide spoiler)]

Tessa wrote: "Chapter 6-10

"

~(view spoiler)[ he's certainly unusual! (hide spoiler)]

chapter 13 (view spoiler)[ "By the request of my employer the contents of chapter thirteen have been omitted."
really? whats that about?! (hide spoiler)]

Heh, it was a way to be funny. The author does insert short bits of humor here and there ^^.

Well, I'm just bored now.

chapter 20(view spoiler)[ they got arrested. I'm still bored. (hide spoiler)]

Tessa wrote: "I try not to read the blurb before going into a book - I don't like getting spoilt

Just to show how bad some blurbs are out there. Yes, I do the same. I've had some unpleasant experiences.

but I..."

I hate blurbs that give away things that happen in the book. does that. If you haven't read it, don't read the blurb before you do! :)

@Rachel, I think that's the reason why I skipped that book. I now don't remember what it said, so will probably try to read it again :).

Chapters 14-17 (view spoiler)[
"if the villain could not see Hatun, then he has a home" - yeah, that logic was lost on me.
And I do admit the story moves rather slow. 14 chapters in and we were still in the first day.
I also don't understand how the creature could kill a guarded person. Is he invisible? Also, why kill in the exact same building? (hide spoiler)]

Still, this is a funny story. I kind of like it. Not much has happened in the first half, I must admit, but I do like the characters so dreadfully much XD.

Sarah wrote: "Well, I'm just bored now.

chapter 20[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I'm bored still too. (hide spoiler)]

@Tessa I was so mad when I realised! We go half the book without supposedly knowing what is about to be "revealed"... expect it told us in the blurb! I don't understand why it would do that!

That's why I rarely read blurbs any more. they're full of spoilers.

Chapter 20
(view spoiler)[What do you mean bored?!!! They are hearing the banshee's cry!! I mean, OMG, I was not expecting that. I'm really curious right now to see how they escape. Normally, they shouldn't be able to. (hide spoiler)]

Is anyone still reading this? *sad face*
I find it quite a decent read compared to other books I've read lately ^^.

Chapter 21-25
(view spoiler)["Happiness is bliss-but ignorance is anesthetic" - true that XD.

So, after I was really curious what was going to happen and how they will escape the banshee's cry, chapter 25 was very anticlimactic. I was expecting Charlie to be a creature, but not our murderer :( .

Also, how did the gathering and the fire affect his transformation? Guess I'll need ot read the rest. *sigh* was hoping for a little more. (hide spoiler)]

Ok, nevermind what I said so far, this is a disappointment...

Chapter 25
(view spoiler)[It's the commissioner, I mean, really? I guessed it from chapter 3? This really displeases me <.<. And Abigail is so slow, throwing herself into danger like that... (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 27
(view spoiler)[Ugh, all the drama!!! Please spare me and just burn that damn hat! (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 31 - THE END -
(view spoiler)[The writing was quite good and was the only thing that kept me going. The characters were also interesting and complet, still Jackaby a little static as the overly excentric one.
The bad part was the story and it's very simplistic form. It's a book for children written in adult words. This is the only way I can describe it. While children might enjoy it, adults will be a little disapointed by the cliche plot. (hide spoiler)]

P.S.: I'm sorry this turned out to be not such an enjoyable read: the reviews and the gorgeous cover got me fooled :( .

Tessa wrote: "Ok, nevermind what I said so far, this is a disappointment...

Chapter 25
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ the throwing herself into danger was darn annoying. why do so many heroines do that?! (hide spoiler)]

Tessa wrote: "Chapter 27
[spoilers removed]"

I agree.

Tessa wrote: "P.S.: I'm sorry this turned out to be not such an enjoyable read: the reviews and the gorgeous cover got me fooled :( ."

I was exactly the same. I read someone's review that they submitted for a challenge and thought the book would be really good. wrong.

Sarah wrote: "Tessa wrote: "Ok, nevermind what I said so far, this is a disappointment...

Chapter 25
[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"
I have no idea. I think they just want to make it really clear that this is a fiction. In real life she would be dead by now XD.

Sarah wrote: "Tessa wrote: "P.S.: I'm sorry this turned out to be not such an enjoyable read: the reviews and the gorgeous cover got me fooled :( ."

I was exactly the same. I read someone's review that they sub..."

Yes. Not to mention that everyone compares this with the series Sherlock Holmes and it was anything but <.<.

probably! I'm not sure how Violet Ambrose never ended up dead in series, she was awful for throwing herself into danger!

Tessa wrote: "@Rachel, I think that's the reason why I skipped that book. I now don't remember what it said, so will probably try to read it again :).

Chapters 14-17
[spoilers removed]

(view spoiler)[I agree that its awkwardly paced - too slow at the moment! - but I am certainly intrigued. (hide spoiler)]

Tessa wrote: "Chapter 12
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I had the same thought! (hide spoiler)]

Tessa wrote: "Ok, nevermind what I said so far, this is a disappointment...

Chapter 25
[spoilers removed]"

I agree! That was way too easy... (view spoiler)[the polio leg braces gave it away. (hide spoiler)]

Tessa wrote: "Chapter 27
[spoilers removed]"

Ahaha! I know right!?

Tessa wrote: "Chapter 31 - THE END -
[spoilers removed]

(view spoiler)[The writing was the only thing that worked for me too. I did like Abigail but she was rather reckless and a little too observant for a non-experienced detective. My favourite was Jenny. :) (hide spoiler)]

Rachel wrote: "Tessa wrote: "Chapter 27
[spoilers removed]"

Ahaha! I know right!?"

Most infuriating chapter!!! <.<

Sarah wrote: "probably! I'm not sure how Violet Ambrose never ended up dead in series, she was awful for throwing herself into danger!"

Didn't read that one, nor do I plan to do so XD.

Tessa wrote: "Sarah wrote: "probably! I'm not sure how Violet Ambrose never ended up dead in series, she was awful for throwing herself into danger!"

Didn't read that one, no..."

I have a buddy read for that one on Sunday actually. Not a good series? :/

I liked the series, Violet just irritated me after a while though because she insisted on going after murderers on her own, in the middle of the night, where nobody knew where she was going or what she was doing. it was like she was asking for it!

Oh great! I hate those sorts of protagonists!

Started it yesterday & I am at chapter 5 and I agree with Tessa, intriguing story and interesting main characters..

Rachel wrote: "Oh great! I hate those sorts of protagonists!"

Same, so... not for me :( .

ɑƨħŵɑɡ ♥Team Magnus Damora FOREVER♥ wrote: "Started it yesterday & I am at chapter 5 and I agree with Tessa, intriguing story and interesting main characters.."

The beginning was quite nice, but then it started to drag. I do hope you enjoy it :) .

@Tessa Yeah I am noticing the drag-ness now xD

Chapter 20 (view spoiler)["This cop Marlow is acting suspeciously. (hide spoiler)]

Oh @Ashwag you need to put things like that in spoiler brackets! You do that by placing <.spoiler.> (without the dots) at the front of what you want to hide and <./.spoiler.> (again, without the dots) at the end.

We try to hide anything that contains possible spoilers so that the other people reading the book will not get spoilt before they get up to that part. :)

I know & I actually posted this from my phone about to sleep and added <.spoilers.> without noticing, sorry :(