Beastly Bones: A Jackaby Novel

William Ritter

Sep 2015 · Sold by Algonquin Young Readers

About this ebook

In the second installment of the New York Times bestselling series, detective of the supernatural R.F. Jackaby and his assistant Abigail Rook follow a case to a paleontological dig site in nearby Gad's Valley on the trail of a thief, a monster, and a murderer.

In 1892, New Fiddleham, New England, things are never quite what they seem, especially when Abigail Rook and her eccentric employer, R. F. Jackaby, are called upon to investigate the supernatural. First vicious shape-shifters disguise themselves as a litter of kittens, and a day later, their owner is found murdered. Then in nearby Gad’s Valley, bones from a recent dig mysteriously go missing, and an unidentifiable beast starts attacking animals and people, leaving mangled bodies behind. Charlie calls on Abigail for help, and soon Abigail and Jackaby are on the hunt—for a thief, a monster, and a murderer.

Ratings and reviews

After investigating a case in New Fiddleham, this one takes Jackaby and Abigail out of town to a valley where a new set of fossils has been found. It partly connects to their case back in town about dangerous shape shifter pets, and partly because Abigail loves paleontology, so Jackaby relents and they both go there. While there, the trio of Charlie (because he is also working the case from the police side), Jackaby and Abigail try to solve the case amidst two quarreling scientists, a mourning widower, an intreprid hunter (who might make Charlie his newest find), and an overenthusiastic reporter while also trying to keep the supernatural under wraps. This book has Abigail more confident in her role as Jackaby's assistant, and their chemistry is awesome - with frequent quips, them teaming up and taking down people with snark - all without any romantic implications. Charlie is definitely the love interest for Abigail, and there promises to be a slow burn about it. Abigail also befriends the reporter who seems like a lady she would adore - independent, brave and out to get the world. Meanwhile, Jenny back home rises to case level, as her ghostly nature undergoes some changes that Abigail witnesses for the first time, and questions about her murder resurface. That mystery is left for the aptly named third book, so in this one, they are dealing with some bones, a new predatory threat, and the possibility of vampire attacks. The mystery is a bit convoluted, and unexpected, but it resolves well. Jackaby's version of history definitely gets more exciting as it involves the supernatural. The character developments in the book may be minor, but they also give levity and some stasis to the book in key moments. Overall, it is a good sequel, and stands equally with the first.

About the author

William Ritter is an Oregon author and educator. He is the proud father of the two bravest boys in the Wild Wood, and husband to the indomitable Queen of the Deep Dark. Beastly Bones is the second book in his acclaimed New York Times bestselling Jackaby series.