Today I have an audiobook review for you! Jackaby was another of my book club reads. This was a fun and easy read. Short enough for a quick audiobook as well. Read on to see what I thought of Jackaby!
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers | HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books
Release Date: September 16, 2014
Format: MP3 Audio
Pages: 299 (Hardcover) / Audio Length: Approx 7.5 hours
Narrator: Nicola Barber
Source: Scribd
Genre: YA Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fantasy
Review Date: May 3, 2016
Rating: 4 bookmarks
Synopsis: 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.
Release Date: September 16, 2014
Format: MP3 Audio
Pages: 299 (Hardcover) / Audio Length: Approx 7.5 hours
Narrator: Nicola Barber
Source: Scribd
Genre: YA Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fantasy
Review Date: May 3, 2016
Rating: 4 bookmarks
Synopsis: 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.
Jackaby is an awesome melding of genres. Taking place in New England during the 1890's, I got a full sense of the period including how it was for women during that time. Abigail fresh off the boat from Europe finds herself looking for some adventure and she finds it. This clearly is a young adult title, and it feels like it. While Abigail, and Jackaby, are solving murders and dealing with gory killings, it's clear that Abigail is young. For that time she's essentially an adult, but this story is clearly geared toward the younger audience. It's a very simple plot. On the flip side because it's simple, it works. One thing that surprised me especially about this book is that while it's entitled Jackaby, it's really all about Abigail. It's told from her point of view. Is about her experiences. How she interacts with
Jackaby, and the other characters in the story.
Jackaby, and the other characters in the story.
The characters are fun and the secondary characters are even more interesting, adding an additional component to the story. There's a ghost, a duck that was human, the crazy lady with an invisible cape, and all kind of intriguing characters not to mention the local police and government. Among the local police Abigail meets a young police officer named Charlie is he's got his own set of secrets.
The plot is simple overall, I essentially wasn't surprised with who the killer was. I feel that the story didn't have a lot of twists and turns and the action was minimal. It wasn't boring by any means, it just wasn't action packed either. It's almost what I would expect for a book taking place in this time period. It did indeed feel a little "Sherlock" at times and it was a fun to experience a "Sherlock" feeling mystery paired with paranormal elements. Very unique.
I listen to this on audiobook and I feel that the narrator, Nicole Barber, did an amazing job I definitely feel like that narrator read for Abigail and Jackaby and Charlie and many other characters in an excellently. The narration really elevated the story for me.
I initially rated this book three bookmarks, but after discussing it with the group, I actually liked it even more. Jackaby and Abigail are such unique and different characters, I had to boost the rating. I'm looking forward to listening to the Beastly Bones, and I expect another paranormal mystery. Have you read Jackaby? If so, please tell me what you thought of it.
Happy Reading & Listening,
~Tamara
The plot is simple overall, I essentially wasn't surprised with who the killer was. I feel that the story didn't have a lot of twists and turns and the action was minimal. It wasn't boring by any means, it just wasn't action packed either. It's almost what I would expect for a book taking place in this time period. It did indeed feel a little "Sherlock" at times and it was a fun to experience a "Sherlock" feeling mystery paired with paranormal elements. Very unique.
I listen to this on audiobook and I feel that the narrator, Nicole Barber, did an amazing job I definitely feel like that narrator read for Abigail and Jackaby and Charlie and many other characters in an excellently. The narration really elevated the story for me.
I initially rated this book three bookmarks, but after discussing it with the group, I actually liked it even more. Jackaby and Abigail are such unique and different characters, I had to boost the rating. I'm looking forward to listening to the Beastly Bones, and I expect another paranormal mystery. Have you read Jackaby? If so, please tell me what you thought of it.
Happy Reading & Listening,
~Tamara
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| Get the Audible version here:
