Published: 2023
Series: Standalone set in the Jackaby universe (follows volume #4 / The Dire King)
Author: William Ritter
Genres: Historical Fantasy, Mystery, Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Paranormal, Fiction, Urban Fantasy
Audience (Grade Levels): 7-12
Number of Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 Stars)
Goodreads Link: Rook
Triggers: War, violence
Review By: Wendy Scalfaro
Publisher’s Summary:
This standalone adventure set in the world of the New York Times bestselling Jackaby series brims with humor, heart, and—of course—a hefty dose of supernatural mayhem.
Abigail Rook never intended to be the mortal bridge between the human and supernatural world. But now, the power of the Sight–and all the chaos that comes with seeing the essential truth of everything, every human, fairy, werewolf, enchanted slip of paper, and municipal building, at all times–is hers alone. With this overwhelming new gift, she should be able to solve crimes and help New Fiddleham, New England find calm in its supernatural chaos.
The only problem? She has no idea what she’s doing.
And New Fiddleham isn’t waiting for Abigail to be ready. Local witches and other magical beings are going missing, as tensions between human and supernatural residents curdle into a hatred that could tear the city apart. Abigail’s fiance, Charlie, works alongside her to unravel the magical disappearances, but as a shapeshifter, he’s under threat as well. Then Abigail’s parents appear, ready to take her back to England and marry her off to someone she’s never met. Abigail has no choice but to follow her Sight, her instincts, and any clues she can find to track a culprit who is trying to destroy everything she holds dear.
Review:
This is called a “stand alone novel” on Goodreads, but it’s set in the Jackaby universe just after volume #4. Abigail Rook has become a detective in her own right and with the help of her fiance and her friends, she sets out to solve the latest New Fiddelham mystery: disappearing residents. This is her first case of her own and she’s determined to do right by the victims. However, things are not so easy without her mentor taking the lead. She knows she must learn to navigate the natural and supernatural worlds in order to solve the mystery. I found this book to be engaging and a good follow-up to the novels in the original series. Abigail Rook is smart, funny, and resourceful. It’s perfect for lovers of mystery, the supernatural, and history, especially for anyone who wants a strong female protagonist.
Classroom & Curricular Connections:
- English Language Arts (Character Development & Series Evolution): This text provides a strong opportunity to study character development, specifically how a secondary character transitions into a lead protagonist. Students can analyze how Abigail takes on the traits of her former mentor while carving out her own identity as a detective.
- Social Studies & Historical Fiction: Set in a fictionalized New England town, the novel’s backdrop allows for comparative discussions on late 19th/early 20th-century history, traditional folklore, and the societal pressures placed on young women regarding arranged marriages and family expectations.
Extension Activity / Library Application:
- “Passing the Torch” Display: Feature this book in a school library display focused on sidekicks or secondary characters who spin off into their own standalone stories or series. Pair it with the original Jackaby series to encourage comprehensive world-reading.
- Creative Writing Challenge: Ask students to write a scene where a classic literary sidekick has to solve a problem completely independently without their usual mentor, mimicking Abigail’s challenge of navigating a complex situation on her own merits.
Diversity & Representation:
- The novel features a highly capable, smart, funny, and resourceful female protagonist who actively subverts traditional gender expectations by pursuing a career as a detective rather than submitting to an arranged marriage orchestrated by her parents.
- The tension between the human and supernatural residents provides a narrative lens for exploring theme-based allegories on prejudice, coexistence, and social division.
Readalikes:
- Jackaby by William Ritter
- Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco
- The Screaming Staircase (Lockwood & Co.) by Jonathan Stroud
- A Taste for Monsters by Matthew J. Kirby
