Beastly Bones

Written by William Ritter

Narrated by Nicola Barber

In the highly anticipated sequel to the acclaimed Jackaby, Abigail Rook and Sherlockian detective of the supernatural R. F. Jackaby are back and on the trail of a thief, a monster, and a murderer. "I've found very little about private detective R. F. Jackaby to be standard in the time I've known him. Working as his assistant tends to call for a somewhat flexible relationship with reality." 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, a vicious species of shape-shifters disguise themselves as a litter of kittens, and a day later, their owner is found murdered with a single mysterious puncture wound. Then in nearby Gad's Valley, now home to the exiled New Fiddleham police detective Charlie Cane, dinosaur bones from a recent dig mysteriously go missing, and an unidentifiable beast starts attacking animals and people, leaving their 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. Praise for Jackaby: "Ritter's debut skillfully blends science with the supernatual and balances whimsy with violence." -Kirkus Reviews, starred review "Toss together an alternate 19th-century New England city, a strong tradition of Sherlockian pastiche, and one seriously ugly hat, and this lighthearted and assured debut emerges, all action and quirk." -Publishers Weekly, starred review "A riveting mash-up of mystery and folklore, with vivid details and striking turns of phrase. And Jackaby is an irresistible character." -The Horn Book Magazine

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Sep 22, 2015
• ISBN: 9781501902024

Reviews for Beastly Bones

[NicholaAnkeMillen · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Great voice and narration. This is a great and fun read!

[Becky Baumgartner · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A fascinating mystery with very memorable characters. The narrator does a fabulous array of voices and accents.

[d-fbuser-407883170 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really like this series so far would highly recommend it

[Muzmuz M · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What do I say but that my love for jackaby's eccentrics have increased as well as my pity for poor Abigail, the case this time takes us on the hunt of old bones and old legends but more than that is the development in Abigail's relation with a handsome hound ?

[Sarah Perchikoff · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Even better than the first book! Can't wait to listen to the next one!

[Izz Pie · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I liked this book, however it did not give me quite the same mysterious supernatural vibes the first one did. It tended to get a bit boring at times.
However, I loved the banter amongst characters, and there was some intrigue in there, but not as much, or possibly, not what I had expected, from book one.
All in all it was a solid book and I’ll definitely be continuing!

[Sally Markiewicz · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a fun sequel. I recommend the Jackaby series.

[jennybeast · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I am really loving this series -- Jackaby, expert in the weird, is back, as is his delightful, plucky assistant. This time we learn more about Abigail's background and interest in paleontology. Excellent!

[akbouterse · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A very good sequel to a book I liked very much. I had forgotten a lot of the first book so it took me a while to get back into this book and remember who everyone was but once I did I was able to really fall into the story. I would definitely recommend this as a fun mystery and a good series in general. Probably going to read the third book sooner rather than later.

[reader1009-863136 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

paranormal A.C.Doylesque mystery with adventure and a tiny bit of romance. Could probably stand alone, but you will want to read the next one (and the first one), so you may as well read them in order.

[montzaleew · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Beastly Bones by William Ritter continues the Jackaby story. In this book there are creatures that change shape by what they eat. They were kittens that are fish then started turning into fish! That's when Jackaby and Abigail get a call to come to check them out. Jackaby is a detective of the weird. The Commissioner asks Jackaby and Abigail to go to the neighboring town to check out a disturbance at an archeological dig. Things go crazy there! Soon no one is safe!Lots of twists!

[5eva5 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A vicious species of shape-shifter masquerades as a litter of kittens and Abigail and Jackaby must hunt down a missing kitten at the same time as investigating the theft of a mysterious fossil. Another fun installment in this supernatural Sherlock-like series. The characters are engaging and the mystery amusing. A light read that I'm enjoying enough to continue the series.

[headinherbooks_27 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I'm enjoying this series but I enjoyed book 1 better than book 2.

[patriciau-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The second in a series, Beastly Bones more than lives up to the delicious adventure begun in Jackaby. This time, Jackaby and his intrepid assistant, Abigail Rook, find themselves harboring a box of chamelomorphs, shapechangers that take on the appearance of what they eat. They soon find themselves heading into the wilds of New England to investigate mysterious deaths and even more mysterious fossilized bones. Throw in an enormous hunter-trapper, two adversarial paleontologists, a spunky news reporter, and a dragon and you've got a first-rate adventure. I cannot wait for the next installment, when we finally discover what happened to Jenny, Jackaby's resident ghost.

[sboren-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I purchased this book from Amazon to read with my bestie @mycornerforbooksand. All opinions are my own. ????? Beastly Bones by William Ritter. When I began this series I was unsure of what to expect. (Another Sherlock retake?) I am pleasantly surprised that Abigail and Jackaby keep you on your toes with their mysteries. In this book they find shapeshifting kittens whose owner dies the next morning and in another town uncovered dinosaur bones go missing from a dig site and traces of a beast are leaving mangled bodies in it's path. Abigail encounters a deadly and dangerous bird that may just lead them to the answers they need. Review also posted on Instagram @borenbooks, Library Thing, Go Read, Goodreads/StacieBoren, Amazon, Twitter @jason_stacie and my blog at readsbystacie.com

[whatsmacksaid · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

One and a half stars. The first was charming and clever, but this was heavy-handed and poorly executed. I'll rec Jackaby to friends, but I'll make it clear they should pretend it's a standalone.

[sensitivemuse · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

So it may help to read the first one in order to grasp a bit of understanding of the character relationships and the overall plot (there’s a main one underneath the layers here)***Possible spoilers here you’ve been warned***I loved the first one, really liked the characters and Jackaby’s quirkiness. With this one though, it’s a different type of case, albeit still with a supernatural/fantastical element but it felt like you were reading an Indiana Jones type of adventure. Which is all right and it made things different and interesting but I was looking forward to something a little more darker and spookier. However, the adventure aspect with the missing bones was still well written and enjoyable to read. It took more of a comedic tone and I enjoyed the fighting between Lamb and Horner over the bones while poor Charlie seems to be always stuck in the middle of each argument. Abigail really shined in this one with her passion of dinosaur bones, she was in her element and showed how much she loved doing the job despite the obstacles she had because of her father and society. She really stepped up and developed a lot in this book.And yes! She breaks the tension with Charlie!!! Finally! It was all throughout the novel until she finally took matters into her own hands. I like them both together. They seem to complement each other well enough even though it seems she has a much more determined and strong minded temperament whereas Charlie is more mellow and laid back. Well maybe Abigail will slowly bring him out of his shell?What I enjoyed the most about this plot is there’s an even deeper and darker story underneath and this was just a diversion. That pale man is creepy and I hope it gets explored more in the next book as it features Jenny’s story too. This was a fun read but I’ll be happier going onto much darker things in the story.

[tiffy_reads · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I adore Jackaby, Abigail Rook, and Charles. Their characters are quirky and so likable. In this second book you'll be dropped right into another case that will keep you wanting to read way past bedtime.

[mcintorino-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I chose this book because I enjoy mystery and the 19th century. However, I am not a big fan of the fantasy genre, and the book contains many elements of fantasy. The characterizations - Jackaby, Abigail Rook, Jenny and "Hank" Hudson were imaginative. Some characters are based on actual historical figures of the time which was an interesting surprise. Charles Darwin is referred to fairly frequently in the book, and this provided another element of historical veracity. The book failed to engross me through the chasing down of the mystery, and the episodes and events that were meant to be exciting. Readers who like dragons, dodos and other fantastical creatures will probably enjoy this book.

[bdartnall_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

With all the characters from Ritter's first installment, Beastly Bones gets off to a fast start with a new mystery: a carniverous shapeshifting pet problem & the owner's sudden demise, a startling archaeological discovery in a farmer's field & his wife's untimely death, a mysterious stranger who seems to be stalking our protagonist, Abigail Rook, and growing evidence that a strange beast is terrorizing the countryside. Along with these seemingly unrelated plot strands, Ritter provides more character development for existing ones & introduces new characters: ferment and despair at ever really "knowing" about her own death,from their resident (usually helpful & caring) ghost, Jenny; the new character Hank Hudson, an intrepid trapper and trader; two scheming paleontologists, Owen Horner, and Prof. Lewis Lamb who are determined to be in charge of the amazing dinosaur? find in farmer Hugo Brisbee's field; Nellie Fuller, a smart, sassy journalist who is determined to get the archaeological "scoop". The author sends Abigail and Jackaby out to Gad's Valley, where Charlie Barker, stalwart police officer, currently resides and who introduces them to the farmer, thus putting Abigail and Charlie in each other's orbit again - will they admit to their growing attraction to one another? Will Charlie's secret - his shape shifting power as part of the House of Caine, born with the ability to change into an enormous hound and then back to man once again- be revealed? The clashing interests of the scientists, the farmer's hope to make his farm something special, the journalist's inquisitive intrusions, Hank Hudson's increasing interest and search for a strange beast that is appearing in the night, all begin to tangle the mystery further, with Jackaby and Abigail quietly trying to find a vampiric killer as well. Book two ends with many of these conflicts and plot twists resolved, but also leaves readers with an even more obvious cliff hanger- Jenny awaits their return to Jackaby's home and shoves her own case file across his office desk, admitting she is "ready" to face whatever it was happened to her! Gave it a four star because Ritter is delivering again - a Sherlock Holmesian story with enough plot twists, and supernatural occurences, spookiness and danger to keep his readers turning the pages.

[acargile-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A mystery novel, Beastly Bones is the second novel in the Jackaby series.Like the first novel, Jackaby is a very unusual detective. He investigates the paranormal--what most people don’t believe in. The novel begins with a lady hiring them to figure out why her cat is now a fish. Jackaby, of course, knows what is going on and knows that the kittens will need to live with him to keep people safe. Abigail wants Jackaby to focus on another case out in the country where Charlie now lives. A farm woman has died near a dinosaur finding. Abigail, having been raised by a paleontologist, wants to see the fossils and see what could have been happening that caused the woman to die.When they arrive in the country, they meet up with Charlie and Jackaby’s friend who hunts unusual animals. There are also two paleontologists who hate each other fighting over the dinosaur remains. The remains are very unusual; there are unusual tracks that don’t make sense, but it is something very large; and, there are new deaths. As everyone investigates, the question is--can they capture whatever this is before being killed themselves?If you like Sherlock Holmes, you’ll enjoy the Jackaby novels. Jackaby is a strange man. The next novel will focus on the ghost who lives in his home--who killed her? I thoroughly enjoy these novels--they’re unusual and fun mysteries.

[trigstarom · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Received from Algonquin Young Readers in exchange for an completely unbiased review.
Also posted on Silk & Serif

In Beastly Bones we return to the city of New England in 1982 with Abigail Rook and R.F. Jackaby where we follow them on yet another adventure of the paranormal nature. When I read book one of this series I had a hunch that the first book would be the foundation of a series that only improve with each installment which, so far, seems to be a fair assumption.

I definitely felt like there was plenty of character development and general story building in this installment. Unfortunately, Beastly Bones was rather slow and took awhile to read, but it is definitely worth the read once you've completed it!

What do a shape-shifting litter of kittens, mysterious murder, dinosaur bones and animal mutilation have in common? They're all cases Jackaby must tackle before mayhem occurs. And Abigail gets a second chance to make a romantic connection with her endearing dog-shifter Charlie.

The relationship between Jackaby and Abilgal is growing into something supportive and deliciously awkward. Jackaby is an unwilling participant to Abigail's troubles with love and is unprepared for her to share personal details about herself so he reacts in a very "Jackaby" fashion. Secretly, Jackaby is a huge softie! It's adorable.

Abigail and Jackaby have some humourous conversations regarding Abigail's indecision whether or not to pursue the handsome cop Charlie and in turn we get some pretty fantastic advice from Jackaby on love. Surprisingly, the friendship between Abigail and Jackaby appears to be developing naturally with a lot of emotional investment being tied up in the interactions between these two in their shared moments. It might have actually made the book worthwhile for me because the actual case took so long to be solved. I absolutely love how the characters are building a repertoire!

Perhaps the story moved too slowly because I read far too carefully, attempting to find clues rather than enjoying the mundane details. I learned from book one that no detail is superfluous and a reader needs to pay attention if they want to solve the case before Jackaby does his big reveal at the end of the book. I probably spent too much time combing over the text and pondering the details rather than enjoying the flow and general language to really enjoy the full effect of this book.

That being said, I really enjoyed Jackaby and can't wait to read book three. I'm certain the relationships between Jackaby, Abigail and Charlie will continue to develop in lovely but hilarious ways.

It's not imperative to read book one of this series to enjoy the detective story, but new readers wont understand the dynamics between the two main characters. The history between these two along with their daring adventures will prove to be the ultimate crown on a very unique and fun series.

My only request for book three? More Jackaby! This book is all about Abigail and her relationship decisions..lets have more Jackaby related oddity in book three!


This book is appeal to readers who enjoy alternate historical fiction, paranormal young adult detective story with a sense of humour. A fantastic rendition of Sherlock Holmes with strange and extraordinary mysteries for our heroes to solve. Just like book one, Beastly Bones is witty, intelligent and stands completely on its own as a new experience for young adult fans.

[starsandscribbles · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I was lucky enough to be granted an advanced audiobook of Beastly Bones from LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program. Thank you to LT and the publisher, and I apologize for the lateness of the review. Beastly Bones is the second book in the Jackaby series, written by William Ritter. The narrative takes place just a few short weeks after the events of the first book, Jackaby. As in the usual Jackaby style, several random and mysterious happenings are revealed to be not only interlinked, but also reveal something more sinister in the quiet hamlet of Gad’s Valley.Abigail Rook, paleontology enthusiast and assistant to Jackaby, follows her employer to Gad’s Valley – a three-hour journey from her new home in New Fiddleham. Here, murders abound and mysterious bones are discovered, which lead our odd private detective to believe that they could belong to a dragon. But Jackaby says that things are not quite right. With unusual auras, cryptic paw prints, dead goats, and a litter of “fish-kittens”, it seems that Jackaby and Abigail have their work cut out for them on this case.As always, this book does not disappoint on humor. Jackaby misses social cues from time to time, and Rook is always there to try and correct the misguided detective. Yet, Rook and Jackaby complement each other very well; their platonic relationship works supremely well and benefits both characters. Jackaby learns more about human emotions, while Abigail gets exactly what she needs to hear from him - the truth. I especially like the scene where Jackaby tells her that he hired her for her mind and that if she doesn’t make her own decisions, she will be promptly terminated. It makes her realize that only she can decide what’s right for her; she can get advice from everyone but ultimately she knows what will work best and should trust herself more. I think it’s great that a few chapters are devoted to Abigail’s decision regarding her future as a subplot. She loves paleontology and (I think) wants to pursue a career eventually in the field. But when she meets Nellie from the newspaper, she questions whether it’s a good fit for her. She sees Nellie as independent and confident, but at the same time a prisoner of sorts to her career. Abigail, like all young adults, needs to sort out what she wants out of life and go after it – and she does, after personal reflection.Nicola Barber, the narrator for this audiobook (and the first one as well), has a great voice for storytelling. Her tone, accent, and ability to enhance her words (dependent on the scene) in the narrative are superb. Nicola’s voice not only makes Ritter’s story blossom, but compliments Ritter’s writing style. I can’t recommend this series enough; its fantastical elements, humor, characters, and empathy are just some of the reasons why adults at any age would enjoy it. Ritter has a deep compassion for misunderstood characters and the path for finding oneself, which yields these beautiful and rich stories full of mystery and zeal. I cannot wait for the next installment!

[longdogmom · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Really enjoying this series. The characters really come to life in my head and the plots in the first two books are creative and refreshing. They don't read as Young Adult. The main characters read more in their twenties to me, especially because of the historical language. Fun, and unpredictable, I eagerly await the next book! Not your usual supernatural mystery!

[cwhisenant11 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I was a little disappointed with this book--the second in the Jackaby series. I still love the characters but the story wasn't quite as exciting or interesting as the first book. Even though I was bored at times, I will still read the next book in the series because of the characters.

[tlvasquez · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

When I saw this book, I prayed to get it. I really enjoyed Jacoby, the first installment in the series, a paranormal Homes-style mystery narrated by Abigail Rook, assistant to eccentic detective Jacoby. It's tightly woven plot was as wonderful as its supporting characters of Jenny, a house ghost, to Charlie, a cop and a closeted were-dog.In Beastly Bones, all my favorite characters are present, but there is a jumpiness to the plot that is distracting. From fake-kittens to a haunting of Jenny the ghost, to a murder out of town that brings Charlie back, I found some threads difficult to track yet easy to guess. Still, I am an adult who perhaps shouldn't assume YA readers will see what I do.The new characters, Hank, a frontiersman, Nellie Fuller, a reporter...Nellie Bly anyone?...and two dueling paleontologists, like the real-life Marsh and Cope, only add to the colorful adventures Jacoby falls into.Overall, I enjoyed Beastly Bones, yet I feel it doesn't measure up to the original, Jacoby.

[jspig · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is a fun little series. Supernatural detective Jackaby and assistant Abigail Rook are on the case when mysterious dinosaur bones are discovered in a nearby town. The story is fast paced and fun, with some dark bits to keep things interesting. Along with characters introduced in the first books, new characters are introduced and they add much to the overall story. This is a great read for young adults, but may not be gritty enough for adult readers. I've listened to Nicola Barber read books in the past, and she's usually excellent, however in this recording her American accents aren't great.

[mickyfine · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Abigail Rook has begun to settle into her position as assistant to Jackaby, the unconventional detective who can perceive the supernatural. Now the unbelievable seems almost mundane. But when a body is discovered in New Fiddleham with markings similar to those of a body found in the rural area of Gad's Valley, Jackaby and Abigail travel to the site to investigate. Abigail is delighted as their investigation coincides with the discovery of a pristine fossil in the area, allowing her to explore her own area of interest. And, of course, it also gives her an opportunity to see Charlie Barker, who was run out of New Fiddleham after his outing as a were-dog. As Jackaby and Abigail attempt to investigate the mysterious deaths, it becomes clear that the fossil may be more pertinent to their case than either had realized.I fell in love with the first Jackaby novel earlier this year and was so pleased to discover that Ritter is writing further books in this universe. This follow-up novel is a solid entry in the series and while I figured out the mystery a bit earlier than the characters, it was still a delight to follow them as they solved the crimes. Abigail is a wonderful heroine and Jackaby, while a bit underexplored as a character in this novel, remains full of quirkiness and hysterical inquiries. If you've read the first novel in the series, you'll definitely want to pick up this second entry.

[glitzandshadows · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

NOT ENOUGH DOUGLAS.

Also has Algonquin bought more of the series yet???? I need 70 more books forthwith.

[amandacb_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Dragons, dinosaurs, and demons – what do all of these have in common? R.F. Jackaby and his trusty assistant Abigail Rook investigate these and more paranormal phenomenon in Beastly Bones, the latest offering by William Ritter. If you did not read the first book, Jackaby, don’t despair—Ritter seamlessly offers enough background information for all to thoroughly enjoy this hybrid of historical fiction and fantasy.Jackaby and Rook are called to probe into a series of strange murders—could it be vampires or Chinese jiangshi? After following a lead to the picturesque Gad’s Valley, they (literally!) unearth one of the most exciting and dangerous animals of all time. Jackaby’s flighty perspicacity pairs well with Rook’s down-to-earth demeanor, and together they work to overcome a threat to the entire world.On a scale of “one to pomegranate,” Beastly Bones is undoubtedly a pomegranate; it offers humor, adventure, mystery, gore, and romance all rolled into one well-written package. The best news? There is more to come, as Ritter sets up Jackaby and Rook’s next case regarding the ephemeral Jenny, murdered many years ago. Recommended for fans of the Lockwood & Company series by Jonathan Stroud.