Ghostly Echoes
(Jackaby #3)
William Ritter
Release: August 23, 2016
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Jenny Cavanaugh, the ghostly lady of 926 Augur Lane, has enlisted the investigative services of her fellow residents to solve a decade-old murder—her own. Abigail Rook and her eccentric employer, Detective R. F. Jackaby, dive into the cold case, starting with a search for Jenny’s fiancé, who went missing the night she died. But when a new, gruesome murder closely mirrors the events of ten years prior, Abigail and Jackaby realize that Jenny’s case isn’t so cold after all, and her killer may be far more dangerous than they suspected.
Fantasy and folklore mix with mad science as Abigail’s race to unravel the mystery leads her across the cold cobblestones of nineteenth-century New England, down to the mythical underworld, and deep into her colleagues’ grim histories to battle the most deadly foe she has ever faced.
Review:
Each new book in this series just keeps getting better and better! Which is awesome! Especially since I have a hard time picking up the next books in my favorite YA series because I'm so worried that the newest book is going to destroy my love for the series. It's happened so many times lately that I didn't pick up my ARC of Ghostly Echoes until last week. It's been out for a year. I'm really kicking myself about it now because this has been my favorite book of the series so far.
“It is the ugliest aspect of human nature that we fear what is most different from ourselves with such violent contempt.”
Ten years ago, Jenny was murdered and her fiancé went MIA. Now there are similar murders happening and Jackaby and Abigail have been officially hired to figure out who truly murdered Jenny and what happened to her fiancé.
Guys. Can we talk about how much Abigail has grown into her skin since the first book? I've loved her from the first but she has become one of my top ten female characters over the course of the series. She has gone from the scared girl who tries to stay on the sideline to the strong woman that dives right into the action. There's a part in this book where Abigail volunteers to do something very dangerous and I had to put the book down for a second because I was so proud of this girl. She's not afraid to do what has to be done and she's so comfortable with who she is now. I honestly love her so much! Plus, she's the perfect foil to our favorite eccentric paranormal detective.
Jackaby is still the crazy goofball that makes you laugh minute and then turns deeply philosophical the next. His character doesn't go through as much character development as Abigail but that's okay. He is one of those characters who is unrepentantly himself at all times that he didn't need much more than a few more social graces to be perfect. He is a pretty fantastic character! Jackaby also has a unique and accurate way of looking at the world that I absolutely love! I have so many of his words highlighted in my kindle book that I could make a whole post on my favorite quotes.
This novel takes a step back from Abigail, although written from her perspective, and delves deeper into the pasts of two of the series most influential characters: Jackaby and Jenny. You learn why each is the way they are and you get to see Abigail grow with that understanding herself. I could write a whole post on Jenny and why she's the best. She really comes into her own in this book and I'm so here for it! The plot of this story is a bit more complex than the first two books but is oddly connected to them. Jenny's murder while being a past event is revealed to be unexpectedly connected to recent events in New Fiddleham and I can only applaud the author for how he is starting to tie everything together.
I've loved the Jackaby stories since the beginning, but this one has just reaffirmed my membership in the William Ritter fan club. There is mythology and touches of Doctor Who, Sherlock, and even a bit of Supernatural and Grimm here and there. Everything just works so well together! The time period and the New England setting only add to it. I guarantee you will fall in love with at least one of the characters in this book. Also, I feel like we need to give Mr. Ritter a slow clap for the character of Lydia Lee. I immediately fell in love with her and I hope she makes an appearance in the next book.
Speaking of The Dire King, I need it ASAP! We get a little hint about it at the end of this book and I'm dying to read it already!
ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley.
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