Rook

Gr 9 Up–This stand-alone novel is a spin-off of Ritter’s well-known “Jackaby” series and follows Abigail Rook. The British Rook is now lead supernatural investigator with Jackaby as her assistant after she receives his sight. The pair have been practicing with Rook’s new powers to prepare for solving crimes; for their first case, they are thrown into a complex crime with murder and missing people. The novel is set in the Victorian-era New England town of New Fiddleham where supernatural entities are an open secret after several public displays. Rook’s fiancé Charlie is a hound shape-shifter who helps to keep the peace between humans and non-humans. Charlie’s sister Alina oversees the veil-gate, an area connecting to a world of magic, something that is not yet fully accepted in New Fiddleham. As Rook attempts to find her footing, her parents turn up to bring her home and marry her off. She tries to keep her two worlds apart while figuring out what she wants from her life, including if she wants her newfound powers. The fantasy world is further fleshed out while the investigators face one of their biggest mysteries and are introduced to the Bureau of Curiosities, a government agency much like their own that investigates the paranormal. Reading the original series would help fill in backstory, but familiarity isn’t necessary to follow along. A well-crafted alternative history that will leave readers wanting even more. Main characters cue as white.