Beastly Bones

Jackaby and Abigail Rook return for a new case involving mysterious fossil excavations and missing dinosaur bones. The investigative duo travels to a rural town where competing paleontologists have made claims about their extraordinary fossil finds. The case becomes more complex when livestock begin dying under strange circumstances near the dig sites. Abigail's skills of observation and Jackaby's supernatural expertise are tested as they work to uncover what's really happening in the seemingly quiet countryside. The story builds on the supernatural detective world established in the first book while expanding the relationship between Jackaby and his assistant Abigail. Their investigation leads them through a mix of scientific discovery and folkloric mystery. This second installment in the series explores themes of empirical evidence versus supernatural truth, while questioning what constitutes a "real" discovery. The narrative examines how different people interpret the same events through their own lens of belief or skepticism.

Readers found this second book in the series maintained the witty dialogue and character dynamics while expanding the supernatural world. Many noted the stronger mystery plot compared to the first book, with more action and higher stakes. Likes: - Chemistry between Jackaby and Abigail - More development of supporting characters - Blend of humor with darker elements - Scientific and folklore details Dislikes: - Slower pacing in middle sections - Less supernatural elements than book one - Some found the mystery too straightforward - Romance subplot felt forced to certain readers One reader said "The banter between characters carries the slower parts" while another noted "Missing some of the magic that made the first book special." Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (13,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (180+ reviews) BookBrowse: 4/5 (42 reviews) Most readers recommend it for fans of the first book but suggest tempering expectations regarding supernatural content.

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🦴 "Beastly Bones" is the second book in the Jackaby series, which combines Victorian-era detective fiction with supernatural elements in the vein of Sherlock Holmes meets Doctor Who. 🔍 Author William Ritter was inspired to write the series while teaching high school language arts, using his love of folklore and mythology to create the mysterious world of New Fiddleham. 🦕 The book features a plot involving dinosaur fossils, reflecting the real-life "Bone Wars" of the late 1800s when paleontologists Edward Cope and Othniel Marsh fiercely competed to discover new species. 👻 The series' protagonist, R.F. Jackaby, was partially inspired by the eccentric characters in BBC's "Doctor Who" and the detective methods of Sherlock Holmes. 🏛️ The fictional setting of New Fiddleham, New England, draws from the architecture and atmosphere of real 19th-century New England towns, particularly those in Massachusetts and Maine.