Book Review: “Ghostly Echoes” by William Ritter

In this third installment in the Jackaby franchise, readers will find a lot of payoff for the plot lines the series has been hinting at and building toward over the first two books. A satisfying set-up to the final installment of the series.

For those unfamiliar, Jackaby is a series of fantasy novels set in New England in the 1890’s. The titular character is a private investigator in the city of New Fiddleham, catering to the township’s more unusual residents with his own unique blend of science and mysticism. He takes on an assistant by the name of Abigail Rook who serves as narrator for the series, giving it a Sherlock Holmes type flavor that is quite welcome.

The regular cast is rounded out with Charlie Barker, a policeman with the power to turn into a canine (similar to a werewolf, but not the same thing) and Jenny Cavanaugh, the ghostly spirit who haunts Jackaby’s house and hopes to someday solve the disappearance of her husband, which occurred just before her own untimely demise.

In this third installment, following revelations brought to light at the end of the case in the second novel, Jenny is finally ready to pursue her murderer and has put Jackaby on the case. But, frustrated with his lack of progress, begins working with Abigail in secret to try and unlock mysteries still hidden within her own mind.

Complicating matters is the fact that Jenny is unable to leave the house or interact with any object that did not belong to her in life. And the mysterious echoes that wrack her whenever she comes close to remembering something, forcing her to relive her final moments and dispersing her spirit for a time.

I found it quite refreshing that the book places Jenny right in the middle of her own murder investigation, rather than relegating her to the sidelines as would have been a temptation to do, I’m sure. The notion that Jenny is central to unlocking the secrets of her own case means we really get to see this ghostly character develop and grow in this book. Particularly when Jackaby finally starts working with her on being able to leave the house and travel out into the rest of New Fiddleham.

Another great thing about this installment is how it really doubles down on the unique blend of science and magic. For in this book we learn that the mayor is reopening an old project to try and bring New Fiddleham into the modern age… but it seems that certain supernatural forces intend to twist that research to their own ends. And somehow, it’s all connected to Jenny’s murder ten years earlier.

We also get to learn a lot more about our two leads, Jackaby and Abigail, in this book. Abigail we’ve already known a lot about from the first book. Raised by an archaeologist father and a proper English lady for a mother, she took her rebellious streak in stride by signing up for an overseas expedition and ended up in New Fiddleham when the research trip went belly up.

However, in this book Abigail is forced to go through a series of trials to unlock the secrets to Jenny’s murder that really give us some additional insight into who she is underneath, which I really like.

And the mysterious Jackaby finally reveals a bit of his own personal backstory and upbringing, including the origins of the mysterious sight he gained as a child that allows him to see supernatural energies and entities that normal folks simply cannot.

With a satisfying mystery, plenty of action, and a deeper look into characters we already know and love, this third installment in Jackaby really gets you pumped up for the final book in the series. While I think you probably will enjoy it more if you’ve read the first two books, it certainly isn’t necessary to have done so. Fantasy fans in general will find a lot to like about this title. Fans of the Dresden File’s humor and quirky mysteries with a fantasy spin will devour this book. This gains a well earned four out of five stars from me.