Beastly Bones

In the second instalment of the New York Times bestselling series, detective of the supernatural R.F. Jackaby and his assistant Abigail Rook follow a case to a paleontological dig site in nearby Gad's Valley on the trail of a thief, a monster, and a murderer.Some girls work in shops or sell flowers. Some girls find husbands and play house. I assist a mad detective in investigating unexplained phenomena. My name is Abigail Rook, and this is what I do. 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 vicious shape-shifters disguise themselves as a litter of kittens, and a day later, their owner is found murdered. Then in nearby Gad's Valley, bones from a recent dig mysteriously go missing, and an unidentifiable beast starts attacking animals and people, leaving mangled bodies behind. Police detective Charlie Cane calls on Abigail for help, and soon Abigail and Jackaby are on the hunt.

A 2016 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Title, "Beastly Bones will make you smile. I found myself grinning ridiculously in public at the bits of humor in Beastly Bones. It's subtle, but very effective in breaking the serious moments. You find the humor in Jackaby's mannerisms, his interactions, and what he says (he made a rolling-your-eyes type of pun that had me snickering despite myself). It makes everything so much delightful, and I cannot stress how wonderfully timed they were."--The Novel Hermit, "Jackaby was one of my stand out reads last year and when I found out there would be a series I was so excited...If you're looking for a fun read, filled with quirky characters and lots of the paranormal, you definitely need to be reading these books. Ritter tells an amazingly unique story full of action and mystery."--Fiction Fare, "[A] fast-paced sequel to Jackaby . . . As bones go missing--and then small livestock--methodical investigation and scientific experimentation yield to madcap chases, slapstick humor, and romance. A witty and weird adventure."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review, "Critics laud William Ritter's Jackaby series as perfect for fans of Sherlock, Harry Potter, Doctor Who, and Supernatural - and while that's a tall order for any book, I'm happy to report that Jackaby and its sequel, Beastly Bones, more than fit the bill! Utterly charming."--Mugglenet

William Ritter is an Oregon author and educator. He is the proud father of the two bravest boys in the Wild Wood, and husband to the indomitable Queen of the Deep Dark. Beastly Bones is the second book in his acclaimed New York Times bestselling Jackaby series.