Abigail's first case
Begin with Jackaby and follow the four numbered mysteries before reading Rook.
Book Series · 4 Books
Jackaby Books
In order from Jackaby to The Dire King.
Four witty historical mysteries follow Abigail Rook and eccentric detective R. F. Jackaby through impossible crimes in supernatural New England.
Reviewed by the Bookroo Editors Updated
Reading order
How to Read the Jackaby Books
Read Jackaby, Beastly Bones, Ghostly Echoes, and The Dire King in numbered order. Their individual mysteries feed a larger story, and Hachette describes The Dire King as the conclusion of the four-book sequence.
Rook is a later standalone adventure in the same world, but it follows Abigail after the original ending and reveals where the main characters finish. Read it after The Dire King, not as book 1 or book 5 of the original sequence.
Sources: Hachette's official Jackaby page, Hachette's official Rook page.
For parents
What Parents Should Know
The series mixes playful banter with murder mysteries and supernatural horror. Expect corpses, blood, monster attacks, serious injuries, frightening transformations, occasional gore, prejudice against supernatural beings, and character deaths. A gradual romance stays secondary to the investigations. Hachette classifies the books as teen and young adult, and some of the crimes are considerably darker than the whimsical detective partnership first suggests.
Where to start
Where Should a New Reader Start?
Where the story begins
First Book in the Series
Sale price
$958
Book #1 · Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 2014
Jackaby
A detective and his assistant hunt a supernatural killer in 1892 New England.
310 pages· 66,512 words· Est. 6 hour read
$9.95Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: In 1892 New England, Abigail Rook, seeking work, joins R.F. Jackaby, a detective of the unexplained. Her first case involves a serial killer, but Jackaby suspects a supernatural culprit. As they delve deeper, Abigail is torn between Jackaby's insights and the enigmatic policeman, Charlie. Is Charlie an ally or does he hide a sinister secret? The stakes rise as they confront forces beyond the ordinary.
In reading order
Jackaby Series
4 books · Published 2014–2017
#1
Sale price
$958
Jackaby
Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 2014
A detective and his assistant hunt a supernatural killer in 1892 New England.
#2
Sale price
$958
Beastly Bones
Chapter Book · Ages 13–18 · 2015
A detective duo hunts a thief, a monster, and a murderer in a supernatural mystery.
#3
Sale price
$1795
Ghostly Echoes
Chapter Book · Ages 13–18 · 2016
A ghost's murder resurfaces, leading detectives into a deadly, mythical underworld.
#4
Sale price
$1795
The Dire King
Chapter Book · Ages 13–18 · 2017
A supernatural detective duo battles an evil king threatening both worlds with magic and technology.
A standalone sequel
Abigail's Next Adventure
1 book · Published 2023
Rook returns to New Fiddleham after the original four-book story and is best saved until The Dire King is finished.
Rook
Chapter Book · 2023
No book description provided.
Good to know
Common Questions
How many books are in the Jackaby series?
There are 4 books in the Jackaby series. It began with Jackaby in 2014, and the newest book, The Dire King, was published in 2017.
What order should you read the Jackaby books in?
Start with Jackaby and follow the series order — the books above are numbered #1 through #4.
What ages are the Jackaby books best for?
The series is best for ages 12–18, based on the age ranges of the individual books.
Which Jackaby book is the longest?
The Dire King (Book #4) is the longest book in the series at 75,591 words (352 pages).
Which Jackaby book is the shortest?
Beastly Bones (Book #2) is the shortest at 64,576 words (320 pages).
The people
The Creative Behind the Books
The people who bring Jackaby to life.
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