“Waiting on Wednesday” is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine!
This week I’m waiting on…
Title Constable & Toop
Author Gareth P. Jones
Pages 416 Pages
Genre Middle Grade, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Paranormal
Publisher Amulet Books
To Be Published October 1st, 2013
Find It On Goodreads ● Amazon.com
Something mysterious and terrible is happening throughout Victorian London: Ghosts are disappearing. When this reaches the attention of the Ghost Bureau, the diligent but clueless Mr. Lapsewood, a paranormal paper-pusher, is sent to investigate, and what he discovers is grave. The Black Rot has arrived — a voracious spiritual infestation whereby empty haunted houses suck in unsuspecting ghosts and imprison them. Lapsewood’s investigation weaves through the plotlines of several other memorable characters — both living and dead — including an undertaker’s son who can see ghosts, a serial throat-slasher reminiscent of Jack the Ripper, an evangelical exorcist, and many more. The living and dead must work together if they hope to destroy the Black Rot — before it destroys both the ghost and human worlds.
I’ve always had a soft spot for middle grade fiction – Whether it’s fanciful like Lauren Oliver’s The Spindlers, dark and disquieting like Nikki Loftin’s The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy or more firmly grounded in reality like Rebecca Stead’s Liar & Spy, I often find myself picking up novels aimed at this age group when I’m looking for a change of pace. So, when I read the synopsis for Constable & Toop by Gareth P. Jones, I knew I had to read it. I absolutely love books set during the Victorian period and while I don’t believe in them myself, I’ve always found the idea of ghosts and the spiritualism movement fascinating. This is one novel that has earned a firm place on my ‘to-be-read’ pile!
16 Responses
Middle Grade novels are tricky for me but I do sometimes fall in love with them, especially since they lack all the drama and things YA has much too frequently. I love Victorian era books as well 🙂
My Waiting on Wednesday
While I often lack the same emotional connection with middle grade novels as I’m able to form with young adult or adult fiction, I do find they’re a nice change of pace! Sometimes it’s nice to read a story that isn’t dominated by romance, even though I enjoy kissing books as much, if not more, than the next person 😉
Jen @ Pop! Goes The Reader recently posted…Waiting On…Constable & Toop by Gareth P. Jones
That sounds interesting. I haven’t heard of it before. Thanks for sharing!
Katie recently posted…Waiting on Wednesday: In the Shadaow of Jezebel
Glad I was able to help you find a new book, Katie! 😀
Jen @ Pop! Goes The Reader recently posted…Waiting On…Constable & Toop by Gareth P. Jones
This does look cute! I’m always watch out for MG books, both because of the library I work at and b/c my son will be there soon enough… *sigh*
Any mystery with ghosts rocks!! I like that this book is non-gender specific, too – so hard to find in MG books, esp. when you’re trying to encourage boys to read. Thank goodness for all the Chillers, Riordan’s, etc 🙂
New follower 😀
Kristin @ My ParaHangover recently posted…Waiting on Wednesday #26: Pawn by Aimee Carter
First of all, thank you so much for following, Kristin 😀 That means so much to me!
I completely agree – Gender neutral stories are extremely difficult to find, so I can imagine it’s exciting when you’re able to find books like this one! 🙂
Jen @ Pop! Goes The Reader recently posted…Waiting On…Constable & Toop by Gareth P. Jones
Oh gosh look at that cover! I love middle grade covers, but more importantly, I feel as though I need to read more of them. This one sounds so cool with a plague that’s killing the ghosts, and the Victorian time period?! Thanks so much for getting this book on my radar, Jen!
Jen recently posted…Waiting on Wednesday (#4)
Isn’t the cover adorable? It immediately caught my eye when I saw it on Goodreads and I was hooked once I learned the novel was set in the Victorian period!
I’m so glad I was able to help you find a new book, Jen! I always love when that happens to me 😀 It’s definitely the best part of Waiting on Wednesday.
Jen @ Pop! Goes The Reader recently posted…Waiting On…Constable & Toop by Gareth P. Jones
Sounds intriguing, enjoy!
http://tributebooksmama.blogspot.com/2013/07/waiting-on-wednesday_31.html
Tribute Books Mama recently posted…Waiting On Wednesday
Thanks! I really hope I will 😀
Jen @ Pop! Goes The Reader recently posted…Waiting On…Constable & Toop by Gareth P. Jones
Yes to this! I have been waiting on this since I first heard about it – love the cover!
Also, hi! I saw you pop up on twitter, your blog is lovely!
VeganYANerds recently posted…The Sky So Heavy by Claire Zorn
Oh my goodness, thank you so much 😀 I can’t tell you how much your comment means to me – I’ve always been a big fan of Vegan YA Nerds!
Jen @ Pop! Goes The Reader recently posted…Waiting On…Constable & Toop by Gareth P. Jones
Nice pick, this sounds great! I love ghost stories so this is going straight on to the wishlist!
My WoW!
Fi @ Bookish Outsider recently posted…Summer Giveaway Hop!
I’m glad you liked it! 😀
Jen @ Pop! Goes The Reader recently posted…Waiting On…Constable & Toop by Gareth P. Jones
I love, love this cover, and I am the kind of people that judge books by their covers (professional bias, I guess). I’d love to see your review once you get a chance to read it.
P.S.: I’m glad I found your blog… I’ll be back!
Isn’t the cover wonderful? 🙂 It was definitely one of the first things that caught my notice about the novel, although the concept itself sounds equally special.
Thank you so much, Diana! I also just have to say – I took a moment to take a look at your portfolio and your work is absolutely delightful 😀 I particularly liked the illustration of the girl looking at the constellations in the sky which had taken the form of cute, everyday objects. It’s such a special, beautiful piece!
Jen @ Pop! Goes The Reader recently posted…Do! Judge A Book By Its Cover – Issue Ten: Non-Fiction