{Review} Constable & Toop by Gareth P. Jones

Title: Constable & Toop
Author: Gareth P. Jones
Publisher: Amulet Books
Genre: MG, YA, Paranormal, Ghosts
Release Date: October 8th 2013
Source: Publisher
Purchase: Amazon | TBD

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.

This was a very delightful and wonderfully written book. While I love books on paranormal and anything about ghosts, this book put a new twist on "haunting".

Sam Toop is what is known in the afterlife as a Talker. He can see and hear Them (ghosts) and help the spirits with unfinished business to help them cross through the Unseen Door. However, he is very reluctant with this gift and sees it as a burden, until the Black Rot takes over both worlds and puts both worlds in jeopardy.

I really like how the author wrote this. He took dialects from different backgrounds and brought them together in this book. So it wasn't just all English, it had some southern drawl to it as well. Jones really brought the characters to life and gave them great personality. I especially like Mr. Constable with his wise anecdotes and calm personality and then Tanner, the Rogue ghost with his stubborn streak.

The ghosts in this story are just simply awesome. With different deaths and reasons for hanging around and not going through the Unseen Door. But with good there is evil, and there are a few forces at work here that try to come in the way of the good. I won't give away who is evil, only that I suspected it right away with the revealing of a certain character.

I believe that this a great story and anyone from the age of 10 and up would enjoy this book.