Recent Reads: Hangman's Crossing by Will Mabbitt

Source: From Librarything Early Reviewers program and Walker Books in exhange for an honest review. 

Hangman's Crossing by Will Mabbitt 

Series: Embassy of the Dead #2
Publisher: Walker Books US
Publication Date:  October 26, 2021

 

Format: Hardback


Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

Jake is in a race against time to foil a demon-riddled plot to destroy earth--what a way to start his new job at the Embassy of the Dead! The second book of this spookily funny trilogy.

In return for helping Stiffkey the ghost pass into the Afterworld, Jake Green has been awarded an official position at the Embassy of the Dead, a job he didn't ask for and, to be honest, doesn't necessarily want. But saying no to the Embassy isn't really an option, so now Jake must journey even deeper into the mysterious world of ghosts. What should be a routine Undoing takes a turn when Jake overhears a plot to destroy the very fabric between the worlds of the living and the dead. Can he do the impossible and stop the terror that creeps in the Eternal Void? With the help of his ghostly gang--hockey stick-wielding Cora and Zorro the fox--he's going to try. Hijinks from beyond the grave will tingle readers' spines and tickle their funny bones as the Embassy of the Dead trilogy continues.

Review: 

Hangman's Crossing is book #2 in the Embassy of the Dead middle grade series. I was glad to have read book #1 in the series, because while there is a re-cap, having the fill story made it easier to understand going in. The re-cap was a bit short but set up this book well, so it could be read without book one if necessary.

In this book, Jake is now an Undoer, helping the Embassy to send ghosts on to the afterlife, but he hasn't been called on until now and he is reluctant to go. He learns that there are ghosts to undo while the normal undoer team is on the hunt for a missing assistant and trying to piece together some suspicious artifact movements. Jake becomes more interested and involved when the ghost he is sent to help pass on was pretty easy but the normal undoer had months with the case. 

The characters were all just ok. Jake is similar to the last book, stubborn but brave in the face of death and ghosts. Cory, his ghostly companion, is persistant and a bit annoying but it makes for osme really good humor throughout the story. Best of all, and my favorite is the ghost fox - cute and hanging about. All that said, the villain in this book, doesn't seem as threatening or ominous as the one in the first book, which made the whole story seem not as dramatic as I would have liked. 

It is all a fun story to follow, but it seemed rushed. I would have liked to learn more about the plots to overthrow the Embassy and more about the ghosts involved in this book, kind of like the last one did. Overall, it was a good book 2 in a series. I think Middle Grade readers will enjoy it, it is creepy and an adventure of sorts.