The Captain’s Log – skulduggery pleasant (Derek Landy)

Ahoy there me mateys!  I don’t know where I first found out about this one.  But I do know that it has a kick-ass cover:

With that cover I had to see what it was about.  So this involves a detective named Skulduggery Pleasant who just happens to be a walking, talking skeleton who can do magic.  Through a series of truly quirky circumstances that I won’t spoil, he meets 12-year-old Stephanie who inadvertently becomes involved in a mystery and then refuses to go back into her ordinary life.  Curiosity wins.  The banter between the two and the humor in this story overall made this a quick and fun read.  The downsides were that Stephanie didn’t do very much, her parents are clueless, and the mystery was not the focus of the plot.  I wanted it to be a skeleton and girl solving weird cases.  Instead it is the two of them fighting the evil ancient enemy to save the world.  That said it was very enjoyable and I liked the magical world the author has set up.  I think I might read more in the series but there are 10 books in it which makes me wary.  But every now and again this might be just the type of light fluffy fun read I am looking for.

Side note: I truly loved the illustrations by Tom Percival!

Goodreads has this to say about the novel:

Meet Skulduggery Pleasant

Ace Detective
Snappy Dresser
Razor–tongued Wit
Crackerjack Sorcerer
and
Walking, Talking,
Fire-throwing Skeleton

—as well as ally, protector, and mentor of Stephanie Edgley, a very unusual and darkly talented twelve-year-old.

These two alone must defeat an all-consuming ancient evil.

The end of the world?

Over his dead body.

To visit the author’s website go to:

Derek Landy – Author

To buy the book go to:

skulduggery pleasant – Book

To add to Goodreads go to:

Yer Ports for Plunder List