Columbkill Noonan

A Victorian London detective story with a touch of Egyptian mythology. I say a touch because other than the names, and some settings there really isn’t a lot of Egyptian content in the story. The story definitely has a distinctly mystery and case solving feel like those of Sherlock Holmes.

This was a different pace for me, but an enjoyable one. What I liked the most was the vocabulary and sentence structure with which the two main characters spoke and the majority of the book was written in. It has the feel of the older English writing with touches of modern writing intermingled. I definitely loved seeing words like vociferously, unconscionable, deferentially, and similarly less commonly used words used so abundantly throughout the text. It made my little logophile heart so happy.

There were a couple of things that dinged this book for me. The first being the extent to which the “silliness” of our main characters went. For the first three fourths of the book I had a hard time believing the two were capable of being able to do much of anything, let alone solve a mystery/case.The second thing I had a hard time with was deciphering who the intended audience for this book is. It has the air and feel of a children’s book (the silliness and downplaying of normally serious events to a point of being more comical) but not only is some of the content not entirely great for children (crocodiles eating people from a village that got flooded, for example) but the vocabulary makes this a higher reading level than is normal for a children’s book. So I am confused about who this book is for. I’m not saying an adult cannot entertain the silliness, and carefree feel of this book, I am merely saying it was unusual and therefore slightly off putting for me. While I am a lover for farfetched and fantastical stories, I do prefer that there be some believability to the world or realm that the story takes place in. This one was just shy of that for me.

All that being said, I did enjoy this quick read. I think keeping the main characters more perceptive with their wits about them can make all the difference in how the next book in the series will be perceived. If your looking for a lighthearted, quick detective story read then this is definitely one to consider.

Full review: wanderinglectiophile.wordpress.com/2017/11/13/review-barnabas-tew-and-the-case-of-the-missing-scarab-by-columbkill-noonan/… (meer)

I love Egyptian history so I was really excited to read Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Missing Scarab. This unique and unusual book completely exceeded my expectations and, although it won’t be to everyone’s taste, I have already recommended it to one of my colleagues who enjoys reading about mythology.

I found Barnabas both exasperating and hilarious; I certainly wouldn’t have had the patience that his sidekick Wilfred has. I couldn't help but imagine Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer playing Barnabas and Wilfred; if Reeves & Mortimer did Sherlock Holmes it would probably look something like this. Barnabas is a completely incompetent private detective and it is just his luck that the one case he did solve gets him recommended to Anubis, the jackal headed Egyptian God of the Dead. Anubis wants Barnabas and Wilfred to solve the mystery of the missing scarab beetle, Khepre, who is responsible for rolling the sun across the sky each day. With Khepre missing, the sun is stuck in the sky and the unbearable heat threatens to bring drought and starvation to the people of the underworld.

What follows is a veritable who’s who of the Egyptian underworld as we meet several gods and goddesses, some I had heard of and some I hadn’t. I don’t know a great deal about Egyptian mythology, but I certainly know a little more now. I loved how the characteristics of each deity were described; it brought the whole book to life as I visualised the snapping snout of crocodile headed Sobek and the cow headed goddess Hathor, who reminded me of Lewis Carroll’s Queen of Hearts, with Barnabas trying to be careful not to ignite her wrath.

The whole book actually does have a feel of Alice in Wonderland about it; rather than Alice falling down the rabbit hole, Barnabas and Wilfred fall into the underworld. Although the Egyptian gods are based on real myth, Columbkill Noonan has given them a cartoon like quirkiness that had me half expecting the Mad Hatter to appear and announce that it was time for tea. I think this book will definitely appeal to fans of Alice in Wonderland because of the almost dreamlike quality of the writing; like Alice did, I expected Barnabas to wake up at any moment and realise it was all a dream...or was it? It’s certainly a book that readers off all ages will enjoy as I didn’t spot any naughty bits or swearing.

Quirky, original and completely enthralling; my only disappointment was that I reached the end too quickly. I enjoyed Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Missing Scarab so much that I am already looking forward to the next book.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.… (meer)

I have always been intrigued by myths and legends, but I have never learned about them, and I have to say that Columbkill Noonan has created such a fun and innovative way to learn about Gods and Goddesses of various ancient religions and mythologies. I already had a keen interest in Egyptian mythology, which drew me to the first book: Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Missing Scarab, but, having had no idea about Norse mythology, I have to say that I have learned so much by reading Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Nine Worlds.

Columbkill Noonan is definitely on to a winner with her creation of Barnabus and his trusty sidekick, Wilfred. Think Bob Mortimer (Wilfred) trying to control Vic Reeves (Barnabas) and you will get the idea. Barnabus is so hilarious that you have no idea what he might do next and he is one of these people who always claims to have known something before everyone else. His favourite phrase seems to be: 'that's what I always say' when he never says anything of the sort.

In this book, Barnabas and Wilfred are tasked by Odin to find the thief of a missing bowl; a bowl that Loki's wife holds over him to protect him from the poison dripping from a serpent. With the bowl missing, the poison is dripping onto Loki and causing him to thrash around, causing earthquakes across the nine worlds. Will Barnabas and Wilfred be able to find the bowl before Ragnarok, the end of the world, takes place?

The Barnabas Tew books are so accessible for all ages to learn about myths and legends, in such a fun yet informative way. In Norse mythology, I had heard of Odin, Thor and Loki but I didn't realise that there is so much more to learn. Having read Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Nine Worlds, I feel as if I could hold my own in a conversation about Norse mythology. Without perhaps even realising it, Columbkill Noonan has taken it upon herself to teach us all about mythology in a way we will never forget.

Entertaining, fun, and informative, Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Nine Worlds will teach you more about Norse mythology than you could possibly learn in a lesson or a book about the subject. Columbkill Noonan's books should definitely be part of the curriculum; making learning fun again. I can't wait for the next adventure!

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.… (meer)

Admittedly, my info base came from what bits and pieces I've run across in life...and from watching Thor. Yep, no shame in my game, and you know what? Even THAT little bit of knowledge made connecting things throughout the story a bit easier...understandably so when you're dealing with two deceased detectives (sorta like a Holmes and Watson situation) who are just on the other side of the living...as in NOT...as in that is one of their reasons for traveling to Asgard in the first place....to see if the King can be appeased enough to allow them to return to the land of flesh and bone once again. It's certainly not too much to ask...right? Yeah...about that...

You see, Anubis (you know, the Egyptian god of the underworld?) was the one to send them to Odin, but Odin didn't request their presence to dole out favors. He sent for them to solve a mystery...a rather unusual and not only life changing but WORLD ENDING type of mystery. Without getting severely into all the ins and outs, it boils down to WHO STOLE THE BOWL? What bowl? Are you SURE you want me to get into that because it's not just a oh it belonged to so-and-so's-grandma sort of story. Alright, maybe a quick version. Sigyn (Loki's wife) dedicated herself to using that same said missing bowl to catch the venom that falls from the viper's fangs that is wrapped around Loki's (her husband) head as he remains tethered in place with a most ghastly material. ~shudders~ It's punishment for a death he caused as well as a thousand others he orchestrated, but that venom dripping in his face bit was softened by Sigyn's kindness to the world, thus allowing him to suffer in silence...until he doesn't...and his discomfort is enough to move worlds. No really, he thrashes, so does the earth, and eventually to the point of Ragnorak (it's the end of the WORLDS as we know it!) commencing. Have I lost you? Please say no because honestly it was SUCH a great read!

I truly enjoyed my time between the epages, and considering the book tops out around 400 pages, that's saying something! Alongside the mystery to be solved is all the snark, whit, and wisdom shared between our leading detectives and their female companion and guide, Brynhild. There's nary a situation that Barnabas couldn't foul up with his stiff British spine, but at heart he means well...even if time and again his actions have dire consequences, and Wilfred need to constantly save the day in his own little way. So, if you're ready to embark on a grand adventure through the nine worlds, meeting giants, gods, goddesses, and mere mortals, you might want to add this one to your WISH LIST stat!


**ebook received for review… (meer)