Barnabas Tew and The Case Of The Missing Scarab by Columbkill Noonan

Aug 29, 2018 Dash fan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: publisher-review, blog-tour, i-own-a-copy

4☆ A Fun, Laugh Out loud Cosy Historical Mystery

Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Missing Scarab is a fun, quirky, Egyptian mystery full of crazy characters and mishaps, and hilarious laugh out loud moments.

I am fascinated by Egypt so when I read the blurb for this I was really looking forward to reading it.

Barnabas is a private detective. Although he isn't particularly great at it, as he has a way of getting his clients killed.
Wilfred is Barnabas friend and so to speak partner in crime. The perf ...more

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Feb 27, 2018 Lucy Banks rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Japes aplenty, some seriously funny characters, and the ancient gods of Egypt.

I was chatting to the author about this book, and was immediately sold on the concept - Victorian detectives and ancient Egypt...yes please! I'm pleased to say it was a good, fun read; with plenty of entertaining silliness and lots of creativity to boot.

Barnabas is a fairly rubbish detective, working with his friend Wilfred to solve mysteries for his clie I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Japes aplenty, some seriously funny characters, and the ancient gods of Egypt.

I was chatting to the author about this book, and was immediately sold on the concept - Victorian detectives and ancient Egypt...yes please! I'm pleased to say it was a good, fun read; with plenty of entertaining silliness and lots of creativity to boot.

Barnabas is a fairly rubbish detective, working with his friend Wilfred to solve mysteries for his clients (who often seem to end up dead). Upon visiting a museum one day, he finds himself shut in for the night with a rather hostile mummy; and lo and behold, a matter of moments later, he wakes up in the Egyptian underworld... and signed up to help find the missing scarab, Khepre.

However, because he's your quintessential bumbling Englishman, he's fairly inept at the task, and his friend Wilfred, though calmer and more considered, isn't much better. Through meeting all the major gods and goddesses of ancient Egypt, they learn more about the strange case, and end up going through all sorts of trials - fancy getting the head of a mouse, anybody?

I enjoyed the characters in this book, especially Barnabas himself; who is a classic anti-hero; somewhat idiotic, mildly pompous and quick to react (even when it's better to keep his mouth shut). Likewise, Wilfred, his more rational, sensible companion, is also good fun. There were several gods I also liked; such as the kindly Thoth (hey, what writer doesn't like Thoth, hey?) and ultra-sensative Hathor - they were richly imagined and enjoyable to read.

One minor thing; while reading I felt I wanted to know more about the underworld itself; I could have done with more description to bring it to life in my head. However, overall this was a fun read - and would probably appeal to anyone into ancient Egypt (I was thinking, while reading it, that it'd be a good introduction for secondary school kids studying the subject, as many of the gods are represented!). ...more

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Jul 24, 2018 Yesha- Books Teacup and Reviews rated it it was amazing

Shelves: mystery, mythology, cozy-mystery, humor

*** Note: Many thanks to Rachel and author for providing review copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review. ***

Stars – 4.5/5

Barnabas Tew and The Case Of The Missing Scarab was a humorous cozy mystery set in Victorian London era nicely blended with Egyptian mythology. As the title and blurb suggests it was the story of two British detectives, Barnabas Tew and his assistant Wilfred Colby, and their adventurous journey to the Egyptian underworld for solving the case of missing scarab for w ...more

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Dec 12, 2017 Jessica Jesinghaus rated it it was amazing

Shelves: reviewed-for-readers-favorite

Check out this review, and many more, on my blog https://jessjesinghaus.wordpress.com

What might happen if a rather inept Victorian detective were to find himself suddenly in the Egyptian afterlife, charged with solving a case for none other than the god Anubis himself? Why hilariousness, of course! Barnabas Tew and The Case of The Missing Scarab by Columbkill Noonan is a zany, quirky tale sure to tickle your fancy.

Barnabas Tew has big dreams. Captured by the notion of becoming a famous detectiv Check out this review, and many more, on my blog https://jessjesinghaus.wordpress.com

What might happen if a rather inept Victorian detective were to find himself suddenly in the Egyptian afterlife, charged with solving a case for none other than the god Anubis himself? Why hilariousness, of course! Barnabas Tew and The Case of The Missing Scarab by Columbkill Noonan is a zany, quirky tale sure to tickle your fancy.

Barnabas Tew has big dreams. Captured by the notion of becoming a famous detective, like his idol Sherlock Holmes, it’s no exaggeration to say Barnabas’ abilities fall miles short of his aspirations. His biggest saving grace is his loyal assistant Wilfred who, despite what Barnabas may think, is clearly the more clever of the two. When Barnabas and Wilfred visit the London museum’s latest attraction, an Egyptian mummy, Barnabas gets quite a fright: the mummy rises from its platform to deliver our bumbling detective to Anubis. The case: Someone has kidnapped Khepre, the scarab god responsible for rolling the sun across the sky each day. If Khepre can’t be found, the afterlife is doomed. The catch: One can’t be alive and walk about in the afterlife! Hilariously, Barnabas takes it all in stride but, unfortunately for his assistant Wilfred, Anubis takes him at his word when he flippantly mentions how helpful it would be should Wilfred be there to help him. Thus, our two heroes find themselves snatched from the living world of London and thrust right into the middle of the politics and machinations of ancient Egypt’s most fearsome gods and goddesses. Pitting the wisdom of the gods against Barnabas’ naivety makes for a delightful juxtaposition indeed. But can Barnabas hold his own against the ancient gods and rescue Khepre?

Where this story really shines is in its humor. You can’t take this book too seriously. The premise itself promises much “fish out of water” awkwardness. Add to that Barnabas’ tendency to speak without thinking (or simply not understanding that which he’s speaking about) and the laughs are plentiful. As an adult with a penchant for Victorian detectives and all things Egyptian, this book was straight up my alley. But I wondered how it would fare with its target young adult audience? On a whim, I read the first chapter with my ten year old daughter. She’s hooked. Columbkill Noonan manages to weave a fascinating and entertaining story. The banter between Barnabas and Wilfred (well quite frankly all the dialogue) flows naturally. There were some excellent vocabulary challenges for the younger reader which parents are sure to appreciate. Fans of Egyptian mythology will appreciate the depictions of the various gods and goddesses, but those without prior knowledge of the pantheon will not find themselves lost. All in all, Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Missing Scarab is a delightful romp and I cannot wait for Barnabas and Wilfred’s next case!

**Reviewed for Readers' Favorite** ...more

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Dec 16, 2017 Mario rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, humor, steampunk

This fun, quirky, and sometimes quite silly adventure rather flew by, for me.
Victorian London, fantasy, a touch of steampunk and a huge dollop of humor and silliness anchor the tale as our bumbling, pseudo-Holmesian, titular detective and his much less bumbling assistant Wilfred are charged by none other than Anubis, Egyptian god of the dead, with solving the case of the missing scarab.
A slew of ancient deities are only some of the hurdles with which our intrepid duo have to contend and the my ...more

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Feb 06, 2018 curleduptoes rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Truly hilarious book! Read such a quirky book after long. When an incompetent detective is hired by an Egyptian lord, what happens? Gear up for a funny ride and know the fate of this detective and his slightly wiser, but not really, assistant.

Barnabas Tew is a detective who solve cases such that his employers end up dead. Of course he doesn’t kills them but somehow he is more of unlucky than lucky in solving his cases. But all that does not deters him from equating his case solving skills with n ...more

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Feb 17, 2018 Anna Blackwell rated it it was ok · review of another edition

I wanted to like Barnabas Tew, I really did. Supernatural Victorian detective exploring foreign mythological happenings is an incredibly specific genre that I have been craving since reading American Gods and Sherlock in close succession.

However, no matter how much I tried, I couldn't enjoy it.

The main character Barnabas Tew, a self-styled Sherlock admirer complete with deer hunter and great coat, is a bumbling detective trying his hardest to make it as a private detective but seems to always g ...more

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Mar 06, 2018 Rosemary Daly rated it did not like it · review of another edition

I picked up this book because I love Sherlock Holmes stories and Egyptian mythology, and the description led me to believe that this book would fit. Sadly disappointed. The main character is foolish, vapid, shallow, and unbelievably stupid. The story line is weak. Don't waste your time or money on this book. ...more

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Nov 29, 2017 Isabella May rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

You'll never read another book quite like this quirky, fantastical tale of Barnabas Tew! I absolutely loved it, especially the hark back to a different time and place via some of the most colourful and humorous language. Colombkill Noonan has quite an imagination and writes quite brilliantly... ...more

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Feb 12, 2018 Savannah (The Book Prophet) rated it it was amazing

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This in no way effects my overall rating of this book.

When I chose to read and review this book I was wary – but I’m happy that this book surprised me in the best way possible.

Our title character Barnabas Tew is a Private Detective living in Victorian England. He’s an aspiring Sherlock Holmes with Wilfred (forgot his last name) as his John Watson. He’s had a back track record of his past clients dying due to his mis ...more

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Aug 09, 2017 Naturalbri (Bri Wignall) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This was such an interesting and unique read! I remember reading similar storylines, when I was younger, and absolutely adoring the clever blend of detective work and history. However, as I grew, I started to notice there weren’t really any or many of these for adults. This book shows that there definitely are and they are so much better than even I remember!

I loved the blend of history and PI work. As the, somewhat failing, private investigator tries his hand at helping Anubis, fix an untimely ...more

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Aug 26, 2018 Joy Norstrom rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: crooked-cattery

I love how clean Noonan’s storytelling is. Great pacing and easy to follow. I was never lost or confused during Barnabas and Wilfred’s adventures even though I’m not familiar with Egyptian mythology.
I wish this story was available in audiobook format as it would be great for a family road trip. Fans of the Land of Stories series would also enjoy these books.

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Jul 16, 2018 Ioanna rated it liked it · review of another edition

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Barnabas Tew is a very good detective in Victorian London. Or at least he tries to be, but he has had a few setbacks in the past. He can't seem to be able to keep his clients or his business alive. That is, until a great chance arises: Anubis, the great Egyptian God of the Underworld, needs him to solve a great mystery. The Scarab God has been kidnapped, and the Egyptian underworld is slowly dying ...more

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Mar 14, 2019 Caroline rated it it was ok · review of another edition

This book seemed promising from the synopsis of it.
It started well, with Barnabas trying to model himself on the great Sherlock Holmes, which would have been an almost impossible task unless you were Mycroft Holmes!
However, when Barnabas and Wilfred visit an Egyptian exhibit in a local museum, the book began to take on a rather surreal feel.
The partners in detection find themselves dead and in Egypt's underworld, as ruled by Anubis. Their task? To hunt and locate Khepre, the Scarab beetle who p ...more

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Apr 07, 2018 Katharine Johnson rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This is a highly original, quirky tale combining a Victorian detective with history and the supernatural, and featuring a hapless hero with a cleverer sidekick. I’d never read anything like it before so had no idea what to expect but was happy to just see where it would take me. Despite the lighthearted style, Columbkill Noonan has clearly done a lot of research and writes brilliantly. I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys cosy crime and humour, and can't wait to see what this author will come u ...more

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Aug 15, 2017 June Pace rated it liked it · review of another edition

First off, the title is spectacular, the book cover is spectacular, and anything with a Steampunk/Victorian flavor is right up my alley. The two lead characters, Barnabas and Wilfred, are masterfully written in that perfect old English way of speaking that hearkens back to an age of politeness, well mannered actions, and flowery prose. I love that! Although, I will say that the (in my opinion), excessive use of exclamation points in the first few chapters nearly ruined it for me as a flowing rea First off, the title is spectacular, the book cover is spectacular, and anything with a Steampunk/Victorian flavor is right up my alley. The two lead characters, Barnabas and Wilfred, are masterfully written in that perfect old English way of speaking that hearkens back to an age of politeness, well mannered actions, and flowery prose. I love that! Although, I will say that the (in my opinion), excessive use of exclamation points in the first few chapters nearly ruined it for me as a flowing read in my brain. Too, too many! (that's a joke there).
So the one thing I did learn from this experience is to make sure I read the entire synopsis of a book before jumping in. As I mentioned, I loved the title and the cover so much I went straight to Amazon to read the sample first few pages and was hooked enough to commit. So imagine my surprise when suddenly our main character is dead and speaking to someone with the head of a Falcon! Unfortunately for me, or the author I suppose, I'm not big on the 'mythology' theme in my reading...simply not my cup of tea. So once I accepted that this was indeed the journey we were on, I plunged forward. I will say it is very clever, as well as odd, the whole idea of all these characters with the heads of animals and how they relate to one another. The good news is that Barnabas and Wilfred never lost their character, and only became more endearing, which is what held the book together for me. I can't say as much for the Egyptian gods..they all spoke as you and I would, so that felt less likely and lost a touch of the magic/whimsey for me.

Now, if you're into the mythology, Egyptian/Greek/Norse god thing, and two lovable colorful characters, then this is your book...as a sequel promises more of the same.
*it's challenging here on GR, because the scale of rating is much lower than other places...to me this is a three star book. However, two stars here means it was okay, which is how I felt, but it doesn't seem fair to rate it that low...so three stars it is across the board. ...more

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Jul 27, 2018 Stefanie Rls added it

Shelves: netgalley

'Barnabas Tew and The Case Of The Missing Scarab' got my attention not only because of the title, but also because of the Ancient Egypt theme. Since I first learned about that period in history at school I was hooked so this book seemed definitely right up my alley!
Moreover I also like a good mystery and Sherlock and Watson are personae I just adore. So far so good for this book written by Columbkill Noonan. After all the say Barnabas and Wilfred sound a bit like those two, only funnier.
Set to ...more

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Aug 20, 2020 Madelon rated it really liked it

Barnabas Tew fancies himself a detective. In school, he became enamored of the tales of Sherlock Holmes and decided he too had the requisite skills of deduction and logic. Upon graduation, he set himself up in Marylebone, got himself an assistant and waited for cases and acclaim. Sadly, our hero, who is as wide as he is tall, and tends to go off on verbal tangents at every opportunity, didn't do as well as he expected… at least not in this life.

In BARNABAS TEW AND THE CASE OF THE MISSING SCARAB, ...more

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Jul 18, 2018 i v a n a rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, crime

I thought this book had a great central concept, but the execution was slightly misdirected. The writing was excellent, and the humour too! But, I did find the pacing and direction of the plot to be a little slow and so not as engaging. I really wanted to LOVE it, but I certainly enjoyed it :)

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Sep 30, 2017 Nancy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

This was definitely a very unique novel. The speech patterns of Barnabas Tew and his (more competent) assistant Wilfred mostly harkens back to the formality of the Victorian age with a few contemporary phrases appearing here and there which kept me on my toes as I read about their tough job in find the missing Egyptian ‘Kephre’.
The god Anubis is only one of a raft of Egyptian god and goddess characters in the story, all of them with their own foibles and traits which confuse and confound the ha ...more

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Aug 05, 2017 Kathy Sharp rated it really liked it · review of another edition

There aren't many books you can pick up where the heroes are dead within the first couple of chapters - but this is one of them. Still, there's plenty of fun and adventure for them in the Egyptian afterlife. A very unusual story and an entertaining read. ...more

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Dec 28, 2017 Dsjm Reviews rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Reviewed by Jetana Mutter

*This book was provided for an honest review

A good mystery has the power to engross us all- sort of like a car wreck. We can’t help but look at every angle even when all we want to do is to pull ourselves away. A great mystery not only captivates you, it immerses you within the world of the characters and keeps you guessing right up until the end. Detective stories have been a staple in mysteries since around 1841- when Edgar Allen Poe published The Murders in the Rue Mo Reviewed by Jetana Mutter

*This book was provided for an honest review

A good mystery has the power to engross us all- sort of like a car wreck. We can’t help but look at every angle even when all we want to do is to pull ourselves away. A great mystery not only captivates you, it immerses you within the world of the characters and keeps you guessing right up until the end. Detective stories have been a staple in mysteries since around 1841- when Edgar Allen Poe published The Murders in the Rue Morgue in a magazine; however, the most iconic of names that come to mind in a detective mystery is Sherlock Holmes, created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and known to the public in 1887. The draw of Sherlock Holmes is the quick wit, the banter between him and Dr. Watson, and their infallible deductive skills that catches the correct perpetrator in the end. Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Missing Scarab is a great mystery that reaches for the mighty torch that Sherlock Holmes carries- and it’s one that I believe the torch can rightfully be passed on to.

Barnabas Tew has made it his life’s mission to be a great detective like his hero, Mr. Sherlock Holmes. Reading the first tale of the adventures of Holmes and Watson as a boy made quite the impression on the young Barnabas- so much so that it marked his chosen career path. He spent all his schooling to pursue being a real life Sherlock, thinking that he would quickly rise up as the detective in Victorian London. A decade, and a string of attempts to solve a case later, Barnabas is still looking for the one case that will shoot his career on a fast track. Wilfred, his loyal assistant, knows that Barnabas is well intentioned but they still haven’t had any luck with their cases- usually someone ends up dead before they can solve the case successfully. To try to bring his employer out of his slump, Wilfred suggests that they attend the new exhibit at the museum- the Egyptian Mummy. Spending the day at the museum helps to get Barnabas’ mind off the failed cases that he has taken on, but as a result, the pair completely lose track of time and find themselves locked inside of the now closed museum. In their search for a person or an unlocked door to leave, Wilfred and Barnabas come up to some strange happenings. When Barnabas comes to, he finds himself being ferried across the River of the Dead, on his way to meet Anubis in the ancient Egyptian Underworld. Barnabas’ services have come highly recommended to Anubis from a former client of his and Anubis is convinced that Barnabas is just the right guy for the job. Khepre, the scarab beetle god that is responsible for rolling the sun across the sky and allowing nightfall to come, has gone missing… and he could be facing dismemberment. With Khepre missing, the Underworld is stuck in a perpetual high noon that will leak into the world of the Living if he cannot be found. Will Barnabas and Wilfred be able to find the missing scarab? Will they be able to solve the case and apprehend the perpetrator before it’s too late? Pick up a copy of Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Missing Scarab and find out!

When I first saw this book, the cover immediately drew me in. The figure of Barnabas with the pocket watch, the candelabra and Victorian designs in black and white with just a splash of color intrigued me- it’s definitely not something you see every day. I started reading it and was deeply drawn into the world of Barnabas- his struggles are something that everyone can relate to on some kind of level (not just about the detective work). When he is introduce into the ancient Egyptian Underworld, I knew that this was my kind of book. I love everything to do with ancient Egypt (I’ve always been drawn to it though I’ve never figured out why) so I relished the fact that Barnabas is set in the ancient Egyptian world. There was the perfect amount of comedic relief to the characters that makes this book stand out in so many ways. Most mysteries are done in serious tones- as most story lines such as those should be- but with Barnabas, it helps to make the affection that you develop for the characters that much more special when you add in the unintended comedy between Wilfred and Barnabas (though completely intentional from Columbkill to make the characters seem more real). Columbkill Noonan will do for Barnabas what Doyle did for Sherlock. This is the first time I have had the pleasure of reading Noonan’s work, but it most certainly will not be the last. I look forward to the next book in the Barnabas Tew series, where the two will be attempting to solve a case for the Norse God, Odin. ...more

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Oct 31, 2017 Harker rated it really liked it

I love a good detective story as a general rule. When presented with the chance to read a book set around the time the Sherlock Holmes stories were published about a reader of them who admired them so much he desired to become a detective, I thought it sounded like a lot of fun. Add to that the fact that the fact that the summary promised one of his clients to be an Egyptian god and I was more than a little intrigued!

Barnabas Tew appears as something of a bumbling sweetheart, somewhere between a I love a good detective story as a general rule. When presented with the chance to read a book set around the time the Sherlock Holmes stories were published about a reader of them who admired them so much he desired to become a detective, I thought it sounded like a lot of fun. Add to that the fact that the fact that the summary promised one of his clients to be an Egyptian god and I was more than a little intrigued!

Barnabas Tew appears as something of a bumbling sweetheart, somewhere between a pitiable character and a bit of an annoying one. He was enraptured with the Holmes stories so much that, straight out of college, he set about opening up his own detective agency with the intention of being the best one in the country, nay, the world! Ten years later and things are not going as expected. He fears that he might be more suited to the Dr. Watson role in things and his own assistant, Wilfred, would be a better chimney sweep.

His admiration of Holmes is understandable, but I could see where his admiration and his imitation of his hero turned out to be his failing. He doesn't have the same need to pursue justice that I remember Holmes having, as evidenced when Barnabas arrives at the conclusion to at least two of his cases later and doesn't see fit to pursue them for at least justice without financial reward.

He does really keep trying though. How else would you explain still being at the game after ten years of, shall we say, less than stellar performance? Things certainly chance for our main character when he finds himself not of the living any longer and in the employ Anubis, Egyptian God of the Dead!

The absurdity of passing out and waking to find oneself first dead and second in a boat on your way to the Underworld is enough to make anyone rather upset, but I thought Barnabas took it rather well all things considered. From here on out we followed our intrepid detective as he endeavors to solve a mystery that is quite unlike anything he, or even the famous Mr. Holmes, has ever has the fortune to come across.

In this story the writing style was generally well paced. I think I found myself wishing certain passages were a bit shorter so as to get to the point, but overall it wasn't so bad. Barnabas, difficult as he was to love some of the time, was generally a goodhearted man and something of a bookworm.

The Egyptian pantheon was a good cast of characters. I think this story might be one for older fans of Rick Riordan's books, fascinated as he is with Greek, Norse, and Egyptian gods, and especially considering the new client that Anubis procures for Barnabas and Wilfred at the close of the book. Will there be a second book? I'd certainly like to think so; there's a cliffhanger that's got me wondering what sort of mischief Barnabas and Wilfred will be facing in the future.

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Jul 25, 2018 Julie Morris rated it really liked it · review of another edition

First off, I just want to congratulate Columbkill Noonan for having the best author name to appear on my blog so far – isn’t it fabulous! I have no idea if that is her real name or just a pen name but I really hope it is the former.

Now to the book, which might just be one of the maddest but most fun books I have ever read. I mean, the plot is literally insane and I wonder if she jotted it down on the back of a cocktail napkin after a heavy night on the creme de menthe but if you can get your hea First off, I just want to congratulate Columbkill Noonan for having the best author name to appear on my blog so far – isn’t it fabulous! I have no idea if that is her real name or just a pen name but I really hope it is the former.

Now to the book, which might just be one of the maddest but most fun books I have ever read. I mean, the plot is literally insane and I wonder if she jotted it down on the back of a cocktail napkin after a heavy night on the creme de menthe but if you can get your head around that and run with the sheer lunacy of the idea, this is a really entertaining read, particularly for anyone who is interested in myths and legends and Egyptology.

The hero of the book is Sherlock Holmes-wannabe, Barnabas Tew who aspires to be a private detective as astute and famous as his literary hero. He has the clothing, including deerstalker, he has the Victorian setting, he has his Watson in the shape of his erstwhile sidekick, Wilfred. Sadly, he is lacking Holmes’ sharp intellect (although he himself is oblivious to this deficiency) which has led to a lack os success in his cases so far. In fact, an alarming number of his clients have ended up dead. He is ever hopeful that his luck will change though, and his adventures in the Egyptian Land of the Dead may prove the turning point.

I absolutely loved the characters in this book, the author has drawn them brilliantly. The Victorian setting, dress and speech are pitched perfectly for authenticity (with a few minor colloquial slip-ups, possibly but I found them forgivable in the grand scheme of the book) and they were great fun. Barnabas has grand ideas which sadly fall short and it is really his assistant, Wilfred, who is the brains of the outfit, though neither of them seem aware of this and the author does a fabulous job of fully drawing the humour from this relationship. It reminded me of Hong Kong Phooey and his cat, Spot, who was the real superhero of every show (I apologise to Columbkill, whom I am sure did not spend the 1970’s watching British children’s Saturday morning cartoons and anyone not old enough to remember this show – it’s worth a catch up online if you’ve never seen it!)

The pair get into loads of scrapes and ridiculous situations, partly due to the ludicrous setting of the book and partly due to Barnabas’ often intemperate outbursts and the book has a lot of laugh out loud moments. It wasn’t perfect. There were parts that could have done with more editing to avoid superfluous phrases and repetition that slowed the pacing and there were so many twists and turns that by the end I had started to get confused to the point where I was in danger of no longer caring who had committed the crime. However, my overall experience was a good one, the book was original, funny and engaging with a really novel concept and fun characters. Columbkill is tackling Norse mythology next and I am intrigued to see where she goes with that.
...more

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Jul 26, 2018 Jéssica rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: reviews

I don't know how many books I have read in the mystery/detective genre, but I have found out that each and every book are unique to the authors' style, and that's so refreshing. With this book I found yet another book in genre that is so different from all the others I have read, including the classics.

This is the first book in the series, so we get to met the main character Barnabas Tew, and he's a private detective. The funny thing is, he's struggling. As I keep reading the book and get to kno I don't know how many books I have read in the mystery/detective genre, but I have found out that each and every book are unique to the authors' style, and that's so refreshing. With this book I found yet another book in genre that is so different from all the others I have read, including the classics.

This is the first book in the series, so we get to met the main character Barnabas Tew, and he's a private detective. The funny thing is, he's struggling. As I keep reading the book and get to know more about Barnabas, I found the all situation and his thought quite hilarious. That humor that Columbkill added to her book gave the plot some softness and uniqueness that I enjoyed.

But that's not the only unique thing about this book. When you read the blurb you see that there is this paranormal/fantasy kind of thing going on, since Anubis, the Egyptian God of the Dead, makes an appearance. When I read that, I didn't know what to think, but once I read the book... It works!

The reason why I'm using the word 'unique' a lot is because I don't know what else to say to describe the book. It was a different take on the usual private detective book, an unexpected story, with characters that leave a mark in the plot, with a storyline quite intriguing because, let's be honest, when was the last time you read a mystery/detective book with an Egyptian God as the client?

And if that paranormal aspect of the book hasn't convince you to read the book, can I just remind you that there is humor in the book?... Image Barnabas, an Englishmen, private detective with big dreams, but whose abilities are not that over the top, and Wilfred, Barnabas' loyal assistant and an interesting character, with perfect manners. And then imagine them going to the Underworld to find the Scarab God, who is responsible for rolling the sun across the sky each day.

Can you imagine the journey to uncover each mystery and in the end solving the case. Imagine how much troubles Barnabas would put himself (and Wilfred) in? Doesn't that sound fun? It does (and it was) sound fun to me. I went on a journey too, but to me is was a journey of laughter and having fun with Barnabas actions and how Wilfred would react to what's going on. I think I could see this book series turn into a TV show. I would certainly watch it.

Because I find Egyptian Mythology very curious, I was excited to know the authors take on that. I would love to know more about it, but the way the characters, the Gods, were portrait made the book even more fun to read.

I do recommend this book and I can't wait to read the next adventure this duo will have, and what kind of problems will happen.

[This review is part of a blog tour hosted by the amazing Rachel, at Rachel's Random Resources, so I want to thank her and Columbkill Noonan for the eCopy of this book in exchange for an honest review.] ...more

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Jul 29, 2018 Michelle Ryles rated it it was amazing

Shelves: galleys-read

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 Barnab 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. ...more

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Nov 10, 2017 Rochelle Jones rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: honest-reviews

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 h 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/20... ...more

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Jun 28, 2018 Jackie rated it it was ok

Shelves: netgalley

Note: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Missing Scarab is a comedy of errors following Barnabas and his assistant Wilfred. They are detectives, styling themselves in the manner of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson, although they’re not nearly as successful - in fact, they’re actually quite terrible at the job, and several of their clients have died as a result of their botched investigations. When one of their clients pass Note: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Missing Scarab is a comedy of errors following Barnabas and his assistant Wilfred. They are detectives, styling themselves in the manner of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson, although they’re not nearly as successful - in fact, they’re actually quite terrible at the job, and several of their clients have died as a result of their botched investigations. When one of their clients passes away after using a magical ankh, Barnabas and Wilfred are recommended to a new client for their work. This client is, surprisingly, Anubis, Egyptian god of the dead. Khepre, the god that rolls the sun across the sky, is missing - and Barnabas is tasked with finding out where he is. Across the underworld Barnabas and Wilfred encounter great and minor gods, multiple adventures, and ultimately the truth of what happened to Khepre, with great risk to themselves.

This book was a bit fun, following Barnabas and Wilfred on their adventures and seeing them interact with different gods and creatures. The mystery itself wasn’t too compelling in my opinion, I didn’t find myself getting invested in the book, but there were moments where the antics of the detectives made me laugh. I have always liked Ancient Egypt, so it was interesting to see a Victorian detective and his assistant navigate that culture, one so different from their own. The settings were very descriptive and interesting, so I liked reading those portions of the text.

That being said, I think the protagonists were so bad at what they did, and so dense, that at times it became quite annoying how obtuse they were, Wilfred less so than Barnabas. I struggled at times to keep on reading the book because I didn’t find it all that compelling, but I think that just happens to be a matter of taste. There were a few mistakes that could’ve been fixed by good editing as well, although I’m not sure if the copy of the book provided to me through Netgalley was a finalized version or before proofs. The ending of the book led right into a sequel, but I don’t think I would find myself picking that up. ...more

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Feb 19, 2018 Mariana Leal rated it really liked it · review of another edition

It has been a while since I read a story targeted to a younger audience (let’s say, to a juvenile reader); because of that, I didn’t really know what to expect from this small book. Even if I can’t tell you what my expectations were at the beginning, I can tell what the outcome ended up being - a very funny, intriguing and entertaining detective fiction.

There were three main reasons that highly contributed to my enjoying of this book: the mystery itself, the british humor and the egyptian mytho ...more

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Jul 27, 2018 Caroline Venables rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I really enjoyed this book as it certainly is a departure from standard detective novels. The main character Barnabus Tew wants to be the next celebrated detective following on from Sherlock Holmes. However his powers of deduction aren’t as finely attuned and his clients have a knack of dying while he is investigating their cases. He is assisted by Wilfred Colby, who he thinks of as intellectually inferior to himself, but as the book unfolds, we see that Wilfred, is more than capable when it ...more

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