When he wakes up, Ludlow Fitch is lying on the filthy floor of a makeshift "dentistry" room. His parents are going to sell their only son's teeth off while he's still awake and then profit off the results. Somehow Ludlow manages to escape, though the nature of his flight is not fully explained, and in his panic he gets a ride on a carriage going to the remote and tiny village of Pagus Parvus. Once arrived, he meets a fellow traveler by the name of Joe Zabbidou who intends to set up his pawnshop right there in town. He hires Ludlow practically on the spot, and it isn't long before the boy starts to get the sense that something isn't right. Pagus Parvus, you see, is a hole in a wall and it's held under the iron grip of the nasty Jeremiah Ratchet. Ratchet knows everyone's secrets and is willing to blackmail his fellow citizens to get what he wants in the end. As it happens, Joe is also in the business of secrets, but his interest is quite a different sort. For a nominal fee Joe will pay you good money for the secrets you hold near and dear to your heart. As Ludlow marks these secrets down in the Black Book, he finds himself torn. Will his own secret stay buried or find its way into Joe's very black book? And will the townspeople, who now see Joe as their saviour, tolerate him if he refuses to go head to head with the nasty Mr. Ratchet?

The story itself was interesting and I liked the moment when the townspeople suddenly turned on their supposed savior. Very ... well ... New Testament of them. Hm. I'm hardly the first person to notice this. When the Telegraph in London asked Ms. Higgins if the book was a religious allegory of sorts she denied the claim, saying instead, "What I hope the book does do is to convey my belief in natural justice, in the idea that there is a rhythm in life that dictates that from chaos there should come order, and that what you give in terms not just of money, but of time and yourself, you will get in return." All well and good, except that the final "justice" meted out in this story may not sit well with the reader. Joe commits an act near the end of the book that I never felt was ever fully justified, even when it is explained away later. He leaves a man believing that he has murdered someone, then lets it go without comment. And even though the man later learns that this was not the case, Joe doesn't know that the man finds this out. This gives Joe a coldness and moral lassitude implicated by the act itself that I'm sure the author did not intend. And here's another point: Suppose that a person puts himself or herself unknowingly in harm's way and you do not stop them (though you yourself know what danger they are in). Are you blameless if something bad befalls them? Apparently so. I understand that Higgins had to rid herself of her villain somewhere in the story, but her method of doing so seemingly goes contrary to the lessons she's trying to impart.

And don't get me wrong. I mean, it's fun. A romp. And yes, there are some problems with it here and there. For example, there are sudden appearances of Fate and instruments of Destiny near the end of the story that may throw a reader or two for a loop, but it's an enjoyable read. I quibble with the "good guy"'s methods of effecting change. I say it belies his entire philosophy and life's work. On the other hand, Higgins has an even hand and a book that tells a good original story without imitating other styles or seeming overly familiar. A book worth reading, sure. Maybe most ideal if you run a book group and want something that might conjure up a philosophical debate.

* Yes. I am joking. I do that. It's my thing.

This book was enjoyable, with some interesting ideas about secrets that people keep. The characters felt a little flat, though... I never really connected with any of them, but Joe especially. The twists were foreshadowed a little too much, so that they weren't as surprising as I had hoped. Some of the scenes were Roald Dahl-ish, in a good way. Overall, it's an interesting book about secrets and the effect that keeping them has on your life.

I loved this book until the last few chapters. Just not super happy with the ending....a lot was left unexplained and it was a bit silly compared to the rest of the book.

Ludlow Fitch is running away from his past (and some tooth-thieving parents!). He finds himself in a remote village where he becomes the assistant to a mysterious pawnbroker, Joe Zabbidou. This pawnbroker specializes in people’s secrets and Ludlow is charged with transcribing them in the Black Book of Secrets. Lucky for Ludlow and Joe, this village is full of people with dark and dangerous secrets to pawn. For fans of historically-based fiction and notably that of late 1800s in England with its many gruesome details of teeth pulling (and selling) and grave robbing.

A charming addition to the YA fantasy genre, with a compelling protagonist. Very Dickensian.

No es lo que me esperaba, pero estuvo bien. Fue una lectura rápida, sencilla y bastante entretenida.

Reseña ya disponible en mi blog, Booksick.

I don't recommend it.