Inkbound: Meticulous Jones and the Skull Tattoo

When I first received this book, I wondered how a book about a girl discovering she will grow up to be a murderer would work as middle grade fiction. Having now read the book, I am pleased to say it works! Metty’s predicament is used to explore the main theme of fate/destiny vs free will – she doesn’t want to kill anyone, but her fate says otherwise and the adults around her aren’t much help with responses ranging from panic, to fear, to indifference, to swearing her to secrecy.

One of my favourite things about this book was the world building. Philippa Leathley has created a fantastic world in New London with her descriptions of old buildings, narrow alleyways, magical bridges, and enchanted lights. With mentions of other “new” magic cities, and a visit to The Ink Museum which floats between them, this book is begging for a sequel with new adventures and mysteries to solve.

Inkbound: Meticulous Jones and the Skull Tattoo has all the ingredients of a fantastic story: a fateful tattoo, a missing father, a magical city, new friends, a secret organisation, and a mystery to solve. The story is exciting and fast-paced, with a few unexpected twists and turns along the way. Next time I have a student asking, “what do I read next?” this is the book I will be handing them.

Content advisory: This book mentions the deaths of two children – one happens outside of this story, before the events in this book take place; the other occurs in front of Metty (spoiler: they are brought back to life soon after).