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![Stalking Jack the Ripper by [Kerri Maniscalco, James Patterson]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51m6E3WH4yL._SY346_.jpg)
Stalking Jack the Ripper Kindle Edition
by
Kerri Maniscalco
(Author),
James Patterson
(Foreword, Introduction)
Format: Kindle Edition
Kerri Maniscalco (Author) Find all the books, read about the author, and more. See search results for this author |
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This #1 New York Times bestseller and deliciously creepy horror novel has a storyline inspired by the Ripper murders and an unexpected, blood-chilling conclusion.
Seventeen year old Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born a lord's daughter, with a life of wealth and privilege stretched out before her. But between the social teas and silk dress fittings, she leads a forbidden secret life. Against her stern father's wishes and society's expectations, Audrey often slips away to her uncle's laboratory to study the gruesome practice of forensic medicine.
When her work on a string of savagely killed corpses drags Audrey into the investigation of a serial murderer, her search for answers brings her close to her own sheltered world. The story's shocking twists and turns, augmented with real, sinister period photos, will make this dazzling, #1 New York Times bestselling debut from author Kerri Maniscalco impossible to forget!
Seventeen year old Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born a lord's daughter, with a life of wealth and privilege stretched out before her. But between the social teas and silk dress fittings, she leads a forbidden secret life. Against her stern father's wishes and society's expectations, Audrey often slips away to her uncle's laboratory to study the gruesome practice of forensic medicine.
When her work on a string of savagely killed corpses drags Audrey into the investigation of a serial murderer, her search for answers brings her close to her own sheltered world. The story's shocking twists and turns, augmented with real, sinister period photos, will make this dazzling, #1 New York Times bestselling debut from author Kerri Maniscalco impossible to forget!
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherLittle, Brown Books for Young Readers
- Publication date20 September 2016
- Reading age15 - 17 years
- Grade level10 and up
- File size16329 KB
Due to its large file size, this book may take longer to download
Product description
Review
Praise for Stalking Jack the Ripper:
A #1 New York Times Bestseller from its first week!
*A marvelous yet somewhat gruesome mystery...The Ripper scenes are visceral, and the plot dovetails with history perfectly. An unexpected twist makes the ending worth the wait. A must-have.--School Library Journal, starred review
An entertaining debut full of twists and turns, perfect for fans of historical fiction and mystery.--School Library Journal
Audrey is a young woman eager to use her brains and willing to flaunt society's rules....This mystery pays homage to classics like Doyle's Sherlock Holmes and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein [and] will satisfy those readers looking for historical mystery, a witty heroine, and a little romance.--School Library Connection
Audrey Rose Wadsworth prefers breeches to ball gowns, autopsies to afternoon tea, and scalpels to knitting needles. Though her father, Lord Edmund, has forbidden it, Audrey covertly studies forensic medicine...while the Ripper remains two steps ahead, lurking where Audrey least expects....Maniscalco's portrayal of scientific invention in a newly industrial era will serve as a fine first foray into Victorian classics.--Booklist
Dark and suspenseful...this book kept me guessing until its final, terrifying scenes.--Anna Carey, author of the EVE trilogy
Kerri Maniscalco paints a picture of nineteenth-century London that lives and breathes in wonderfully sinister fashion. You won't want to put this book down.--Renee Ahdieh, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller The Wrath and the Dawn
Maniscalco has created a serious, sharp-minded, and forward-thinking protagonist in Audrey Rose, whose fearlessness will endear her to readers looking for an engaging historical thriller. [A] gruesome but engrossing story.--Publisher's Weekly
This is a book that will keep you up at night and haunt you during the day.--Beth Revis, author of the New York Times bestselling series Across the Universe
With ample knowledge of Ripper lore, Maniscalco creates a steadfast and headstrong heroine who is as comfortable in gloves of blood as she is in watered silk. Filled with plenty of gory details, and no shortage of possible suspects, Stalking Jack the Ripper conveys the panic, paranoia, and fascination of 1880s London with a madman on the loose.--Kendare Blake, author of Anna Dressed in Blood and Three Dark Crowns --This text refers to the mass_market edition.
A #1 New York Times Bestseller from its first week!
*A marvelous yet somewhat gruesome mystery...The Ripper scenes are visceral, and the plot dovetails with history perfectly. An unexpected twist makes the ending worth the wait. A must-have.--School Library Journal, starred review
An entertaining debut full of twists and turns, perfect for fans of historical fiction and mystery.--School Library Journal
Audrey is a young woman eager to use her brains and willing to flaunt society's rules....This mystery pays homage to classics like Doyle's Sherlock Holmes and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein [and] will satisfy those readers looking for historical mystery, a witty heroine, and a little romance.--School Library Connection
Audrey Rose Wadsworth prefers breeches to ball gowns, autopsies to afternoon tea, and scalpels to knitting needles. Though her father, Lord Edmund, has forbidden it, Audrey covertly studies forensic medicine...while the Ripper remains two steps ahead, lurking where Audrey least expects....Maniscalco's portrayal of scientific invention in a newly industrial era will serve as a fine first foray into Victorian classics.--Booklist
Dark and suspenseful...this book kept me guessing until its final, terrifying scenes.--Anna Carey, author of the EVE trilogy
Kerri Maniscalco paints a picture of nineteenth-century London that lives and breathes in wonderfully sinister fashion. You won't want to put this book down.--Renee Ahdieh, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller The Wrath and the Dawn
Maniscalco has created a serious, sharp-minded, and forward-thinking protagonist in Audrey Rose, whose fearlessness will endear her to readers looking for an engaging historical thriller. [A] gruesome but engrossing story.--Publisher's Weekly
This is a book that will keep you up at night and haunt you during the day.--Beth Revis, author of the New York Times bestselling series Across the Universe
With ample knowledge of Ripper lore, Maniscalco creates a steadfast and headstrong heroine who is as comfortable in gloves of blood as she is in watered silk. Filled with plenty of gory details, and no shortage of possible suspects, Stalking Jack the Ripper conveys the panic, paranoia, and fascination of 1880s London with a madman on the loose.--Kendare Blake, author of Anna Dressed in Blood and Three Dark Crowns --This text refers to the mass_market edition.
About the Author
Kerri Maniscalco grew up in a semi-haunted house outside New York City, where her fascination with gothic settings began. In her spare time she reads everything she can get her hands on, cooks all kinds of food with her family and friends, and drinks entirely too much tea while discussing life's finer points with her cats. Stalking Jack the Ripper is her debut novel. It incorporates her love of forensic science and unsolved history. --This text refers to the mass_market edition.
From the Publisher
Kerri Maniscalco grew up in a semi-haunted house outside New York City, where her fascination with gothic settings began. In her spare time she reads everything she can get her hands on, cooks all kinds of food with her family and friends, and drinks entirely too much tea while discussing life's finer points with her cats. Stalking Jack the Ripper is her debut novel. It incorporates her love of forensic science and unsolved history. --This text refers to the mass_market edition.
Book Description
A #1 New York Times bestselling Gothic murder mystery set in gritty Victorian-era London. --This text refers to the mass_market edition.
Product details
- ASIN : B01LEL001W
- Publisher : Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (20 September 2016)
- Language : English
- File size : 16329 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 337 pages
- Best Sellers Rank: 7,811 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
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Kerri Maniscalco grew up in a semi-haunted house outside NYC where her fascination with gothic settings began. In her spare time she reads everything she can get her hands on, cooks all kinds of food with her family and friends, and drinks entirely too much tea while discussing life’s finer points with her cats.
She is the #1 NYT and USA Today bestselling author of the Stalking Jack the Ripper series and the forthcoming Kingdom of the Wicked.
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4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
3,103 global ratings
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Reviewed in Australia on 29 September 2017
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4.5 Stars.
Re-Read 1:
I've decided to bump this rating up to 4.5 stars, because I have to say that I really connected to Audrey Rose as a character this time around, absolutely adored the romance and my only issue this time was the the whole needing to learn self-defense before running around at night thing (to understand what I mean by that, read my original review below!).
I was surprised, but I have to say that I enjoyed this book even more the second time around -and don't get me wrong, I had a blast the first time. Maybe because I knew what was going to happen, I could focus on appreciating the characters more? I don't know, but Audrey Rose clicked extra for me as a character and I loved her a lot. Then the Thomas/Audrey Rose scenes *all the swoons* Those scenes = pure gold. I cannot wait to read what those two get up to in Hunting Prince Dracula.
(Also have to say - Liza is still an all time fav character for me and she does seriously need a companion novel!)
Original review:
4 Stars.
Stalking Jack the Ripper was a great book. I really enjoyed it a lot, even though I have to say I'm not a huge murder mystery reader. I'm going to break this review down into parts, so I can discuss what I liked/didn't like.
Characters: Overall, very good. I liked Audrey Rose, but to be really honest, I didn't fully connect with her character. I liked how she followed her passions, and did that embracing how awesome it is to be a woman (as in, highlighting how awesome feminine traits are too, rather than continually glorifying masculine traits), but at times, I felt there was a little man bashing. I know that some of them are hopeless, but that isn't a male feature, it is a human feature. There are hopeless females too, and I think the message is equality through choice, not just we now have to throw the pendulum the other way completely. This also came out with some of the other girls (which we don't really get to know, which is fine) with Audrey Rose putting them down a little (okay, in her internal monologue, but still) for just wanting to find husbands and be pretty. That is the point of equality - the choice - some girls want to find husbands and be pretty, and others want to go and perform autopsies, neither path better or worse, just a personal choice. Let's give everyone that choice and not force choices because society thinks girls should now behave another way.
Another pet peeve with Audrey Rose (and all sleuthing girls, to be honest) is when they wander around in the middle of night, alone. I applaud them for their bravery, but to me it is also stupid - are they trained? do they at least carry a weapon? Being responsible involves taking necessary precautions, not just running off into danger without a plan. This character type/plot device annoys me a lot now, and I don't get it. Why didn't Audrey Rose do a little training in shooting, or something, or a least take a small knife with her and then I would have been right behind her. She has been training under her uncle, so it wouldn't be too much of a push that she would want a little self -defense knowledge as well. Further, when the (inevitable) scene comes when they are attacked in a dark alley, I can't feel much sympathy - this isn't a utopian world and bad stuff happens, so I just don't get why intelligent heroine's like Audrey Rose don't have a tiny bit of training behind them - it would make perfect sense considering her personality. Okay, rant over.
Thomas was awesome. I really liked him and wish we could have had more scenes with him!! I loved his brutal honesty and how he was always straight up and down who he was - very refreshing.
I really loved Liza!! I want a companion book on her!! She was amazing, and she made that impression in only a handful of scenes!! Yes, all the exclamation points!!!!
Nathanial, Aunt Amelia and the rest of the cast were interesting, but I didn't feel like I got to know them. This book is mainly the Audrey Rose/Thomas show, and I didn't mind it, but wonderful secondary characters can really enhance the experience.
The plot: Really well researched and engaging. The ending was fitting and I liked how it concluded this mystery, whilst also setting up for another mystery (in the style of mystery books, I suppose, haha). I had my suspicions of who I thought Jack was, and this turned out to be true, but it was still a really intriguing read.
The romance: I really approve of The Audrey Rose/Thomas romance, but it felt too... staged? I don't know how to describe it, but whilst they disliked each other at the start then warmed up, it always felt like they were going to get together, from the very first moment. I don't know how to describe it. I love slow-burn romances and this should have been my perfect romance couple, but... I suppose with Audrey Rose always saying "He was so handsome etc. etc." practically every time she saw him, then moving on to say "But I hate him. Really, believe me." I didn't see the progression. Take Blackhearts (I adore that book!) Anne and Teach are cool and cordial to each other. They note the other's appearance, but then move on. Then they have witty verbal fights, and as the story progresses, they have a moment when they go "Ah! I didn't realize I was falling for you, but now I know" and then they wax lyrical about how gorgeous the other is, and then I'm swooning as a reader for their beautiful romance blossoming. I do like the romance between Audrey Rose and Thomas, but it never had any obstacles or challenges, and they were always going to get together. I'm still shipping them, and no one else better step onto the scene to steal Audrey Rose away.
The writing: I want to take a moment to gush about how beautifully crafted the writing in this book was - stunning. Not overly flowery, but just right to get into the mood and paint a vivid picture. I loved Kerri Maniscalco's writing style and can't wait to read more.
Overall, I enjoyed Stalking Jack the Ripper, and I definitely feel that the characters will grow in the next few books. Can't wait to read on! (Also, Liza must feature prominently in the next book(s), otherwise I'll be disappointed).
Re-Read 1:
I've decided to bump this rating up to 4.5 stars, because I have to say that I really connected to Audrey Rose as a character this time around, absolutely adored the romance and my only issue this time was the the whole needing to learn self-defense before running around at night thing (to understand what I mean by that, read my original review below!).
I was surprised, but I have to say that I enjoyed this book even more the second time around -and don't get me wrong, I had a blast the first time. Maybe because I knew what was going to happen, I could focus on appreciating the characters more? I don't know, but Audrey Rose clicked extra for me as a character and I loved her a lot. Then the Thomas/Audrey Rose scenes *all the swoons* Those scenes = pure gold. I cannot wait to read what those two get up to in Hunting Prince Dracula.
(Also have to say - Liza is still an all time fav character for me and she does seriously need a companion novel!)
Original review:
4 Stars.
Stalking Jack the Ripper was a great book. I really enjoyed it a lot, even though I have to say I'm not a huge murder mystery reader. I'm going to break this review down into parts, so I can discuss what I liked/didn't like.
Characters: Overall, very good. I liked Audrey Rose, but to be really honest, I didn't fully connect with her character. I liked how she followed her passions, and did that embracing how awesome it is to be a woman (as in, highlighting how awesome feminine traits are too, rather than continually glorifying masculine traits), but at times, I felt there was a little man bashing. I know that some of them are hopeless, but that isn't a male feature, it is a human feature. There are hopeless females too, and I think the message is equality through choice, not just we now have to throw the pendulum the other way completely. This also came out with some of the other girls (which we don't really get to know, which is fine) with Audrey Rose putting them down a little (okay, in her internal monologue, but still) for just wanting to find husbands and be pretty. That is the point of equality - the choice - some girls want to find husbands and be pretty, and others want to go and perform autopsies, neither path better or worse, just a personal choice. Let's give everyone that choice and not force choices because society thinks girls should now behave another way.
Another pet peeve with Audrey Rose (and all sleuthing girls, to be honest) is when they wander around in the middle of night, alone. I applaud them for their bravery, but to me it is also stupid - are they trained? do they at least carry a weapon? Being responsible involves taking necessary precautions, not just running off into danger without a plan. This character type/plot device annoys me a lot now, and I don't get it. Why didn't Audrey Rose do a little training in shooting, or something, or a least take a small knife with her and then I would have been right behind her. She has been training under her uncle, so it wouldn't be too much of a push that she would want a little self -defense knowledge as well. Further, when the (inevitable) scene comes when they are attacked in a dark alley, I can't feel much sympathy - this isn't a utopian world and bad stuff happens, so I just don't get why intelligent heroine's like Audrey Rose don't have a tiny bit of training behind them - it would make perfect sense considering her personality. Okay, rant over.
Thomas was awesome. I really liked him and wish we could have had more scenes with him!! I loved his brutal honesty and how he was always straight up and down who he was - very refreshing.
I really loved Liza!! I want a companion book on her!! She was amazing, and she made that impression in only a handful of scenes!! Yes, all the exclamation points!!!!
Nathanial, Aunt Amelia and the rest of the cast were interesting, but I didn't feel like I got to know them. This book is mainly the Audrey Rose/Thomas show, and I didn't mind it, but wonderful secondary characters can really enhance the experience.
The plot: Really well researched and engaging. The ending was fitting and I liked how it concluded this mystery, whilst also setting up for another mystery (in the style of mystery books, I suppose, haha). I had my suspicions of who I thought Jack was, and this turned out to be true, but it was still a really intriguing read.
The romance: I really approve of The Audrey Rose/Thomas romance, but it felt too... staged? I don't know how to describe it, but whilst they disliked each other at the start then warmed up, it always felt like they were going to get together, from the very first moment. I don't know how to describe it. I love slow-burn romances and this should have been my perfect romance couple, but... I suppose with Audrey Rose always saying "He was so handsome etc. etc." practically every time she saw him, then moving on to say "But I hate him. Really, believe me." I didn't see the progression. Take Blackhearts (I adore that book!) Anne and Teach are cool and cordial to each other. They note the other's appearance, but then move on. Then they have witty verbal fights, and as the story progresses, they have a moment when they go "Ah! I didn't realize I was falling for you, but now I know" and then they wax lyrical about how gorgeous the other is, and then I'm swooning as a reader for their beautiful romance blossoming. I do like the romance between Audrey Rose and Thomas, but it never had any obstacles or challenges, and they were always going to get together. I'm still shipping them, and no one else better step onto the scene to steal Audrey Rose away.
The writing: I want to take a moment to gush about how beautifully crafted the writing in this book was - stunning. Not overly flowery, but just right to get into the mood and paint a vivid picture. I loved Kerri Maniscalco's writing style and can't wait to read more.
Overall, I enjoyed Stalking Jack the Ripper, and I definitely feel that the characters will grow in the next few books. Can't wait to read on! (Also, Liza must feature prominently in the next book(s), otherwise I'll be disappointed).
One person found this helpful
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LucyLui
1.0 out of 5 stars
Lu's Reviews
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 November 2018Verified Purchase
Stalking Jack The Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco
Title: Stalking Jack The Ripper
Author: Kerri Maniscalco
First Published: May '18
Publisher: Little Brown US
Genre: #Young Adult #Horror #Mystery #Thriller
Pages: 360
Price on Amazon: Paperback £7.72 Kindle: £3.49
ISBN: 1538761181
Stalking Jack The Ripper is based on the heinous crimes of Jack The Ripper in Whitechapel, London. Audrey goes against her father's wishes and takes up an apprenticeship under her uncle in his laboratory to study forensic medicine.
When their work leads them to work a string of terrible murders, Audrey is dragged into the search for an answer which leads her a little to close to home.
I was excited to read this book, it sounded good and I do love stories about Jack The Ripper. Unfortunately, this book was very slow and I found the more I read, I didn't really have a clue what was going on. I found it to be a bit all over the place. I was about 15 chapters in and no idea what the storyline was.
I found Audrey to be a really annoying and unrealistic character. Making it even harder for me to enjoy the book. So I did eventually give up on this book and I don't think I will be going back to it.
Rating - One out of Five Stars
Would I Read Again? - No
Would I Recommend? - No
Would I read other books by the same author? - Yes
Reviews for this book can be found on:
Amazon (UK) under Lu's Reviews
Goodreads,
Net Galley (If a NetGalley Book)
My Blogs at readingbeyondobsession
Links to this review can be found at:
Twitter: @lusreviews
Facebook: @lucyluisbookreviews
Instagram: lucyluisreviews
Title: Stalking Jack The Ripper
Author: Kerri Maniscalco
First Published: May '18
Publisher: Little Brown US
Genre: #Young Adult #Horror #Mystery #Thriller
Pages: 360
Price on Amazon: Paperback £7.72 Kindle: £3.49
ISBN: 1538761181
Stalking Jack The Ripper is based on the heinous crimes of Jack The Ripper in Whitechapel, London. Audrey goes against her father's wishes and takes up an apprenticeship under her uncle in his laboratory to study forensic medicine.
When their work leads them to work a string of terrible murders, Audrey is dragged into the search for an answer which leads her a little to close to home.
I was excited to read this book, it sounded good and I do love stories about Jack The Ripper. Unfortunately, this book was very slow and I found the more I read, I didn't really have a clue what was going on. I found it to be a bit all over the place. I was about 15 chapters in and no idea what the storyline was.
I found Audrey to be a really annoying and unrealistic character. Making it even harder for me to enjoy the book. So I did eventually give up on this book and I don't think I will be going back to it.
Rating - One out of Five Stars
Would I Read Again? - No
Would I Recommend? - No
Would I read other books by the same author? - Yes
Reviews for this book can be found on:
Amazon (UK) under Lu's Reviews
Goodreads,
Net Galley (If a NetGalley Book)
My Blogs at readingbeyondobsession
Links to this review can be found at:
Twitter: @lusreviews
Facebook: @lucyluisbookreviews
Instagram: lucyluisreviews
7 people found this helpful
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Reading Hijabsy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dark and gripping, I never wanted it to end
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 November 2016Verified Purchase
Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco is a dark, gripping story that I never wanted to end. Needless to say, I've been having trouble keeping on top of my TBR lately with university taking over my life and all, so I've been super picky with my reads lately. If something doesn't pull me in straight away, I set it aside to come back to sometime in the future when I have less essays to write and more time to read. That being said, it physically pained me to put down Stalking Jack the Ripper whenever I had to set it aside to get some work done. It was gripping from the very first page and even when I wasn't reading it, I couldn't stop thinking about it.
The story follows young Audrey Rose who secretly apprentices under her Uncle who's a mortician, despite her father's disapproval. In a time when girls were taught that the only place for them was the home and tea parties, Audrey is going against societal norms to pursue a gruesome side of science: cutting corpses open. She helps her Uncle conduct postmortems which is where she meets the arrogant but intelligent Thomas Cresswell aka the new love of my life. Imagine a young, extremely flirty Sherlock and you have Thomas. The Sherlock to Audrey's Watson. They make such a fantastic team and seeing them attempt to solve the Ripper's murders together, not to mention the angsty banter and both romantic and sexual tension that fills the air whenever they're in the same room. I ship them so hard. I could've done with a little more... intimacy though but I guess it was the Victorian era where it was improper to even be alone in a room with a guy, meh. (Edit: I just found out this is a trilogy so I'm 100% now okay with the slowburn).
Besides the characters, I have so many more things I loved about this book. The photos and the incorporation of things like an image of Jack the Ripper's letter added such authenticity to the story and made it even darker. I never knew when I'd be flipping a page only to find something gruesome staring back at me. Kerri takes something that most of us find grossly fascinating (I mean, that explains why the Ripper case is so infamous) and gives us a sense of closure. We get to go on this mysteriously dark and thrilling adventure and we actually get answers at the end. I found myself rushing to finish so I could confirm my suspicions but feeling utterly conflicted because I also didn't want it to end. As the victims started piling up and we were handed a bunch of suspects, I found myself pulling my Sherlock hat on, fully invested in the investigation.
One more thing I have to make very clear: I LOVE Audrey Rose. I really do. She has definitely joined my list of favourite MCs/protagonists, she's fiesty and stubborn and brave in a time that teaches girls they need to be the complete opposite. Even when her father threatens to toss her out onto the streets, she continues to pursue science and stands up to him - which is one of my favourite scenes in the book.
Overall, I think I've found a new favourite book. I guessed the culprit before the big reveal but that didn't matter a bit to me because I was doubting myself the entire time and the entire back story and plot was just magnificently done. I can't wait to read more books by Kerri Maniscalco and I just found out that this is a trilogy rather than a standalone so I can't wait!
The story follows young Audrey Rose who secretly apprentices under her Uncle who's a mortician, despite her father's disapproval. In a time when girls were taught that the only place for them was the home and tea parties, Audrey is going against societal norms to pursue a gruesome side of science: cutting corpses open. She helps her Uncle conduct postmortems which is where she meets the arrogant but intelligent Thomas Cresswell aka the new love of my life. Imagine a young, extremely flirty Sherlock and you have Thomas. The Sherlock to Audrey's Watson. They make such a fantastic team and seeing them attempt to solve the Ripper's murders together, not to mention the angsty banter and both romantic and sexual tension that fills the air whenever they're in the same room. I ship them so hard. I could've done with a little more... intimacy though but I guess it was the Victorian era where it was improper to even be alone in a room with a guy, meh. (Edit: I just found out this is a trilogy so I'm 100% now okay with the slowburn).
Besides the characters, I have so many more things I loved about this book. The photos and the incorporation of things like an image of Jack the Ripper's letter added such authenticity to the story and made it even darker. I never knew when I'd be flipping a page only to find something gruesome staring back at me. Kerri takes something that most of us find grossly fascinating (I mean, that explains why the Ripper case is so infamous) and gives us a sense of closure. We get to go on this mysteriously dark and thrilling adventure and we actually get answers at the end. I found myself rushing to finish so I could confirm my suspicions but feeling utterly conflicted because I also didn't want it to end. As the victims started piling up and we were handed a bunch of suspects, I found myself pulling my Sherlock hat on, fully invested in the investigation.
One more thing I have to make very clear: I LOVE Audrey Rose. I really do. She has definitely joined my list of favourite MCs/protagonists, she's fiesty and stubborn and brave in a time that teaches girls they need to be the complete opposite. Even when her father threatens to toss her out onto the streets, she continues to pursue science and stands up to him - which is one of my favourite scenes in the book.
Overall, I think I've found a new favourite book. I guessed the culprit before the big reveal but that didn't matter a bit to me because I was doubting myself the entire time and the entire back story and plot was just magnificently done. I can't wait to read more books by Kerri Maniscalco and I just found out that this is a trilogy rather than a standalone so I can't wait!


Reading Hijabsy
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 November 2016
The story follows young Audrey Rose who secretly apprentices under her Uncle who's a mortician, despite her father's disapproval. In a time when girls were taught that the only place for them was the home and tea parties, Audrey is going against societal norms to pursue a gruesome side of science: cutting corpses open. She helps her Uncle conduct postmortems which is where she meets the arrogant but intelligent Thomas Cresswell aka the new love of my life. Imagine a young, extremely flirty Sherlock and you have Thomas. The Sherlock to Audrey's Watson. They make such a fantastic team and seeing them attempt to solve the Ripper's murders together, not to mention the angsty banter and both romantic and sexual tension that fills the air whenever they're in the same room. I ship them so hard. I could've done with a little more... intimacy though but I guess it was the Victorian era where it was improper to even be alone in a room with a guy, meh. (Edit: I just found out this is a trilogy so I'm 100% now okay with the slowburn).
Besides the characters, I have so many more things I loved about this book. The photos and the incorporation of things like an image of Jack the Ripper's letter added such authenticity to the story and made it even darker. I never knew when I'd be flipping a page only to find something gruesome staring back at me. Kerri takes something that most of us find grossly fascinating (I mean, that explains why the Ripper case is so infamous) and gives us a sense of closure. We get to go on this mysteriously dark and thrilling adventure and we actually get answers at the end. I found myself rushing to finish so I could confirm my suspicions but feeling utterly conflicted because I also didn't want it to end. As the victims started piling up and we were handed a bunch of suspects, I found myself pulling my Sherlock hat on, fully invested in the investigation.
One more thing I have to make very clear: I LOVE Audrey Rose. I really do. She has definitely joined my list of favourite MCs/protagonists, she's fiesty and stubborn and brave in a time that teaches girls they need to be the complete opposite. Even when her father threatens to toss her out onto the streets, she continues to pursue science and stands up to him - which is one of my favourite scenes in the book.
Overall, I think I've found a new favourite book. I guessed the culprit before the big reveal but that didn't matter a bit to me because I was doubting myself the entire time and the entire back story and plot was just magnificently done. I can't wait to read more books by Kerri Maniscalco and I just found out that this is a trilogy rather than a standalone so I can't wait!
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Andrea Pryke
4.0 out of 5 stars
A new theory
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 January 2017Verified Purchase
Dark and gory, this brilliantly written account of the haunt for Jack the Ripper is both gruesome and captivating at the same time., although the author changes the timeline slightly this does not impact on the quality of the storytelling. The characters are believable especially Audrey Rose, who feels trapped and stifled by societies expectations of her as a young lady of the times. Haunted by her mother’s death she years to learn about death and forensics and trains with her Uncle who is a surgeon and coroner who autopsies the victims of the Ripper, and this is how she becomes involved.
The locations of the Ripper murders are correct as are the order of each killing, some changes were made to location access particularly with regards to Dorset Street and Miller’s Court, the location of the murder of May Jane Kelly, the last of the Ripper’s victims, however this was so subtly done that I did not notice it and it did not spoilt the narrative and plot.
Maniscalco describes the injuries inflicted on each of the victims in detail, and some of this information is pretty gory, especially that pertaining to Mary Jane Kelly. The murder of Elizabeth Stride as part of the Double event is mentioned only in passing and more detail is given to Catherine Eddowes.
This was so well written that I was only aware of the slight changes Maniscalco made at the end of the book, when she explained them in a note explaining why this was done .
An excellent book definitely worth picking up
The locations of the Ripper murders are correct as are the order of each killing, some changes were made to location access particularly with regards to Dorset Street and Miller’s Court, the location of the murder of May Jane Kelly, the last of the Ripper’s victims, however this was so subtly done that I did not notice it and it did not spoilt the narrative and plot.
Maniscalco describes the injuries inflicted on each of the victims in detail, and some of this information is pretty gory, especially that pertaining to Mary Jane Kelly. The murder of Elizabeth Stride as part of the Double event is mentioned only in passing and more detail is given to Catherine Eddowes.
This was so well written that I was only aware of the slight changes Maniscalco made at the end of the book, when she explained them in a note explaining why this was done .
An excellent book definitely worth picking up
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Serena
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stalking Jack the Ripper
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 October 2017Verified Purchase
Stalking Jack the Ripper is set in 1888 based on the real-life murders of the victims in Whitechapel, UK. This book is a murder mystery with our main character, Audrey Rose, investigating the murders by using forensic science with her uncle and a very lovely arrogant main protagonist Thomas. This novel is a historical YA and probably suitable for 15 and above.
The novel itself is packed full of gorey type descriptions and doesn't fall short of any shock factor. If you're a little squeamish then this might not be the book for you. Afterall, these murders really happened and Kerri only presents them as so. It's incredibly well written with beautiful prose and you immediately care for the characters. The novel is uniquely dark and mysterious all with a fantastic "proper" romance between Audrey and Thomas.
Thomas Cresswell is one of my new favourite book boyfriends. With the time period, it really depicts the formality of dating and courtship which I found to be an extremely lovely touch. It's lovely to see a real gentleman, even if he does break the rules a little and comes across as arrogant. But his arrogance is so attractive in that he's not ashamed to express how he feels to Audrey. It's super cute.
The plot is driven by the continuous murders and the mystery surrounding who Jack really is. At no point did I pin who Jack actually was (Of course, this part is fictional, I believe, as the really JtR is still unknown). The ending and the motive behind the real killer's action were so brilliantly planned out. Kerri couldn't have come up with a more grotesque, wildly imaginative ending. It was truly shocking and I simply had no idea. And also, go Thomas! He's a real hero.
The book includes some photographs throughout the novel to show what life was really like during 1800's. They are quite fascinating to look at and I feel they added a realistic edge to this story. There is one picture of a hand towards the end of the book that is downright creepy. Urgh. But still, it was great to see what kind of reality people were facing during that time period. The time period was so fantastically captured, from the clothing, behaviours, courtship. Everything was meticulously planned and it created such authenticity. You really feel the "grunge" of forensic science in this time period. Even though we do see Audrey sterilizing equipment, you can still imagine that lab in the dark with gas lamps and candles, no real hygiene and working with a woman, which is frowned upon. The atmosphere was simply great and I was hooked all of the way through.
I read the novel in just over a day. I was so excited that I purchased Hunting Prince Dracula when I was 50 pages from the end. I cannot wait to read the next installment and I hope there are many more adventures of Audrey and Thomas to come.
Would recommend to:
- Readers over 15.
- Those who enjoy horror/thriller and murder mystery.
- Those who read YA
Pros:
- Atmosphere and setting is built well and is authentic
- The murders aren't witnessed but are talked about in professional detail *squeamish trigger*
- Realistic loveable characters
- Authentic representation of the "view of women" during those times.
- Lovely romantic subplot
- Didn't guess who Jack really was.
- Inventory of information at the back of the novel
- Images of the life back in the 1800's throughout
Cons:
- There is a period where there aren't any murders and there is more story building with suspicion.
- Took forever for the romance between Audrey and Thomas to develop into a kiss.
- Can be explicit in terms of discussing the murders and wounds (not that I minded!)
Overall, was a fantastic enjoyable read and I am so excited for the next book to fall through my letterbox. Thank you Kerri for such a unique read. I loved it.
The novel itself is packed full of gorey type descriptions and doesn't fall short of any shock factor. If you're a little squeamish then this might not be the book for you. Afterall, these murders really happened and Kerri only presents them as so. It's incredibly well written with beautiful prose and you immediately care for the characters. The novel is uniquely dark and mysterious all with a fantastic "proper" romance between Audrey and Thomas.
Thomas Cresswell is one of my new favourite book boyfriends. With the time period, it really depicts the formality of dating and courtship which I found to be an extremely lovely touch. It's lovely to see a real gentleman, even if he does break the rules a little and comes across as arrogant. But his arrogance is so attractive in that he's not ashamed to express how he feels to Audrey. It's super cute.
The plot is driven by the continuous murders and the mystery surrounding who Jack really is. At no point did I pin who Jack actually was (Of course, this part is fictional, I believe, as the really JtR is still unknown). The ending and the motive behind the real killer's action were so brilliantly planned out. Kerri couldn't have come up with a more grotesque, wildly imaginative ending. It was truly shocking and I simply had no idea. And also, go Thomas! He's a real hero.
The book includes some photographs throughout the novel to show what life was really like during 1800's. They are quite fascinating to look at and I feel they added a realistic edge to this story. There is one picture of a hand towards the end of the book that is downright creepy. Urgh. But still, it was great to see what kind of reality people were facing during that time period. The time period was so fantastically captured, from the clothing, behaviours, courtship. Everything was meticulously planned and it created such authenticity. You really feel the "grunge" of forensic science in this time period. Even though we do see Audrey sterilizing equipment, you can still imagine that lab in the dark with gas lamps and candles, no real hygiene and working with a woman, which is frowned upon. The atmosphere was simply great and I was hooked all of the way through.
I read the novel in just over a day. I was so excited that I purchased Hunting Prince Dracula when I was 50 pages from the end. I cannot wait to read the next installment and I hope there are many more adventures of Audrey and Thomas to come.
Would recommend to:
- Readers over 15.
- Those who enjoy horror/thriller and murder mystery.
- Those who read YA
Pros:
- Atmosphere and setting is built well and is authentic
- The murders aren't witnessed but are talked about in professional detail *squeamish trigger*
- Realistic loveable characters
- Authentic representation of the "view of women" during those times.
- Lovely romantic subplot
- Didn't guess who Jack really was.
- Inventory of information at the back of the novel
- Images of the life back in the 1800's throughout
Cons:
- There is a period where there aren't any murders and there is more story building with suspicion.
- Took forever for the romance between Audrey and Thomas to develop into a kiss.
- Can be explicit in terms of discussing the murders and wounds (not that I minded!)
Overall, was a fantastic enjoyable read and I am so excited for the next book to fall through my letterbox. Thank you Kerri for such a unique read. I loved it.
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DJ
2.0 out of 5 stars
Damaged covers
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 July 2021Verified Purchase
Purchased 4 x new paper back books (Jack the Ripper, Devil, Dracula and Houdini).
The edgings around the covers were very crimped and Houdini had the most damaged cover because it had a tear on the back which tore into the bottom of some of the pages. The tear was noticeable but I will have to accept this, only for the fact that, they were purchased for a gift and if I return the the 4 books I will not receive replacements in time. I see that others have had the same problem so I hope Amazon take this on board and deal with this. They should be sold at half the price as damaged goods!
The edgings around the covers were very crimped and Houdini had the most damaged cover because it had a tear on the back which tore into the bottom of some of the pages. The tear was noticeable but I will have to accept this, only for the fact that, they were purchased for a gift and if I return the the 4 books I will not receive replacements in time. I see that others have had the same problem so I hope Amazon take this on board and deal with this. They should be sold at half the price as damaged goods!