Stalking Jack the Ripper

*****Five Fantastically Frightening Stars*****

"Dangerous things linger in the dark" indeed in this captivating story, which brings the horrors of Jack the Ripper to life, allowing us to see everything through Audrey Rose's perspective. Audrey Rose is strong, fearless, and magnificent, as she is really ahead of her time, trading in corsets and petticoats for scalpels and science. I fell in love with Kerri Maniscalco's writing style, as I submerged myself completely into this dark and twisted story that had so much mystery and heart.

The author really captured the time and setting perfectly, while also bringing something new and different to the table. I've always been interested in Jack The Ripper, but I found myself mesmerized by this show more particular story and I was on the edge of my seat during so many moments.

I have been searching for a truly good series to fall in love with ever since The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Hunger Games and I think I finally discovered it. I am so excited to continue reading this series and I'm looking forward to seeing what Audrey Rose and Thomas do next.

I absolutely recommend this book to everyone, which really provides you with so many elements. There is mystery, passion, romance, horror, and even a lot of historical information, which I found extremely interesting, providing me with a fresh take on everything.

In love with this series right now! show less

Stalking Jack the Ripper is more than just another story about Jack the Ripper and a hypothesis on the infamous murderer’s identity. Within the confines of this popular murder mystery, Kerri Maniscalco incorporates themes of social justice and equality that take this mystery to a whole new level. It is impressive stuff for a debut author.

The story revolves around Audrey Rose, a young lady of the Peerage. Her milieu places her within the upper echelons of British high society, with days filled with tea parties and nights filled with balls. However, Audrey Rose eschews polite society for the very scandalous pastime of learning. Not just any learning will do either. Audrey Rose finds herself captivated by the burgeoning science of show more forensic medicine. Trying to balance the requirements of polite society with her own interests and moral code proves to be a formidable challenge, and therein lies the crux of the novel. Yes, there is a serial killer on the loose that Audrey Rose desperately wants to stop, but she must also determine just how far she is willing to push the regimented rules set in place by her station in life.

What makes this more than just another coming-of-age story is the fact that Audrey Rose does not just lament her own limitations within society. She recognizes the limitations society places on all women. More than once, she comments on the lack of options for widows or single women who find themselves without familial support. The victims of Jack the Ripper are not just prostitutes who were unlucky enough to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. They were women who had no other available means to support themselves for whatever reason. Society may frown upon them, thinking them morally unfit and a pox on good, Christian society, but Audrey Rose never does. These are women to be pitied and helped. Audrey Rose is such a refreshing change from typical heroines of modern-day Victorian novels, who tend to only worry about their own situations and ignore those from the lower classes.

The mystery itself is well-written and well-researched. Ms. Maniscalco’s use of real imagery from that time period infuses the story with gravitas, as it becomes a serious reminder that the murders at least did happen and the wounds inflicted on the victims were as gruesome as stated. She cleverly incorporates the fact with the fiction by placing Audrey Rose right in the middle of the action without ruining either story. Even better, the author uses the afterword to acknowledge any liberties she took with the timeline of the murders, the victims, etc. This allows readers to walk away from the novel with a very clear understanding of what happened and when, even if we still do not understand the who, how, or why of the murders.

Stalking Jack the Ripper is a great story with an entertaining and inspiring heroine. The mystery is sufficiently creepy to outweigh any predictability that may arise, especially as the book itself brings in real images from that time period, including several letters written by Jack the Ripper himself. The chemistry between all of the characters adds a level of interest to the proceedings. Similarly, the glimpses into life for females of all stations in Victorian England is enlightening. Ms. Maniscalco’s debut novel may be simple in premise but there is much within it that could elicit discussion among friends, book club members, children and parents, etc. I look forward to seeing what Ms. Maniscalco has in store for readers in the future! show less

"'You think good people can't hate?' she asked. 'You think good people don't kill?' Her breathing hitched, and she realized she'd crushed Lazlo's flower in her hand. She dropped the petals into the water. 'Good people do all the things bad people do, Lazlo. It's just that when they do them, they call it justice.'"

I can always depend on Laini Taylor to ruin my life with her books. It took me two weeks to read this, but I think that can mostly be attributed to the fact that I'm taking a very demanding library cataloging course right now that involves reading exceptionally long articles written in the early 20th century about catalog entry and metadata and so the slow and meandering development of this story was just not happening for me. show more Anyway, Mr. Strange is one of my new favorite book heroes, and I swear it's not just because he's a librarian and I'm biased. Lazlo is tender and devastatingly honest and so effortlessly GOOD and a hero that I don't think we've ever had before. And so, naturally, Taylor must CRUSH him. *sobs* I don't know if there is a character who could be as perfectly tragic as Lazlo, but if so, it's Sarai, with her moths and her empathy and her whimsy. The dream sequences were my favorite aspect of this book; so eloquently crafted and just utterly gorgeous. Weep is a mystery and an entire magical story unto itself which attests to Taylor's impeccable attention to detail and otherworldly creativity. If you read for action and epic pacing, you're probably not going to like Strange the Dreamer, but with its lyricism and beauty and heartfelt message, this story is a treasure. show less

It's been so long that I've read a proper murder mystery or even a historical book that this one came as a breath of fresh air and I think it was exactly what I needed at this time. Jack the Ripper is such a fascinating and popular true crime story and I was really excited to read a fiction based on it. It was dark and thrilling but also so much fun with a cast of very intriguing characters and I can't wait to read the next installment.

Audrey Rose is a wonderful protagonist and someone who I wanted to root for right from the get go. She is intelligent, strong willed, sassy, compassionate and will do whatever it takes to follow the path that she has chosen for herself. She is questioned or looked down upon every step of the way because show more she would rather spend her time dissecting corpses and investigating crimes than gossipping or organizing tea parties, but she never lets others' opinions change her mind - she just smartly figures out ways to get around all the rules. Her utmost dedication to science and belief in equal opportunities for women are definitely revolutionary for her times and it was heartening to read about a character with such strong convictions. There were times when she judged other girls her age for giving importance only to beauty and scoring husbands and it wasn't cool, but I could understand her because she was also being judged all the time.

Thomas is her Uncle's student from his forensics class and is equally smart and knows it. He is so confident in his abilities and comes across as arrogant, is very good at detaching himself while investigating the murders which makes him seem unemotional or apathetic but he is actually very sweet, charming and swoon worthy. He loves showing off his deduction skills and it gave so much Sherlock vibes, it was lots of fun to read. He is just as much non conforming to society's expectations as Audrey is, so he is quite supportive of her endeavor to investigate and catch Jack the Ripper. He is also very sarcastic and the flirty banter between them is just too cute. They both may be attracted to the other's looks but their friendship and later romance slowly develops on a foundation of mutual respect for each other's intelligence and personalities, and I loved that especially due to the historical setting.

The writing in the book is excellent for a debut novel and I really didn't want to put it down. The setting of London is eery and creepy and the dull rainy foggy days are described so well, it makes for the perfect atmosphere. The mutilated bodies and the theories of how the murders may have been committed are described in all the gory details; it was really nauseating sometimes and gave me chills. Even the science of performing the autopsies and all the methods of forensic investigations utilized during the 1800s are articulated in detail which shows how diligent the author was in her research. I especially enjoyed the original pictures from the time period and Jack the Ripper's letters because they made the book seem more creepy and real. As I'm not very good at predicting, I really didn't figure out who the killer was until just a few minutes before Audrey did and I did not see that coming. The ending was devastating but with a tad bit of hope and sets up the next book very neatly.

If you read a lot of murder mysteries, this book might seem predictable but for me, it was just the perfect blend of macabre and entertaining. The characters are absolutely delightful and it was so interesting to go on this thrilling journey with them to discover the truth. If you are fascinated by Jack the Ripper or love murder mysteries or if fierce Victorian heroines are your thing, then this book is perfect for you. Give it a chance and you won't regret it 🙂🙂🙂 show less

*I received a free copy of this book from the publisher at BEA.*

This is a cute YA historical fiction with a bit of a twist, since if features Jack the Ripper. Audrey Rose isn't an ordinary 19th century girl -- she likes learning about forensics and dissecting cadavers with her uncle to learn more about people and figuring out their history and, most importantly, cause of death.

Overall, I thought the story was entertaining. Like any historical fiction, it takes some liberty with the actual facts of the Jack the Ripper case, but it completely made sense and fit with the story, so that worked out okay. The tone and atmosphere fit in overall with the 19th century, and I loved the scenes where Audrey Rose goes to a tea, and when she goes to show more the circus.

Audrey Rose is an amazing character, and I wish her awkward conversations with Thomas had been pared down so she could be fleshed out a little bit more. There are only hints to things that I think could have been expanded on; she mentions that a girl can both like pretty dresses and learning about forensics. I wish that hadn't just been an offhand comment and we could have actually seen more of Audrey Rose getting all pretty and dressing up and also cutting up corpses.

If there had been maybe 30% less of her and Thomas having their "battles of wits" and having her silently fuming about how irritating and cute he was, I would have probably given this book 5 stars. As it is, I think it took up a little too much page space and other interesting things could have been explored.

With that said, it's a fun book. I genuinely enjoyed reading it. Maniscalco has a talent for setting up scenes and introducing characters quickly and efficiently; I felt as though this book was a quick read, but I don't feel as though I missed any important elements. I connected with the important characters and was immersed in the story. With a bit more experience under her belt, Maniscalco is going to be a literary force to be reckoned with. I can't wait for the sequel to this book! show less

Fieldnotes:
London, 1888

1 Overly Plucky Teenaged Girl with an Unhealthy Obsession with Science and the Dead
1 Deceased Mother (Scarlet Fever)
1 Overprotective Germaphobic Father
1 Hair-Obsessed Brother with Ever-Changing Interests

1 Uncle Specializing in Autopsies
1 Bright but Arrogant Assistant & Student of Forensic Medicine
1 Manhandling, Irksome Superintendent of Police
1 Clumsy, Near-Sighted Mongrel

1 Forensic Medicine Class at Harrow (??) that works on ACTUAL cases (??)
London Necropolis Railway
Very Modern Ideas Regarding Sex Workers
A Spot of Profiling
The Greatest Show on Earth
Bedlam

3 Links Between Victims of Jack the Ripper and the Wadsworth Family
3 Increasingly Insane Letters
1 Carriage Marked "M" for Murderer
1 Cryptic Death Pronouncement
1 show more Seance

Dark Secrets Within the Wall
2 Secret Laboratories
Galvanic Experiments that Would Make Dr. Frankenstein Proud

Gruesome Illustrative Photos

The Long Version:
I don't know why I keep reading YA Jack the Ripper books - every time I end up irked. In this case, our overly plucky teenaged investigatrix is 17-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth, only daughter of a lord. She has a truly unhealthy interest in the science of death (and a complete disdain for proper attire while autopsying and disregard for the poor servants who have to try to save her many blood-stained silk slippers). She essentially interns with her forensic pathologist uncle in Highgate (despite the distance from Belgravia - it is NOT THAT CLOSE) who is feuding with her father because his medical degree didn't allow him to save her mother from the scarlet fever she contracted while nursing Audrey Rose. She has some guilt-related mommy issues.

Her father, Lord Edmund Wadsworth, has responded by isolating himself, becoming extremely germaphobic and relying on his laudanum to get himself through the days. Thankfully, her dandy of an older brother Nathaniel helps her circumvent the most stringent of his restrictions.

Anyway, she banters hostilely with her uncle's arrogant (but, of course, handsome) Sherlockian assistant Thomas Cresswell, and the three of them essentially profile Jack the Ripper and speculate that he is attempting to perform an organ transplant (which has never been successfully done).

There are a lot of truly implausible moments where a 17-year-old gently born GIRL is wandering the streets UNCHAPERONED and hanging out ALONE with a teenaged boy. Not to mention being allowed to examine MURDER VICTIMS in the SLUMS in the EAST END. There is very little Victorian hand-wringing. There is not even an APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF HAND-WRINGING because this is INSANE. There are some very modern ideas about sex workers that are distinctly out of place given Audrey Rose's circumstances, but this didn't bother me as much as everyone acting like being a policeman (even superintendent) was a prestigious career for a NOBLEMAN in 1888. We've just dropped a mostly modern teenager into a facsimile of the Victorian era and given her teen Sherlock as a boyfriend.

There is a lot of incredibly awkward flirting, which I found less cute and more strange and...well, flirting over CORPSES isn't a thing that works for me, honestly.

I could get over a wallpaper historical with modern sensibilities if this was fun and clever, but the tone felt off. Not to mention our heroine was TSTL, insisted on doing truly stupid and dangerous things with no thought for potential consequences and then got fixated on who she decided was the culprit - evidence and her own observations be damned. I guessed the culprit and most of the why early on, which wouldn't have been a problem if this had at least been suspenseful and/or wrapped things up sensibly. For me and my tastes, it did neither. show less

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.

“I despise having put you in unnecessary danger.”
“We are stalking Jack the Ripper,” I pointed out. “I’m already putting us in danger.”

— a short one-quote summary show more of this book
The best part about reading books that have some kind of mystery element incorporated is the guessing. You analyse so many tiny sentences, trying to put together the clues strewn through the novel, and if you’ve read enough similar books before — or if you’re just good at guessing — then you figure it out, and you have to read to the end just to see if you were right.

But if you’re reading a really good story, you won’t be able to guess, or if you do think you’ve figured it out, you’ll keep second-guessing yourself (see what I did there? No? Sorry. Pretend that didn’t happen) and at some point you’re convinced the author just likes messing with your head.

Stalking Jack The Ripper was a pretty good read — not only because it dealt with the mystery quite well, (even though I guessed it in the end! AHA where’s my medal? My throne?) but it was also good at delivering in other aspects. The characters were memorable and relatively fleshed out, the scenes were well-written, the pacing was enough to keep you turning the page, even if a little slow, and the heroine was interesting and unique.

There’s a lot of gore that I was not expecting. Especially in the form of photographs. i opened the book to the first photo and my mouth fell open, like oh okay it’s That Kind Of Book. You’d think that with all the time I spend reading about assassins and brutal mass murders and evil magic that I’d be beyond shock. Nope. There’s science in this and it is cold and brutal and kinda gross.

Speaking of cold and brutal, can we talk for a moment about Thomas Cresswell, the love interest? He’s a character that was actually quite refreshing to read about. I’m excited to see more from him in the sequel. Most of the time, boys in YA books don’t win my heart just from their look. But Thomas Cresswell is a sassy little piece of (sometimes) emotionless cloudfluff that i’d like to protect with all my heart thank you very much

Cool detachment was a switch he flipped while working out problems.

oops there goes my grammar but you know there are some characters that you love enough that capitalisation doesn’t matter anymore because they’re just that great? anyways i love thomas because i can see myself in him. i, too, am an emotionless robot (jk but it’s a cool concept!)

One thing I was pleasantly surprised about is Audrey Rose’s reaction to other girls. At first, it seems like she looks down on them for enjoying petticoats and tea parties, but then we meet her cousin and see her interacting with others of her own gender. Unlike many other “”””feminist”””” MCs in YA literature (I use this term with finger quotes, because real feminism is supporting other women) Audrey doesn’t think every other girl is shallow and vapid and that she’s the exception. She recognises that these other women all have intelligence and wit while also realising that the restraints society has placed on them are holding them back.

There was more strength held underneath my muslin layers and well-perfumed skin than in half the men in London combined.

I need to talk about this, though. If you’ve read The Infernal Devices, you’ll notice a link between the antagonists from both series.
There are also references to literature that was popular in the time this was set, if you’re into that kind of thing. (Am I intellectual yet for noticing? Don’t answer that.) Frankenstein and Jekyll and Hyde are the ones I can think of off the top of my head. It’s clear Audrey Rose is influenced by the famous books of that time (haha same girl):

Perhaps whatever evil lived in him had its own handwriting.

(possibly a J&H reference?)

Overall, a fun, quick read with some dark themes and relevant conversation topics. Don’t read it if you hate smart STEM heroines and sassy boys with canes and brutal murders in London. show less