Review: Stalking Jack the Ripper

I have been a fan of mystery and crime novels for as long as I can remember. Combine that with my love for Victorian England, and you can say I was beyond excited the moment I heard about Stalking Jack the Ripper. I drove over an hour to pick up an advanced copy from one of Barnes & Noble B-Fest locations, and I’m so glad I did.

Ever since her mother died five years prior, Audrey Rose has been fascinated with studying the human body and has started apprenticing under her uncle in forensic science. When Audrey Rose’s uncle is accused of being the infamous serial killer Jack the Ripper, she vows to solve the crime and save her innocent uncle.

I loved the main character, Audrey Rose. She’s brave, determined, intelligent, and very feisty. Even more so, she knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to go after it, even if that means being looked down upon by the rest of high society. I also enjoyed her snark and quick-wit so very much.

I loved Kerri Maniscalco’s writing style and thought she did a wonderful job with the atmosphere, setting, characters, and the actual mystery. I was wrapped up in the story and could’ve read this in one sitting if it wasn’t for school work that needed to be completed. The pacing was a little bit on the slower side, but I think this enhanced my reading experience by allowing me to sink into the story even more. There were definitely some twists that kept me on the edge of my seat. I was intrigued by the mystery and felt like this was a fresh take on the Jack the Ripper story. The resolution came about pretty quickly, but I am definitely looking forward to where the sequel will go. Another addition I loved was the chapter headings that included blood splatters, dates/locations, and older photos.

Another highlight of the book? Thomas Cresswell. Audrey Rose’s cousin Liza states a line that pretty much sums up my feelings entirely. She says, “There’s nothing better than a little danger dashed with some romance.” This couldn’t be more true than with the case of Audrey Rose and Thomas. I adored the banter they shared and I couldn’t help but ship them right away. Their flirting and romance definitely provided a nice relief from all of the creepy (and sometimes pretty gruesome) murder descriptions.

Overall, I loved Stalking Jack the Ripper and I can’t wait to read the sequel! This is definitely one of my favorite reads this year, and I highly recommend it.

My Rating:

*This ARC was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

---

About Stalking Jack the Ripper

Release Date: September 20, 2016
Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble

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.

About Kerri Maniscalco

WEBSITE | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS

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. Stalking Jack the Ripper is her debut novel. It incorporates her love of forensic science and unsolved history, and is the first in a new series of gothic thrillers.