Title: Stalking Jack the Ripper
Series: Stalking Jack the Ripper
Author: Kerri Maniscalco
Genre: YA Historical Fiction, Mystery
Publisher: Jimmy Patterson
Format: Hardcover
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Synopsis:
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.
Set in the late 1800s, the opening pages start with our main character Audrey Rose in a laboratory working on a cadaver. Immediately you get the feel and tone of the book, very mysterious and dark. In a society where misogyny is on a all time high, many people expect Audrey Rose to hide her love for science and all things forensic medicine which includes dead bodies, Audrey Rose has a different take.
To get away from her father’s madness and society’s rules, Audrey often slips away to her uncle’s laboratory. Audrey has been helping her uncle with the corpses of this madman serial killer, theorizing and trying to figure out who it is and why are they doing this. When trying to go public with help backfires on her, she starts secretly searching for clues and the answers she is searching for will lead to something never expected.
The writing was very well done. I honestly feel that the author wrote this book in a realistic way. Yes, some parts were boring but they felt authentic and necessary. Kerri Maniscalco definitely gets into detail with the mutilation of the bodies and how they were killed, therefore please read with caution if gore isn’t your thing. Definitely do not eat and read this book at the same time. However, I actually loved that the author wrote those scenes in such detail, showing us how dark this book can get without filter.
“the dead speak to those who listen. Be quieter than even them.”
The setting and society were very on point. Maniscalco definitely does not hold back with how misogyny took place in this time, sometimes to the point where it was a burden on our main character, Audrey Rose. It also made me cringe sometimes. It sucks that this was something that was very prevalent in that day and age (we still live through it now just not as heavy), however, Maniscalco took that and made it her own. She wrote scenes that showed us how strong Audrey Rose is.
We meet a few characters throughout the book. Some of my faves including Audrey Rose, Thomas, and the Uncle Dr. Jonathan Wadsworth. All three of these are on the same hunt for the serial killer. Thomas who was pretty much Dr. Jonathan Wadsworth apprentice definitely gave me bad vibes in the beginning of the book due to his quiet sarcastic attitude. There were times when I told myself “booooyyyyyy if you do not stop right now” lol. I loved the banter between him and Audrey though! They had me giggling.
“Science never abandoned me the way religion had that night.”
I definitely grew a soft spot for Audrey’s uncle because he always meant well and definitely tested Audrey and Thomas’s limits when it came to forensic medicine. I was sad to find out that Dr. Jonathan Wadsworth and Audrey’s father, Lord Edmund Wadsworth were not in speaking terms. In actuality, Lord Edmund hated the thought of her daughter being in that laboratory for reasons the book gets into later on. Lord Edmund’s paranoia left Audrey and her brother Nathaniel in a state of despair, not knowing what to do. Lord Edmund’ s madness is due to the death of his wife, Audrey and Nathaniel’s mother. I also enjoyed Nathaniel’s character and their sibling relationship. He was very understanding to his sister’s love for the science and curiosity but also very cautious.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and cannot wait to read the second installment, Hunting Prince Dracula. The character development and the way things flowed was great. Now if you’re wondering as to why I gave the book 4 stars it’s because I found the book to be a bit predictable and some scenes were just boring. Other than that, I really enjoyed Stalking Jack the Ripper.
I loved the characters, the setting, and even the subtle steampunk elements. If you know me, you know I love steampunk. I am also a huge sucker for late 1800s to early 1900s London except for the misogyny of course because we don’t need that. Kerri Mansicalco definitely did a great job with transferring me to this world every time I opened the page.
And that ending??!!?? Although I predicted it, I was still shocked with how some things came about and I kept flipping the pages like nobody’s business. I would highly recommend this!
have you read stalking jack the ripper? what are your thoughts? do any of you anticipate hunting prince dracula? let’s chat in the comments!
Instagram: @chicnerdreads
Twitter: @chicnerdreads
Great review ! This book sounds amazing .
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it is =D
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Great review twin! I’m glad that you still found enjoyment even with the predictability & the not as exciting parts. I figured you would enjoy this one given your love for forensics. I can’t wait to get to this one myself, I for one am looking forward to the details as a fan of Dexter lol!
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I think you will love this one, especially since it has a similarity to The Infernal Devices. This one I think will be right up with your alley! Thanks twin ❤
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How’d I miss this comment TWIN!!! 😫😫😫 the Infernal Devices?!?! What the what?!?! 👀📚👀 you know me so well! 🖤
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I think I’m one of the few people who didn’t really like this book. :p Overall I was just kind of bored, and I just personally found Audrey incredibly annoying.
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Ahh that’s okay! I always like to say that not all books are for everyone =)
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Thanks for the review because I’m so glad to have discovered it now! *adds to reading list asap*!
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YAAAAYYYYY!!!!!!! i hope you like this ❤
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Great review for this book Gretchen, and I’m really glad you enjoyed it as well. Ever since I heard of Stalking Jack the Ripper I’ve wanted to read it, but yours is actually the first review I think I’ve seen. Still it sounds like a brilliant book, everything I hope it will be and more, so I hope I end up enjoying this one as much as you did. 🙂
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I hope you do too Beth! It was amazing and I really hope you like it ❤
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Thanks Gretchen! 😀 ❤
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Totally loved this one!! I am glad you enjoyed it! ❤
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Thank you!!!! It was great!
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Can’t wait for you to read HPD!
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I am super excited!
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🙂
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Great review! I haven’t read this one but i’ve heard amazing things so it’s definitely going up on the TBR. I’m fighting the urge to head straight to amazon to order it now when I know I already have a bunch of books on my shelves to read!
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Ahh I definitely get how that goes! It’s so great though, I hope you like it ❤
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I’ve been wanting to read this for soooooo long and seeing that you enjoyed it makes me want it even more!! Great review, Gretchen ♥
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I HOPE YOU LIKE IT! it’s sooooo worth the read ❤
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Great Review! I’m currently reading this book and so far, it was good. I’m enjoying the banters between Thomas and Audrey but I’m hating the slow pacing. I’m glad you enjoyed it despite the predictable plot. 🙂
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Yeah the pacing can be a slow, I definitely agree with you on that! love their banters. I’m interested in knowing your final thoughts.
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[…] Stalking Jacking the Ripper (SJTR #1) by Kerri Maniscalco A 4 star read for me! This YA Historical Fiction Mystery is definitely a book that I would highly recommend. I loved the story, the setting, the steampunk elements and the mystery. This book was worth every single turned page. I cannot wait to read Hunting Prince Dracula which I am seeing is getting tons of more love. If you click the title of the book, it will lead you to my review =) […]
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