jesperado's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
ffilippa's review against another edition
4.0
Actual rating: 3.5/5 stars
Stalking Jack the Ripper was a good book with a fairly interesting concept. I love historical fiction and mystery, and therefore I believed that this would be the perfect book for me. But unfortunately, it wasn't... My main problem with this novel was that I wasn't fully invested in it. The story was boring and uneventful at too many points, and I also found the language to be a little too old-timey to my liking. But the story was nonetheless well written, and I liked the cast of characters. The ending too was great (I liked the developed relationships a lot).
The major pluses!
Audrey Rose's relationship with Thomas was cute! I love inevitable love, when it's good. I liked that Thomas let Audrey Rose be whoever, and whatever, she wanted to be, unlike her father. I also loved that I hadn't figured out Jack the Ripper's true identity, so that was a huge surprise.
Now I really want to pick up the next novel. I believe Hunting Prince Dracula will be even better!
Stalking Jack the Ripper was a good book with a fairly interesting concept. I love historical fiction and mystery, and therefore I believed that this would be the perfect book for me. But unfortunately, it wasn't... My main problem with this novel was that I wasn't fully invested in it. The story was boring and uneventful at too many points, and I also found the language to be a little too old-timey to my liking. But the story was nonetheless well written, and I liked the cast of characters. The ending too was great (I liked the developed relationships a lot).
The major pluses!
Audrey Rose's relationship with Thomas was cute! I love inevitable love, when it's good. I liked that Thomas let Audrey Rose be whoever, and whatever, she wanted to be, unlike her father. I also loved that I hadn't figured out Jack the Ripper's true identity, so that was a huge surprise.
Now I really want to pick up the next novel. I believe Hunting Prince Dracula will be even better!
hoosenhajera's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
audrey rose, my beloved
natcommon's review against another edition
3.0
The beginning was the best part but it went down from there. I guessed who was Jack the Ripper very early on and Audrey Rose is a tsundere. I don’t mind tsundere characters but it was just done oddly. There was not a good motive for her behavior.
nnneelrahc's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
lifeofbry's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco is a proper whodunit full of mystery, gore and lingering questions regarding humanity.
I adored Audrey Rose as the main character as she balanced bending societal expectations and her own idea of femininity with her fascianation for forensic science and a need to catch the murderer brutalizing women across London. And Thomas is such a complimentary character as the Sherlock to her Watson in this gruesome yet adorable duo.
While I figured out the murderer fairly quickly, there was a moment I genuinely thought the back cover gave it away 😅 but the pacing was better than some mystery novels I’ve read and the clues were well distributed with purpose that wasn’t just throwing off readers.
I really enjoyed this take on the Jack the Ripper sensation, and the emotional execution was done really well to make this not just about the murderer and the mystery but about the humans involved — from the victims to police to scientists to family and friends. There’s a line often drawn between science and humanity, but you can’t separate the two entirely as Maniscalco exemplifies so well.
Maniscalco actually includes an author’s note at the end highlighting some creative liberties she took while writing with a bit of historical context, which I thought was incredible and the right thing to do with a horrifying event that’s been sensationalized to the point the reality of it is often overlooked.
I adored Audrey Rose as the main character as she balanced bending societal expectations and her own idea of femininity with her fascianation for forensic science and a need to catch the murderer brutalizing women across London. And Thomas is such a complimentary character as the Sherlock to her Watson in this gruesome yet adorable duo.
While I figured out the murderer fairly quickly, there was a moment I genuinely thought the back cover gave it away 😅 but the pacing was better than some mystery novels I’ve read and the clues were well distributed with purpose that wasn’t just throwing off readers.
I really enjoyed this take on the Jack the Ripper sensation, and the emotional execution was done really well to make this not just about the murderer and the mystery but about the humans involved — from the victims to police to scientists to family and friends. There’s a line often drawn between science and humanity, but you can’t separate the two entirely as Maniscalco exemplifies so well.
Maniscalco actually includes an author’s note at the end highlighting some creative liberties she took while writing with a bit of historical context, which I thought was incredible and the right thing to do with a horrifying event that’s been sensationalized to the point the reality of it is often overlooked.
abbypeekreads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Body horror, Medical content, Gore, and Murder
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Drug abuse, Addiction, and Death of parent
bookedbyruqs's review against another edition
5.0
Stalking Jack the Ripper was macabre. Gruesome. Ghastly. Morbidly fascinating.
The descriptions could be so graphic. It actually started gory and it caught me off guard. But you know what? I enjoyed it very much overall and if I enjoyed it then to hell with everything. The ambience so eerie, I couldn't suppress my shivers. The mystery so tangible, my heart bet frantically in my chest. Kerri Maniscalco's palette contained gloomy colours, grey for the mist that covered London, black for the shadows that hid the Ripper's work, mixed with crimson red, for all the blood that was spilled. And in the middle of this canvas of death were two young forensic students, a boy and a girl, whose skills and wit would make Sherlock Holmes and Watson proud.
This was sooo good!
A scientific approach to the infamous whodunnit' story of Jack the Ripper, featuring a strong heroine with a deep dedication to her forensic studies, constantly challenging what society deems is proper. (With just the right amount of romance, of course!)
I listened to the audiobook, which was awesome. Despite the fact that I went the audiobook route, I still read the book alongside listening to it. I also looked at the photos scattered throughout the story. They really enhanced the reading experience, making it feel like I was gathering bits of evidence alongside Audrey Rose as the story goes on. I loved that addition to the story and I hope it will continue throughout the series.
The forensics that went into this story are where I believe it really stands out. This was one of the most unique YA mysteries I've ever read. You can tell the author took care not only to research her subject, Jack the Ripper, but also the nature of forensics as a whole. I didn’t even know Jack the Ripper was an actual serial killer in real life from back in the day. It was really interesting to read this book inspired on past events The anatomical descriptions painted grotesque pictures in my mind, bringing the victims mutilated state to life.
Audrey Rose's position as a young woman in the Victorian era was an important aspect of the story as well. As a proper high society female, she is constantly underestimated and disrespected but she does not let circumstances limit her. She constantly questions why she, as a female, isn't thought to be as capable as her male counterparts and as such, always strives to prove said counterparts wrong. This isn't necessarily uncommon in YA, but this case was unique because it was a situation of the female outwitting her opponents not in a battle or political sense, but rather in terms of her intelligence, scientifically. Her fight to be able to be educated in her Uncle's classroom shows how important knowledge is to her and she proves, time and time again, that it is her most lethal weapon. In this way I could relate to Audrey Rose.
The murder mystery kept me guessing the whole time. I felt like the twists and turns this story took were not easily anticipated. It was so fast paced and kept me on the edge of my seat. It made for a perfectly spooky read. If you're looking for a good book to pick up this October, give this one a chance, I think it will surprise you!
I LOVE the main characters and their banter/chemistry so much. The characters are wonderful and intriguing to read. The language of these characters, while romanticised and beautiful, is also quote amusing and witty. While I expected to be confronted with language fitting of the era (which it was) it was really great to see how banter and sarcasm can be conveyed even in the most beautiful and delicate of ways.
Jack the Ripper.
- The Whitechapel Murderer. Leather Apron. Whatever you call him, he's still the same; a monster that lingered in the shadows, bathed in blood and gore and terrorized London with his brutality and depravity.
- There are numerous theories about his identity, but none of them were confirmed. And so, Kerri Maniscalco crafted her own tale. A tale of heroes and villains.
Audrey Rose
Audrey Rose Wadsworth was not a proper lady. She chose science over blind faith, and spent her afternoons cutting up dead bodies rather than taking her tea with actual proper ladies, discussing eligible bachelors and gowns. Which is actual bullshit. Im sooo happy Audrey followed her passion in medicine and wasn’t like those other girls. Her dark curiosity was never satisfied, so she cut and stitched and cut and stitched, until one day the mutilated body of a prostitute shook her to the core. And it was not the last. Assisted by an insufferable mortuary student, she made the solution of these horrible crimes her top priority, while her family was falling apart and Jack the Ripper was always one step ahead, solidifying his reign of terror. But sometimes answers can do more damage than good.
Wadsworth. A girl determined to be both pretty and fierce, a girl that fought for what she wanted, sick of the stereotypes against women and eager to prove them wrong. Audrey Rose hates being told what to do. She feels very rebellious. And I like that about her. A sister can do what a sister wants to do and there’s nothing wrong with it. And the smug heartthrob that Thomas Cresswell is sees this and encourages her to go wild. And I’m living for this.
Audrey is such a clever character. She is all the things a modern woman stuck in a traditional era should be. She is bright, motivated, career driven, and does not believe that a woman can do a lesser job than a man. Throughout this book she is held back from pursuing what she truly loves, by society and most of all, her father. I loved reading the final page of the book where her father has done everything possible for her to be accepted into a forensic school in Romania (with Thomas) and I cannot wait to read her adventures in the next book!
Cresswell. A rich young man, cold and distant when it comes to murders and corpses, but with a fire burning within him that awaits for the moment to be ignited. His replies are always witty and sarcastic, he is aware of his marvelous deduction skills and vast knowledge, and this makes him arrogant, but he is caring, and loyal. Thomas is such a beautifully complex character that I found myself drawn to him instantly. I admired his deducting skills and his knowledge, all of which fascinated me. He is a damn sexy character I give him that.
Wadsworth and Cresswell are always bickering, driving each other crazy, and the attraction between them turns slowly into something deeper that does funny things to your stomach, while the tension sets you on fire! Their relationship is definitely a slow-burn and I love it, especially because it is sprinkled from time to time with the shameless flirting Thomas inflicts on Audrey Rose and also with a candid type of falling in love from both of them. They’re totally precious!
I enjoyed how Thomas would often make fun of Audrey or try provoke her for his own amusement and she was giving it right back to him! It was hilarious and had me giggling and laughing out loud whenever these two couldnt agree on one thing. I loved watching this relationship and romance brew and how much passion (while subtle) lies beneath Thomas’ character.
I liked Audrey's uncle even though he was a bit nutty. I loved how he took Audrey under his wing and taught her everything he knew despite society being against Woman learning back in those days.
Yet another neat experience in this book: the documentation. I admire well-informed people and I am a fan of accuracy. I loved how much time and effort Maniscalco put into this work. The investigations and studying of not only the era but the actual inner workings and crime scenes of a serial killer that did exist. While the book is a work of fiction, I was fascinated by how the author was able to bring this back and connect all the dots all while bringing Audrey closer to truths she’s been sheltered from. The world building is utterly magnificent.
I could give a whole star only for the pictures placed at the beginning of every chapter. They were real pictures of sickly interesting things and I loved them and the idea of placing them there.
Kerri did a fabulous job with the cadaver scenes. I thought she expertly breathed life (pun intended) into these scenes with the proper medical terms, scents, and emotions, all while giving us plenty of intrigue and suspense to keep the pages turning. Audrey Rose speaks about how it’s imperative to separate emotion in order to investigate murder, perform autopsies, and be a surgeon. This hit close to home for me as a health care professional, and I felt that Kerri understood this side of medicine well.
Kerri is a master of chapter endings. She often ended them at the start of an explosive scene (e.g. when a character has just shown up) or with a hint at what’s to come (e.g. the reader knows Audrey is about to confront someone).
Also, romance and all aside, if you think that you have guessed who’s behind all the murdering stuff then there is a high chance that you might be wrong. Just sayin’.
I mean, I was so sure that I knew who the killer is just for me to get rubbed in the face by the fact that I wasn’t actually paying attention to the details in order to see the big picture clearly. I haven’t guessed the killer and I had all the facts right in front of my eyes.
Kerri Maniscalco really let me feverishly believe I was a smart-ass and then struck me down with my own stupidity. Ugh, that was a genius move against me, actually.
What can I say more? I am super impressed with this first book and I mean it. It even gave me time to analyse other amazing facts hidden in there – like the more or less obvious female empowerment scenes and passages or witnessing a bit of a young girl’s anarchy against patriarchy.
The ending was completely sad and I really loved the way the author set it up. The end of this book was sad AND morbid. It was satisfying and well-done. I admire Kerri for her ability to take facts about Jack the Ripper and weave this beautiful, fleshed-out story, creating her own world out of a historical mystery that has haunted and intrigued people for over a century. The end, end was sweet and leads us into the next book!!! Yessssssss
The descriptions could be so graphic. It actually started gory and it caught me off guard. But you know what? I enjoyed it very much overall and if I enjoyed it then to hell with everything. The ambience so eerie, I couldn't suppress my shivers. The mystery so tangible, my heart bet frantically in my chest. Kerri Maniscalco's palette contained gloomy colours, grey for the mist that covered London, black for the shadows that hid the Ripper's work, mixed with crimson red, for all the blood that was spilled. And in the middle of this canvas of death were two young forensic students, a boy and a girl, whose skills and wit would make Sherlock Holmes and Watson proud.
This was sooo good!
A scientific approach to the infamous whodunnit' story of Jack the Ripper, featuring a strong heroine with a deep dedication to her forensic studies, constantly challenging what society deems is proper. (With just the right amount of romance, of course!)
I listened to the audiobook, which was awesome. Despite the fact that I went the audiobook route, I still read the book alongside listening to it. I also looked at the photos scattered throughout the story. They really enhanced the reading experience, making it feel like I was gathering bits of evidence alongside Audrey Rose as the story goes on. I loved that addition to the story and I hope it will continue throughout the series.
The forensics that went into this story are where I believe it really stands out. This was one of the most unique YA mysteries I've ever read. You can tell the author took care not only to research her subject, Jack the Ripper, but also the nature of forensics as a whole. I didn’t even know Jack the Ripper was an actual serial killer in real life from back in the day. It was really interesting to read this book inspired on past events The anatomical descriptions painted grotesque pictures in my mind, bringing the victims mutilated state to life.
Audrey Rose's position as a young woman in the Victorian era was an important aspect of the story as well. As a proper high society female, she is constantly underestimated and disrespected but she does not let circumstances limit her. She constantly questions why she, as a female, isn't thought to be as capable as her male counterparts and as such, always strives to prove said counterparts wrong. This isn't necessarily uncommon in YA, but this case was unique because it was a situation of the female outwitting her opponents not in a battle or political sense, but rather in terms of her intelligence, scientifically. Her fight to be able to be educated in her Uncle's classroom shows how important knowledge is to her and she proves, time and time again, that it is her most lethal weapon. In this way I could relate to Audrey Rose.
The murder mystery kept me guessing the whole time. I felt like the twists and turns this story took were not easily anticipated. It was so fast paced and kept me on the edge of my seat. It made for a perfectly spooky read. If you're looking for a good book to pick up this October, give this one a chance, I think it will surprise you!
I LOVE the main characters and their banter/chemistry so much. The characters are wonderful and intriguing to read. The language of these characters, while romanticised and beautiful, is also quote amusing and witty. While I expected to be confronted with language fitting of the era (which it was) it was really great to see how banter and sarcasm can be conveyed even in the most beautiful and delicate of ways.
Jack the Ripper.
- The Whitechapel Murderer. Leather Apron. Whatever you call him, he's still the same; a monster that lingered in the shadows, bathed in blood and gore and terrorized London with his brutality and depravity.
- There are numerous theories about his identity, but none of them were confirmed. And so, Kerri Maniscalco crafted her own tale. A tale of heroes and villains.
Audrey Rose
Audrey Rose Wadsworth was not a proper lady. She chose science over blind faith, and spent her afternoons cutting up dead bodies rather than taking her tea with actual proper ladies, discussing eligible bachelors and gowns. Which is actual bullshit. Im sooo happy Audrey followed her passion in medicine and wasn’t like those other girls. Her dark curiosity was never satisfied, so she cut and stitched and cut and stitched, until one day the mutilated body of a prostitute shook her to the core. And it was not the last. Assisted by an insufferable mortuary student, she made the solution of these horrible crimes her top priority, while her family was falling apart and Jack the Ripper was always one step ahead, solidifying his reign of terror. But sometimes answers can do more damage than good.
Wadsworth. A girl determined to be both pretty and fierce, a girl that fought for what she wanted, sick of the stereotypes against women and eager to prove them wrong. Audrey Rose hates being told what to do. She feels very rebellious. And I like that about her. A sister can do what a sister wants to do and there’s nothing wrong with it. And the smug heartthrob that Thomas Cresswell is sees this and encourages her to go wild. And I’m living for this.
Audrey is such a clever character. She is all the things a modern woman stuck in a traditional era should be. She is bright, motivated, career driven, and does not believe that a woman can do a lesser job than a man. Throughout this book she is held back from pursuing what she truly loves, by society and most of all, her father. I loved reading the final page of the book where her father has done everything possible for her to be accepted into a forensic school in Romania (with Thomas) and I cannot wait to read her adventures in the next book!
Cresswell. A rich young man, cold and distant when it comes to murders and corpses, but with a fire burning within him that awaits for the moment to be ignited. His replies are always witty and sarcastic, he is aware of his marvelous deduction skills and vast knowledge, and this makes him arrogant, but he is caring, and loyal. Thomas is such a beautifully complex character that I found myself drawn to him instantly. I admired his deducting skills and his knowledge, all of which fascinated me. He is a damn sexy character I give him that.
Wadsworth and Cresswell are always bickering, driving each other crazy, and the attraction between them turns slowly into something deeper that does funny things to your stomach, while the tension sets you on fire! Their relationship is definitely a slow-burn and I love it, especially because it is sprinkled from time to time with the shameless flirting Thomas inflicts on Audrey Rose and also with a candid type of falling in love from both of them. They’re totally precious!
I enjoyed how Thomas would often make fun of Audrey or try provoke her for his own amusement and she was giving it right back to him! It was hilarious and had me giggling and laughing out loud whenever these two couldnt agree on one thing. I loved watching this relationship and romance brew and how much passion (while subtle) lies beneath Thomas’ character.
I liked Audrey's uncle even though he was a bit nutty. I loved how he took Audrey under his wing and taught her everything he knew despite society being against Woman learning back in those days.
Yet another neat experience in this book: the documentation. I admire well-informed people and I am a fan of accuracy. I loved how much time and effort Maniscalco put into this work. The investigations and studying of not only the era but the actual inner workings and crime scenes of a serial killer that did exist. While the book is a work of fiction, I was fascinated by how the author was able to bring this back and connect all the dots all while bringing Audrey closer to truths she’s been sheltered from. The world building is utterly magnificent.
I could give a whole star only for the pictures placed at the beginning of every chapter. They were real pictures of sickly interesting things and I loved them and the idea of placing them there.
Kerri did a fabulous job with the cadaver scenes. I thought she expertly breathed life (pun intended) into these scenes with the proper medical terms, scents, and emotions, all while giving us plenty of intrigue and suspense to keep the pages turning. Audrey Rose speaks about how it’s imperative to separate emotion in order to investigate murder, perform autopsies, and be a surgeon. This hit close to home for me as a health care professional, and I felt that Kerri understood this side of medicine well.
Kerri is a master of chapter endings. She often ended them at the start of an explosive scene (e.g. when a character has just shown up) or with a hint at what’s to come (e.g. the reader knows Audrey is about to confront someone).
Also, romance and all aside, if you think that you have guessed who’s behind all the murdering stuff then there is a high chance that you might be wrong. Just sayin’.
I mean, I was so sure that I knew who the killer is just for me to get rubbed in the face by the fact that I wasn’t actually paying attention to the details in order to see the big picture clearly. I haven’t guessed the killer and I had all the facts right in front of my eyes.
Kerri Maniscalco really let me feverishly believe I was a smart-ass and then struck me down with my own stupidity. Ugh, that was a genius move against me, actually.
What can I say more? I am super impressed with this first book and I mean it. It even gave me time to analyse other amazing facts hidden in there – like the more or less obvious female empowerment scenes and passages or witnessing a bit of a young girl’s anarchy against patriarchy.
The ending was completely sad and I really loved the way the author set it up. The end of this book was sad AND morbid. It was satisfying and well-done. I admire Kerri for her ability to take facts about Jack the Ripper and weave this beautiful, fleshed-out story, creating her own world out of a historical mystery that has haunted and intrigued people for over a century. The end, end was sweet and leads us into the next book!!! Yessssssss
jennharrott's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
rndmdeni's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5