tiramisuandpasta's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Death, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Torture, Death of parent, Medical content, and Murder
Moderate: Rape, Terminal illness, Cannibalism, Drug abuse, and Sexism
Minor: Vomit
wrensreadingroom's review against another edition
5.0
Moderate: Addiction, Gore, Medical trauma, Murder, Classism, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Confinement, Mental illness, Violence, Vomit, Body horror, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Stalking, Suicide, Terminal illness, Alcohol, Medical content, Blood, Cannibalism, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
jia_pet's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Terminal illness, Gore, and Murder
Moderate: Medical content, Stalking, Drug use, Drug abuse, Death, Terminal illness, Blood, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Alcoholism, and Alcohol
ivy123's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Stalking Jack the Ripper sees our main character Audrey Rose investigating the Jack the Ripper murders alongside her uncle and a quick-witted companion Thomas. This was an interesting fictionalization of the murders in a way I had not seen before and I loved the banter between Audrey and Thomas. The historical photographs copied onto certain chapters were an entertaining touch making the world feel even more real. I also loved Audrey's determination to study forensics and anatomy against the wishes of others and her flaws making her a believable character. I did not exactly see the twist coming at the end of who Jack the Ripper was but it also did not seem so surprising when revealed.
At the same time although I loved this novel I can see where others are coming from in their critiques. Audrey does appear the Watson to Thomas's Holmes and the I am not like other girls trope was screaming at you from the page from the moment you set out. However, these things did not really bother me as I was entertained the whole way through. I also did not set out thinking this would be 100% accurate to it's real-life counterpart and Kerri Maniscalco is honest that creative liberties were taken with the facts to fit the story. This was ok as well since I did not go in looking for a historical book.
Overall a great debut novel and I can not wait to start the next in the series.
Graphic: Drug abuse, Blood, Murder, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Terminal illness, Body horror, Classism, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Death, Death of parent, Gore, and Violence
Minor: Alcohol
melis_246's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
0.75
Graphic: Blood, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Suicide, Misogyny, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Gore, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Death, and Addiction
Moderate: Abandonment, Cursing, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Stalking, and Mental illness
There was no repbubothereader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The intrigue, the plot, the gasps. I read about 300 pages in one night up until 3:30 a.m. because I didn’t want to put it down.
The characters are top notch, her foreshadowing is superb, without being heavy-handed—I didn’t know what would happen, but when the reveal occurred I saw all the dominoes fall into place. Such an Agatha Christie move!!
The atmosphere was bone-chilling. I’d get scared and put the book down, shake it out, then pick it right back up.
The writing was a great style for Victorian England as well. Very believable.
The romance was something I shipped and felt natural. No insta-love. Very well-paced. Plus, i appreciate that Audrey Rose didn’t lose her head about him either—she questioned him and his motives. A reasonable approach to a relationship.
This is a 5-star read for me. I’ve not felt this jazzed about a book in a few months. Will pick up the sequel next year!
TW: the book is fairly gory, deals with murder, shows autopsies, and has some gaslighting moments.
Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Confinement, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, and Hate crime
rbookish's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Death, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Medical content, Murder, Sexism, Sexual violence, Stalking, Torture, Terminal illness, and Violence