Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

8 reviews

beccarox7's review against another edition

adventurous informative mysterious fast-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? N/A

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Murder

Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Alcohol

kartandbag's review

adventurous dark informative mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

I decided to reread this (since the last time I read it was 2017-2018? And I just got the last two books. 
I went through and annotated and it gave me a fresh view on the book. I think I cried when I found out who the killer was before, but this time around  I'd gone through all the clues and knew who it was by the end. 
It being a historical fiction adds to the definition of the main character being a women, she's often looked down upon but she almost never allows it to get in her way. 

And I have to say, I think I also fell for the love interest by the end. (though, maybe not book boyfriend worthy; Yet!) 

It took me around 4 days to finish the book (while I read all of Acotar in a span of a week) so I'd say it is a slower read to really grasp every ounce of information. 

I also loved that she adds information at the end of the book so you really capture what information she used to inspire her and be accurate. 

Stay tuned for Hunting Prince Dracula, as Ill be rereading and annotating that one as well. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Addiction, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, and Classism

Minor: Confinement, Terminal illness, Vomit, Cannibalism, and Stalking

fromjuliereads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Well I will give points that this was a quick read since I read it in 2 days 😅 I struggled with the character: Audrey is the stereotype of "not like other girls" and reminds us of that incessantly... but she had a few redeeming qualities; and while Thomas attempts to be a Sherlock wannabe, I was intrigued by his character throughout. I do wish Audrey was a bit better at deducing things because WOW she flip flopped all over! I can see how it would be different being in the situation, but I guessed who it was from the beginning. Which is rare for me. And I don't know the history around Jack the Ripper. So there's that.

Anyways, while I was decidedly NOT a fan of the extremely grotesque descriptions, I like the characters enough to hope for more growth and might eventually read the sequels!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Cannibalism, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal cruelty

cepbreed's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

All around I don’t know what to think of this book. I definitely expected more, but it wasn’t flat. Decent characters and effort put into the mystery aspect but the twist reveal didn’t do it for me. The description of the victims and especially that last scene in the laboratory have really followed me. The gore isn’t needless but it’s a LOT and I appreciate that for a book I got into expecting a lot of romance and only a bit of filler on the murders end. I didn’t know too much besides the bare bones details on the Jack the Ripper case so when I saw what the author had written in the acknowledgments I was really surprised. It makes me so happy to see so much thought put into the real life details. It’s even more commendable on a case so old and in a book that involves so many fictional people/elements.

Song: 

• Alleyways - The Neighbourhood 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

shelfdelight's review

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Drug use, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Alcohol

bubothereader's review

adventurous dark emotional informative mysterious tense fast-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? Yes

5.0

I’m not normally a huge historical fiction fan, but @kerrimaniscalco knows how to write one that I want to read.  
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. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Confinement, Drug use, Hate crime, and Forced institutionalization

mybookthrone's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Torture

roseamillerg's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

Predictable plot twist and barely any romance. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

Minor: Adult/minor relationship