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kim_ourlandofstories's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
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? Yes
5.0
This is written so well!
Jack the ripper is a serial killer that keeps capturing the world and will probably always do.
This story has been written with respect for the victims and everyone involved, but also with enough creative liberties that it feels "new".
I also love that the author included at the end which liberties they took and for which reason(s).
Jack the ripper is a serial killer that keeps capturing the world and will probably always do.
This story has been written with respect for the victims and everyone involved, but also with enough creative liberties that it feels "new".
I also love that the author included at the end which liberties they took and for which reason(s).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Cannibalism
taylanareader17's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Medical content
Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic
kathrynleereads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Not being a big fan of fiction (although I am more partial to historical fiction), I wasn't sure whether I was going to enjoy Stalking Jack the Ripper. So when I say I loved this book, I want you to understand how deeply I mean it.
While the plot did drag a little in the middle (which I've heard is true for a few of Kerri Maniscalco's books), the characters more than made up for it.
Audrey Rose and Thomas are the perfect team in that neither of them is perfect, but their imperfections complement each other flawlessly.
My only complaint (not even a complaint, more of just a note) is that I correctly guessed the identity of the Ripper in the first 50 pages (mostly off of a fluke). I was very convinced that I was right, so watching Audrey Rose focus on all the different suspects they went through got a tad bit frustrating, as I was confident they were wrong.
I can't wait to see where Audrey Rose and Thomas go from here!
While the plot did drag a little in the middle (which I've heard is true for a few of Kerri Maniscalco's books), the characters more than made up for it.
Audrey Rose and Thomas are the perfect team in that neither of them is perfect, but their imperfections complement each other flawlessly.
My only complaint (not even a complaint, more of just a note) is that I correctly guessed the identity of the Ripper in the first 50 pages (mostly off of a fluke). I was very convinced that I was right, so watching Audrey Rose focus on all the different suspects they went through got a tad bit frustrating, as I was confident they were wrong.
I can't wait to see where Audrey Rose and Thomas go from here!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Gore, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Cannibalism, and Medical trauma
Minor: Sexism and Stalking
ohayraynay's review
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Honestly, I enjoyed the story, but it's a bit too graphic for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
enika's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Torture, Blood, Medical content, and Cannibalism
faelorn's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I got Stalking Jack The Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco for $5 at a Barnes and Noble sale, so I went into this book blind. The blurb was one quote on the back - something that would ordinarily turn me away from a book - but I bought it nonetheless. A cheap book will always do me in. That being said, it was a good book. I typically don't particularly like YA novels - especially not romance ones (gasp, I know) - but this one was genuinely enjoyable to me. Audrey Rose is a fun FMC, and I can see her inspiring any young adults who read this book to pursue their career even if they face stigma, just as she does. At first, I was going to rate this book somewhere around 3.25, but the day after I finished it, I found myself actually a little sad that I couldn't read the book more. I think that alone shows that I quite enjoyed it.
The Good:
- This is a fun read. The pacing is good, the two main characters have fun chemistry, and it balances suspense with character emotion well. I found myself lost in time reading this, and I really enjoyed that.
- I did not guess the killer! While in hindsight it was a little obvious, the book does a great job of controlling where your suspicions lie through the characters.
- Okay, I have a soft spot for egotistical MMCs. I'll admit it. Thomas was perfect. He's teasing, annoying, and the perfect mix of rolling-my-eyes-at-him and enjoying how he interacts with the FMC, Audrey Rose.
- I love how much it focuses on the crimes, as grim as that sounds. It's hard to balance romance and suspense, and this book does it well! I liked the pacing around it a lot, and really enjoyed how the detective work had it's own time to shine. The medical procedures around the bodies of the deceased were also really interesting.
- I loved the little section at the end of the book that explained changes the author made from real life events. It was super fun to read and you could tell that a lot of respect for the real-life victims was there.
The Iffy:
- This is 50/50 for some people, but wow do they not spare you the details of the crime scenes. Just be wary if you have a weak stomach.
- I know I'm meant to dislike Audrey Rose's father, but I wish we saw more redeeming qualities around him. He was painted as a tortured man who lost his wife, but didn't see much sympathy around it. Spoilers for a key event ->I also didn't think him kicking Audrey Rose out of the house was in character. It's a nitpick, I know, but I can't imagine such an overprotective father just saying "alright, I give up. To the streets with you, lil' miss."
The Bad:
- Wow, Audrey Rose cannot fathom not being related to Jack the Ripper. Admittedly, her assumptions are fair, but even when someone points out it may not be the case, she banishes the thought immediately. I would've loved to see more uncertainty about it, or more denial of the thought, really.
The Good:
- This is a fun read. The pacing is good, the two main characters have fun chemistry, and it balances suspense with character emotion well. I found myself lost in time reading this, and I really enjoyed that.
- I did not guess the killer! While in hindsight it was a little obvious, the book does a great job of controlling where your suspicions lie through the characters.
- Okay, I have a soft spot for egotistical MMCs. I'll admit it. Thomas was perfect. He's teasing, annoying, and the perfect mix of rolling-my-eyes-at-him and enjoying how he interacts with the FMC, Audrey Rose.
- I love how much it focuses on the crimes, as grim as that sounds. It's hard to balance romance and suspense, and this book does it well! I liked the pacing around it a lot, and really enjoyed how the detective work had it's own time to shine. The medical procedures around the bodies of the deceased were also really interesting.
- I loved the little section at the end of the book that explained changes the author made from real life events. It was super fun to read and you could tell that a lot of respect for the real-life victims was there.
The Iffy:
- This is 50/50 for some people, but wow do they not spare you the details of the crime scenes. Just be wary if you have a weak stomach.
- I know I'm meant to dislike Audrey Rose's father, but I wish we saw more redeeming qualities around him. He was painted as a tortured man who lost his wife, but didn't see much sympathy around it. Spoilers for a key event ->
The Bad:
- Wow, Audrey Rose cannot fathom not being related to Jack the Ripper. Admittedly, her assumptions are fair, but even when someone points out it may not be the case, she banishes the thought immediately. I would've loved to see more uncertainty about it, or more denial of the thought, really.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Medical content, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Drug abuse, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Stalking, and Death of parent
kmizzzle's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
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
3.5
It was a fun mystery. Loosely based on Jack the Ripper, though it the story was altered to be based around Audrey Rose. I enjoyed Audrey Rose's character; watching her develop a spine throughout the story was nice (though homegirl had to constantly remind herself of that). And Thomas was very fun, though a bit of an odd duck. I liked that Audrey Rose was doing something women of her time didn't do - she was an apprentice to her uncle, who was a coroner. There were a few things that didn't make sense by the end (e.g., the medium; the old valet and what he was talking about about) but the mystery itself was fine.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Blood, Medical content, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Police brutality, Grief, and Death of parent
gisreading's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
Truly one of the best books I’ve ever read. I first read it when it came out years ago and had it stick with me as the years passed, constantly reminded of its beautiful work and characters. Originally picking it up due to my personal fascination of Jack The Ripper, I ended up falling in love (in more ways than one, Thomas Cresswell the man that you are <3) with both Audrey Rose and Thomas, alone and as a wonderful couple. There was no part of the story where I was left bored, or not wishing to pick it up to read more. I cannot recommend this book enough.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Gore, Sexism, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, and Forced institutionalization
uselesspirateraven's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
medium-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? N/A
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Sexual violence, and Religious bigotry
giulia__8's review against another edition
dark
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
(English is not my first language). The main character, Audrey Rose, is often inconsistent and insufferable. The love interest, Thomas, makes me understand why it's better if Sherlock Holmes considers women a distraction. The main idea is really interesting, but I think it could've been written way better. I'm kinda disappointed because I had high expectations.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Medical content