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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
3.75
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, 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
fernandalaram's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Drug abuse
Minor: Cannibalism
emilylovesgoodbooks's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Torture, and Murder
Moderate: Drug abuse and Death of parent
letiross's review against another edition
adventurous
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? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Murder
Moderate: Drug abuse, Sexism, and Death of parent
Minor: Addiction, Vomit, and Cannibalism
tabea1409's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Hate crime, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
mals_library's review against another edition
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Forced institutionalization, and Cannibalism
Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Vomit, and Medical content
kornwaiisms's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
WELL WELL WELL. i finally finished this. and I have THINGS TO SAY!
i started it in between studying for exams in february i believe, and i was reading a couple of chapters every night before i slept. at first it was certainly very interesting and i liked some lyrical sentences here and there but then my exams were over so my brain forgot abt it as it was connected with post study rest before bed.
when i continued reading again, i was off the momentum i'd say, so it was a little bit boring at times. the last few days i read and now I'm done and I'm rambling but a bit after the middle point it became SO intriguing i was hooked. i was so caught up in the writer's path as to who the most probable suspect was and i was scared it would be true, but the REVEAL was worse for my little heart:'((
BUT I REALLY LIKED HOW IT ENDED. and oh god that last page. LETS GOOO AUDREY ROSE AND THOMAS IN ROMANIA HEHDVSBJSKSKD!
Anyway what more. I liked the characters!! Their chemistry!! The mystery and historical accuracy!! It was really good. i will admit that maybe it wasn't amazing as a book for me? i think it'll be the case that I'll fall for the characters and the series in general, just like it happened with the folk of the air and shatter me maybe.
PS i don't know if i can restrain myself from starting the next book, i had PLANS and TBRS scheduled ughh
i started it in between studying for exams in february i believe, and i was reading a couple of chapters every night before i slept. at first it was certainly very interesting and i liked some lyrical sentences here and there but then my exams were over so my brain forgot abt it as it was connected with post study rest before bed.
when i continued reading again, i was off the momentum i'd say, so it was a little bit boring at times. the last few days i read and now I'm done and I'm rambling but a bit after the middle point it became SO intriguing i was hooked. i was so caught up in the writer's path as to who the most probable suspect was and i was scared it would be true, but the REVEAL was worse for my little heart:'((
BUT I REALLY LIKED HOW IT ENDED. and oh god that last page. LETS GOOO AUDREY ROSE AND THOMAS IN ROMANIA HEHDVSBJSKSKD!
Anyway what more. I liked the characters!! Their chemistry!! The mystery and historical accuracy!! It was really good. i will admit that maybe it wasn't amazing as a book for me? i think it'll be the case that I'll fall for the characters and the series in general, just like it happened with the folk of the air and shatter me maybe.
PS i don't know if i can restrain myself from starting the next book, i had PLANS and TBRS scheduled ughh
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, and Murder
Moderate: Drug abuse, Sexism, and Death of parent
Minor: Vomit and Cannibalism
tmholsman_1994's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I absolutely fell in love with this story when I first read it and I just fell even more in love with it upon reread. This was my first historical fantasy book and I fell in love with the genre. I really loved Kerri Maniscalco's take on Jack the Ripper. I love how Audrey Rose didn't care what society thought of her fascination with studying science and dissecting bodies. instead of doing what society deems appropriate. I loved the growth of Audrey and Thomas' relationship and I am very excited to read more of their adventures.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Stalking, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Animal death, Cannibalism, and Death of parent
Minor: Mental illness and Suicide