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katrox's review against another edition
4.0
Okay i liked it BUT the writing/plot was a bit all over the place at first, but then it smoothed out and i really liked it. Mysteries with female leads in Victorian-era London with a little love story on the side is my FAVORITE. on to the next one
geekykatya's review against another edition
4.0
If you are a fan of true crime, Jack the Ripper, Sherlock Holmes, and medical examiner science this is the series for you! This story starts with our girl opening up a cadaver and it gets better from there. She investigates the Ripper case along with her Uncle and his sexy assistant Thomas. There are twists and turns. It’s an exciting ride.
julyninth's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
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
4.5
candece's review against another edition
5.0
So book was very different from book I usually read and I surprisingly loved it. It was intriguing, suspenseful and brilliantly written. I rather enjoyed reading this book from Audrey Rose’s POV. She brought an intense excitement to the story reading it from her prospective. Being a women in the late 1800’s was such an eye opener and seeing her try to break the bonds that were placed on women gave me such a feel of joy and excitement. I loved seeing her doing what she loved even though it was socially unexceptionable back them. Also seeing how she developed as a character and her love interest was such a breath of fresh air. I loved their banter and their cordial relationship. This book gave me all the feels!!! I can’t wait to read Hunting Prince Dracula!
spiderwyrm's review against another edition
4.0
Does a story ever warm your heart so much that you can not contain yourself? Stalking Jack the Ripper tells the story of an ambitious girl who fights for the equality she deserves. It brings the characters to life with their own distinctive personalities, desires, and fears. I absolutely adored this book from the very beginning until the very end.
kyrstind's review against another edition
3.0
I really wanted to love this book. Audrey Rose is an interesting character, but over superfluous prose seemed to get in the way of the action sometimes. There were also moments that the plot tended to drag. But there were also moments that were really great. Overall, I enjoyed it, but I'm not sure I can quite recommend it.
abernathyestate's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars
i had enough fun with this that i definitely want to keep reading the series.
i had enough fun with this that i definitely want to keep reading the series.
thejordanjournals's review against another edition
1.0
1.5/5 stars.
I was so excited to read this book. It had the makings of a possible favorite. I was so let down by what I read. Honestly, I would have DNFed this book if I wasn't participating as a judge in the YA BookTube Awards this year. The sequel is nominated in a category that I am co-judging.
Historical fiction novel taking place in the 1880s, in London, with a leading lady interested in forensic science, surrounded by the Jack the Ripper murders.
I was pumped.
Unfortunately, I was very disappointed in Audrey Rose as a main character. I don't need to have a likable main character to enjoy a story; however, I have a hard time with protagonists who are supposed to be likable, but aren't. Audrey Rose contradicted nearly everything she said. She was striving to break social bounds as a woman interested in crime and science; however, she constantly talked about how she was lacking in proper social etiquette and how every other character was going to judge her for that. Her inner monologue was insufferable, boring, and redundant. She comments on every single action, decision, and thought she has. Even at the climax of the story, with her life in danger, she in narrating every. single. thing that is happening. There was far too much exposition and narration. Every single detail was far too over explained.
Furthermore, Audrey Rose falls victim to the "not like other girls" trope, but it's done in such a subtle way. It's very evident that she is different because of her interests in crime and science, which was very different for women at this time. However, Audrey Rose goes on to denounce every other female character for sipping tea, having picnics, going to parties, planning events, basically doing anything that a lady of society would have done at this time. Just because they were upholding society's standards of women for this time does not make them any less than anyone else. Unless you're Audrey Rose, then you spend every scene with these ladies of society complaining about them being ladies of society. Even though Audrey Rose is also a lady of society, and continually mentions how she should really be a better lady in society. Like girl, decide: do you want to be rebellious and forward-thinking or do you want to fit in with society. I wanted to see her commit more to her passions and not be afraid to express she interests. Just be the badass, outcast that you're supposed to be Audrey Rose. I would have liked you better for it.
Aside from Audrey Rose, I had some issues with the suspense/thriller claim of this novel. I found nothing about this novel to be suspenseful or thrilling. In the end, I thought the mystery was extremely lackluster and bland. It didn't pack any kind of punch. It felt dry and recycled and too supernatural for a novel that previously had no supernatural elements (except for a weird scene with a psychic that comes out of nowhere and is used as a strange plot device to reveal information to Audrey Rose that was absolutely ridiculous). I really wouldn't consider this to be a mystery/thriller in any sense of the word. It is very atmospheric, but that is not enough to create a suspenseful historical mystery.
Finally, there was a moment, in the midst of climax, when Audrey Rose's life is at stake, that she literally says (along these lines): and it was in this moment I realized how much I loved him and how much I needed him in my life. Push-lease. I have never snorted so loud, nor rolled my eyes so dramatically at a realization of love in my entire life. C'mon, I can't even talk about this scene without rolling my eyes again. It was just absolutely ridiculous. This is the point I truly lost all faith in this book.
Even after all of that, I will still be reading the sequel because it is nominated in the mystery/thriller category for the YA BookTube Awards. I am going to do my absolute best to go into the sequel with an open-mind and positive thoughts because I sincerely don't want to hate this series.
Sidenote: I should mention that I listened to this on audiobook and found that much more enjoyable than the print version. I actually thought the narrator did a fairly good job. If it wasn't for the audio, I don't think I would have been able to finish this book. I will be listening to the audiobook for Hunting Prince Dracula, as well.
I was so excited to read this book. It had the makings of a possible favorite. I was so let down by what I read. Honestly, I would have DNFed this book if I wasn't participating as a judge in the YA BookTube Awards this year. The sequel is nominated in a category that I am co-judging.
Historical fiction novel taking place in the 1880s, in London, with a leading lady interested in forensic science, surrounded by the Jack the Ripper murders.
I was pumped.
Unfortunately, I was very disappointed in Audrey Rose as a main character. I don't need to have a likable main character to enjoy a story; however, I have a hard time with protagonists who are supposed to be likable, but aren't. Audrey Rose contradicted nearly everything she said. She was striving to break social bounds as a woman interested in crime and science; however, she constantly talked about how she was lacking in proper social etiquette and how every other character was going to judge her for that. Her inner monologue was insufferable, boring, and redundant. She comments on every single action, decision, and thought she has. Even at the climax of the story, with her life in danger, she in narrating every. single. thing that is happening. There was far too much exposition and narration. Every single detail was far too over explained.
Furthermore, Audrey Rose falls victim to the "not like other girls" trope, but it's done in such a subtle way. It's very evident that she is different because of her interests in crime and science, which was very different for women at this time. However, Audrey Rose goes on to denounce every other female character for sipping tea, having picnics, going to parties, planning events, basically doing anything that a lady of society would have done at this time. Just because they were upholding society's standards of women for this time does not make them any less than anyone else. Unless you're Audrey Rose, then you spend every scene with these ladies of society complaining about them being ladies of society. Even though Audrey Rose is also a lady of society, and continually mentions how she should really be a better lady in society. Like girl, decide: do you want to be rebellious and forward-thinking or do you want to fit in with society. I wanted to see her commit more to her passions and not be afraid to express she interests. Just be the badass, outcast that you're supposed to be Audrey Rose. I would have liked you better for it.
Aside from Audrey Rose, I had some issues with the suspense/thriller claim of this novel. I found nothing about this novel to be suspenseful or thrilling. In the end, I thought the mystery was extremely lackluster and bland. It didn't pack any kind of punch. It felt dry and recycled and too supernatural for a novel that previously had no supernatural elements (except for a weird scene with a psychic that comes out of nowhere and is used as a strange plot device to reveal information to Audrey Rose that was absolutely ridiculous). I really wouldn't consider this to be a mystery/thriller in any sense of the word. It is very atmospheric, but that is not enough to create a suspenseful historical mystery.
Finally, there was a moment, in the midst of climax, when Audrey Rose's life is at stake, that she literally says (along these lines): and it was in this moment I realized how much I loved him and how much I needed him in my life. Push-lease. I have never snorted so loud, nor rolled my eyes so dramatically at a realization of love in my entire life. C'mon, I can't even talk about this scene without rolling my eyes again. It was just absolutely ridiculous. This is the point I truly lost all faith in this book.
Even after all of that, I will still be reading the sequel because it is nominated in the mystery/thriller category for the YA BookTube Awards. I am going to do my absolute best to go into the sequel with an open-mind and positive thoughts because I sincerely don't want to hate this series.
Sidenote: I should mention that I listened to this on audiobook and found that much more enjoyable than the print version. I actually thought the narrator did a fairly good job. If it wasn't for the audio, I don't think I would have been able to finish this book. I will be listening to the audiobook for Hunting Prince Dracula, as well.