Scan barcode
A review by lifeofbry
Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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? N/A
4.25
Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco is a proper whodunit full of mystery, gore and lingering questions regarding humanity.
I adored Audrey Rose as the main character as she balanced bending societal expectations and her own idea of femininity with her fascianation for forensic science and a need to catch the murderer brutalizing women across London. And Thomas is such a complimentary character as the Sherlock to her Watson in this gruesome yet adorable duo.
While I figured out the murderer fairly quickly, there was a moment I genuinely thought the back cover gave it away 😅 but the pacing was better than some mystery novels I’ve read and the clues were well distributed with purpose that wasn’t just throwing off readers.
I really enjoyed this take on the Jack the Ripper sensation, and the emotional execution was done really well to make this not just about the murderer and the mystery but about the humans involved — from the victims to police to scientists to family and friends. There’s a line often drawn between science and humanity, but you can’t separate the two entirely as Maniscalco exemplifies so well.
Maniscalco actually includes an author’s note at the end highlighting some creative liberties she took while writing with a bit of historical context, which I thought was incredible and the right thing to do with a horrifying event that’s been sensationalized to the point the reality of it is often overlooked.
I adored Audrey Rose as the main character as she balanced bending societal expectations and her own idea of femininity with her fascianation for forensic science and a need to catch the murderer brutalizing women across London. And Thomas is such a complimentary character as the Sherlock to her Watson in this gruesome yet adorable duo.
While I figured out the murderer fairly quickly, there was a moment I genuinely thought the back cover gave it away 😅 but the pacing was better than some mystery novels I’ve read and the clues were well distributed with purpose that wasn’t just throwing off readers.
I really enjoyed this take on the Jack the Ripper sensation, and the emotional execution was done really well to make this not just about the murderer and the mystery but about the humans involved — from the victims to police to scientists to family and friends. There’s a line often drawn between science and humanity, but you can’t separate the two entirely as Maniscalco exemplifies so well.
Maniscalco actually includes an author’s note at the end highlighting some creative liberties she took while writing with a bit of historical context, which I thought was incredible and the right thing to do with a horrifying event that’s been sensationalized to the point the reality of it is often overlooked.