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A review by yazthebookish
Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco
4.0
4 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
”Death was not prejudiced by mortal things such as station or gender. It came for kings and queens and prostitutes alike, often leaving the living with regrets. What might we have done differently if we’d known the end was so near?”
Stalking Jack the Ripper for me was the perfect book to start the spooky month with. Jack the Ripper was a notorious serial killer known for the 1888 Whitechapel murders whose victims were prostitutes. He was a real person yet there are many controversies since he was never identified; he was also known as Whitechapel Murderer and Leather Apron.
This book takes its inspiration from the well-known gruesome murders and we follow seventeen year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth, a lord’s daughter and student of Forensic Medicine which keeps her in company of corpses in her Uncle’s Laboratory along with his apprentice, the devilish charmer Thomas Cresswell. Audrey is thrust into a mysterious case of murders targeting women in poverty-stricken areas around Whitechapel district. Audrey and Thomas set on a quest to seek answers and find clues on the identity of the killer whom had cast London into a nightmarish reality.
Kerri Maniscalo seamlessly crafts an eerie and dark story blending in history to her reimagination of Victorian London and the murder cases of Whitechapel. With a dash of romance and mystery intrigue, she delivers an entertaining story led by a strong-willed protagonist.
Audrey Rose Wasaworth pursued her interests in Forensic Medicine against the expectations of proper society. Her status as a lord’s daughter and the dazzling world of finery does not sway her from what her heart truly desires: education. I admired Audrey Rose’s sense of duty and her eagerness to contribute to the investigator of the murders; society’s view of these women due to their occupation did not deter her from seeking to bring justice for them. Her sass made her interactions with others entertaining especially with Thomas. Unlike the women of her time, she is not demure and submissive. Also, it was mentioned that Audrey comes from an Indian background from her mother’s side, and it is especially noticed when her eyes sparkle as she spots some Indian delicacies.
Thomas Cresswell is a charming devil. His wit and intelligence makes him quite an attractive character and yes he is described as handsome. For men of his time, Thomas has a progressive mentality which is why I find him very appealing with Audrey. There are times when his arrogance takes over yet you can’t stop your heart from melting over his sweetness.
”You’ll still fancy me tomorrow no matter how much you wish otherwise. I’m unpredictable and you adore it. Just as I cannot wrap my massive brain around the equation of you yet adore it.”
Audrey and Thomas as a duo feel like a nod to Sherlock Holmes and Watson. Not only they are perfect romantic partners with such a sizzling chemistry, but also partners in education and mystery-solving. Their interactions are always fun and I’m excited to follow more of their adventures together.
I enjoyed Maniacalo’s descriptive writing and her world-building was atmospheric, I was immersed into a dark version of London and as I flipped through the pages there was this eerie presence of a shadow that I could not visualize but I still felt it as I read. Some of the descriptions were graphic to the point it made my stomach turn. However, I have to say that the pacing sometimes felt unstable but the anticipation kept me moving.
I thought I would be more intrigued with the mysteries and the identity of the killer but it was kind of predictable and predictability can ruin one’s excitement. The book failed to keep me on edge but I still enjoyed it.
Our next stop with Audrey and Thomas shall be in Romania and I’m told that a certain Dracula dwells there.
”Death was not prejudiced by mortal things such as station or gender. It came for kings and queens and prostitutes alike, often leaving the living with regrets. What might we have done differently if we’d known the end was so near?”
Stalking Jack the Ripper for me was the perfect book to start the spooky month with. Jack the Ripper was a notorious serial killer known for the 1888 Whitechapel murders whose victims were prostitutes. He was a real person yet there are many controversies since he was never identified; he was also known as Whitechapel Murderer and Leather Apron.
This book takes its inspiration from the well-known gruesome murders and we follow seventeen year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth, a lord’s daughter and student of Forensic Medicine which keeps her in company of corpses in her Uncle’s Laboratory along with his apprentice, the devilish charmer Thomas Cresswell. Audrey is thrust into a mysterious case of murders targeting women in poverty-stricken areas around Whitechapel district. Audrey and Thomas set on a quest to seek answers and find clues on the identity of the killer whom had cast London into a nightmarish reality.
Kerri Maniscalo seamlessly crafts an eerie and dark story blending in history to her reimagination of Victorian London and the murder cases of Whitechapel. With a dash of romance and mystery intrigue, she delivers an entertaining story led by a strong-willed protagonist.
Audrey Rose Wasaworth pursued her interests in Forensic Medicine against the expectations of proper society. Her status as a lord’s daughter and the dazzling world of finery does not sway her from what her heart truly desires: education. I admired Audrey Rose’s sense of duty and her eagerness to contribute to the investigator of the murders; society’s view of these women due to their occupation did not deter her from seeking to bring justice for them. Her sass made her interactions with others entertaining especially with Thomas. Unlike the women of her time, she is not demure and submissive. Also, it was mentioned that Audrey comes from an Indian background from her mother’s side, and it is especially noticed when her eyes sparkle as she spots some Indian delicacies.
Thomas Cresswell is a charming devil. His wit and intelligence makes him quite an attractive character and yes he is described as handsome. For men of his time, Thomas has a progressive mentality which is why I find him very appealing with Audrey. There are times when his arrogance takes over yet you can’t stop your heart from melting over his sweetness.
”You’ll still fancy me tomorrow no matter how much you wish otherwise. I’m unpredictable and you adore it. Just as I cannot wrap my massive brain around the equation of you yet adore it.”
Audrey and Thomas as a duo feel like a nod to Sherlock Holmes and Watson. Not only they are perfect romantic partners with such a sizzling chemistry, but also partners in education and mystery-solving. Their interactions are always fun and I’m excited to follow more of their adventures together.
I enjoyed Maniacalo’s descriptive writing and her world-building was atmospheric, I was immersed into a dark version of London and as I flipped through the pages there was this eerie presence of a shadow that I could not visualize but I still felt it as I read. Some of the descriptions were graphic to the point it made my stomach turn. However, I have to say that the pacing sometimes felt unstable but the anticipation kept me moving.
I thought I would be more intrigued with the mysteries and the identity of the killer but it was kind of predictable and predictability can ruin one’s excitement. The book failed to keep me on edge but I still enjoyed it.
Our next stop with Audrey and Thomas shall be in Romania and I’m told that a certain Dracula dwells there.