Stalking Jack the Ripper
Ratings138
Average rating3.6
Well, this book was a solid disappointment. I had begun to read this with some trepidation because it was published under the James Patterson for children imprint, Jimmy Patterson. I had read only one other by this publishing company, Gunslinger Girl. Sadly, that novel was filled with a nonsensical world, a cliched main character, and a predictable plot. Is Stalking Jack The Ripper any better? Yes, but this book is still filled with an overbearing feminist message, cliched side characters, and a terrible romance.
The positives with this book have to do with the elements that brought me to it in the first place. The premise is interesting, with Victorian London being the setting, and this revolving around the Jack the Ripper murders. This is something that we just do not see very much in YA, both in terms of the setting and the mystery. It is also a suitably scary novel, which is perfect for reading in October. The author, Maniscalo, is better at writing settings, details and dialogue than Lindsay Ely, the author who wrote Gunslinger Girl.
However, this is where the positives seem to end for me. The rest of the book is just filled with problem after problem that seem to dominate the text and dwarf any positives it has. One of the largest is the overly feminist tone that this novel has adopted. Throughout the book, the main character, Audrey Rose Wadsworth is a girl whom we are constantly told is out of the ordinary. She likes putting her hands in cadavers chest cavities, and seeing what is inside. She also doesn't like her station in life, being a woman who is not expected to be training to become a medical examiner. She is instead expected to become a woman who has children and raises them to become productive members of society. The reader is constantly told that she is so unlike other woman, and that she hates her lot in life, and wishes it would change. She doesn't mind digging around in dead bodies, and kissing boys without a chaperone, and we the reader are always told that this is improper. Normally, I wouldn't mind this being an angle on gender norms of Victorian London, yet, this idea of 18th century gender norms is written with a kind of feminist slant that I found degrading to women of today. Most readers will know that, compared to today, women did not have the same right, and career opportunities as back in this time period, so to have it mentioned every single page, at least, seems insulting to our intelligence. It also hurts that, for all the complaining that Audrey does about not being able to do things herself, she cannot find a single clue without a man being right beside her. Whether it is a police detective or a handsome friend turned bodyguard, she cannot go on to do anything alone, as she and her various male side characters hunt for clues. What if she could go somewhere that the men could not go? Audrey could use her femininity as an asset, by say, talking to all the prostitutes who knew the victims? That would have been cool, but, no. Instead she has to be lead around like a dog on a leash, told to use her nose, I mean forensic skills, when the plot calls for it.
It is not enough to be told she Audrey is ahead of her time, but it must also be shown, and this novel does a lot of the former, and little of the latter. For a good example of a girl taken out of a Victorian Era London and into what we would call a woman's 21st century gender role, look than no further than The Infernal Devices Series by Cassandra Claire. In that book, we have a girl named Tessa Gray who is rescued from a terrible fate by a group of demon hunters called Shadowhunters. She then joins with them as she tries to figure out why she was captured in the first place. In that book, we have the shadowhunter group that works much like those in a 21st century society would, and here, Claire uses Tessa's notions of proper behavior as a way to comment on not only how out of place she feels, but what life was like for women during the 18th century. The best part of this is that it is done subtly, with it coming up very few times, instead allowing us to focus on the characters and our thoughts on them. In Stalking Jack the Ripper, the author does not have that talent, and so has to resort to the whining of Audrey Rose to let us know that gender norms sucked in the 18th century. How delightful.
There there are the other side characters in this novel like Thomas Creswell. Thomas is the boy who Audrey cannot help but be attracted to, and, of course, they begin to form a romance together, but we will get to that later. For now, we will just focus on Thomas. The thing is, there isn't really a lot to the man. Once you get past the fact that he is a handsome boy who the main character is supposed to fall in love with, it turns out that he is just an almost carbon copy of a teenage Sherlock Holmes. The author isn't even subtle about it because she gives Thomas the “You see but you do not observe” speech that Sherlock Holmes gives Watson in A Scandal in Bohemia. I cannot decide if this is an homague I should like, or something that makes it look like the author couldn't make up a character of her own, so she borrowed from someone else.
Sadly, the interactions between Audrey Rose and Thomas Creswell are disappointing because it comes in the form of a terrible romance. Now, a good romance can work when I see that both of these characters have some kind of dynamic to work off of, and that they are both great characters in and of themselves. Here, however, I do not have those elements. Audrey just keeps repeating how much of an independent woman she is, while Thomas is a narcissistic Sherlock Holmes knock off. To make matters worse, the romance is filled with will-they-won't-they moments. The characters will get close together, and ALMOST kiss, but then something happens and they will break apart at the last second. This kind of scene happens so often, it feels like the author didn't know where she wanted the romance to go, and so decided that she had to write it like this, which just seems tedious and boring after awhile, because I knew they were not going to get together in this book. (That could be considered a spoiler, but, as you can guess, I don't really care.)
As for the accuracy of the story, it is not very good, with regard to history. Whenever I begin a historical novel, I always ask myself just how accurate to history this is going to be. It could be like To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, where it is set during a specific time period, but it lacks the telling of any specific historical event. Or it could be like Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin, where it is so far from history, it can be considered an alternative timeline. Stalking Jack the Ripper can be considered something in between. It does feature the kills of the iconic madman who stalked Victorian London, but, of course the killer was never caught, so there are some liberties taken with the reveal, which I will get into in a moment. The author admits that she did mess around with the dates, and names of those people killed, which I find to be par for the course for historical novels. She also has a lot of different elements related to anatomy, and even the beginnings of the study of criminal behavior. This seems accurate enough, although I could not find any sources on when this began to become an accepted practice, verses when it was first thought of and considered a theory. Regardless, your feels toward it's accuracy, or inaccuracy depend on how you feel about the names and dates of the women killed being changed, as that seems to be the most accurate facts being changed, other than the exposition on gender roles that I mentioned above.
The mystery element is something that I did not enjoy by the end. For a non-spoiler, let me say that the reveal was one that surprised me, not because I couldn't believe who had done it, but because it seemed to come out of nowhere, and raised more questions than answers. Spoiler section here: How Audrey's brother managed to steal their mother's body and get it down into the secret passage without anyone noticing is beyond me. Also, why was he so obvious in committing these murders, if he is supposed to be such a smart man? And what caused him to believe that electricity would help to bring their mother back to life in the first place? These are just the questions that I can remember. This raises so many questions that it does not make sense, and feels like the ending was rushed, given what we know about the characters. .
Overall, this is a book that I enjoyed, but did not think was the best, given all the elements above. In fact, I'd say that this book has KILLED any interest I have in this series (only pun, I swear). I give this book a two out of five. There were just too many things here that annoyed me to continue with this series.
3.5 Enjoyable semi-compelling mystery with some true goriness in the mix. Not a lot of character development or motive outside of pretty and Victorian (for both Audrey Rose and Thomas, they were equally written in broad strokes) and some parts dragged a bit but overall pretty fun to listen to. Not the fault of this book, but very similar to Madman's Daughter, which is also on BOB list - I guess making for really hard-to-distinguish questions!
I...could not get into this one. Thomas is a gem but the MC was so frustrating and I solved the mystery midway. Damn, you hate to see it.
3.5 Stars
This book was really hard to pick a rating for. I really enjoyed it and loved how historically accurate it is even if Kerri Maniscalco took some liberties to make the history fit will her story. But at the same time the beginning was incredibly slow and I really struggled to get into the story and really care about the characters. It honestly took almost half the book for that to happen which is never a good sign especially in a book just over 300 pages. I think Kerri's writing grew stronger as the book went on and I will definitely be continuing on with the series and following Audrey Rose and Thomas's stories as they solve more mysteries.
I fell in love with the book when I started reading it but sometime in the middle, it became “boring” and then later on picked up the pace again. I was sure that I was going to give it a 5-star but after reading the so called “boring” part, I'm giving it a 4 star.
I suspected who Jack the Ripper was and it made me so excited to find out that I was correct. Wouldn't say that it was predictable in any way.
Overall, I really loved this book and I cannot wait to keep reading the series!!
This book was so disappointing, i called who jack was from the first couple of chapters. The only redeeming quality to this book is Thomas Crestwell
That was a really awesome book. It had just the right amount of comedy and gore. Well, not gore exactly, but some scenes were pretty gruesome. However, that intrigue!
“The dead speak to those who listen. Be quieter than even them.”
“If only life's problems could be solved with a frilly dress and a pair of slippers. To hell with the world around us as long as we looked our best.”
Just read the rusting book!
It's been so long that I've read a proper murder mystery or even a historical book that this one came as a breath of fresh air and I think it was exactly what I needed at this time. Jack the Ripper is such a fascinating and popular true crime story and I was really excited to read a fiction based on it. It was dark and thrilling but also so much fun with a cast of very intriguing characters and I can't wait to read the next installment.
Audrey Rose is a wonderful protagonist and someone who I wanted to root for right from the get go. She is intelligent, strong willed, sassy, compassionate and will do whatever it takes to follow the path that she has chosen for herself. She is questioned or looked down upon every step of the way because she would rather spend her time dissecting corpses and investigating crimes than gossipping or organizing tea parties, but she never lets others' opinions change her mind - she just smartly figures out ways to get around all the rules. Her utmost dedication to science and belief in equal opportunities for women are definitely revolutionary for her times and it was heartening to read about a character with such strong convictions. There were times when she judged other girls her age for giving importance only to beauty and scoring husbands and it wasn't cool, but I could understand her because she was also being judged all the time.
Thomas is her Uncle's student from his forensics class and is equally smart and knows it. He is so confident in his abilities and comes across as arrogant, is very good at detaching himself while investigating the murders which makes him seem unemotional or apathetic but he is actually very sweet, charming and swoon worthy. He loves showing off his deduction skills and it gave so much Sherlock vibes, it was lots of fun to read. He is just as much non conforming to society's expectations as Audrey is, so he is quite supportive of her endeavor to investigate and catch Jack the Ripper. He is also very sarcastic and the flirty banter between them is just too cute. They both may be attracted to the other's looks but their friendship and later romance slowly develops on a foundation of mutual respect for each other's intelligence and personalities, and I loved that especially due to the historical setting.
The writing in the book is excellent for a debut novel and I really didn't want to put it down. The setting of London is eery and creepy and the dull rainy foggy days are described so well, it makes for the perfect atmosphere. The mutilated bodies and the theories of how the murders may have been committed are described in all the gory details; it was really nauseating sometimes and gave me chills. Even the science of performing the autopsies and all the methods of forensic investigations utilized during the 1800s are articulated in detail which shows how diligent the author was in her research. I especially enjoyed the original pictures from the time period and Jack the Ripper's letters because they made the book seem more creepy and real. As I'm not very good at predicting, I really didn't figure out who the killer was until just a few minutes before Audrey did and I did not see that coming. The ending was devastating but with a tad bit of hope and sets up the next book very neatly.
If you read a lot of murder mysteries, this book might seem predictable but for me, it was just the perfect blend of macabre and entertaining. The characters are absolutely delightful and it was so interesting to go on this thrilling journey with them to discover the truth. If you are fascinated by Jack the Ripper or love murder mysteries or if fierce Victorian heroines are your thing, then this book is perfect for you. Give it a chance and you won't regret it 🙂🙂🙂
Re-read. Still loved it as much as the first time. Not really predictable and I love love love the main characters!
3.5 stars
Super entertaining, really enjoyed it. Even though it was predictable, I was deeply immersed in the story and that's why I'm rounding this one up. Liked the writing and the characters... the banter was pretty good too and Thomas' antics around Audrey were really, really funny.
Really intrigued about the next book.
*Re-read: 5 stars
First read: 4 stars
I LOVE Thomas and Audrey Rose. I finally got to meet these two amazing characters and I am so glad I chose to read this book.
In 1880's London, Audrey Rose is a seventeen year old girl who isn't interested in the newest gossip, the latest trends in fashion or finding the perfect man for marriage. She is interested in science and she loves working on corpses and finding their true story. She meets Thomas Cresswell while she works for her uncle and they become something close to friends, if we look past their never ending teasing of each other. Thomas is a very intelligent boy, but Audrey Rose is as good as him. They play mind games together, trying to find the killer that terrorizes the town.
Audrey Rose is such an inspiring and great character. She doesn't care what other people think of her, because in those times it was very unusual and often considered “indecent” for a woman to be interested by science. But she does not care. And she follows her dream, becoming the savior of the city, alongside Thomas Cresswell, because together they solve de mystery of the awful murders that are taking place in their town.
I liked how the book was written, even if at some point it got really annoying for me because I figured out who the killer was and I wanted to slap both Audrey and Thomas realizing it earlier. The ending got me hooked and I can't wait to dive into the next book in the series!
Um... I liked it, but I'm actually disgusted? I feel like I just watched a 9-hour horror movie?? What is going on??
✨You can read the spoiler-free review here on my blog!✨
Goodreads review is on its way!
I loved this book! It was dark, spooky, and very thrilling the entire time. If you're looking for suspense, horror, mystery, and a touch of romance, this is the book for you. It's definitely gory when the murdered bodies are described, but I feel like that's a given for a book based on a serial killer.
There's a serial killer on the loose, and the whole time you are trying to figure out which of the characters is posing as the infamous “Jack the Ripper.” I went back and forth a lot on who I thought did it, which made it even more exciting when the killer was finally revealed at the end. The moments leading up to the reveal all the way through the end of the book had me on the edge of my seat.
Thomas Cresswell. I love him. I'm a sucker for an arrogant flirt, so he was right up my alley. Combined with the fact that he's British – I loved him even more.
4.5/5 stars
O H M Y G O S H!!! this book left me shooked and needing more like yesterday.
I loved this book so much. It was beautifully written and the audio book is amazing!!! I totally recommend y'all to read this if you like light thrillers, mysteries, and historical fictions. I'm personally not a fan of “horror” themed books or movies but this was not bad. The suspense aspects of it actually made me want to keep reading it. I will tell you this I CALLED IT!!! I knew who was Jack the Ripper before it was revealed. But it was still a great reveal though. Being Kerri Maniscalco's debut novel it was phenomenal!!
WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD!!
This book was amazing because It had the bad ass heroine but she was bad ass because she was smart and took risks. Audrey Rose loves forensic science even though she lives in the Victorian era and women are supposed to love fashion, beauty, and tea. Although Audrey likes those things too her love for science is first. She is an amazing character that is what the female bad ass trope should be... some books wish they could relate.
When I first saw the synopsis I thought it was going to be filled with romance. It had its little bits of romance here and there but it wasn't the main focus. Thomas was so cute, he was a bit of a smart ass. Thomas and Audrey's relationship was one of the best things in this book. It wasn't the annoying insta-love, Its developed slowly and it was soooo cute!!
I personally knew it was going to be Nathaniel it was obvious to me because of the way his character developed. It was very minor but I'm the type of person that focuses on details. The second they mentioned that Nathaniel started looking a bit more rugged was a huge clue. Tbh his reveal would've been more shocking if his motive for killing them was also because they were women his father slept with too like that would've shooked me 1000 times more.
Moral of the story is that I loved this book and I totally recommend it!!
I brought this book so long ago and I am glad I finally randomly picked it from my wheel of all the physical books on my TBR shelf! It was so different from anything I have read recently and I loved being transferred to the way the world was back then, where women were considered second rate citizens and definitely didn't have the freedoms that men possessed. It definitely read like a YA novel but it had a lot of gruesome imagery, so don't pick it up if that's not something you can stomach. Also, the main character and even the supporting characters really stood out in this novel and I can't wait to get to the other books in the series.
To begin with, Stalking Jack the Ripper is about a serial killer who kills prostitutes and then removes some of their organs. Audrey Wadsworth, who has a passion for forensic medicine and studies cadavers in her uncle's laboratory, is on a mission to catch this killer before anymore women get gruesomely murdered or someone innocent takes the fall. I haven't read many books with a plot such as this and it felt fresh and creative to me. There were moments when it felt a little slow but the romantic relationship between the two main characters made that a lot more bearable. I thought that the ending more than made up for the slow pacing in the beginning though and even though I guessed who the killer was earlier on, there were other reveals that I didn't see coming. In general it was a very solid plot and kept me going.
Secondly, the characterization was my favorite thing about this novel. All the main characters and even the secondary ones were unique and quirky in their own ways and it made for a very enjoyable progression of their relationships with each other and the dialogue and banter between them had me cracking up at certain points throughout. The heroine is definitely one of my all-time favorites and I will be continuing her story in the future. I can't wait to see where her relationship with Thomas takes them and how it grows and progresses.
Finally, the writing style is simple and to the point, without feeling too oversimplified. It read like a Young Adult novel and I flew threw the chapters, so I didn't mind that one bit. I also thought that there was just enough description to set the scene and understand what was happening, without going overboard and feeling bored. Also the short chapters are my favorite, so this book also has that going for it. We really got a good look into what was going on in the characters' minds and this really painted a complete picture of who the character was as a whole, as an individual.
In conclusion, I really enjoyed my experience reading this book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys serial killer type thrillers, even those who might not usually like YA ones. I say you should give this one a shot because it definitely packs a punch and might surprise you with its maturity, the way that it did me.
Unfortunately this one just didn't hit the mark for me.
I was looking forward to the spin on the Jack the Ripper mystery but in the end the big reveal just fell completely flat and I ended up simply not caring who it was, how they did it and how that impacted the characters.
I also thought the romance in the book felt contrived and unnecessary, it could have been removed from the story without any detriment to the plot. I don't know whether it was put in because it was a YA book and for some reason this seems to be a requirement, but I really think it could have been exactly the same story without the romance.
I will say that the writing was okay however I felt the pacing was off so it did feel a bit slow and dragged for me a bit, but then this could be because I wasn't enjoying the story much.
I can absolutely see how a lot of people will love this - it definitely has some great moments, some brilliant one liners and I liked the portrayal of Audrey Rose as a young woman who wanted to split away from society and walk her own path. Overall however this one just wasn't for me which is a shame, maybe I'm just outgrowing YA a bit? Hmm...
“pretend i am as capable as a man? please, sir, do not value me so little!”
that's ma gal right there
So much of this story was shaped by the societal box of 1888, which is explicitly referenced every other page... I did not enjoy the lack of consistency in the characters' behaviors, and honestly, a lot happened without any sensical reasoning behind it.
2 stars for the twist.
Loved Thomas Cresswell but I'm not sure if I want to continue with this series.
Though the main character always gets praised what a smart and clever lady she is, I found her rather dumb and naïve, on the other hand, she is only 17 years old (and I was probably even more stupid at this age). It was very predictable but I still enjoyed how the ending turned out, I was even a little scared towards the end.
Está bastante bien, lo único que le echo en cara es lo terriblemente cringe que es la relación y en especial las conversaciones entre la MC y el love interest durante todo el libro