Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

Reviewer: Mikayla P.

Star Rating: 5 stars!!!

I would recommend Stalking Jack the Ripper (along with the rest of the series) to anyone, anytime, no matter what. It takes place in 1800s London and centers around the Jack the Ripper murders. Audrey Rose is an anomaly in upper-class British society: instead of delicately sipping tea and gossiping, she loves to study cadavers (dead bodies) with her uncle, the leading forensics scientist in London. With the onset of the murders, Audrey Rose is becoming increasingly involved in the process to solve the case, along with her uncle’s other apprentice: the gorgeous and absolutely infuriating Thomas Cresswell. I am not a fan of mystery novels or horror of any sort, so I’ll admit that I was skeptical about this books despite the hype surrounding it. I can safely say that it deserves every bit of praise it receives and then some. The characters are flawlessly written so that you feel like you’re losing your best friends when you close the book. They’re intricate, real, have their flaws and quirks, and are utterly relatable. Audrey Rose is a strong and vivacious female heroine but remains real even so--many female characters go from average high schooler to killing monsters in the blink of an eye, Audrey Rose is strong and brave but when confronted with dead bodies still requires a minute to get over her own squeamishness and fear. Thomas is delightful, the banter between the characters provides levity and endless laughter to an otherwise fairly dark story. The world is beautifully constructed and transports you to it with every clang of a scalpel on an examination table. I laughed, cried, and got angry with the characters each time I turned the page. The plot was thrilling and left me sleep deprived too many nights when I stayed up just to find out what happens next. The series only improves as it continues (three books are out now) though you certainly don’t need to read more than one to enjoy the thrilling ride they provide!