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greylandreviews's review against another edition
3.25
March 2024
After this re-read I did see how "Jack" was kind of obvious while reading. I of course have a soft spot for male presenting characters named Thomas and I can't wait to see how his and Audrey Rose characters grow.
October 2017
Well I didn't see that coming. Really surprised to see who portrayed Jack. With this rating I didn't dislike and but also didn't love the book either. Really didn't keep my attention very long. After 200 pages it seemed to really get better.
After this re-read I did see how "Jack" was kind of obvious while reading. I of course have a soft spot for male presenting characters named Thomas and I can't wait to see how his and Audrey Rose characters grow.
October 2017
Well I didn't see that coming. Really surprised to see who portrayed Jack. With this rating I didn't dislike and but also didn't love the book either. Really didn't keep my attention very long. After 200 pages it seemed to really get better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Murder, Gore, Body horror, and Blood
Moderate: Death of parent
bzliz's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
This fictionalization of the infamous Jack the Ripper murders stars Audrey Rose Wadsworth, a young lady yet to make her society debut who prefers apprenticing in autopsies with her uncle to attending teas and such as young ladies of the time “should” do. In doing so she meets Thomas Cresswell, a handsome but arrogant student of her uncle’s who also apprentices for him. The pair immerse themselves deeply in the crimes to help stop the vicious killer and they can’t seem to stay apart from each other. They chase clues and face setbacks together, sharing theories and ensuring her uncle isn’t executed after being falsely accused of the crimes, but perhaps the real killer is still someone close to her.
The book is well paced and I appreciate that Audrey Rose doesn’t fall too deeply into the “not like other girls” trap. Despite her drive toward macabre science, she still enjoys fine dresses and makeup like her peers, though she does find it hard to relate to their lack of drive toward being more than a future wife. I wish we’d gotten to see more interaction with her cousin Liza; I think she could use a positive female presence on her side given the heavy male influence around her.
Like many mysteries, the characters don’t get a lot of development. The greatest changes here are shown only in how Audrey Rose and Thomas’s dynamic shifts to be more like partners than adversaries. I hope there’s more personal growth in the next book but I’m not holding my breath for it.
The ending does go a bit off the rails but in a fun way. The real killer isAudrey Rose’s brother Nathaniel. She followed much evidence proclaiming her father as the killer but in truth her brother became obsessed with bringing their mother back to life in some kind of Frankenstein style experiment. This is why he was killing and harvesting organs of women who he saw as being worthless to society. The reveal could have played out longer and the change of heart setting up the next book felt a little heavy handed.
The book is well paced and I appreciate that Audrey Rose doesn’t fall too deeply into the “not like other girls” trap. Despite her drive toward macabre science, she still enjoys fine dresses and makeup like her peers, though she does find it hard to relate to their lack of drive toward being more than a future wife. I wish we’d gotten to see more interaction with her cousin Liza; I think she could use a positive female presence on her side given the heavy male influence around her.
Like many mysteries, the characters don’t get a lot of development. The greatest changes here are shown only in how Audrey Rose and Thomas’s dynamic shifts to be more like partners than adversaries. I hope there’s more personal growth in the next book but I’m not holding my breath for it.
The ending does go a bit off the rails but in a fun way. The real killer is
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death of parent, Murder, Blood, Gore, Sexism, and Death
Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, Cannibalism, Vomit, and Alcohol
oh_roudha_reads's review
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
The book was good however, I think that some parts were dragged out and unnecessary. Also the ending was really unexpected like I got click-baited 🤨
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, Animal cruelty, Gore, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Animal death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Grief, Medical content, and Sexism
Minor: Stalking and Vomit
abbiexhope's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, and Body horror
Moderate: Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, and Gore
Minor: Drug use, Vomit, and Cannibalism
thecourtofreading's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
this was so much better than i was expecting? i expected it to be good and it did deliver! although the ending was a liiiiiittle lacklustre, overall this had an amazing spooky atmosphere and i would definitely recommend it to anyone who are fans of frankenstein and horror/murder books
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, Body horror, and Gore
Moderate: Death of parent and Drug abuse
Minor: Vomit
ittybittyninja12's review
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A really solid mystery book that's written beautifully. I love the setting and the main character going against what's considered normal back then for women. I love the love interest so much in this book and the banter between them. The murder was a little too predictable in my opinion. I guessed it at the beginning when they made him a little too sweet. Which I think is probably the only downfall of the book. I enjoyed how on edge the book made me feel though. It's not a perfect book but definitely a great read, can't wait to read more in this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Medical content, Animal cruelty, Blood, Body horror, Torture, Sexual violence, Murder, and Forced institutionalization
ivy123's review
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
I am so happy to start the year off reading something I really enjoyed.
Stalking Jack the Ripper sees our main character Audrey Rose investigating the Jack the Ripper murders alongside her uncle and a quick-witted companion Thomas. This was an interesting fictionalization of the murders in a way I had not seen before and I loved the banter between Audrey and Thomas. The historical photographs copied onto certain chapters were an entertaining touch making the world feel even more real. I also loved Audrey's determination to study forensics and anatomy against the wishes of others and her flaws making her a believable character. I did not exactly see the twist coming at the end of who Jack the Ripper was but it also did not seem so surprising when revealed.
At the same time although I loved this novel I can see where others are coming from in their critiques. Audrey does appear the Watson to Thomas's Holmes and the I am not like other girls trope was screaming at you from the page from the moment you set out. However, these things did not really bother me as I was entertained the whole way through. I also did not set out thinking this would be 100% accurate to it's real-life counterpart and Kerri Maniscalco is honest that creative liberties were taken with the facts to fit the story. This was ok as well since I did not go in looking for a historical book.
Overall a great debut novel and I can not wait to start the next in the series.
Stalking Jack the Ripper sees our main character Audrey Rose investigating the Jack the Ripper murders alongside her uncle and a quick-witted companion Thomas. This was an interesting fictionalization of the murders in a way I had not seen before and I loved the banter between Audrey and Thomas. The historical photographs copied onto certain chapters were an entertaining touch making the world feel even more real. I also loved Audrey's determination to study forensics and anatomy against the wishes of others and her flaws making her a believable character. I did not exactly see the twist coming at the end of who Jack the Ripper was but it also did not seem so surprising when revealed.
At the same time although I loved this novel I can see where others are coming from in their critiques. Audrey does appear the Watson to Thomas's Holmes and the I am not like other girls trope was screaming at you from the page from the moment you set out. However, these things did not really bother me as I was entertained the whole way through. I also did not set out thinking this would be 100% accurate to it's real-life counterpart and Kerri Maniscalco is honest that creative liberties were taken with the facts to fit the story. This was ok as well since I did not go in looking for a historical book.
Overall a great debut novel and I can not wait to start the next in the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Blood, Murder, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Terminal illness, Body horror, Classism, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Death, Death of parent, Gore, and Violence
Minor: Alcohol
lainiereads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
predicted the murderer and found a lot of dialogue to be cringey, but i enjoyed the story and the romance. will probably read the next book eventually.
also enjoyed the use of actual facts from the case.
also enjoyed the use of actual facts from the case.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Murder, Body horror, Death, and Misogyny
Moderate: Addiction, Sexism, Medical content, and Classism
Minor: Death of parent, Vomit, Violence, Emotional abuse, and Forced institutionalization
aaliyahisaacs_'s review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
If I could Give this book a 6 I would. Nothing has felt so dear to my heart since the invisible life of Addie LaRue.
Going into this book at a time when i as very down and anxious was probably the best decision i made. This book took me away from my spiraling thoughts and kept me so captivated i could focus on nothing else. The smudges of romance throughout was extremely adoring and i can say without a doubt that Thomas Cresswell is my top Book Boyfriend ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😍😍😍😍😍😍😍💕😘🙌
Going into this book at a time when i as very down and anxious was probably the best decision i made. This book took me away from my spiraling thoughts and kept me so captivated i could focus on nothing else. The smudges of romance throughout was extremely adoring and i can say without a doubt that Thomas Cresswell is my top Book Boyfriend ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😍😍😍😍😍😍😍💕😘🙌
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, Torture, Murder, Death, Death of parent, Stalking, Chronic illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Vomit, Body horror, Mental illness, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Grief, Medical content, Blood, and Cannibalism
an_d_r_e_e_a's review
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Gore, and Death