Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

Capturing the Devil by Kerri Maniscalco

11 reviews

greylandreviews's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

The plot went out the window with this one. I'll forever be a Thomas Cresswell stan but that's it. I probably keep my paperback copies of these for niece to read when she gets old enough to read them, because there not bad but not the best historical mystery I've ever read.

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notpresent22's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading the Stalking Jack the Ripper series and following the characters of Audrey Ross and Thomas. Firstly I should say it was these books that reignited my love of murder mystery, having a darker tone than the cozy murder mysteries I grew up with. I adore the characters and am very sad to have to say goodbye to them now. This book is a good read and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a good serial killer murder mystery.

I won't lie at the beginning I was confused and slightly annoyed at the backtracking of Nathaniel as Jack the Ripper, but as the story developed I found that it started to make so much more sense and felt planned out. My biggest critique of the series as a whole is I wish there were more consistent clues in this regard but honestly, this is a minor complaint.


I love this book and this series alot.

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niamhstorme's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0


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thelongroadtosanity's review

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challenging dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • 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

4.5

"Beware of trusting beautiful creatures. They hide the most wicked surprises."

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With the events among the Etruria concluded, Audrey Rose and Thomas find themselves neck deep in another murder, this one more brutalized than the last. Coming to the conclusion that they have been on the trail of this serial killer from the very beginning, shocking truths are discovered about the true identity of Jack the Ripper, who now may call himself the Devil as he prowls the streets of America. 

I love Audrey and Thomas together, and I am very happy that they had a chance to get to their own happy ending after the events of Chicago. Even though there was a lot more speculation about the identity of the Ripper, I was shocked when the truth was revealed to me. I wasn't able to put the book down for the conclusion of events, completely and entirely absorbed by the bloodbath that practically ensued. 

This was such a wonderful conclusion to the series, and even though I am sad that it is over, I still want to know more! I would love to read a short novella of Audrey and Thomas's adventures in the future! Despite feeling like the conclusion of their love story being placed on the backburner for this read, it was very well done, with the perfect amount of intrigue, murder, speculation, and romantic tension. I loved the development of Audrey Rose in this plotline. She really has come a long way since the beginning in regards to embracing her own inner darkness. <3 

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fromjuliereads's review against another edition

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adventurous dark hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

Definitely my least favourite of the series. While I'm happy for the ending, it almost felt unnecessary in some ways for this book to exist. I get why it did, but it just didn't work well for me. Also I wanted far more of the grandmother?! She was awesome. She should have shown up in the first books. 

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amaliewebs's review against another edition

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4.75

Such an epic ending to an amazing series, I love how it had so many links to the other books and tied everything together. Loved Audrey Rose and Thomas's relationship as usual, and adored Audrey Rose's character arc. 
The gore and gruesomeness in this is a bit much at times but it's a really good horror story, lots of suspense and plot twists etc. 
Highly highly recommend the series I enjoyed it so so much :)

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faythfarrar's review

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adventurous dark hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.25


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sydneyluxford's review

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

I’m going to need a long time to recover from this series. Holy fucking shit. I did not think that when I read the first book, I would grow to love this series in the way that I have. 

I’m actually convinced Audrey Rose and Thomas are soulmates. Everything their relationship went through in the last two books is proof of that. No matter how much they went through and no matter who tried to come between them, they always found themselves back together. 

The amount of times I absolutely bawled my eyes out during this book was unhealthy. I thought I cried a lot when I finish the third book, but I cried so much more during this one. Happy and sad tears.
No, I actually can’t do this, I just remembered their reunion at the end of chapter fifty-three.


My only criticism of this book, is that the first half of it is very focused on their relationship instead of solving the case, but I absolutely loved it until Miss Whitehall and Thomas’ dad got involved 😒. 

I’m convinced Maniscalco can never give Audrey and Thomas a break.
I thought this book was going to be them, finally happy together, solving a murder. NO. Something had to come between them again. And Audrey had to get so personally involved again.


The last ten chapters of the book, holy shit. That man is a true fucking psycho. He is definitely the most creepy out of the other revealed murderers in the other books. This man OPENLY admitted that he enjoyed killing and that was basically his only motive…
Nah, when he thought about killing Audrey and MOANED????
Please, get away from me and seek some help, thanks xx.

I knew exactly who the killer was in this book as soon as we were introduced to him. I KNEW. It still didn’t take away from the story though, because I was never 100% certain. 

THE EPILOGUE AT THE END HAD ME CRYING. They finally got their happy ending 🥲. Now, when is it my turn, huh?????? AUDREY ROSE AND THOMAS ARE SOULMATES AND I WON’T BE HEARING ARGUMENTS. 

You know what I NEED now? I need a book where Audrey and Thomas solve a murder together, where nothing comes between their relationship and they are happy. That’s a NEED, not a want xx.

If this was the last book i ever read, I’d die a happy girl.

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estellejacksons's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

2.0


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plumpaperbacks's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • 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

[second read, December 2022]
I’m genuinely surprised I didn’t cry this time around, because I was expecting to. Even so, I’ve very rarely felt quite such immense dread while reading—dread to the point of feeling physically ill—so good job, Kerri. You really know how to break a girl. :’)))

I don’t have the energy to write anything particularly clever or eloquent right now, but just. I love Cressworth so much. I absolutely adore them. They stole my heart and own my soul, and I’m completely okay with it.

Also. I still hate Meph, but… maybe, just maybe… he was vaguely amusing in this book. And not entirely despicable. Just mostly.

[first read, February 2022]
This was an utterly perfect finale, filled from cover to cover with intrigue, banter, heartbreak, thrill and romance. It also did something no other book has before: it made me cry. A few books have brought tears to my eyes, but even that’s rare. I’ve never in my life actually cried over a book, but Kerri Maniscalco did it.
 
Specifically, it was after Miss Whitehall ruined the wedding, and the crew realized that if Thomas didn’t marry her, his father would ruin everyone’s lives. Audrey Rose and Thomas thinking they could never be together again and how they’d never love anyone else the way they love each other…. it broke me. I was crying in my bedroom at 2 a.m. because I truly didn’t think there was any way for them to get out of this mess. I’d never felt so hopeless before.


Audrey Rose, Thomas, Liza, Daciana and Ileana have completely stolen my heart. Audrey Rose and Thomas, in particular, own my soul. Six months ago, I thought I’d never read these books. I’m so glad I decided to give the first book a second chance last month, because this series is one of the best rides I’ve ever been on. Even when it made me seethe, when it made me cry, I adored it. It made me laugh more than any others I can recall.

One part of this book that was especially special to me was that Audrey Rose used a cane. That she was disabled. While I don’t need to use any sort of mobility aid, as a disabled, chronically ill person, this meant so much to me. I loved that, even though she had a limp and needed a cane, Audrey Rose was as fierce and clever and badass as in previous books, if not even more so. 💛

As for the story itself, Maniscalco outdid herself. The first half focused more on romance while the second emphasized the mystery, but both elements were prevalent and well-balanced throughout. It was fascinating to see details from the previous books tied into this one’s story. And although I did figure out who the killer was, that in no way detracted from the finale’s heart-pounding intensity.

My heart was in my THROAT when Thomas and Jonathan were poisoned and stayed there for basically the entire rest of the book. Audrey Rose’s confrontation with Holmes was terrifying, but also, I’m immensely proud of my badass queen for handling it so cleverly. I cheered when she wielded her cane sword—which, by the way, is the coolest freaking thing EVER. And the sheer emotion of her reunion with Thomas after she escaped… I don’t even have the words. When Thomas said, “If the poison wasn’t about to kill me, I swear the thought of losing you was.” I thought I was going to cry again. 🥺🥺🥺


And the ending? A friend kept telling me it was worth every bit of pain, and he was right. Audrey Rose’s grandmother saved the day, of all people—and she’s absolutely iconic, by the way. We were blessed with not one but two epilogues, and my heart was so full, I thought it might burst. I finished the book two hours ago now and I’m still thinking about it and grinning like a fool. 💛

The fact that Audrey Rose and Thomas are traveling the world with Sir Isaac Mewton!! And they’re going to open their own investigation agency!! And he finally, properly proposed!! And they got married on the beach at sunset!! I’M SO HAPPY I CAN’T EVEN SAY. HOW PERFECT FOR THEM. 🥺🥺🥺


*sighs* Now what do I do?

Representation
  • disabled Indian-British protagonist with a cane
  • sapphic side couple
  • side characters of color (includes Black, Turkish and Indian rep)

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