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A review by plumpaperbacks
Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco
dark
funny
mysterious
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
5.0
[second read, December 2022]
So, um. I lasted eleven months before rereading. Ten, technically, since I finished the last book in February. What can I say? I’m Cressworth trash. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
It feels weird to say a book about the Jack the Ripper murders is a serotonin boost, but like… it’s true. Not because I find the murders amusing—I don’t, I swear—but because I find Audrey Rose and Thomas’s dynamic amusing. Hilarious, actually. It’s literally impossible to read this and not cackle at their banter. I was up all night reading this and cackling; if my neighbors heard me, they probably thought I’d lost my marbles.Which isn’t wrong tbh.
Rereading this has convinced me of one thing: no boy has ever simped for his girl more than Thomas Cresswell simps for Audrey Rose Wadsworth. He’s actually the biggest simp ever™️ and I will die on this hill. He fell fast and he fell hard and it’s THE CUTEST THING EVER. 🥹💗
And their chemistry??? OFF THE GODDAMN CHARTS. Emilia and Wrath could NEVER. I said what I said.
Honestly though, seeing all of the little hints of his feelings—him almost but not quite reaching for her hand, sneaking in cheek kisses, holding her when she’s scared, wanting to buy her a new bottle of the perfume she likes—is adorable. That last one also gives “Dimitri buying Rose lip gloss just to make her happy,” which is one of my favorite scenes ever, so of course I love it just as much. <3
So, um. I lasted eleven months before rereading. Ten, technically, since I finished the last book in February. What can I say? I’m Cressworth trash. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
It feels weird to say a book about the Jack the Ripper murders is a serotonin boost, but like… it’s true. Not because I find the murders amusing—I don’t, I swear—but because I find Audrey Rose and Thomas’s dynamic amusing. Hilarious, actually. It’s literally impossible to read this and not cackle at their banter. I was up all night reading this and cackling; if my neighbors heard me, they probably thought I’d lost my marbles.
Rereading this has convinced me of one thing: no boy has ever simped for his girl more than Thomas Cresswell simps for Audrey Rose Wadsworth. He’s actually the biggest simp ever™️ and I will die on this hill. He fell fast and he fell hard and it’s THE CUTEST THING EVER. 🥹💗
And their chemistry??? OFF THE GODDAMN CHARTS. Emilia and Wrath could NEVER. I said what I said.
Honestly though, seeing all of the little hints of his feelings—him almost but not quite reaching for her hand, sneaking in cheek kisses, holding her when she’s scared, wanting to buy her a new bottle of the perfume she likes—is adorable. That last one also gives “Dimitri buying Rose lip gloss just to make her happy,” which is one of my favorite scenes ever, so of course I love it just as much. <3
‘You must know what you mean to me? Surely you must know how I feel about you, Audrey Rose. The thought of losing you…’
MY HEART!!! 🥹🥹🥹
I could ramble about these two for ages, if my reading updates are any indication, so I’m gonna stop now. Starting the next book seems like a much better use of my time, since that’s the one where we meet Thomas’s hotter older sister. ;))(I’m sorry, Thomas, I’m just a lesbian!! I still love you, but… not like that.)
I could ramble about these two for ages, if my reading updates are any indication, so I’m gonna stop now. Starting the next book seems like a much better use of my time, since that’s the one where we meet Thomas’s hotter older sister. ;))
[first read, January 2022]
I tried reading this a few years ago, but stopped after just a couple pages because I was, at the time, too squeamish. Now that I’ve read more books (*cough*These Violent Delights*cough*) and gotten significantly less squeamish, I decided to give it another try, due entirely to bookstagram hype, as my experience with Maniscalco’s sophomore series was less than ideal.
And, twist of all twists, I absolutely loved it. I did not see that coming AT ALL, but here I am. I love Audrey Rose and Thomas so much. I admire Audrey Rose’s dedication and perseverance, as well as her willingness to get her hands dirty. As for Thomas, honestly, he’s the sort of character I either love to pieces or despise with my entire being, and luckily, the former is true here. He’s charming and witty, and I don’t even know how many times I laughed or cackled while reading.
And the banter between the two of them?? OHMYGOD PURE BRILLIANCE. I didn’t expect such a dark book to have so many humorous moments, but I’m glad that ended up being the case. It helped balance the book out and, in my opinion, improved it overall. Honestly, I want these two to be my friends. I couldn’t help dissect any cadavers—because ew—but I’m sure we could still have fun somehow, ideally in ways that don’t involve quite so much blood.
One more thing. Audrey Rose and Thomas have brilliant, nearly palpable chemistry, and I ship them SO FREAKING HARD. Part of me kind of thinks that their feelings escalated rather quickly, but the rest of me thinks those initial feelings Audrey had seemed more like infatuation and begrudging admiration than love. That aside, I liked their transition from rivals to colleagues to friends, and I’m very much looking forward to their eventual transition to lovers. 👀
‘Your reputation will be completely ruined once people discover I saved you.’
‘Destroy it for all I care. You can save me again if it ends with a kiss.’
THEM >>> 🥺🥺
Okay, now I’m actually gonna talk about the plot. The thing is, last year when I thought I’d never read this book, I looked up how it ended. Going in, I was pretty sure I remembered who the killer was, and even though I ended up being right, that didn’t detract from my enjoyment. The reveal was so clever, and the killer’s motive made sense. (Although, obviously, that doesn’t excuse their atrocious actions.) Maniscalco had me hooked from the very beginning, and I enjoyed the ride even when I knew what was coming. I feel like that says a lot about how well-written the book is.
I think I’ve said all I wanted to say. Now I’m going to look up fan art, listen to my Audrey Rose and Thomas playlist—yes, I’ve already got one—and attempt to read other books while I wait impatiently for my hold on the second book to be ready. 😌 (I DON’T WANNA WAIT TWO WEEKS DAMN IT :’))
Representation
Okay, now I’m actually gonna talk about the plot. The thing is, last year when I thought I’d never read this book, I looked up how it ended. Going in, I was pretty sure I remembered who the killer was, and even though I ended up being right, that didn’t detract from my enjoyment. The reveal was so clever, and the killer’s motive made sense. (Although, obviously, that doesn’t excuse their atrocious actions.) Maniscalco had me hooked from the very beginning, and I enjoyed the ride even when I knew what was coming. I feel like that says a lot about how well-written the book is.
I think I’ve said all I wanted to say. Now I’m going to look up fan art, listen to my Audrey Rose and Thomas playlist—yes, I’ve already got one—and attempt to read other books while I wait impatiently for my hold on the second book to be ready. 😌 (I DON’T WANNA WAIT TWO WEEKS DAMN IT :’))
Representation
- Indian-British protagonist
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Murder, Body horror, Gore, and Misogyny
Moderate: Confinement, Drug use, and Death of parent
Drug use: opium—consensual in some cases and noncensensual in others. Confinement: a side character is locked in a mental asylum against their will. Parent death: the protagonist’s mother died five years prior to the story from an unspecified illness. As for everything else, well… it’s a story about Jack the Ripper, one of the most brutal serial killers in history, set in the Victorian era, where they had no respect for women. Of course there’s murder and gore and misogyny.