Scan barcode
A review by ihateprozac
Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco
5.0
WARNING: do NOT read the synopsis or the back cover of this book because it’s spoiler central! All you need to know is that Stalking Jack the Ripper focuses on a young coroner’s apprentice named Audrey Rose as she tries to figure out Jack the Ripper’s identity before he kills again.
You can thank me later.
I won’t lie, I was hesitant going into this book. I absolutely adore Jack the Ripper but am hella averse to historical fiction, fearing it’ll be too dense or dry for me. I took a risk on this and I’m so glad I did, because it snuck in there during the eleventh hour as one of my favourite books of 2017!
Maniscalco’s writing is smooth as silk and goes down like butter, and Audrey Rose is one of the best female protagonists I have read in AGES. She’s studying to become a medical examiner/coroner in spite of Victorian societal expectations, and constantly expresses her disdain on-page for the patriarchy. SHE IS THE BEST. And while she’s a strong ass woman on her own, she’s also part of a flirty angsty romance with delightfully snarky, witty back-and-forth banter that the YA genre could use more of.
The only thing holding this book back slightly is that I did somewhat predict the ending and the identity of Jack the Ripper. The way in which the villain reveal/big showdown happens is much more morbid and twisted than I’d anticipated, and I absolutely loved seeing it play out, but I wish I’d been a bit more shocked!
Overall: I don’t even really like historical fiction and yet I LOVED this. We have easily digestible writing, an incredibly kickass female protagonist, a fun, angsty romance, and a healthy dose of blood and murder. I can absolutely see why every Booktuber and their mother has been raving about this, and can’t wait to pick up the sequel!
You can thank me later.
I won’t lie, I was hesitant going into this book. I absolutely adore Jack the Ripper but am hella averse to historical fiction, fearing it’ll be too dense or dry for me. I took a risk on this and I’m so glad I did, because it snuck in there during the eleventh hour as one of my favourite books of 2017!
Maniscalco’s writing is smooth as silk and goes down like butter, and Audrey Rose is one of the best female protagonists I have read in AGES. She’s studying to become a medical examiner/coroner in spite of Victorian societal expectations, and constantly expresses her disdain on-page for the patriarchy. SHE IS THE BEST. And while she’s a strong ass woman on her own, she’s also part of a flirty angsty romance with delightfully snarky, witty back-and-forth banter that the YA genre could use more of.
The only thing holding this book back slightly is that I did somewhat predict the ending and the identity of Jack the Ripper. The way in which the villain reveal/big showdown happens is much more morbid and twisted than I’d anticipated, and I absolutely loved seeing it play out, but I wish I’d been a bit more shocked!
Overall: I don’t even really like historical fiction and yet I LOVED this. We have easily digestible writing, an incredibly kickass female protagonist, a fun, angsty romance, and a healthy dose of blood and murder. I can absolutely see why every Booktuber and their mother has been raving about this, and can’t wait to pick up the sequel!