A review by emilynied
Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

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

3.5

I am shocked that a story with this plot and historical references is YA? HUH. "Stalking Jack the Ripper" of course is about the infamous serial killer named "Jack the Ripper" in Londan, England in 1888. Like, this is not a light topic people! The killer would actually remove their internal organs, a topic usually not suited for young adult books. However, I think it was blended well into the story. Audrey practices forensic medicine and is no stranger to a dead body; so when a killer begins terrorizing London, she steps up to uncover the case. 

Audrey and Thomas reminded me of the tv show, "The Artful Dodger," because in that show both are surgeons and they do have a similar dynamic. I really liked the quick witted conversations between the two and their detective skills. The goal to discover the killer was a good guiding force throughout the book. I will say there wasn't much character development on Audrey's end, which is fine, but we are looking ahead to a four book series. I feel like a little more complexity would, for me, make this YA series feel a little more mature. I think the ending of the book will certainly affect how she acts as a character and approaches life in the future - I'm excited to read!
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