Scan barcode
A review by plumpaperbacks
Capturing the Devil by Kerri Maniscalco
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
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.
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.
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. 💛
*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)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Body horror, Gore, Death, Blood, Misogyny, and Murder
Minor: Sexual content
There are a few on-page sex scenes, but all are either mild or entirely fade-to-black.