[Horror October] Review: Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco
Series: Stalking Jack the Ripper #1
Published by Jimmy Patterson Books (9.20.2018)
Genres: Historical Fiction, Horror, Young Adult
Format: Hardcover, 326 pages
Source: I own it

Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born a lord's daughter, with a life of wealth and privilege stretched out before her. But between the social teas and silk dress fittings, she leads a forbidden secret life.

Against her stern father's wishes and society's expectations, Audrey often slips away to her uncle's laboratory to study the gruesome practice of forensic medicine. When her work on a string of savagely killed corpses drags Audrey into the investigation of a serial murderer, her search for answers brings her close to her own sheltered world.

The story's shocking twists and turns, augmented with real, sinister period photos, will make this dazzling, #1 New York Times bestselling debut from author Kerri Maniscalco impossible to forget.

My thoughts

Fear is a hungry beast. The more you feed it, the more it grows.

I have been putting this book off for SO long! To be honest, the hype was a bit intimidating. It’s also Historical, which is so not my thing. So I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about this one.

As it turns out, I’m somewhere in the middle. I did enjoy it, but I didn’t love it. I don’t know what it is about a Historical setting that just sucks all of the enjoyment away for me. I have no clue why! But sadly, it does. I think if this hadn’t been Historical I probably would have loved it.

I was beautiful and dangerous at once. A rose with thorns.
I was precisely who I wanted to be.

I adored Audrey Rose! She’s such a fierce lead – I love that she’s unapologetic, resilient, and fights for what she wants. Oh, and she’s stubborn too – totally relatable for me ;) I loved that she didn’t back down from anything, even though it wasn’t “proper” for a lady to work in forensics. I can’t imagine living in a time like that where it would be frowned upon for a lady to act a certain perfect way. Cringe.

I can’t say I loved Thomas, but I did rather love the banter that he and Audrey shared! It had me cracking up! I’m so glad that there wasn’t any instalove. It took a long time for them to warm to each other – just the kind of romance I like!

The best part of this book was how dark it was! It was delightfully gory and macabre. The perfect Halloween read!

Favorite quotes

“Where in the medical dictionary does it say a woman cannot handle such things? What is a man’s soul made of that a woman’s is not? I had no idea my innards were composed of cotton and kitens, while yours were filled with steel and steam-driven parts.”

“Wield your assets like a blade. No man has invented a corset for our brains. Let them think they rule the world. It’s a queen who sits on that throne. Never forget that.”

“Roses have both petals and thorns, my dark flower. You needn’t believe something weak because it appears delicate.”

I didn’t see any men running about, birthing the world’s population then going on to make supper and tend to the house. Most of them buckled to their knees when the slightest sniffle attacked them.

Overall Assessment

Plot: 3/5
Premise: 4/5
Writing style: 4/5
Originality: 4/5
Characters: 3.5/5
World-building: 3.5/5
Pace: 3/5
Feels: 1/5
Cover: 3/5
Overall rating: 3.5/5

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