Stalking Jack the Ripper

An absolute page turner. I dreaded having to put it down to have to work or get rest. This book will keep you hungrily reading every word and take you back to a time where chaos and mayhem are hidden under tight smiles and even tighter corsets. The characters are all incredibly imagined, and they will all surprise you.

3.5 Stars
Stalking Jack the Ripper captured my attention the first moment I saw another blogger post about it when it released. How could it not with that gorgeous cover and a title mentioning stalking one of the most notorious serial killers ever? Even though I was able to predict the ending very early on and the book didn't blow me away, I still enjoyed this adventure. Audrey is a brave and snarky heroine during a time where women were not encouraged to think independently or do anything more strenuous than sip tea or perfect their needle point. As much as I liked Audrey, Thomas was my favorite character. His comical banter and flirting with Audrey made this book for me.

“Stalking Jack the Ripper” by Kerri Manscalco is a fictional story about a young girl who has an unusual love of science. Her uncle, Dr. Jonathon Wadsworth, teaches science to young men in Harrow School for Boys. Part of the course is based on the Jonathon’s experiments involving the autopsies that he conducts in his lab.
Instead of taking tea and working on embroidery, as ladies of the day spent their days, Audrey Rose is only interested in her uncle’s work, even though she knows it isn’t proper. Finally, after much pleading she is allowed to dress like a boy, and sit in on his class. That is where she meets Thomas.
At that time, the headlines were full of Jack the Ripper, or the Leather Apron. Audrey Rose is something of a snoop, a want to be detective, and is putting herself in danger to find this monster who is killing women. Thomas starts to go with her, at first to protect her, but then he becomes intrigued with the Leather Apron, too. Three young women crossed their autopsy table before Audrey Rose finds The Ripper.
This book was well written, but just didn’t hold my attention. The first couple of chapters were intriguing, but then it became very boring. The focus switched from finding Jack, to the relationship between Audrey Rose and Thomas and back to Jack at the end. I found myself counting the pages I had read before I could start another book. This book was not at all what I expected it to be. It didn’t capture the mystery of Jack and, worse than all, “Stalking Jack the Ripper” was too predictable. I give it one star.

I had the ending figured out a couple chapters into the book. The author's "clues" were glaring and immediately gave away the Ripper's identity. It was an interesting premise of having a young lady apprentice as a Victorian forensic scientist but the mystery and romance elements were uninspired and predictable, removing all anticipation.

Freakin loved this book! I think this would be the first mystery I ever read other than the ones from when I was kid. This story is definitely the most chilling book I ever read! It was awesome! It was also very humorous! I loved ALL the characters personalities! It was a very enjoyable read! I look forward to reading more of Kerri Maniscalco books! Fantastic writing style! I'd recommend this to anyone to read! I think you'll enjoy it as well!

Sadly, this turned into quite the "meh" read for me, one that became increasingly harder to finish as the story went on. And that was extremely disappointing. From the title of the book to the brief synopsis on the back, I felt this would be right up my alley and the perfect fall read, and that seemed to be cemented when the story started out with Audrey performing an autopsy, providing us with the gruesome medical details. I thought I would love this story....but it fell very flat for me.

In this story we follow Audrey Rose, a high-born lady in Victorian London who scoffs at the perception and expectations of women at this time. Rather than throw lavish tea parties and educate herself in proper lady-like behavior, Audrey prefers to spend her time apprenticing for her Uncle, who is a local mortician.

When women of ill-repute start being murdered viciously and ending up on her uncle's autopsy table, Audrey Rose is determined to solve the murder, especially after her Uncle becomes the prime suspect and she notices several connections between the victims and her family. . With the help of an annoyingly charming and arrogant peer named Thomas Cresswell the two, not unlike that of Sherlock and Watson, take it upon themselves to solve the murders and clear her uncle's name.

This book was such a painfully slow burn. Though it wasn't very long at all, just 318 pages, it felt immensely longer. This, in my opinion, likely could have been shorted by 75 pages and would have been much better, especially since I was able to guess who the perpetrator was right around that 250 page mark. Maybe even before. So basically, there was a slow build only to provide a fairly predictable ending. I am not sure if I will read the next one.

This is a YA novel being reviewed by a definitely elderly reviewer. Furthermore, it is a debut novel by a present-day American, writing about Victorian England. There are times when the story-line feels disjointed and implausible. All that being said, and adding that this narrative deals with really gruesome stuff, I have to admit that it is deeply engaging, and though I didn’t love it, I can’t bring myself to be negative or hyper-critical.

The narrator protagonist, Audrey Rose, is that particular breed of young woman which has assumed mythic proportions in current literature – totally unconventional, yet torn between the proprieties her family and culture demand and her own fascination with a particularly grim area of science: in this case, forensic pathology. As author Kerri Maniscalco is at pains to point out in her author’s note, at the time of the killings of prostitutes attributed to Jack the Ripper, both the terminology and procedures of forensic medicine and dissection of victims of violent crime were in fact in use. At that time also, women were indeed trying to break into all sorts of fields of endeavor formerly considered absolutely inappropriate to “the weaker sex”. Since this is a story that can’t be overstated, Maniscalco’s vivid descriptions and stark plot-line convey it powerfully.

Though I am unsure how well this novel really recreates the social and psychological realities of the time and place, it is quite effective in developing a chillingly macabre mood. This is assisted by some strategically placed illustrations which, although they may or may not relate directly to what is being discussed, definitely add atmosphere. Given the weird aberrations of medical science which did presage the development of modern transplant technology, the basic premise of this novel – that Jack the Ripper was actually seeking to harvest organs from his victims for that purpose – is an intriguing hypothesis.

Reads like a scooby doo mystery. Not worth the money and if I hadn't have bought it already I'd return it for my trouble. Starts with a heroine that by all definition is a cliche. Fully capable, but falls INSTANTLY for the infuriating "yet oddly alluring" Thomas. No lead up to the romance and was even insulting her first...yea wonderful message.

No chemistry between the two and the plot itself had so many holes. What I had the most problem with, aside from the run on sentences...was the fact that Thomas ALWAYS POPPED UP with his "ahh elementary my dear watson." Persona.

Always GodModding the story along like the permanent Narator.

Clumsy plot (spoiler ?it's the biggest SLAP across the face ever) doesn't go into much detail on HOW this person managed to become jack the Ripper.

Poor Grammar: run on sentences in a published book for a full paragraph im sorry isn't okay.

And Mary Sue characters that I couldn't like or warm up to in the slightest.

How does one create a main character so unlikable...congrats on that. Waste of money and time. 1 star is generosity I wished I didn't have to extend.

The three stars is for the horrific narrator. I have well over 200 books in my Audible library, so I have had a lot of exposure to different narrators. I could not take this narrators accent or her tone. Killed the entire book for me. Didn't get past the first two chapters. I have the book so I will give it a go, but almost unrepentant flippant tone of this narrator make the book hard to listen to. It was grating. Nails on a chalkboard.

In 1888 London, Audrey Rose Wadsworth defies her father and society, and secretly tutors under her uncle doing autopsies. Through her studies she comes face-to-face with the victims of Jack the Ripper. She feels compelled to figure out who the Ripper is and bring him to justice, but the investigation may lead to dark secrets better kept hidden.

This debut novel by Maniscalco and the first YA novel in James Patterson's "Jimmy" imprint, fell flat for me.

The premise caught my interest, and the first chapters were a nice set up, but the pace soon slowed. The title is a bit misleading, as most of the "stalking" is done through forensic investigation and autopsies. The middle sags, and the climax picks up with more action, though the true identity of Jack the Ripper was a bit predictable.

Because Audrey Rose wants to practice man's work in the late 1800's, I was expecting a bit of feminism in the book. Obviously, this character was breaking through barriers. The amount of it, though, seemed unnecessary as the character reminds us in almost every scene that she is capable though she is a woman. It also, at times, seemed that Audrey was using feminist arguments just as a means to do whatever she wanted, which was often foolish and dangerous.

There's a romance between Audrey Rose and her classmate, Thomas, that's more love-at-first-sight than depth of feeling.

There were a couple of times I almost stopped reading, but I kept going because of Thomas, though it wasn't necessarily that I liked his character. The more we see of him, the more he reminded me of Sherlock Holmes; from his way of deducing to his arrogance, right down to the dog named Toby that he borrows and he declares is smarter than half of Scotland Yard (a close paraphrase from the stories by Arthur Conan Doyle). The likeness and references were so obvious to me that I thought it was have been intentional and I wanted to see where it went. It didn't go anywhere. Even in her Author's Notes, Maniscalco makes no mention of Doyle or Holmes, which seems odd since the character felt heavily borrowed from Holmes.

I can't say that I enjoyed much about this novel. I was able to finish, but just barely and only out of curiosity surrounding Thomas.

Maniscalco dumps on Victorian era mores with a heroine and hero who scream 21st century behavior with 19th century surroundings.

I am stunned at how many people loved this! The book was slow with a plot so thin that Maniscalco filled it with a romance between Audrey Rose and Thomas that was taut, unnatural and improperly created for its time. Although the premise is brilliant, the writer tries too hard with her prose, and to create an ultra feminist heroine who only comes off as dim-witted as she constantly reminds us that she's not like the girly girls of her time. Meanwhile, we get more of her interest in fashion and Thomas than the horrid murders taking place. Dragging dialogue, era-inappropriate flirtation, tea parties and etiquette discussions reign supreme with only a single effort at actual stalking.

A word about love interest Thomas Cresswell. He's rude, crude, brash, emotionally unavailable and very condescending. If such men appeal to you, you'll love him, but I would seriously question your taste in men. Maniscalco condemns the more discerning readers to the punishment of reading about this non-dimensional romance that dominates the entire plot of the story.

The climax, which climax was none after enduring such a boring story, was disappointing and predictable. I won't give away any serious spoilers except to say that I never imagined Jack the Ripper and Dr. Frankenstein to be the same person. Read the novel, and I think you'll understand. The motive? Lame, when you consider the amount of rage poured out on those poor, unfortunate victims.

With the prose being plainly novice style, a paper-thin plot, era inconsistencies, poorly constructed characters, a weak, fairly predictable climax, and an overshadowing romance, I would suggest to any truly discriminating reader to borrow this before buying it. In my opinion, it's not worth the investment, not even in ebook format.

Originally I had read the first several lines of the book only to place it back, several days later I found myself in the world's popular bookstore with the book in my hands. I couldn't stop myself no matter how disturbed I felt I was insanely curious.

Our tale begins already covered in blood and likely in the presence of several madmen of their own distinction. Our tale starts off a little disturbing, but builds up on the suspense as a good tale should.

Although I would say that I thoroughly enjoyed the book I was stuck between giving the rating a 3-4 star rating and wished to settle for a 3.5, it's not quite a 3, but not totally a 4. The book was a fun read while tending to the dark parts of society the book was also laced with the lighter scenes that were most adorable, but predictable. On top of that the conclusion was too predictable & the book knew it too, there is a time in the tale attempts to convince of information. There's nothing wrong with convincing of the information, but the exaggeration and continuous revisiting of the information while set "B" of information was neatly organized reaffirmed the cliche'. In short, the book had everything it needed then begun trying too hard.

A complaint I would have is the use of the word "sneaked", on a professional level I did not expect the word "sneaked" to be anywhere and cringed each time I saw it, and I cringed, repeatedly. Even after I thought the dreadful word disappeared wishing the author had used a different word choice. It would have made sense if Miss Wadsworth was from a lower class, but she was not and would likely have used different wording especially with how childlike and unused the word "sneaked" is. The other complain I would have is that about Miss Wadsworth would be her constant wavering of ideals. One moment she would be highly annoyed about society's treatment of women & the next she would be offended at her partner for talking in such a way to a lady even as they studied a corpse together. My point to that being that her morals are askew on how she wants society to treat women as exact equals, but brings back "society etiquette" towards her partner when it suits her. It was hard to tell if she was supposed to be flirting back or actually annoyed with him for his usual behavior.

I'd like to leave off with the fact that I haven't heard of the author before so I will take the hypothesis that this is her first official novel & say it was a great attempt which I will be glad to have in my collection, but there is room for improvement. And we will see that coming.

My Ratings: [Out of 5]

Grammar: 3
Spelling: 5
Plot: 3
Ability to Keep Someone Hooked: 4

3.5 Stars... Weaving historical facts and photographs from this time period and these gruesome murders into a fictional tale all it's own, added a unique and intriguing element to this read... Audrey Rose proved to be a modern girl, stuck in an oppressive time for women, as she challenges those who believe her the weaker sex and incapable of investigating a serial killer loose on the streets of London... Placing her into the wealthy elite socioeconomic class and into a storyline with an overprotective father and brother, only added to the oppression, and then pairing her with the charismatic, charming, albeit arrogant Thomas allowed her wings to spread... I was captivated by Audrey's ability to overcome and excel given her harsh circumstances demonstrating her strength and tenacity to push against her gilded cage... Overall, I felt this story was interesting and unique in it's telling, however there were moments when the momentum seemed to lag; times when I anticipated a moment of excitement changing the course of the story only for it to come to a screeching halt... That was disappointing because I really liked the writing style of the author in her development of her characters and the building of the storyline, but I wanted more action and suspense... I will certainly continue with the series and look forward to more cases for these characters to solve; I think the worlds that this author delves into is a great mix of fiction and fact which I find fascinating:)

I wanted to like this book, but everything quickly fell apart.

I like that Kerri attempted something interested and creative. I wish her execution was better.

The character of Audrey Rose was okay. She felt too much like a 2017 girl dropped into late 1800's London. This should be classified as a Historical Fantasy instead of Historical Fiction. She constantly talks about how she's better than men or at least equal, but never shows it.

The god AWFUL love interest between her and the "Sherlock Holmes wannabe" is unbearable. I shouldn't have been surprised because it's a YA novel, but come on.

Obviously I'm not the target market.

If you're a 12-16 year old girl who doesn't know anything about London in 1888 or about Jack the Ripper, then you'll probably love this book.

Stalking Jack the Ripper blends together several favorite genres of mine. Elements of thrillers and horror combine with a forward-thinking protagonist in a historical setting for a colorful adventure. Audrey Rose is a vibrant young woman who wishes to straddle the line between traditionally masculine pursuits—generally, a career; more specifically, one in forensic science—while still indulging decidedly feminine tastes. Shunning the extremes of strict tomboys and flouncy ladies, her insistence on pursuing both facets of her identity reminds reader that one needn't choose one or the other. This modern thinking has its drawbacks, though, namely an anachronistic manner of expression and thinking that clashes with the Victorian setting. Audrey is not merely a progressive 19th-century woman; she's a 21st-century heroine laced into a bustle, wielding a few period-appropriate phrases to fit in. While her attitude is welcome, she doesn't quite fit into the world Maniscalco has written.

With such a brightly drawn main character, perhaps it was inevitable that those around her would pale in comparison. Thomas Cresswell, a fellow student and potential love interest, is chiefly defined by a flat snark that neither amuses nor endears. While the affection between he and Wadsworth hardly develops instantaneously, it lacks a believable degree of chemistry. None of her male relatives fare much better. Her brother is largely defined by who he once was, rather than his present actions and personality. Although he's present for much of the story the way Audrey thinks of him makes Nathaniel feel less involved. Absent for much of the novel, her lordly father rates as more of a vaguely ominous presence than a character in his own right. The cantankerous attitude of Audrey's uncle and scientific tutor never quite feels justified, either.

Given its hearty posturing as a 'girl power' narrative, Stalking Jack the Ripper has a disappointing lack of developed female characters beyond Audrey Rose. Though she reflects charitably on the Ripper's victims, in action they are nothing more than future victims glimpsed at a distance or bloody corpses ready for examination. Her relatives never break loose from their lazy stereotypes: a nagging aunt preoccupied with propriety; a gossipy cousin with whom Audrey claims a close relationship, yet interacts with only at large social gatherings. In a story that centers around violence towards women, their relegation to the fringes of the narrative puzzles.

Maniscalco's prose crackles off the page, although it employs a bit too much exuberance in the telling. The overall effect of Stalking Jack the Ripper is, in fact, one of soap opera dramatics played out on a cardboard set. The majority of characters are too thinly realized for their relationships to leave much impact. Major developments are telegraphed so early that the tension of solving one of history's most infamous crime sprees evaporates in the novel's opening act.

The disconnect between dimension and dynamism expands as Stalking Jack the Ripper unspools. Individual elements contain a glimmer of promise, yet a muddied execution leaves behind an anachronistic jumble that fails to deliver on the feminist twist that lent it so much initial appeal.

This is an entertaining read. For YA fiction, it was actually tolerable based on an entertainment level. I am not a Jack The Ripper expert and I was interested in that aspect of this story. For example, I didn't know Jack sent handwritten notes to taunt the police. There is a picture of one of his letters written in his eerie style of handwriting which I found exceedingly creepy. I really enjoyed the photos that are sprinkled throughout this book. I questioned a time or two, Audrey Rose's attraction to blood and gore and her love for her uncle's macabre laboratory as opposed to a young Victorian lady's love for tea and talks of marriage, but the point is made clearly over and over again.

I did enjoy this jaunt to Victorian England on a young girl's quest to get into the mind of Jack The Ripper and solve the grisly murders. Being a woman far ahead of her time, Audrey felt great empathy for his victims and after her luck of being able to study the gruesome crime scenes and the unwitting victims she becomes very knowledgeable regarding this particular killer. This is a bit of a romp-it's pretty well done if you can suspend disbelief and just go with the flow. There are some good historical tidbits in this book: Leather Apron terrorizing London, a diseased riddled East End, and the Necropolis to name a few. I enjoyed these informational bits worked into the story.

I really liked the section: Historical Inaccuracies And Creative Liberties Taken By The Author. I liked how Maniscalco took events and created a story around them that is highly unlikely but also entertaining. This must have been a kick for her to write. It was like, throw most conventionalities out the window and just write a good tale of a wealthy and rebellious young Victorian woman who likes to partake in autopsies and throw her in with the century's most well known killer and add a smidge of Steampunk for good measure. This isn't great literature, but it is a fun ride.