Review: Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

Series: Stalking Jack the Ripper #1
Publication Date: September 20th, 2016
Publisher: Jimmy Patterson
Genre: YA, Historial Fiction, Mystery
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Synopsis: 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. 

My Rating

5/5 stars

My Review

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

Oh how I wish I could have just read this book all in one night, I totally would have if it wasn't for my midterms. This book was absolutely beautiful. I've already placed it into the favourites shelf and I'm dying to read the next one when it comes out.

Audrey Rose doesn't fancy gossiping, silk dresses or having tea with the girls. She would much rather be with her uncle in the surgical lab, studying the human body and determining the cause of death. As Audrey Rose begins her apprenticeship under her uncle with the brilliant and dashing Thomas Cresswell, a series of murders break out in Whitechapel, with a mysterious murderer who calls himself Jack the Ripper. As the murdered bodies of women come in for Audrey's uncle to study, Audrey Rose realizes that she's known these woman in one way or another, one was her uncles ex fiancé, while others were part of her servant staff from years past. Could Audrey Rose be close to the murderer? Will she find out before he kills yet again?

This book has the perfect mix of health science, mystery, history and a dash of romance. I seriously love it with all my heart. Not only do I love the era that this book is set in, but I also love the history behind Jack the Ripper, and as a science student, this book was the perfect mix of everything, needless to say it will definitely remain on my favourites list. Alongside the story, theres a big theme of feminism in this book, while I wasnt too excited about this at first, the author did an amazing job of including it subtly and at the perfect moments, it made me realize that no matter how much I love the period this story is set in, I would definitely not enjoy being forced to pretend to be a normal girl, and forget about my love for science.

I could relate to Audrey Rose's character very well. I know what its like to fall in love with science, and have it consume you till its all you think about. Even if you're not a scientist you can definitely relate to her, especially if you've ever been extremely passionate about something and have people tell you that it's not something you can do. Audrey Rose is brilliant, inspirational and logical. She was perfect, as was her romance with Thomas Cresswell. They both share the same intellect and love for science, their curiosity behind the Jack the Ripper murders brings them close together and shows what a good pair they are.

While I had guessed who the mysterious Jack the Ripper was near the middle of the book, there were parts where I was thrown off by the author and suspected even more people. I was a little disappointed that Jack turned out to be who I guessed it was, but it was still a very good mystery.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to everyone who's in need of a good mystery, has a love for science, loves the history in this book, or is looking for a good feminist read. I'm forcing all of my friends to read this book, as I impatiently wait for the next one.

Happy Reading,
Aneta