Stalking Jack the Ripper (Stalking Jack the Ripper, 1) Hardcover – Illustrated, September 20, 2016

**Originally posted on My Fangirl Chronicles**I saw so many of the bloggers I followed posting about the sequel to this book, Hunting Prince Dracula, and I got curious because of the intriguing title. So I looked up what the first book was and was hooked just by the title, Stalking Jack the Ripper. Prior to reading this, I hadn't really read any books about Jack the Ripper (well, there was one part in one of the Tales from Shadowhunter Academy but that was a novella) so I was further intrigued and decided to borrow the audio book from Overdrive. My friend and I listened to it during one road trip we had and I immediately fell in love with the writing and narrator's voice. We didn't get very far into the book during that trip because I was so busy and exhausted by the end of it, but that little taste I had of Stalking Jack the Ripper already made me crave more.Do you know that elated feeling you get when you absolutely fall in love with the first book in a series and then get all excited because you know there's more books with the same characters you now love? I just finished reading this a few hours ago and that's how I still feel now. I utterly and completely loved everything about this book!There is such a colorful cast of characters that bring so many different elements to the overall story. My top favorite was definitely Audrey Rose though. I absolutely love, love, love her! She's incredibly smart, brave, stubborn, and a feminist. While working resiliently to discover the identity of Jack the Ripper, she's also resisting and fighting society's traditional and misogynistic views on women. She's fierce and so very brave but is also very feminine, and I really love that about her. I don't see many heroines who are brave but also allowed to be feminine too, so it was awesome to finally get one.I didn't like Thomas at first, but after a few more chapters in I realized he reminded me a lot of Jace and Will from the Shadowhunter Chronicles and that epiphany made me instantly adore him. He's ridiculously smart, arrogant, and socially awkward because he doesn't exactly know how to get along with most people. Even though he's constantly getting on Audrey Rose's nerves because of his arrogance, he's one of the first (and few) male characters to admire her intellect and believe in her skills, and never viewed her as inferior due to her gender.Kerri's writing is gorgeous and the narrator did an amazing job bringing her words to life. I adored her portrayals of all the different characters; each one was different and helped me picture the character better and didn't confuse me at all. I hate it when narrators use the same tone or accent for multiple characters because then I get confused as to who is speaking. Kerri's writing is so descriptive and vivid, I actually felt like I was in Victorian London, going through this mystery with all the characters. Their voices felt very genuine, too.While I already knew the general story behind Jack the Ripper and the horrendous murder spree he committed from watching a few documentaries on the History Channel, this was the first work of fiction related to it that I have read. Even though the main objective was to find and stop Jack the Ripper, I love how the story highlighted the investigation and the tragedy of the lives lost in the murders, and did not focus on the Ripper himself like history did. It really made me feel invested in the investigation and empathize with the victims and their families.The only thing that bothered me (and it's a very minor thing compared to everything else that I loved about this book) was all the gore and gruesome descriptions when I first started reading the book. I guess I should've figured considering it was a story involving Jack the Ripper, but the vivid descriptions of all the postmortems, bodies of the murdered women, etc. took me by surprise and I literally felt ill. I was in the car when we first started the book and one of the reasons why I kind of zoned out was because I started to feel nauseous and I wasn't exactly sure whether it was from the car or the narrator on the speakers describing how it felt to dig into a cadaver and search for the liver. So, yeah, a little warning would've been nice. HahaSuspenseful and captivating, Stalking Jack the Ripper had me at the edge of my seat trying to figure out the mystery along with our heroes, squealing over the romantic scenes (can someone say, "new OTP"?), and cringing at the horrific and gruesome descriptions. And I loved every minute of it. All the mystery and suspense had me so enthralled, I could not put the book down! I'm not even kidding, I borrowed the audio book just to listen to it while I showered, cooked, cleaned, etc. so I can say with confidence that I officially have a new favorite series and I cannot recommend it enough! If you love Gothic horrors, mystery, suspense, a fierce and feminine heroine, definitely pick this up ASAP!

“Roses have both petals and thorns, my dark flower. You needn’t believe something weak because it appears delicate. Show the world your bravery.”Kerri Maniscalco's debut novel is a definite must read for fans of mystery and suspense novels, and is sure to be a hit! I was blown away by how much I enjoyed this one, and I certainly didn't expect to like it as much as I did. Let's face it, there have been a TON on books written about Jack the Ripper, and they can either be really good or just eh. Fortunately, Kerri did an excellent job at weaving the Jack the Ripper mystery into a very unique story that keeps you gripped right from the beginning. Her writing is excellent, and she tells a macabre tale that you never want to stop reading. The characters are a definite highlight and truly make the entire book, and I'm interested to see where she takes the story in the future.“Wield your assets like a blade, Cousin. 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.”Our main character, Audrey, is far from the perfect lady that her father (and society) would like her to be. Interested in forensics and cutting up dead bodies instead of sipping tea and learning embroidery, you could definitely say that Audrey has some trouble fitting in. However, she has found her niche and she's sticking to it! I admired that tenacity and determination she had. Audrey was such a strong female lead and I loved reading from her perspective. Audrey is a girl that is determined to prove society wrong...that girls can do more than just look pretty and find a husband. She wants to show that women can accomplish great things and are capable of much more than discussing the latest gossip and the newest bachelors. She's reckless and impulsive, but that just makes her an even more enjoyable character to read about! It was that personality that attracted a certain British hottie named Thomas Cresswall.“Thomas smiled at my eye roll, puffing his chest up and standing with one foot proudly resting on a chair as if posing for a portrait. “I don’t blame you, I am rather attractive. The tall, dark hero of your dreams, swooping in to save you with my vast intellect. You should accept my hand at once.”Thomas seriously had me swooning. Who knows why because he's arrogant, cold, and distant...but he's also hilariously sarcastic, witty, and loyal to the core. He cares a great deal about Audrey, and I loved how protective he was of her throughout the novel. Thomas reminded me a lot of Sherlock Holmes and perhaps that's why I enjoyed his character so much! Plus, the banter he and Audrey had was pure gold! They're always bickering back and forth, getting on each other's nerves...you see where this is going. Honestly, the attraction and chemistry between them is undeniable, and I loved watching their relationship form.“I promise. I’ll be as silent as the dead.”“Ah,” Uncle said, putting a hat on and tugging it low, “the dead speak to those who listen. Be quieter than even them.”The entire backdrop to this story was amazing. I thought that Kerri did an excellent job at weaving the Jack the Ripper story into the plot, and it made for such an exciting read. There were definitely some graphic scenes (this was just due to the descriptions of the murder scenes), but this is Jack the Ripper, so it's was pretty gruesome. I actually applaud Kerri for not shying away from Jack the Ripper's disgusting work. The way she told the story made everything so eerie and I felt as if I was right there next to Audrey and Thomas walking the foggy streets of London trying to solve the murders.“Fear is a hungry beast. The more you feed it, the more it grows.”Kerri Maniscalco's debut novel is excellent, and I highly recommend checking this book out as soon as possible. While there are some graphic scenes, I think this book will appeal to many readers. If you're even remotely interested in the Jack the Ripper story, you'll definitely enjoy this read. With strong characters and a plot that is the perfect mix of creepy and cool, Stalking Jack the Ripper is sure to be a hit!Happy reading :)

Kerri is the first author I found through James Patterson that had me hooked. What I love about her writing is her characters are strong and actual feel human

Achei esse livro por acaso e li só porque curti a vibe de Sherlock Holmes. Amei tudo, do início ao fim

15-year-old girl loves it a lot.

Livro em excelentes condições, transporte rápido e bem acondicionado

This book contains tension, romance and plot twists… I enjoyed the story the whole time I was reading it and bought the rest of the series as soon as I was finished! You do gotta throw your feminism out of the window. ;)