Audio book Review: Stalking Jack the Ripper

Stalking Jack the Ripper
Series: Stalking Jack the Ripper #1
By: Kerri Maniscalco
Pages: 337
Audio: 9 hours & 26 mins
Published: September 20th 2016
Publisher: by Jimmy Patterson
My Rating:

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

The traits of an average seventeen year old girl in the 1800's included: gossiping, crushing over potential husbands, and learning to be a devoted wife. Between Audrey Rose's social parties, training, and dress fittings she just happens to cut open dead bodies. Audrey is a girly girl, but there's one thing she's interested in that most girls in the 1800's aren't. She wants to learn and understand the science behind the human body, and often sneaks away to her uncle's laboratory to study forensic medicine.

In the mist of her studies a pattern of horrifically violent murders start to occur, and Audrey is determined to stop them. While studying the bodies, investigating the clues left behind, and taking dangerous risks, Audrey learns that maybe she is closer to the killer than she realized. While connecting the dots Audrey refuses to stop her investigation no matter how much the end result will tear her apart.
Stalking Jack the Ripper is a fast past, gripping, and bone chilling thriller that I couldn't stop listening to. The history and fictional parts of this book intertwined beautifully and effortlessly. The story stayed true to the evidence history has left behind, and I loved the gruesome twist that Maniscalco put on who Jack the Ripper was. As with any thriller read there are a few guesses of who can be the murderer. The reasons behind the murders had a twisted explanation that had me thinking about it long after I had finished the book.
The characters in Stalking Jack The Ripper were all complex, mysterious, and lovable. Even the corrupt characters tug at your heart strings, and cause you to empathize with them. Maniscalo develops complex characters break the norm for their generation. I enjoyed how they all had twisted personalities in their own unique way. No one in this book is a cookie cutter character. They are jaded, mischievous, broken, and dark. I loved how they all had brokenness that they were trying to deal with, and how raw their emotions are.
With the third book in the series out it's the perfect time to grab this book and binge the first three books in this series. I enjoyed the audio version. The narrator did a great job of getting into character, and the performance never fell flat. If you want to try an audio book that gives you all the fall and Halloween feels Stalking Jack the Ripper is for you!

About the Author

Kerri Maniscalco grew up in a semi-haunted house outside NYC where her fascination with gothic settings began. In her spare time she reads everything she can get her hands on, cooks all kinds of food with her family and friends, and drinks entirely too much tea while discussing life’s finer points with her cats.She is the #1 NYT and USA Today bestselling author of the Stalking Jack the Ripper series.
Favorite non-writing things:I believe curry, avocados, vinyl records, handwritten letters, and my 1950s Smith-Corona typewriter are the best things on the planet. EVER. (Aside from my food blog, www.sndwchsetc.com, that is.) My favorite quote of all time is: “You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club” by Jack London.