Stalking Jack the Ripper

By: Kerri Maniscalco, James Patterson

Narrated by: Nicola Barber

Length: 9 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's Summary

Presented by James Patterson's new children's imprint, this deliciously creepy horror novel has a storyline inspired by the Ripper murders and an unexpected, blood-chilling conclusion.

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 will make this dazzling debut from author Kerri Maniscalco impossible to forget.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2016 Kerri Maniscalco (P)2016 Hachette Audio

Critic Reviews

"Audrey Rose Wadsworth prefers breeches to ball gowns, autopsies to afternoon tea, and scalpels to knitting needles. Though her father, Lord Edmund, has forbidden it, Audrey covertly studies forensic medicine...while 'the Ripper' remains two steps ahead, lurking where Audrey least expects...." ( Booklist)

"This is a book that will keep you up at night and haunt you during the day." (Beth Revis, author of the New York Times best-selling series Across the Universe)

"Kerri Maniscalco paints a picture of nineteenth-century London that lives and breathes in wonderfully sinister fashion. You won't want to put this book down." (Renee Ahdieh, author of the New York Times best seller The Wrath and the Dawn)

Obvious

I appreciate that it must be difficult to write a novel with an unguessable mystery. However, it was really obvious to me who Jack the Ripper was. It was obvious very early on (I'm talking no more than an hour in), and I kept hoping that I was way off because it was so obvious, but I was correct. That being said, mysteries, like horror, are extremely subjective, and what is obvious to me may not be so to another reader.

It just seemed to me that all the red herrings were obvious red herrings, and I was very aware of the author trying to obscure her twist. I was very aware of the author throughout the book in other ways, as well. This book is set in the late 19th century, and it is clear that the author has done her research, and is eager to share it. But she may be a little too eager. There are several instances where she'll put a piece of historical trivia into a character's mouth instead of just showing it to the reader through setting and world building.

For an example, one character might say something like, "Audrey Rose, it's inappropriate to address a man by his Christian name unless you are engaged." This is clunky and stilted--chances are, everyone already knows that, because they're steeped in the rules and traditions of their day. A more realistic reaction would just be to gasp, or look scandalized. One of the age old rules for dialogue is to never write dialogue that is solely meant to give the reader information. Another example of this is Audrey Rose's brother's awkward insistence on inserting 'sister' into every sentence he utters to her. I also really can't stand the weird and cumbersome name, 'Audrey Rose,' but that's just me being picky.

Audrey Rose is your typical fiery, headstrong female protagonist who is so stubborn she gets herself into ridiculous situations and regularly refuses to see reason. Yawn. What makes it even worse is that Kerri Maniscalco is determined that we should know that Audrey Rose is a feminist character. Just about every thought she has is tied to the restraints of society because she's a woman, and how everyone underestimates her because she's a woman, and how she can be a strong woman and still like lace. As a writer, you should try not to make the message of your work something the reader already knows. The message we're being beat with here is, sexism is bad. We already know that.

And as strong and independent as Audrey Rose is supposed to be, approximately 60% of her character revolves around hating/loving the arrogant genius, Thomas. There is angst, there are hormones, there is instalove. I would love it if we could start writing YA heroines who aren't madly in love with jerks, or--gasp--maybe don't even have a love interest at all.

The characters, especially for the first half, are often cartoonish, their actions and their words exaggerated nearly to the point of ridiculousness, and character development in general leaves a lot to be desired. Theories about Jack the Ripper's motives are very Psych 101--I may have been willing to forgive the fact that their analysis is Freudian though Freud's theories on psychoanalysis were not widely known in 1888, if it weren't for everything else. Historical liberties are ok, but poor setting, poor character development, awful YA tropes, and a weak twist are not.

I confess that I read this just to get to Stalking Prince Dracula, the higher-rated next book in the series. Let's hope things improve.

Great listen

The performance is amazing! The story is gripping. I would recommend to anyone not just people who enjoy mysteries

Underwhelmed...

I was intrigued by the summary and I personally love reading about the Victorian era. However, I was underwhelmed by this book. The story and pacing was good but I found Audrey-Rose to be obnoxious at times. The way she would keep reinforcing that she was smart and capable was beating a dead horse. I can take it a couple time but it was every couple of minutes! The narrator was great and probably what saved the story.

A must-read

Gripping story, with a powerful message, outstandingly told and beautifully narrated. I couldn't stop listening!

I should have listennnneedd

All the reviews warned me that this was a pretty lame book, and I ignored them all. If you’re thinking about getting this book heed my warning: it sucked. This is the sign to find something else. Go listen to Six of Crows instead.

Honestly, wonderful performance from the reader. The writing itself was interesting but I spent a lot of the time struggling through the “relationship” of Audrey Rose and Thomas. I’m usually into YA romances, but, if you’ll pardon my French, Thomas was a real dick and should be punched in the face. Kind of a lot.

As for “strong female character” Audrey Rose, she sure was a helpless and stupid sack of “I’m just as smart and I can prove it!” throughout. It’s like Detective Right All the Time and Detective Terrible Detective went on an adventure in Victorian London. Cheerio, gov’ner.

HOWEVER the author did some incredible research and the scary parts were very eerie. Loved the story, hated the characters.

Why does everyone love this so much?

I will admit the actual plot pf this fantastic, it flowed really well and was a quick read. Now getting onto Audrey Rose. I am so tired of every ya book being "firey headstrong to the point of being illogical" female character falling wayyy to fast for a "hot arrogant jerk". I was super excited because I had heard she was really girly and liked pretty dresses, I thought it could be interesting. That being said this book did not hold up, if a female character is super girl how are you having her aunt scold her for dressing like a tomboy. Also having a character who is interested in basically being a medical examiner amd yet is almost squeamish and so sensitive about death came off as a joke. It especially came off as a joke when a boy taught her to look past this. If that's going to be character development why can't someone other than a love interest help her? That is so overdone.

For 12 year old women

This is written for young women, in their early teens. If you are not of that demographic, you may not find this novel engaging enough to finish. The narator, Nicola Barber is excellent though, and is a bright spot in this audible book.

Nope

Okay. This is what I thought "Stalking Jack the Ripper" was going to be.

When I saw the cover and the title, I assumed that some badass MC is given a list of hits with Mr. Ripper being a part of the list. MC had trained to take out threats to society, but she is going to find stalking Mr. Ripper her toughest assignment yet. MC is a superb assassin with a background of intense training and a sharp wit, and she performs a dangerous tango with Mr. Ripper, who matches her skills and intelligence to a T. Their final confrontation is both satisfying and a little sad. Who else can match MC like the Ripper?

So, yeah. Didn’t get that.

Instead we get an MC who has a major case of "I’m-not-like-other-girls" syndrome. She constantly toots her own horn only to majorly fumble around as if she was Velma from Scooby-Doo and she didn’t have her glasses to see. Her deduction skills are subpar. Her disdain for other women is extraordinary. She is a giant "pot-calling-the-kettle-black" metaphor bumbling around and yelling at people.

I want to make a more structured criticism here, but seeing as there wasn’t much effort in writing a well-researched and plot driven novel in the first place, then I’ll treat this review the same way.

*Ahem*

-Everyone goes around in circles. A great example is the Uncle. He is fine with letting his niece preside over his controversial work but can’t handle her listening to lewd conversations. Even MC is perplexed. In the end, there is a particular scene that goes around and around with this paradox that I almost threw my poor phone (the device I listen to audiobooks on.) Just. Get. To. The. Point.

-The characters themselves feel stiff. They are either good or bad. Father, Uncle, Brother = Good. Women = Bad (Except MC because she is not like others girls.) They are highly one dimensional and I couldn’t invest interest in their ultimate fates.

-Is some of this historically accurate? I know the author played around with a few actual details from real history, but otherwise—I mean…weren’t girl supposed to be chaperoned non-stop? That would have effectively stopped MC. I think what I’m saying is, either make an accurate time piece, or just go all out. What’s the point of having half accuracy?

-The plot was super predictable. If I can figure all this out, then I’m sure anyone else can, too. Haha. If solving the crime was this easy, then why hasn’t the case of Jack the Ripper been solved sooner?

-The romance was gross. I did not feel a thing, and I got tired real fast with their stale flirtations.

Anyway, amidst this cluster, there were a few tid-bits that DID like.

-I’m always a stan for good and gritty descriptions of crime investigations. This book did that well.

And that’s it.

All done.

The book had potential, which it squandered and squashed into a sad, no-more-potential-puddle. There is no way I am continuing with the rest of the series, which kind of sucks. I actually was looking forward to this book/series.

Not the best, but not the worst.

Narrator was great, just not the kind of story that I usually enjoy. I usually love all Pattersons book, just couldn't get into this one.

nope

I wanted to like it, but whiney teenage romance ruined the plot. The main character was a grown man's fantasy of a teen girl. It was so disturbing I didn't make it past the 2nd chapter.

Maybe I'm being too harsh

I'm not the intended target market for this story, however, YA fiction is one of my guilty pleasures if I can find those little gems which aren't overly throbbing with angsty hormones and ruining (for me) what otherwise could have been an enjoyable tale.

This take on the 'Ripper' mystery we've all heard details of is nothing new and quite obvious from early on and I don't usually tend to mind grammatical inconsistencies but I find some of the very modern language used here to be one more reason to not love this book.

The cast of characters were flat but some of them, especially the young apprentice Dr. Thomas and the almost just as young chief of police, to have a spark of something about them that might be potental to be great characters if developed.

I've read worse but I wasn't excited by this and wish I'd used my credit elsewhere.

Too predictable

I knew before half way through who the murderer was, in the best murder mysteries you’re completely surprised! But well written and a likeable MC.

Brilliant YA take on the Ripper legend

This is a fun historical YA novel, the first in a trilogy that combines several legends and stories to make a rich and detailed new version of the past. I enjoyed the story and am looking forward to Hunting Prince Dracula. The narrator does a great job, and the additional historical information included is fascinating and really adds to the credibility of the story. If you enjoy a historical novel, but prefer empowered, kick ass female characters to the usual damsels in distress, then you'll love this take on the Ripper legend.

Loved this! Such an enjoyable listen!

This was such an enjoyable listen! The narration was so well done and really helped me get addicted to the story within one chapter. The voice of Audry-Rose felt so real and relatable, I just enjoyed experiencing her Victorian London. Really recommend.

boring and unbelievable

really disappointed, the lead character was unbelievably stupid and annoying and the reader wasn't great either. would.not recommend.

Gripping

Gripped throughout. Very enjoyable read. Highly recommended. Especially the twists and blooming love story. Great stuff

Great read- not for the squeamish!

Took a while to get into it but really looking forward to the next installments. I called the ending to the book which I hate doing but overall it was enjoyable.

Gripping and enjoyable

I love Forensics
i love the mystery of Jack the Ripper and i am a sucker for Young Adult Fiction

An enjoyable listen from start to finish. Now to complete the collection over the next 4 months of audible credits

This was BREATHTAKING!

For me? This book was absolutely beautiful, and the performance was wonderfully portrayed. The narrator for this is exactly how I imagine Miss Audrey Rose to sound... I would recommend this book to anyone a fan of crime and historical fiction. The way the author displays all the characters in the book? INCREDIBLE!

brilliant

As a ripperologist, I see the the anomalies but this is a fantastically woven story. It gave me goosebumps.