Focuses on the victims
Jack the Ripper is infamous. His victims have been analyzed and dissected, reduced to evidence by his handiwork, the investigation around him, and the media.
Stalking Jack the Ripper brings these young women to life. Audrey literally autopsies them and treats them better than most. She’s a crusader for these women, blazing a trail for independence.
While finding and stopping Jack is the goal, with Audrey at the helm women at the time become the focus. The title and cover are PERFECT and reflect this beautifully.
Audrey Rose Wadsworth: Kicking Patriarchy Ass in Heels
Roses have both petals and thorns, my dark flower. You needn’t believe something weak because it appears delicate. Show the world your bravery.
This girl is AMAZING. I love her to death. But one thing that makes her stand out: she doesn’t put down femininity. She gets elbow deep in corpses wearing silk slippers and will make you regret making fun of her for it.
I always have a soft spot for the lazy tomboyish girls because that’s me. But I appreciate people like Audrey all the more now that my daughter’s a beauty queen that throws down with the boys. She already likes the creepy like me (shocker!) so I’ll be introducing her to this glorious book when she can read it.
Audrey Wadsworth & Thomas Cresswell: OTP like Holmes & Watson
I love Audrey all on her own, but I lived for their banter. They are impossible cute and perfect together. Their push-pull sarcastic rivalry and partnership is die for. Cresswell is a better human than Sherlock and Wadsworth leads the investigation.
Don’t get me wrong, they’re not always together and the romance is a subplot so it doesn’t steal focus. Audrey stands just fine on her own. I’m just so very, very happy they have each other. I will fucking FIGHT if anything happens to them, Maniscalco.
Dat Plot:
What a fantastic journey capped with I DIDN’T SEE THAT COMING! Original new take on the Ripper that I’ve run across. I don’t think I need to read another book featuring Ripper. Ever. Pack it up folks, we’re done here!
Of course, Maniscalco does take some liberties with the facts (mostly fudging dates and omitting suspects) and details it all at the end beautifully. But still. Any other Ripper-feature is going to get side-eyed at the very least. You cannot possibly be as good. Just sit down.
The First Sentence:
The lovely cover has that band at the top shouting this is published by James Patterson’s imprint. Patterson himself gives a touching foreword where he mentioned knowing from the first line he would love Stalking Jack the Ripper. The sentence in question:
I placed my thumb and forefinger on the icy flesh, spreading it taunt above the breastbone as Uncle had showed me.
This is one of the few books I’ve read electronically and plan on getting a hard copy. The details like the pictures and quotes are great in e-format but I want to touch it and hug it. That sounds weird, but you book people get me, right?
Don’t believe me, go preview it now on Amazon and be prepared to buy it.