06/13/2016
Maniscalco’s debut isn’t for the squeamish: it starts with 17-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth deeply immersed in opening up and analyzing a corpse under the supervision of her Uncle Jonathan, with no detail or scalpel cut spared. Audrey Rose is a proper Victorian with the unladylike aspirations of understanding crime scenes, blood spatter, the brutality of murder, and exactly how a killer tears into his victim. Luckily for her, Jack the Ripper is on the hunt, and Audrey Rose—alongside Thomas, a handsome aspiring coroner—is determined to catch him. In taking on the subject of this famous 19th-century serial killer, Maniscalco is treading well-worn fictional territory, but she has created a serious, sharp-minded, and forward-thinking protagonist in Audrey Rose, whose fearlessness in the face of the decaying and the dead—while still navigating the social norms of the day—will endear her to readers looking for an engaging historical thriller. Abundant red herrings and a dash of romance round out this gruesome but engrossing story. Ages 15–up. Agent: Barbara Poelle, Irene Goodman Literary. (Sept.)
08/01/2016
Gr 9 Up—Audrey Rose Wadsworth spends most of her time in her uncle's laboratory, studying science and medicine through the dissection of cadavers. Although she has confided in her conceited brother regarding her studies—which are questionable at best for a young girl of her station—she has kept her time away from home mostly secret from her overprotective father. But when her work with a series of gruesome murders pulls Audrey Rose into a serious criminal investigation, she may not be able to keep her double life from her father, or from society at large, much longer. With help from her uncle's second apprentice, Thomas Cresswell, the protagonist is determined to find answers, for herself and the murdered women, even if those answers are closer to her own sheltered life than she'd like. Set in 1888, this seamless blend of history and fiction places its characters directly in the middle of the Whitechapel murders attributed to Jack the Ripper. The heroine is strong-willed and independent, and her sassy and Sherlockian protégé, Cresswell, adds a satisfying romantic element to the work. While this offering is thoroughly researched, some liberties have been taken to further the plot; these are outlined in an author's note at the end of the book. Grisly period images set the mood, and strong language is included throughout. VERDICT An entertaining debut full of twists and turns, perfect for fans of historical fiction and mystery.—Maggie Mason Smith, Clemson University R. M. Cooper Library, SC
2016-06-01
Audrey Rose Wadsworth, 17, would rather perform autopsies in her uncle's dark laboratory than find a suitable husband, as is the socially acceptable rite of passage for a young, white British lady in the late 1800s. The story immediately brings Audrey into a fractious pairing with her uncle's young assistant, Thomas Cresswell. The two engage in predictable rounds of "I'm smarter than you are" banter, while Audrey's older brother, Nathaniel, taunts her for being a girl out of her place. Horrific murders of prostitutes whose identities point to associations with the Wadsworth estate prompt Audrey to start her own investigation, with Thomas as her sidekick. Audrey's narration is both ponderous and polemical, as she sees her pursuit of her goals and this investigation as part of a crusade for women. She declares that the slain aren't merely prostitutes but "daughters and wives and mothers," but she's also made it a point to deny any alignment with the profiled victims: "I am not going as a prostitute. I am simply blending in." Audrey also expresses a narrow view of her desired gender role, asserting that "I was determined to be both pretty and fierce," as if to say that physical beauty and liking "girly" things are integral to feminism. The graphic descriptions of mutilated women don't do much to speed the pace. Perhaps a more genuinely enlightened protagonist would have made this debut more engaging. (Historical thriller. 15-18)
Praise for Stalking Jack the Ripper:
A #1 New York Times Bestseller from its first week!
"An entertaining debut full of twists and turns, perfect for fans of historical fiction and mystery."—School Library Journal
"Maniscalco has created a serious, sharp-minded, and forward-thinking protagonist in Audrey Rose, whose fearlessness will endear her to readers looking for an engaging historical thriller. Abundant red herrings and a dash of romance round out this gruesome but engrossing story."—Publisher's Weekly
"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....Maniscalco's portrayal of scientific invention in a newly industrial era will serve as a fine first foray into Victorian classics."—Booklist
"*A marvelous yet somewhat gruesome mystery...The Ripper scenes are visceral, and the plot dovetails with history perfectly. An unexpected twist makes the ending worth the wait. A must-have."—School Library Journal, starred review
"Audrey is a young woman eager to use her brains and willing to flaunt society's rules....This mystery pays homage to classics like Doyle's Sherlock Holmes and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein [and] will satisfy those readers looking for historical mystery, a witty heroine, and a little romance."—School Library Connection
"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 bestselling series Across the Universe
"With ample knowledge of Ripper lore, Maniscalco creates a steadfast and headstrong heroine who is as comfortable in gloves of blood as she is in watered silk. Filled with plenty of gory details, and no shortage of possible suspects, Stalking Jack the Ripper conveys the panic, paranoia, and fascination of 1880s London with a madman on the loose."—Kendare Blake, author of Anna Dressed in Blood and Three Dark Crowns
"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 #1 New York Times bestseller The Wrath and the Dawn
"Dark and suspenseful...this book kept me guessing until its final, terrifying scenes."—Anna Carey, author of the EVE trilogy
Narrator Nicola Barber shines in this gory thriller, which takes place in the Victorian era. The wealthy Audrey Rose works alongside her obsessive uncle and his handsome know-it-all apprentice in a forensics lab while a gruesome murderer terrifies London. Barber’s cool tone perfectly reflects the dreary setting and will have listeners squirming as she depicts the grisly details of the murders. Barber voices Audrey Rose with confidence, inquisitiveness, and a bit of naïveté. Barber also deftly portrays each of the suspects’ sinister and kinder natures, keeping listeners guessing. Other varied and distinct characters add to the ambiance of the time period. E.A.N. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
Narrator Nicola Barber shines in this gory thriller, which takes place in the Victorian era. The wealthy Audrey Rose works alongside her obsessive uncle and his handsome know-it-all apprentice in a forensics lab while a gruesome murderer terrifies London. Barber’s cool tone perfectly reflects the dreary setting and will have listeners squirming as she depicts the grisly details of the murders. Barber voices Audrey Rose with confidence, inquisitiveness, and a bit of naïveté. Barber also deftly portrays each of the suspects’ sinister and kinder natures, keeping listeners guessing. Other varied and distinct characters add to the ambiance of the time period. E.A.N. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
