Review: Capturing the Devil (Stalking Jack the Ripper #4) by Kerri Maniscalco

Title: Capturing the Devil

Series: Stalking Jack the Ripper #4

Previous books in this series: Stalking Jack the Ripper (#1) | Hunting Prince Dracula (#2) | Escaping from Houdini (#3)

Author: Kerri Maniscalco

Genre: YA, mystery, historical

Publication date: September 2019

Published by: jimmy patterson

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis: In the shocking finale to the bestselling series that began with Stalking Jack the Ripper, Audrey Rose and Thomas are on the hunt for the depraved, elusive killer known as the White City Devil. A deadly game of cat-and-mouse has them fighting to stay one step ahead of the brilliant serial killer—or see their fateful romance cut short by unspeakable tragedy.

Audrey Rose Wadsworth and Thomas Cresswell have landed in America, a bold, brash land unlike the genteel streets of London they knew. But like London, the city of Chicago hides its dark secrets well. When the two attend the spectacular World's Fair, they find the once-in-a-lifetime event tainted with reports of missing people and unsolved murders.

Determined to help, Audrey Rose and Thomas begin their investigations, only to find themselves facing a serial killer unlike any they've heard of before. Identifying him is one thing, but capturing him—and getting dangerously lost in the infamous Murder Hotel he constructed as a terrifying torture device—is another.

Will Audrey Rose and Thomas see their last mystery to the end—together and in love—or will their fortunes finally run out when their most depraved adversary makes one final, devastating kill?

My rating: ★★★☆☆

“Shall we see about solving another gruesome murder, my love?”

Review: Escaping from Houdini (Stalking Jack the Ripper #3) by Kerri Maniscalco

Title: Escaping from Houdini

Series: Stalking Jack the Ripper #3

Previous books in this series: Stalking Jack the Ripper (#1) | Hunting Prince Dracula (#2)

Author: Kerri Maniscalco

Genre: YA, mystery, historical

Publication date: September 2018

Published by: jimmy patterson

Source: Purchased paperback

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Synopsis: Audrey Rose Wadsworth and her partner-in-crime-investigation, Thomas Cresswell, are en route to New York to help solve another blood-soaked mystery. Embarking on a week-long voyage across the Atlantic on the opulent RMS Etruria, they’re delighted to discover a traveling troupe of circus performers, fortune tellers, and a certain charismatic young escape artist entertaining the first-class passengers nightly.

But then, privileged young women begin to go missing without explanation, and a series of brutal slayings shocks the entire ship. The disturbing influence of the Moonlight Carnival pervades the decks as the murders grow ever more freakish, with nowhere to escape except the unforgiving sea.

It's up to Audrey Rose and Thomas to piece together the gruesome investigation as even more passengers die before reaching their destination. But with clues to the next victim pointing to someone she loves, can Audrey Rose unravel the mystery before the killer's horrifying finale?

My rating: ★★★☆☆

Reading back the notes I left myself about this book in preparation for writing this review, I’m not quite sure why I decided to give it 3 stars because all my notes seem to be complaints 🙈 I am tempted to drop my rating given that, but I’m gonna trust past me that I actually enjoyed this book more than those notes are letting on 😆 So yeah, there’s a little insight into my feelings about this book. Get ready, because it might get ranty 🙃

Review: Hunting Prince Dracula (Stalking Jack the Ripper #2) by Kerri Maniscalco

Title: Hunting Prince Dracula

Series: Stalking Jack the Ripper #2

Previous book in this series: Stalking Jack the Ripper

Author: Kerri Maniscalco

Genre: YA, mystery, historical

Publication date: September 2019

Published by: jimmy patterson

Source: Purchased paperback

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Synopsis: Following the grief and horror of her discovery of Jack the Ripper's true identity, Audrey Rose Wadsworth has no choice but to flee London and its memories. Together with the arrogant yet charming Thomas Cresswell, she journeys to the dark heart of Romania, home to one of Europe's best schools of forensic medicine... and to another notorious killer, Vlad the Impaler, whose thirst for blood became legend.

But her life's dream is soon tainted by blood-soaked discoveries in the halls of the school's forbidding castle, and Audrey Rose is compelled to investigate the strangely familiar murders. What she finds brings all her terrifying fears to life once again.

In this New York Times bestselling sequel to Kerri Maniscalco's haunting #1 debut Stalking Jack the Ripper, bizarre murders are discovered in the castle of Prince Vlad the Impaler, otherwise known as Dracula. Could it be a copycat killer... or has the depraved prince been brought back to life?

My rating: ★★★★☆

Before I even started this book, I had left myself the following note:

“Here we go. Hope I like this one better. Other one left much to be desired.” 😬

Review: Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

Title: Stalking Jack the Ripper

Series: Stalking Jack the Ripper #1

Author: Kerri Maniscalco

Genre: YA, mystery, historical

Publication date: September 2016

Published by: jimmy patterson

Source: Purchased paperback

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Synopsis:

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.

My rating: ★★★☆☆
This book, oh man. I cannot tell you how excited I was to read this book! I mean, it’s right up my alley! Hunting down a notorious serial killer? Ummm, yes please! Unfortunately, it was kind of a let down 😩 I'm disappointed and it's almost at myself for not loving it? Which I know is insane. But I was so looking forward to it and it was just not what I expected at all.