A Review – Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalo

The other week, I came across a lovely little app called 'BorrowBox'. It's pretty much an online library. You create an account by linking your library card to it, and then can then borrow books (and audiobooks)!

There is a system in place that makes it more like a library, as there are not unlimited numbers of each book, so you can only borrow it if it's available, or you can be added to a waiting list to borrow the book.

I picked this book simply because it was the first one I came across that I recognised, and was available immediately!

I've never been much of an audiobook person as I zone out quite easily, but I drive to the horse yard twice a day. Granted it's only a 10 minute journey each way, but when you think about it, that's a potential 40 minutes of audiobook listening every day. So this book was sort of the tester to see how audiobook listening/driving would work, and it did go surprisingly well! I will definitely be going through the collection of books and choosing many, many, many of them to read.

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 back to her own sheltered world. The story's shocking twists and turns, augmented with real, sinister period photos, will make this dazzling, #1 New York Times bestselling debut from author Kerri Maniscalco impossible to forget.

Grab a copy!

My Review!

Life as a Lord’s daughter is not necessarily all it’s chalked up to be. Audrey Rose Wadsworth might be able to enjoy a life of luxury, and want for nothing, but she is not content to sit back and plan tea parties. She longs for purpose outside of the day to day life of an upper class woman. Her mind is switched on, and she has every intention of putting it to good use. Particularly when it comes to following in her uncle’s footsteps, and practicing the art of forensic medicine.

When Audrey Rose first meets Thomas Cresswell, he comes across as pompous, clearly thinking himself superior to those around him. He does not necessarily question her decision to sneak around behind her father’s back and spend her time in her uncle’s laboratory, dissecting corpses to determine the causes of their mortal end, but he does not keep it a secret that he does not believe she is that good at what she does. He is not afraid to tell her when she makes mistakes, nor does he hesitate when there is a chance to prove to her that he is right. But when corpses begin appearing in a similar manner, there can be no denying that there is a serial murderer on the loose, and Audrey Rose and Thomas have no choice but to work together if they want to discover the truth and find the murderer before too many more people lose their lives.

Jack the Ripper is an infamous name, belonging to a case that was never solved. Embellishing fact with fiction, the author has created a gripping murder mystery novel. This novel should not be taken as a true account of the murders, as is clearly stated in the author’s note at the end, but that does not mean it is not a story worth reading. The historical setting is well researched and portrayed with a close eye for the detail. Audrey Rose and Thomas live and breathe within the pages of a novel recounting Victorian England in an incredibly realistic manner. 

Audrey Rose is a woman who does not belong in the time she was born to. She is a woman who knows her own mind, and one who refuses to be caged. She knows she can contribute towards something, and she is not at all afraid to get to work, or to work hard to achieve what she desires. Despite many characters believing her incapable simply because of her gender, Audrey Rose is determined, both to prove herself capable, and to prove others wrong. She comes across as incredibly real in the telling, and is certainly a likeable character. She is not without fault, but she is human – she does her best, and puts her all into everything that she does, but is very much held back by what is deemed socially acceptable for a woman to do. She makes the perfect protagonist to tell this story, for she is not on the front line, such as those in Scotland Yard on the police force are, but rather working behind the scenes, following her own leads, and attempting to piece together clues that are left behind after the life of a victim has been lost.

The relationship between Audrey Rose and Thomas is one that is rather entertaining to follow. Audrey Rose may see Thomas as a rival for her uncle’s praise, but she can’t deny that she needs him to be able to solve the case. If Scotland Yard, and even her uncle, couldn’t solve it and find the murderer, how was she supposed to solve it by herself. With Thomas, the world opens up, and she has a partner in crime, as it were, in her investigation. With clues bouncing between them, and two different perspectives, they manage to get much further in their investigation than they might have without each other. Although it becomes evident to the reader that they clearly care for each other, neither of them are the type of person to admit so, and instead they fall to harmless but amusing bickering and often grow frustrated with each other. 

Being a murder mystery, this novel is full of twists and turns. Even though you may attempt to deduce who the murderer is by yourself, it is almost guaranteed that you will not be able to see what is coming next until you turn the next page and read on. This novel builds to a brilliant climax, and it is almost impossible to predict what will come next.

While this book is listed as young adult historical fiction, it is certainly aimed at the older end of the young adult scale. There are several scenes that are incredibly gory, and for those who are not necessarily accustomed to blood, gore, and the aftermath of extreme violence, this book may be the wrong choice. It is not a particularly censored book, so can easily be enjoyed by older readers, and unless you knew it was aimed at young adults, you would not be able to tell. 

Even if you have no idea who Jack the Ripper is, or have never read a historical fiction novel before, this book should still be considered. This is a novel that is sure to grab your attention within the first few pages, and keep you hooked until the final sentence. With plenty of twists, drama, and unexpected suspects, this is a novel that is quite unforgettable. 

And done!

Now to spend hours scrolling through BorrowBox, adding books to the list of books I want to read, and finding the next audiobook to accompany me back and forth on my daily car journeys.

I think audiobooks may be my new favourite thing...!

Anyway, that's all for now...

Bye!

A Review – The Fourth Charm (Dramsmit Childrens Mysteries Book 2) by Robert Howell

This is another book that I very gratefully received from the author. I read quite a lot of young adult fiction, but I haven't read much children's fiction since I was that age. This book is targeted at 8-15 year olds, so it is a bit of a different one for me.

Let me introduce the book, and then we can get into my review!

It has been a few months since Sharron, Wally and Chip found their true home at Bellevue Manor, and their place in the witch community. They continue to learn their craft, and their powers grow. Yet their true destiny lies in their love of mystery solving. Using their unique abilities, they take on the challenge of solving supernatural mysteries. Their success in this though may become their undoing. For now, the Witch Council itself has come to them to help solve a mystery that is threatening the Witch community.

Some entity is stealing the familiars from witches, including the familiar of their good friend Ronnie. They put on their sleuthing caps, using all the research tools at their disposal, to find the answer.

Then comes the prophecy from Saleena. The only chance they can survive this, is if they use the Fourth Charm. But what is The Fourth Charm? Not a single book in the extensive Dramsmit library mentions anything about it. Nor do any of the witches they have spoken with, including Saleena. They race to find the answer to this question, yet mysterious and powerful forces oppose them every step of the way. Can they find the Fourth Charm, and the ability to use it, before all is lost?

Amazon UK • Amazon US

My Review!

Sharron, Wally, and Chip may still be fairly new to the magical world, but they have not been negatively impacted by their late start to their studies. They have a unique ability, the power of three, that allows them to join their magic together into a singular force, and they have a knack at coming up with new spells that help them along their adventures.

The three take up the role of detectives, combining their powers and problem solving abilities together, to solve the mysteries that the magical world throws at them. When a mystery arises that even the Witch's Council cannot solve, Sharron, Wally, and Chip find themselves facing possibly the most difficult mystery they’ve ever solved before. 

There is a lot of information in this book that you must understand for it to make sense, but once you have the general gist of the magical world this book contains, you are in for a wild ride! Having not read book 1, I do feel like I missed some important aspects of the story, but that is a problem that can easily be remedied. I would definitely recommend reading this series in order, as I’m sure it is easier to understand the magical world if you learn about it as the main characters do, rather than starting halfway through the story.

The magical world itself in this book is one I have not come across elsewhere. It is a very original world of potions, spells, and creatures that captures your attention. The language used, and the mystery itself in this book, is perfectly suited to the age group this book is targeted towards. If I had read this book at age 12, I know I would’ve loved it. Having said that, I actually read this book as an adult, and I still greatly enjoyed reading it! It is not over simplified for children, so while it is suitable for a younger audience to read, it is also perfect for those outside of the targeted age range. 

I loved the way Sharron, Wally, and Chip are portrayed. They are powerful, and incredibly smart, but they are still children. Chip, as the youngest, often comes out with new words that he has just learnt, and although they know what they are doing, they are often held back by their age. The adults around them take measures to ensure they are safe, but this often comes across as the grown ups trying to hold them back. This can be seen from both perspectives when reading, and I’m sure different aged readers would see things differently. While reading, as a ‘grown up’ myself, I saw three children trying to take on an adult’s role, but not having the necessary tools to actually move forwards themselves. It does portray an important message, that even though you might know how to do something, needing a little help is not something to be afraid of. 

The mystery in this book is one that definitely keeps you guessing as you read. With mythical creatures, and the infusion of myths and legends into the story, the twists and turns the story takes are plenty to keep your attention hooked. I read this book in one sitting, and I can see plenty of avid young readers absolutely adoring this series. This book really reminded me of The Roman Mysteries series by Caroline Lawrence, but with the added sparkle of a magical world and mythical creatures that the three must combat or befriend.

There are several mentions of the children having suffered violence in the past, as they went through different social systems after the deaths of their parents, and the children do face danger during the book, but the violence in the scenes is mild, and none of the children themselves are hurt at any point.

This is a wonderful book for children, or young teens, who enjoy mystery books, or have a love for magical stories. It also makes a great quick read for those adults who like to sit back with a simpler story. If magic and mysteries are your thing, this is the series for you!

And done!

I wasn't sure how I was going to get on with this book, due to the targeted age range, but I actually really enjoyed reading it. It was a lovely break from some of the heavier topics covered in the books I've been reading lately. I read the whole thing in one sitting!

Anyway, that's all for now...

Bye!