“Escaping From Houdini” – Kerri Maniscalco

In this third installment of Maniscalco’s Ripper series we find Audrey aboard the RMS Etruria on her way to America to assist her uncle with a case there. However, the dazzling cruise liner isn’t the unsuspecting voyage she signed up for. The haunting Midnight Carnival is aboard as the entertainment, but on the very first night a passenger winds up dead at dinner! Things only get more complicated as they travel further and further into the sea. Isolated and running on limited time it’s up to Audrey, her Uncle, and Thomas, to find out who is committing these heinous acts; while not falling into the illusions herself.

Honestly, I’m here for Maniscalco. You must realize how much I love her by now since I’ve been praising her for three books and as many weeks. This was a great addition to the series and I loved it. I can’t wait to see what more Maniscalco comes up with.

Loving every minute of the drama, the action, the adventure, the death, the mystery. Brava!

“Stalking Jack The Ripper” – Kerri Maniscalco

Picture it, Whitechapel London, 1888, women are being found brutally murdered, organs missing from their bodies… and no one knows who is responsible. Meanwhile Miss Audrey Rose Wadsworth, daughter of a Lord with all the wealth and privilege one could have at the time, is secretly studying forensic science with her uncle and alongside the insufferable Thomas Cresswell. When the investigations begins to hit a little close to home Audrey takes matters into her own hands, trying to solve this vicious murder before anyone else dies, and before it’s her own kin sent off to Bedlam.

This is one of those books that I would see in the store and be like “oh that looks interesting” and then never buy it or would “put it on my to-read list” and then never read. Anyway, I had recently read the HistoryChannel publication of Jack The Ripper that they released, a short little 100pg magazine about his reign of terror in 1888, and I was in a Ripper mood so I was like “why not” and I finally got it out of the library.

Let. Me. Just. Say. That I wish I had written this book. It was everything I love about reading, honestly. It was captivating, well written, it was fun, it had horror, suspense, thrill, a little romance, a little science,  gore, and it was set in Victorian London? Yes please! Honestly, I was enamored. I immediately sought out the sequel but sadly it wasn’t available so I am having to read something else in the meantime. Great job Maniscalco honestly. Pure delight. I can’t wait to see what “Hunting Prince Dracula” (The sequel) is like!

Happy reading!