Stalking Jack the Ripper (Stalking Jack the Ripper, 1)

This #1 New York Times bestseller and deliciously creepy horror novel has a storyline inspired by the Ripper murders and an unexpected, blood-chilling conclusion. 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.

From School Library Journal

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

School Library Journal

"An entertaining debut full of twists and turns, perfect for fans of historical fiction and mystery."

Publisher's Weekly

"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."

Booklist

"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."

School Library Journal, starred review

"*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 Connection

"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."

Beth Revis, author of the New York Times bestselling series Across the Universe

"This is a book that will keep you up at night and haunt you during the day."

Kendare Blake, author of Anna Dressed in Blood and Three Dark Crowns

"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."

Renee Ahdieh, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller The Wrath and the Dawn

"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."

Anna Carey, author of the EVE trilogy

"Dark and suspenseful...this book kept me guessing until its final, terrifying scenes."

About the Author

Kerri Maniscalco grew up in a semi-haunted house outside New York City, where her fascination with gothic settings began. In her spare time she reads everything she can get her hands on, cooks all kinds of food with her family and friends, and drinks entirely too much tea while discussing life's finer points with her cats. She is the author of the New York Times bestselling novels Stalking Jack the Ripper, Hunting Prince Dracula, and Escaping From Houdini.

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