In preparation for the third book in this series, Escaping from Houdini (which is being released on September 18th!), I just finished reading both Stalking Jack the Ripper and Hunting Prince Dracula! I know I am super late to this party, but I am so glad I finally decided to show up 😉

I am also hoping to have the trilogy read before the Southern Festival of Books because Kerri Maniscalco is going to be there!! Ok, I’m done fangirling now… I figured, since I read them both so close together, that I would do two mini reviews in one post!

Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco ~ 337 pages ~ published 9/20/16 by Jimmy Patterson

Goodreads 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.

What I Thought:

I have always been a huge fan of true crime, which is strange given my aversion to all things scary. For some reason, true crime is more fascinating to me than scary…but I still try not to read it too close to bedtime. Stalking Jack the Ripper was a fantastic fictional take on one of the most well known true crime cases of all time! It kept me on the edge of my seat, and I could really see the character in the book that they claim to be Jack the Ripper as the real deal, even though it was fictionalized. The plot was well thought out, and it kept me guessing from start to finish.

I want to say a couple of things before I wrap up. Audrey Rose is one of my new favorite heroines! She is spunky, smart, driven, and doesn’t allow men to push her around. I basically want to be her when I grow up. Also, Thomas Cresswell is my newest book boyfriend (sorry hubby!)

My Rating:

5.0/5.0

I gave Stalking Jack the Ripper 5 STARS!

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Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco ~ 434 pages ~ published 9/19/17 by Little, Brown & Company

Goodreads Synopsis:

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?

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.

What I Thought:

As soon as I was finished reading Stalking Jack the Ripper, I went out and bought Hunting Prince Dracula. Kerri Maniscalco is going to be my newest auto-buy author, for sure! I was really hoping that this wouldn’t be a sophomore slump, and I was not disappointed! The premise was extremely well crafted, and kept me engaged the entire way through.

I truly had no idea who the murderer was throughout the book. There were so many false leads, twists and turns, and just general wool being pulled over my eyes. It was fantastic! I will say, I’m not sure the extra 100 pages were completely necessary, but I enjoyed every last one of them! #Cressworth for life!!!

My Rating:

5.0/5.0

I gave Hunting Prince Dracula 5 STARS!

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Are you interested in learning more about this series? Check out the links below!

Kerri Maniscalco’s Website

Kerri Maniscalco’s Twitter

Stalking Jack the Ripper Series on Goodreads

Purchase Stalking Jack the Ripper on Amazon

Purchase Hunting Prince Dracula on Amazon

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Have you read the first two books in this amazing series yet? What did you think of them? Are you super pumped about the third book? Are any of you planning to go to the Southern Festival of Books this year? Let me know down in the comments! 

Love and happy reading,