Let's Talk About... Stalking Jack the Ripper!

Credit: Pixabay

Do you want to participate in this week's Let's Talk About... topic? Basically, I'll post questions about a book/series and my answers to them (so readers get a hint of what to expect when reading), then I'll invite you to answer them in the comments below or leave a link below to your own blog. Just please link back to this post when you do, and feel free to change up the questions :)

I thought it'd be fitting to feature Capturing the Devil and the rest of the Stalking Jack the Ripper series because the release date for CTD is tomorrow (9/10!). So here's the synopsis for book 1:

Presented by James Patterson's new children's imprint, this 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 close 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. 

(Wow I never even realized this was a debut! Hands down the best murder mystery I've ever read!)

If you've already read book 1, here's the synopsis for book 4:

  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?

And now for the questions...

1. Favorite character?

Audrey Rose for sure, but Thomas is a close second. I feel like Audrey Rose seems a bit more flawed, and is therefore a bit easier to relate to. She's also a super awesome forensic scientist and defies the expectations society sets, so she's impossible not to like.

2. Do you own any fan-related memorabilia?

Not currently, but I preordered (a signed copy of!) CTD and that comes with an alternate dust jacket and fan art (more details here). You will all be hearing about this the moment everything arrives in the mail :). I've also made some fan art myself, namely a polymer clay Audrey Rose, which is posted on my bookstagram.

Break! Oh yes I got a bookstagram! Now you can get aesthetic pictures of books + blog posts + once someone comes up with virtual food you can have that too. 

3. Which book in the series is your favorite?

I think Hunting Prince Dracula. There's a lot more ups and downs between Audrey and Thomas but they patch it all up which is nice. Plus Dracula has always been really fascinating, and I got to brush up on my (aka start learning about) Romanian history. 

4. Favorite Cover?

Look all of them are gorgeous and it's cruel to make me choose. So here's the rest of the covers:

  

5. Have you ever met the author?

Kind of, yes! I attended her talkshoplive Q&A, so I saw her live and it was amazing! My first author event :). Fingers crossed that I'll be able to meet her in person, too!

6. Favorite quotes?

I actually did a whole post about this here.

7. What do you like best about the series?

It's just done super well. There's so much history embedded in these stories, and Audrey Rose is the perfect heroine: inquisitive, elegant, yet flawed as well. She makes mistakes, but isn't embarrassed about them. Plus Thomas Cresswell is the best so.

Okay so what do you think? Have you read this series before? Planning to read Capturing the Devil? The preorder campaign is still up until 9/9 (tonight!) :). Tell me what you think of the series below!