Stalking Jack the Ripper

June 13, 2016
Maniscalco’s debut isn’t for the squeamish: it starts with 17-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth deeply immersed in opening up and analyzing a corpse under the supervision of her Uncle Jonathan, with no detail or scalpel cut spared. Audrey Rose is a proper Victorian with the unladylike aspirations of understanding crime scenes, blood spatter, the brutality of murder, and exactly how a killer tears into his victim. Luckily for her, Jack the Ripper is on the hunt, and Audrey Rose—alongside Thomas, a handsome aspiring coroner—is determined to catch him. In taking on the subject of this famous 19th-century serial killer, Maniscalco is treading well-worn fictional territory, but she has created a serious, sharp-minded, and forward-thinking protagonist in Audrey Rose, whose fearlessness in the face of the decaying and the dead—while still navigating the social norms of the day—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. Ages 15–up. Agent: Barbara Poelle, Irene Goodman Literary.

Narrator Nicola Barber shines in this gory thriller, which takes place in the Victorian era. The wealthy Audrey Rose works alongside her obsessive uncle and his handsome know-it-all apprentice in a forensics lab while a gruesome murderer terrifies London. Barber's cool tone perfectly reflects the dreary setting and will have listeners squirming as she depicts the grisly details of the murders. Barber voices Audrey Rose with confidence, inquisitiveness, and a bit of na�vet�. Barber also deftly portrays each of the suspects' sinister and kinder natures, keeping listeners guessing. Other varied and distinct characters add to the ambiance of the time period. E.A.N. � AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine