Stalking Jack the Ripper is a Young Adult historical fantasy fiction novel by New York Times bestselling author Kerri Maniscalco.
In this article, you will find some frequently asked questions about this book and series. I have tried to answer them as best as possible.
I hope you enjoy reading these, and I hope this post answers some of the questions you may have about this book!
Can Stalking Jack the Ripper be read as a standalone?
Yes, it is possible to read Stalking Jack the Ripper as a standalone. Each book in this series follows its own storyline. Audrey Rose and Thomas are the main characters in every book. And there is a red line through all the books about the lives of Audrey Rose and Thomas. But because Stalking Jack the Ripper is the first book in the series, that isn’t a problem.
Also, the book doesn’t end on a big cliffhanger. Which will make it easier to read it as a standalone as well.
Do you have to read Stalking Jack the Ripper in order?
If you wish to read all the books in the series, I recommend reading them in the correct order. Because the books are all about Audrey Rose and Thomas, it is important to read them in the right order. Otherwise, the personal issues that happen between these characters don’t make sense.
Here’s the order in which to read them:
- Stalking Jack the Ripper
- Hunting Prince Dracula
- Escaping from Houdini
- Capturing the Devil
Where does Stalking Jack the Ripper take place
Stalking Jack the Ripper, the first book, takes place in London.
Time period
All of the books in the series take place at the end of the 19th century.
Is Stalking Jack the Ripper a true story?
No, the story itself isn’t a true story. Kerri Maniscalco fabricated a story around the legend of the infamous Jack the Ripper. You can read more about this story and both its historical and fabricated elements here. But Jack the Ripper is the name of a late 19th century serial killer in London.
Is Stalking Jack the Ripper a romance?
This first book of the series actually has the least amount of romance in it.
There is some chemistry between Thomas and Audrey Rose, but not much more than that.
So no, I wouldn’t call Stalking Jack the Ripper a romance novel.
Enemies to lovers
I don’t think it is an enemy to lovers book so much.
At the beginning of Stalking Jack the Ripper, Audrey Rose doesn’t care much for Thomas. But they are never enemies.
Stalking Jack the Ripper Love Interest
At the beginning of the book, Audrey Rose and Thomas are competitors. They both work and study with Jonathan, Audrey Rose’s uncle. Audrey Rose wants to prove to others and herself that she is just as good at forensic medicine as any man. And Thomas wants to be the best in everything.
They don’t start out as friends, but they do have to work together.
And during the course of the story, Audrey Rose and Thomas start to like each other more and more.
What genre is Stalking Jack the Ripper?
All the books from the Stalking Jack the Ripper series are young adult historical fantasy fiction novels.
Who are the main characters in Stalking Jack the Ripper?
Audrey Rose Wadsworth
Audrey Rose is a 17-year old girl who wants nothing more than to study forensic medicine. She is independent and strong-willed, something not common for a lady in the 19th century.
She studies with her uncle Jonathan alongside Thomas Cresswell. Not only does she help her uncle with the examination of bodies, but also with finding out who Jack the Ripper is.
Thomas Cresswell
Thomas also studies and works with Jonathan Wadsworth. He is from a very wealthy family, but he doesn’t have a good relationship with his father.
His father does not approve of the life choices Thomas has made. This results in Thomas having to live on his own without the interference (or help) of his father.
He is a smart young man with a great deductive mind.
This comes in handy with his research and trying to find out the identity of Jack the Ripper.
Nathaniel Wadsworth
As the older brother of Audrey Rose, Nathaniel always keeps an eye out for her. After their mother died, Nathaniel and Audrey Rose grew even closer.
When Nathaniel was younger, he became ill. He recovered, but his mother got sick as well. She soon after died from this illness. Nathaniel still feels very guilty about this and blames himself for her death.
Jonathan Wadsworth
Dr. Jonathan Wadsworth is the uncle of Audrey Rose. He teaches and practices forensic pathology working for the police in cases with a suspicious death.
He is asked to help with the case of Jack the Ripper.
Audrey Rose and Thomas assist him with this case to try to figure out who the killer is.
When Jonathan ends up in an asylum for the clinically ill, all his findings are being questioned. Audrey Rose does not believe her uncle to be insane. And she does everything she can to get him out.
Who is Jack the Ripper
[SPOILER CONTENT BELOW]
When Audrey Rose and Thomas finally find out the Jack the Ripper, it comes as a massive shock to Audrey Rose, because it is her own brother Nathaniel.
Nathaniel has been killing women in London and harvesting body parts and organs. He does this all because he believes he can bring his dead mother back to life. He confesses to Audrey Rose that he is only trying to make her happy because he knows how sad she has been since their mother’s death.
How does Stalking Jack the Ripper end?
[SPOILER CONTENT BELOW]
After discovering that her brother is Jack the Ripper, Audrey Rose tries to confront him. She finds him in a hidden room inside their house. Here lies the body of their mother. Nathaniel has been preserving her body to bring her back to life.
With the harvested organs and body parts, he wants to recreate enough energy to restore his mother’s body. With the use of electricity, Nathaniel believes this to be possible.
When he finds out that Audrey Rose does not share his beliefs, he threatens her and Thomas. In a moment of madness, he runs toward his mother and turns on the switch, trying to bring her back to life, as he was meaning to the entire time. But in his haste, he electrocutes himself and dies.
Stalking Jack the Ripper quotes
This book also has some lovely writing. Here are a few of my favorite quotes.
- “Fear is a hungry beast. The more you feed it, the more it grows.”
- “I was determined to be both pretty and fierce, as Mother had said I could be. Just because I was interested in a man’s job didn’t mean I had to give up being girly. Who defined those roles anyhow?”
- “Death was not prejudiced by mortal things such as station or gender. It came for kings and queens and prostitutes alike, often leaving the living with regrets.”
- “Diamonds were everything I hoped to be; beautiful, yet containing unimaginable strength.”
- “Someone screamed; perhaps it was me. Though it would have made me happier if it were Thomas Blasted Cresswell.”
Stalking Jack the Ripper: Conclusion
Stalking Jack the Ripper is the first book in the series. This makes it easy to read as a standalone. But I can’t imagine you not wanting to know what will happen next to Audrey Rose and Thomas.
Because of that, I hope this article has answered some of the questions you may have had about this book. And you will enjoy the other parts of the series as well.
And if there are still more things you would like to know about this book or series, let me know in the comments below!
