By Tanvi Jha
Take a chance to glimpse the cover of this book. Now, I remind you NOT TO JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER.
When I first picked up this book, I did exactly that – I judged it. In the past, I had fallen for many well-summarized book plots at the back of the covers of poorly written novels and I did not want to do the same. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the gorgeously written murder mystery in this book. The story follows Audrey Rose Wadsworth, an ambitious woman living in Victorian London (plot twist?) who is apprenticing under her uncle in forensics in secret from her father. She apprentices alongside her new friend and rival Thomas Cresswell. The story revolves around her overprotective father who is a bigger germaphobe than anyone you know and her doting brother.
As she practices dissection, she becomes involved in a series of murders, whose culprit is named ‘Jack the Ripper.’ While the story may not partake in the actual case of Jack the Ripper, it provides some fascinating historical documents showing how dissection was used as a means of learning about the human anatomy as trivia.
The author of this book Kerri Maniscalco grew up in a “semi-haunted house outside New York City” and we see her love for the Gothic element translate into her writing. She’s unafraid to weave gruesome details of dissection into her story, ensuring that the “horror” of this book is not lost. She uses impressive imagery and uses the misty streets of Victorian London as a stage to portray the cunning Audrey Rose as a Sherlock Holmes. Her character is strong and admirable but not abrasive as some female book characters may appear. Rose’s unconditional love for her family is highlighted throughout. While she is a determined daughter going against her father’s wishes, she remains loving and kind - a multi-faceted woman that is.
Her friendship with Thomas is another element worth addressing. We see that he is a mysterious chap, however, he does not play the irritating ‘mysterious, dark knight’ but rather the Dr Watson. While their friendship starts off rocky, as they solve the Jack the Ripper case, they find common ground and eventually it becomes exciting to watch the two of them in action. Reading this felt like re-reading a new version of Sherlock Holmes’ A Study in Scarlet with an interesting female protagonist and an equally complex male counterpart.
This book is the first of a series that tackles famous Victorian murder mysteries and cases. Having only recently picked up this series from where I left off, I believe it’s worth a try, especially if you’re waiting for a murder mystery that will actually leave you at the edge of your seat. If you want a book that causes you stare blankly at the wall in amazement, I recommend this one to you!
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