Review: Escaping from Houdini Kerri Manscalco

Title: Escaping From Houdini

Author:  Kerri Manscalco
Publisher: Jimmy Patterson
Publishing Date:  September 18th, 2018

Pages: 416
Genre: YA Historical Fiction Mystery Thriller

Series:  Stalking Jack the Ripper #3
Source: Audio 

 

Audrey Rose Wadsworth and her partner-in-crime-investigation, Thomas Cresswell, are en route to New York to help solve another blood-soaked mystery. Embarking on a week-long voyage across the Atlantic on the opulent RMS Etruria, they’re delighted to discover a traveling troupe of circus performers, fortune tellers, and a certain charismatic young escape artist entertaining the first-class passengers nightly.

But then, privileged young women begin to go missing without explanation, and a series of brutal slayings shocks the entire ship. The strange and disturbing influence of the Moonlight Carnival pervades the decks as the murders grow ever more freakish, with nowhere to escape except the unforgiving sea. It’s up to Audrey Rose and Thomas to piece together the gruesome investigation as even more passengers die before reaching their destination. But with clues to the next victim pointing to someone she loves, can Audrey Rose unravel the mystery before the killer’s horrifying finale?

This is the third and latest installment for Stalking Jack the Ripper. When I first started this series, I thought well this is going to be interesting. Never did I think I would love them quite as much as I do. Each book gets better and better. I can't get  enough of Audrey Rose and Thomas. The mysteries are good, the settings and tone are always fun. This was one very fast paced and had a multitude of crazy characters. Just Superb! 

Audrey Rose and Thomas are on board a ship heading over to America. This is a pretty big ship and there are many prestige guests on board. Each one with their own agenda, and one of the items on their agenda is to see the circus while on board. Yes traveling on this ship is a traveling circus and one of their great performers is Henry Houdini. All should be so exciting, no one thought all the excitement would come from multiple murders, but yet it does. I swear murder just follows Audrey Rose around. Of course Audrey Rose, Thomas, and Audrey's uncle have to get to the bottom of the murders and a suspect at the top of the list is Houdini himself. The mystery has to be solved before the ship makes port or they may lose this murderer to the streets of America. 

I don't know if I can really say anything more about these books that I haven't already said. They are just amazing. I really would love for them to make a television show from these books. It would be so amazing and fun. This book really brought the fun. 

I love that the author brought in the traveling circus, not only are they in the book but they are a main part of the story. Most of the book we are living as part of the circus. Both Audrey Rose and Thomas need to get close to the performers to try and figure out who the murderer is and to stop more murders from happening. I loved getting to know all the performers and their acts. It was very colorful and exciting. 

The mystery was really good and I really felt like I knew who it was a multiple amount of times. I was always wrong and when it was revealed I was a little shocked. I am just really glad that the murderer didn't escape into America. We have enough serial killers over here. 

I really loved Thomas even more in this book and I liked Audrey Rose just a little less. She makes some really dumb choices in this book and almost just blows her entire world up over some passing feelings from a short lived excitement. I just thought she was so much smarter than this. What made me love Thomas even more is the fact, he gave her space, he let her do her own thing, he trusted and knew in his heart that she would make the right decision. So I really did adore him in this book. 

The book was really fast paced and just felt like more action than the previous two books... which is strange since it takes place on a boat. I do believe though that some of the excitement came from the thrills of knowing Audrey Rose and her friends and family were trapped on board with a murder. Not knowing why and how and who made the creep factor go up a ton. 

So yes I loved this installment. IT was by far my favorite. I feel they keep getting better and I can't wait for the next one. 


Keep them coming Ms. Manscalco. I so adore these books and these amazing characters. Bring on more... and hurry please, I am starting to have withdrawal symptoms. 

I'm mostly on instagram and twitter--where I'm always ready to talk fictional crushes and nerd out over books. (Okay, okay. And I've also been known to share snippets and teasers from my upcoming novels, if you're into that sort of thing...) Please feel free to chat with me there @KerriManiscalco. I love talking with fellow readers!

Kerri Maniscalco grew up in a semi-haunted house outside NYC where her fascination with gothic settings began. In her spare time she reads everything she can get her hands on, cooks all kinds of food with her family and friends, and drinks entirely too much tea while discussing life’s finer points with her cats.

She is the #1 NYT and USA Today bestselling author of the STALKING JACK THE RIPPER quartet. The final installment, CAPTURING THE DEVIL, will be released on 9/10/19.

For more information, visit Kerri online:
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