An Unforgettable Story With Masterful Storytelling - Escaping from Houdini Review

Title: Escaping from Houdini
Series: Stalking Jack the Ripper #3
Author: Kerri Maniscalco
My rating: 5 hearts
Genre: Young Adult, Historical, Mystery
Pub. date: September 18, 2018
Publisher: JIMMY Patterson
Synopsis: In this third installment in the #1 bestselling Stalking Jack the Ripper series, a luxurious ocean liner becomes a floating prison of scandal, madness, and horror when passengers are murdered one by one…with nowhere to run from the killer. . 

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? (synopsis from Goodreads)

The stakes are higher than ever in this thrilling third adventure of Audrey Rose and Thomas. And guys, I loved every moment of it! 

Audrey Rose just gets better and better. I love reading about her so much, and I’ve loved seeing her grow through the books. And Thomas… let’s just say if Audrey Rose doesn’t marry him, I definitely will. Honestly, I just love reading about them. Their banter is too much fun, and I love both of them a lot.

I absolutely adore the romance in this series. I ship Audrey Rose and Thomas so much. The banter is so much fun, and there’s so much tension, and I love it. Although it also frustrates me to death, but since it adds so much to the tension, I’ll deal. I just think they make such a great couple, and I love how Thomas supports her and lets her make her own choices, despite the historical setting.

The mystery in this one was even more mysterious this time around. Them being stuck on the boat was just a small part of that. The stakes are higher, the mystery is deeper, and the romance is sweeter. Honestly, I never knew I loved mystery novels before I read these books, but now I’m hooked. 

The writing was, as expected, amazing. Even though it’s set in a historical setting, it’s easy for the reader to get into the book, and the writing makes it feel very authentic. Not to mention, it’s utterly captivating, making it impossible to put it down. I’d sell my liver to be able to write like Maniscalco.

These books are honestly amazing. When I first started this series, I had no idea how much I’d love it, but it’s become one of my absolute favorite series. Maniscalco really knows how to weave an unforgettable story that will leave readers begging for more. With masterful storytelling, Maniscalco weaves a mystery that will leave you guessing until the very end.