Review: Capturing the Devil | Kerri Maniscalco

This review is spoiler free.

“Beyond life, beyond death, my love for thee is eternal.” 

Series: Stalking Jack the Ripper
Published: 2019, by Jimmy Patterson.
Pages: 448
Format: Kindle Edition
Genre: Historical, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Young Adult
Contains: Death, Murder, Violence, Anger, Blood/Gore, Injury, Grief, Trauma

‘Capturing the Devil’ is the epic conclusion to the Stalking Jack the Ripper series, following Audrey Rose Wadsworth and Thomas Cresswell as they travel across America to discover the true identity of a new killer, the White City Devil. Will Audrey Rose and Thomas see their last mystery to the end together and in love, or will their fortunes finally run out?

This series holds a very special place in my heart, becoming one of my favourites of all time. Kerri Maniscalco’s characters are those I hold very dear, being completely enchanted by them, so there was never any doubt in my mind that I was going to adore this final instalment. However, it still managed to exceed my expectations.

Audrey Rose Wadsworth continues to shine in this instalment, being more headstrong and powerful than ever before, despite her personal traumas after the events of the past three books. She’s determined to find the killer, having to set her own emotions aside repeatedly in order to solve the case. I deeply admire that in her character, knowing what’s best and being extremely mature for her age. Although, there were times where she was given the choice, she made the right one every time. That’s something I adore about this series, the protagonist makes good, reasonable decisions every single time.
Thomas Cresswell was simply a joy to read about, as expected. He became even more human in this novel, having his own personal barriers yet continued to overcome them in order to win Audrey Rose’s heart. His dialogue with Audrey was continuously fluent and beautiful, winning the hearts of readers and having them swooning at his charm.

Kerri Maniscalco’s writing is beautiful across the pages, investing you in the story whilst continues to raise the stakes at an agonising pace. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a fast paced novel, yet it’s perfect for the story it’s trying to tell. It drip-feeds you information, learning of clues the moment Audrey and Thomas do and has you solving the case alongside them. The chapters are short, concise and thrilling, leading you towards the epic conclusion where you’re positively buzzing with anticipation.

Overall, this novel made for an incredible read. I adored every second within its pages, and I’m heartbroken to have reached the conclusion. Although, their story has come to an end, I know for a fact that I’ll be returning to Audrey Rose and Thomas multiple times in the future.

5/5