*Note: This is a review of the arc. All quotes are subject to change*
Overall: 4.5/5 Stars
Characters: 4/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Plot and Themes: 4.5/5
Awesomeness Factor: 4/5
Review in a Nutshell: Escaping From Houdini is a fantastic installment in an amazing series. You will be dying for more.

“Knowing the flames are hot isn’t always a deterrent from playing with fire.”

//Content warning: violence, very graphic depictions of death (including autopsies) //

– Premise –

Escaping From Houdini is book three in the Stalking Jack the Ripper series, following Audrey Rose Wadsworth as she travels on a luxury cruise liner to America. When bodies start appearing in gruesome and theatrical ways, Audrey must investigate the carnival on the cruise to try to decipher these murders.

“It amazed me that the world could resume its orbit no matter what destruction had been wrought.”

– Setting –

This book has such an interesting setting! Set on a ship in the Atlantic Ocean during the 19th century, there is an added level of creepiness and urgency in the book, for all the passengers are trapped for a week with a murderer. The carnival aspect of the setting also added a fun and unique twist on the creepy murder mysteries we’re used to.

“Truth is often compared to a blade. I question those who marvel when it pricks.”

– Writing – 

Kerri Maniscalco writes beautifully. Her prose is elegant and gruesome, and her dialogue is witty and sharp as a knife. One of my favorite parts of her books is the dialogue between Audrey Rose and Thomas, and this book just added another amazingly clever character with Mephistopheles. Whenever the three of them were together I was never disappointed by the entertaining quips they would come up with.

“After all, murder is just another form of sleight of hand.”

– Plot –

The plot begins rather quickly in this one and maintains its pace as the death toll rises. This book is definitely more fast-paced than Hunting Prince Dracula, with much more action, murder, and drama to move the plot along. I also won’t comment on my opinions on how it wraps up, because 1) spoilers and 2) the ARC apparently has a different ending than the finished copy, so I don’t know how the published version will end (But I did like how this version ends, and I hope it isn’t too different)

“There is no greater show of power than continuing to live when you’d like nothing more than to lie down and let the world fade.”

– Characters – 

This is where I got most annoyed. First, the character who can do no wrong in my point of view: Thomas Cresswell. I love him so much. He’s still the flirty genius as he always was, but you really get to see more of his vulnerabilities in this book and that made me so happy. However, he doesn’t get as much time on the pages as I would have liked.

Now onto Audrey Rose. Audrey bothered me a bit in this book. She’s still as intelligent and independent as always, but she definitely made some frustrating decisions that, while not completely out of character, really bothered me. I just didn’t feel like her decisions were worth the little bit of development they gave her character.

There was a new character in this book who definitely demands attention, and that is the carnival ringleader, Mephistopheles. I really enjoyed unraveling his mysteries and seeing him interact with the other characters. By the end, I was really fond of him. However, his character comes with an unnecessary love triangle that I did not enjoy at all. While I can understand some parts of it, I just felt it only existed to add some drama and keep Audrey Rose and Thomas from getting too comfortable in their relationship.

– Conclusion –

Pros- Funny banter, plenty of gruesome murders and mystery you’ll kill to unwind
Cons- Too much not-needed relationship drama with the annoying love triangle 
Overall- 4.5/5 stars.
Escaping From Houdini is a magical mystery is sure to stop your heart. 

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