Capturing the Devil by Kerri Maniscalco
Audrey Rose Wadsworth and Thomas Cresswell have landed in America, a bold, brash land unlike the genteel streets of the London they knew. But, like London, the city of Chicago hides its dark secrets well. When the two attend the spectacular World’s Fair, they find the once-in-a-lifetime event tainted with reports of missing people and unsolved murders. Determined to help, Audrey Rose and Thomas begin their investigations, only to find themselves facing a serial killer unlike any they’ve heard of before. Identifying him is one thing, but capturing him - and getting dangerously lost in the infamous Murder Hotel he constructed as a terrifying torture device - is another.
Will Audrey Rose and Thomas see their last mystery to the end - together and in love - or will their fortunes finally run out when their most depraved adversary makes one final, devastating kill?
~~~~~
This was the final book in the Stalking Jack the Ripper series and it was a good ending. This series started off so strongly that I was 100% convinced these would be the best books I read all year. Unfortunately, like most series, nothing could top that first book. However, the remainder of the series was still fascinating and gruesome. Perfect for any true crime lovers as this author covered some very familiar serial killers throughout the series (I pretend the third book didn’t exist and so should you). I cannot tell you how excited I was that this book features H.H. Holmes and his Murder Castle. If you’ve ever watched Supernatural, read The Devil in the White City, or listened to The Last Podcast on the Left, then you will be very familiar with this story and some of the victims that are featured. The investigation was the most exciting yet and the finale of this book was SO GOOD. There were bits of the book I found wholly unnecessary and Audrey Rose still hasn’t fully won back my respect but I enjoyed it.
There were a lot of things I loved about this book but the main one being the attention to detail Maniscalco uses in referencing these real life murders. She nailed this H.H. Holmes story on the head. Every little detail had me screaming because I recognized all the facts. I especially enjoyed that she brought Minnie Williams to life on page. I liked that tribute and thought it was very fitting. I also really loved that the author chose THIS story to be the conclusion because, although not well known, there are theories out there linking H.H. Holmes to the Ripper murders. There’s a full book about it tying these crimes together (and although most likely false, it’s a fascinating theory). I feel like only true crime junkies would have put that together instead of finding it a far-fetched idea of the author so I really liked that little easter egg.
Thomas Cresswell never fails to impress in these books. He’s probably one of my favourite literary characters and he lived up to the hype especially in this final book. His unfailing loyalty, his darker side, his consideration for the people around him, his determinedness to bring justice to the victims, and his Sherlockian vibes just don’t miss. Audrey Rose, on the other hand, continues to baffle me. She was such a strong female lead in the first book and, although she was a bit frustrating in the second book, she was still relatable and still so typically a teenager. It made her relatable. In the third book, the author completely destroyed her character and tried to make up for it in this book by claiming all those missteps in the last book were “part of the character she was playing” which leads me to believe the author realizes how badly she messed up with Audrey Rose. This book went a little ways to fix her image but she was still such a hypocrite in some moments that I felt like she learned nothing. Sure she grew more trusting of her relationship but as an individual person she didn’t grow at all. There’s even one part of this book where she’s putting herself in a dangerous situation and willing admits that she’s “grateful” that Thomas isn’t stopping her from “making her own decision” to do this but that if the roles were reversed she’d never give him the choice and would lock him away for his safety….. Does that sound like a balanced, equal, trusting relationship to you?! Little throw-away comments like that made her seem like a petty hypocrite who demands her way but doesn’t bend to anyone else’s. That isn’t feminism, it’s privilege.
There was also the small little plot why this couple needed to leave New York. I won’t spoil anything by mentioning what happens but I found it completely unnecessary to the plot and the character development. I feel like it was meant to be a tool to “prove” that their love is strongest and that Audrey Rose has overcome her distrust in having a relationship and relying on someone else but what a weird way to try and prove that. I didn’t enjoy it.
Despite my hold-ups (that mainly feature Audrey Rose), the plot was fantastic and if the third book hadn’t existed, I might not have been as critical of the characterization in this book. It was a good read and a good conclusion to the story. This author has major potential and I am curious to see how her other works measure up to this series. I gave this one 3 stars.