Escaping from Houdini
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?
Genre: YA Historical / Fiction / Mystery
Author: Kerri Maniscalco
Hardcover, 436 pages
Published: September 18th, 2018
Publishing House: by Jimmy Patterson
My Review
Illusions * Magic * Murder
Are you ready?
Audrey Rose Wadsworth and her love interest Thomas Cresswell embark on a week-long journey to the United States crossing the Atlantic on the luxury liner RMS Etruria. Everything about this ship is made of splendor, proper and beautiful. From the décor and the food to the amazing entertainment at night, there’s nothing else a guest could possibly want. This is the way to travel!
After settling into a wonderful dinner, a young woman is found stabbed in total silence. None of the people around her have heard or seen a thing. Springing into action, Audrey and Thomas secure the body and do their investigations. This is what they are good at!
Keeping everyone on board calm is a top priority. After all, the show must go on. And what a show it will be. The traveling entertainment of masked circus artists, magicians, card readers, and the great Houdini will allure, spellbind and fool the audience in their evening shows. As another murder strikes, Audrey insists on investigating the circus crew and strikes up a bargain in exchange. A bargain that could potentially ensue into a scandal on the ship costing her family name and the relationship with Thomas.
For a little while, the investigation seems to be heading somewhere, but Audrey becomes more and more entangled in the hands of one particular masked entertainer. Illusions and the play with fire will have her tightly in its’ grip in dark gangways and heart racing moments unsuited for a young proper lady.
As more and more murders are happening, the investigation will continue, but Audrey is thoroughly trapped in a spellbinding, exciting world where it becomes harder and harder to sort right from wrong.
Will they solve the murders before it’s too late? How is Houdini involved in all of this with his tricks and illusions?
A bewitching head-spinning read awaits to find out
***
I have read both previous novels in this series and really liked them. They all keep the same tone for its time period but are uniquely focused around a new adventure murder mystery. I may even say, they are becoming increasingly better with every book.
Maniscalco did a wonderful job in sending the reader in all directions with clues and hints to figure out. Each turn, each new player in the game and it changed it all. With a little romance, and plenty of excitement in the murders, I think it’s an amazing YA read and series I’ll recommend in a heartbeat to readers of the genre.
